Barsoom Books in Order

Edgar Rice Burroughs's pulp science-fantasy saga set on a dying Mars (Barsoom), following Confederate veteran John Carter and his descendants through sword-and-planet adventures among warring red, green, and other Martian races. The 11-book run spans 1917 to 1964.

Publication order

In the order the books were originally released.

  1. Cover of A Princess of Mars

    A Princess of Mars

    1917 · Edgar Rice Burroughs

    Confederate veteran John Carter is mysteriously transported to Mars, a dying world the natives call Barsoom. Granted superhuman strength by the…

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  2. Cover of The Gods of Mars

    The Gods of Mars

    1918 · Edgar Rice Burroughs

    John Carter returns to Barsoom and arrives in the Valley Dor, the supposed afterlife paradise from which no Martian ever comes back. He soon…

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  3. Cover of The warlord of Mars #3

    The warlord of Mars #3

    1919 · Edgar Rice Burroughs

    Picking up directly from the cliffhanger before it, John Carter pursues his imprisoned wife across the frozen wastes and warring nations of Mars. His…

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  4. Cover of Thuvia, Maid of Mars

    Thuvia, Maid of Mars

    1920 · Edgar Rice Burroughs

    When the beautiful princess Thuvia of Ptarth is abducted and John Carter's son Carthoris is framed for the crime, the young prince must clear his…

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  5. Cover of The Chessmen of Mars

    The Chessmen of Mars

    1922 · Edgar Rice Burroughs

    Tara, the headstrong daughter of John Carter and Dejah Thoris, is swept by a storm into the strange land of Bantoom. There she encounters the…

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  6. Cover of The Master Mind of Mars

    The Master Mind of Mars

    1928 · Edgar Rice Burroughs

    Earthman Ulysses Paxton dies in World War I and wakes on Mars, where he becomes apprentice to Ras Thavas, a brilliant but amoral surgeon who…

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  7. Cover of A Fighting Man Of Mars

    A Fighting Man Of Mars

    1931 · Edgar Rice Burroughs

    Tan Hadron of Hastor, a soldier of modest rank, pursues the woman he loves after she is carried off, journeying into perilous and unknown regions of…

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  8. Cover of Swords of Mars

    Swords of Mars

    1936 · Edgar Rice Burroughs

    John Carter goes undercover in the criminal underworld of the assassin city Zodanga to hunt down the agents who have plotted against him. His…

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  9. Cover of Synthetic Men of Mars

    Synthetic Men of Mars

    1940 · Edgar Rice Burroughs

    When Dejah Thoris is gravely injured, John Carter seeks the surgical genius Ras Thavas to save her, only to find the master scientist has lost…

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  10. Cover of Llana of Gathol (Mars #10)

    Llana of Gathol (Mars #10)

    1948 · Edgar Rice Burroughs

    John Carter, traveling across Barsoom, becomes embroiled in rescuing his great-granddaughter Llana of Gathol from successive captors. The episodic…

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  11. Cover of John Carter of Mars

    John Carter of Mars

    1964 · Edgar Rice Burroughs

    This volume collects the final Barsoom tales, including a story in which John Carter faces a deranged scientist's plot, and a novella following a…

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Frequently asked questions

What order should I read the Barsoom books in?

Publication order — Widely recommended by readers and reference sites (Wikipedia, Goodreads, FictionDB); the series was written and reads in publication order, which is also internal chronology. Start with “A Princess of Mars.”

How many books are in the Barsoom series?

We list 11 books by Edgar Rice Burroughs , published between 1917–1964.

Where can I buy the Barsoom books?

Each title above links to Amazon. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you.

Reading order compiled from author/publisher guidance and verified bibliographic data. Spotted an error? We continuously correct the catalog.