John Carter, ERB, and Literary Empathy

[J-Sun]

A Eureka Moment? John Carter, Edgar Rice Burroughs, and Literary Empathy - an article on the dichotomy between a popularly appreciated and critically unappreciated character.

 

[dask]

Never heard of a frame story.

 

[Connavar]

I dont like articles that over analyze simple storytelling techniques like JC telling his story in first person and how that makes it without literary artifice. This is sword and planet and the good ones are suppose to simple form of storytelling in science fantasy adventure.

John Carter is a great character, a heroic,emotional hero that is good fit for his story. ERB writing might not as be as strong as later sword and planet authors like Vance,Brackett but he is a legend for this series world building, John Carter is still acclaimed character with readers and SFF critics. Otherwise he would be forgotten today or have bad reputation.

 

[steve12553]

I totally agree. John Carter is pure escapism designed to take you mind on a little vacation. Your probably not going to find the secrets to the universe here. The stories were written well enough for what they were.

 

[BetaWolf]

John Carter is a strong character, rather impulsive, though. I do wonder about the physics a bit.

 

[clovis-man]

ERB writing might not as be as strong as later sword and planet authors like Vance,Brackett but he is a legend for this series world building, John Carter is still acclaimed character with readers and SFF critics.

I would say that Burroughs doesn't have to take a back seat to Brackett. Some similarities in style if not in overall substance. Vance may be a different matter.

But ERB is nothing if not simplistic. You never have to wonder about his point of view. I just wish he would launder all the sleeping silks and furs. They must be getting pretty rank by now.

 

[Connavar]

I would say that Burroughs doesn't have to take a back seat to Brackett. Some similarities in style if not in overall substance. Vance may be a different matter.

I like Carter and his type of hero but Brackett, her Stark hero is the better action story that fit Sword and planet. Her series is also more dark creepy supernatural elements. ERB is better at world building, heroic story if a bit more predictable. I admire ERB Carter series very much and just think Brackett improved some parts of sword and planet adventure.

Vance is very different writer usually but he has written one of the best Sword and Planet series in Planet of Adventure. Vance improved on with his world building ability, details,alien imagination. His hero isnt as interesting as Carter, Stark but few can match the imagination of Vance world building in Science fantasy/Sword and Planet.

I have read all of them and i see different strenghts in their series.