Carter claims there is "no dust upon Mars" and describes a complete lack of dynamic weather, including an "absence of high winds" (99 ch. Mars is freezing, while Barsoom is oppressively hot. The atmosphere of Mars lacks oxygen and is too thin to support human life even if oxygen were present, but Carter has no trouble breathing the air of Barsoom, which is replenished by a fantastic atmosphere factory. Both worlds are arid wastes, but the similarities end there. In fact, the findings of science stand in direct opposition to nearly every aspect of Carter's tale. 11).Īt the beginning of his narrative, Carter tells the reader that he expects his tale of Barsoom to be verified by science, but the twenty-first-century reader quickly realizes that Barsoom bears little resemblance to the Mars revealed by thirty years of NASA missions. Burroughs could write, without irony or quaintness, of a universe in which "nearly every planet and star having atmospheric conditions at all approaching those of Barsoom, shows forms of animal life almost identical with" humans (70 ch. At the time of the novel's publication, manned space flight was an improbable dream, and the planets were the same faceless worlds they had been since the discoveries of Galileo. The novel tells the story of John Carter's journey to the fourth planet, which the natives call Barsoom. All Rights Reserved.Edgar Rice Burroughs wrote A Princess of Mars in 1911, and All-Story Magazine published it as a pulp serial in 1912. ton - without terrestrial referrent, many airships and construction techniques are described in terms of tons.Ĭopyright © 1982, 1996-2003 by David Bruce Bozarth. pound - Apparently a Barsoomian pound is similiar in relation to an Earthly pound, but due to Mars reduced gravity no other comparisons are known. John Carter's observations of the Barsoomian methods of weight measurement have never been translated. pi - 1 cent teepi - 10 cents tanpi - 1 dollar WEIGHTS Precious gems and metals are commonly used as valuta, though expressed values is not described. If the payee is unable to fulfil his obligation, the government pays the debt and requires the debtor to serve time on a farm or in the military until the debt is paid. Paper currency - a form of check issued by the payee and redeemed twice a year. ![]() Hard coinage is oval shaped in bronze, silver and gold. Not included, though logically might be numbers (or multipliers/dividers), are "ha", "kar", "saf" and "sof" (see Linear Measures above). There appears to be little logic to the numbers listed in the books, though some aspects seem to hold together. 10 zodes daily martian day little over 24 1/2 earth hours (Princess 112) martian year 684 earth days Barsoomian Month = They remain on this duty for one month, which is equivalent to about seventy days of Earth time then they are relieved and return to Gathol city. (Synthetic) 25 xats past 8th zode is midnight (Swords). ERB occasionally offered exact conversions between Barsoomian and earth measures, for example: Martian time 8:25 is 12:13 AM Earth time. ![]() ![]() Circumference of Mars, 13,289 miles 1 mile - 2.709 haads Speed of fast fliers 166.1 earth miles per hour, or 450 haads per hour calculated from distance/time description in Thuvia and supported by Barsoom map reference (see Technological Developments, AIRSHIPS for more information) TIME Tal - 1 second Xat - 1 minute Zode - 1 hour 4 tals = 1 xat, or 200 tals to a zode 5 xats = 15 earth minutes 50 xats = three hours zode = 2.5 earth hours (listed as 2.462 earth hours, Fighting Man). (Synthetic) haad - 1,949.05 earth feet (listed as 1,949.0592 feet, Fighting Man) 10 sofads - 1 ad 200 ads - 1 haad 100 haads - 1 karad 1 karad - 1 degree of latitude (36.914 earth miles) 360 karads - circumference of Barsoom at the equator. 300 ads is described as approximately 3000 feet and 50 ads converts to 490 feet. Various conversions between Barsoomian and earth measure can be found. (On map 11.69 earth inches) safad - martian inch ad - 9.75 earth feet. Weights and Measures, things an ordinary society needs to communiate, build, or do trade and commerce, is well documented in the series, either in context with the story or as footnotes. An example of that detail, the rich texture of an imaginary world, is getting down to "nuts and bolts". For many Barsoom is the star character of the Martian Saga by Burroughs. Measure, Time, Currency, Numbers, and Weights are listed below.Įdgar Rice Burroughs was very thorough in his creation of Barsoom, the inhabitants and creatures, and society and technology as well. This section examines the minutia found in complex human Barsoomian cultures.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Details
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |