John Carter Popular Books

John Carter Biography & Facts

John Carter is a 2012 American science fiction action-adventure film directed by Andrew Stanton, written by Stanton, Mark Andrews, and Michael Chabon, and based on A Princess of Mars, the first book in the Barsoom series of novels by Edgar Rice Burroughs. Produced by Jim Morris, Colin Wilson and Lindsey Collins, it stars Taylor Kitsch in the title role, Lynn Collins, Samantha Morton, Mark Strong, Ciarán Hinds, Dominic West, James Purefoy and Willem Dafoe. It chronicles the first interplanetary adventure of John Carter and his attempts to mediate civil unrest amongst the warring kingdoms of Barsoom. Several attempts to adapt the Barsoom series had been made since the 1930s by various major studios and producers. Most of these efforts ultimately stalled in development hell. In the late-2000s, Walt Disney Pictures began a concerted effort to adapt Burroughs' works to film, after an abandoned venture in the 1980s. The project was driven by Stanton, who had pressed Disney to renew the screen rights from the Burroughs estate. Stanton became the new film's director in 2009. It was his live-action debut, after his directorial work for Disney on the Pixar animated films Finding Nemo and WALL-E. Filming began in November 2009, with principal photography underway in January 2010, wrapping seven months later in July. Michael Giacchino, who scored many Pixar films, composed the music. Like Pixar's Brave that same year, the film is dedicated to the memory of Steve Jobs.It was released in the United States by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures on March 9, 2012, marking the centennial of the titular character's first appearance. It was presented in Disney Digital 3D, RealD 3D and IMAX 3D formats. It received mixed reviews, with praise for its visuals, Giacchino's score, and the action sequences, but criticism of the characterization and plot. It failed at the North American box office, but set an opening-day record in Russia. It grossed $284 million at the worldwide box office, resulting in a $200 million writedown for Disney, becoming one of the biggest box office bombs in history. With a total cost of $350 million, including an estimated production budget of $263 million, it is one of the most expensive films ever made. Due to its poor performance, Disney cancelled plans for Gods of Mars and Warlord of Mars, the rest of the trilogy Stanton had planned. Much of the film's failure has been attributed to its promotion, which has been called "one of the worst marketing campaigns in movie history". Plot In 1881, Edgar Rice Burroughs attends the funeral of his uncle, John Carter, a former American Civil War Confederate Army captain who died suddenly. Per Carter's instructions, the body is put in a tomb that can be unlocked only from the inside. His attorney gives Carter's personal journal for Burroughs to read. In a flashback to 1868 in the Arizona Territory, Union Colonel Powell arrests Carter with hopes that Carter will help in fighting local Apache. Carter escapes his holding cell, but fails to get far with U.S. cavalry soldiers in close pursuit. After a run-in with a band of Apaches, Carter and a wounded Powell are chased until they hide in a cave that turns out to be filled with gold. A Thern appears in the cave at that moment and, surprised by the two men, attacks them with a knife; Carter kills him but accidentally activates the Thern's powerful medallion and is unwittingly transported to a ruined and dying planet, Barsoom, known to Carter as Mars. Because of his different bone density and the planet's low gravity, Carter is able to jump high and perform feats of incredible strength. He is captured by the Green Martian Tharks and their Jeddak, Tars Tarkas. Elsewhere on Barsoom, the Red Martian cities of Helium and Zodanga have been at war for a thousand years. Sab Than, Jeddak of Zodanga, armed with a special weapon obtained from the Thern leader Matai Shang, proposes a cease-fire and an end to the war by marrying the Princess of Helium, Dejah Thoris. The Princess escapes and is rescued by Carter. Carter, Dejah, and Tarkas's daughter, Sola, reach a spot in a sacred river to find a way for Carter to get back to Earth. They discover that the medallions are powered by a "ninth ray" that is also the source of Sab Than's weapon. They are then attacked by a vicious race called the Warhoon under the direction of Shang. Carter and Dejah are taken back to Zodanga. A demoralized Dejah grudgingly agrees to marry Sab Than and gives Carter instructions on how to use the medallion to return to Earth. Carter decides to stay and is captured by Shang, who explains to him the purpose of Therns and how they manipulate the civilizations of different worlds to their doom, feeding off the planet's resources in the process, and intend to do the same thing with Barsoom by choosing Sab Than to rule the planet. Carter goes back to the Tharks with Sola to request their help. There they discover a ruthless brute, Tal Hajus, has overthrown Tarkas. Carter and an injured Tarkas battle with two enormous Great White-Apes in an arena before Carter kills Hajus, thereby becoming the leader of the Tharks. The Thark army storms Zodanga, realizing their army is waiting outside Helium, John and the Tharks commandeer the Zodangan airships and fly to Helium. Carter defeats the Zodangan army, while Sab Than is killed and Shang is forced to escape. Carter becomes prince of Helium by marrying Dejah. On their first night, Carter decides to stay forever on Mars and throws away his medallion. Seizing this opportunity, Shang briefly reappears and gives Carter another challenge, sending him back to Earth. Carter embarks on a long quest to find one of their medallions on Earth; after several years he appears to die suddenly and asks for unusual funeral arrangements — consistent with his having found a medallion, since his return to Mars would leave his Earth body in a coma-like state, and makes Burroughs his protector. Back in the present, Burroughs runs back to Carter's tomb and uses clues to open it. Just as he does so, a Thern appears and raises a weapon before Carter appears and shoots the Thern in the back. He reveals that he had never found another medallion; instead, he devised a scheme to lure a Thern from hiding, thus winning Shang's challenge. Carter then uses the dead Thern's medallion to return to Barsoom. Cast Taylor Kitsch as John Carter, a Confederate army captain who is transported to Mars. Lynn Collins as Dejah Thoris, the Princess of Helium. Samantha Morton as Sola, a Thark that works with John Carter. Willem Dafoe as Tars Tarkas, the Jeddak of the Tharks and Sola's father. Thomas Haden Church as Tal Hajus, a vicious Thark who dislikes John Carter and Tars Tarkas. Mark Strong as Matai Shang, the Hekkador of the Therns. Ciarán Hinds as Tardos Mors, the Jeddak of Helium and Dejah Thoris' father. Dominic West as Sab Than, the Jeddak of Zodanga. James Purefoy as Kantos Kan, the Odwar of the ship Xavarian. Brya.... Discover the John Carter popular books. Find the top 100 most popular John Carter books.

Best Seller John Carter Books of 2024

  • You Were Made for More synopsis, comments

    You Were Made for More

    Jim Cymbala

    Jim Cymbala knows something a lot of us missthat a comfortable, secure life won't produce the satisfaction we long for. How could we feel fulfilled by missing out on the life God h...

  • Secret Lives of the U.S. Presidents synopsis, comments

    Secret Lives of the U.S. Presidents

    Cormac O'Brien & Monika Suteski

    Murder, Adultery, Gambling, UFOs And the White House?!?   Your high school history teachers never gave you a book like this one! Secret Lives of the U.S. Presidents features ...

  • Murder in Limestone County, Book Two synopsis, comments

    Murder in Limestone County, Book Two

    Robert D. Coleman

    Limestone County Sheriff John Carter lives a great life. A well respected, twoterm sheriff, a loving wife, Carolyn, and two teenaged twins, Tom and Becky. Everything seems to be go...

  • A Rift in the Earth synopsis, comments

    A Rift in the Earth

    James Reston

    A Distinguished and Bestselling Historian and Army Veteran Revisits the Culture War that Raged around the Selection of Maya Lin's Design for the Vietnam Memorial A Rift in the Eart...

  • Northanger Abbey synopsis, comments

    Northanger Abbey

    Jane Austen

    'Jane Austen is a genius, and Northanger Abbey is hugely underrated' Martin AmisWith its irrepressible heroine and playful literary games, Northanger Abbey is the most youthful and...

  • The First Family Detail synopsis, comments

    The First Family Detail

    Ronald Kessler

    NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER   “Ron Kessler appears to get everything first.”Slate As in a play, presidents, vice presidents, and presidential candidates perform onstage for...

  • The Gatekeepers synopsis, comments

    The Gatekeepers

    Chris Whipple

    Now with a new chapter on the chaos in the Trump administration, the first indepth, behindthescenes look at the White House Chiefs of Staff, whose actionsand inactionshave defined ...

  • Complete John Carter of Mars of Edgar Rice Burroughs synopsis, comments

    Complete John Carter of Mars of Edgar Rice Burroughs

    Edgar Rice Burroughs

    Edgar Rice Burroughs was an American author, best known for his creation of the jungle hero Tarzan and the heroic Mars adventurer John Carter, although he produced works in many ge...

  • John Carter synopsis, comments

    John Carter

    Edgar Rice Burroughs

    This unique edition of John Carter from Dead Dodo Vintage includes the full original text as well as exclusive features not available in other editions.

  • The First Lie synopsis, comments

    The First Lie

    A. J. Park

    The most gripping psychological thriller you'll read this year perfect for fans of Lisa Jewell, Mark Edwards, Claire McGowan, TM Logan and KL Slater...'This is a real page turner....

  • The Iran Wars synopsis, comments

    The Iran Wars

    Jay Solomon

    From Qasem Soleimani to the nuclear deal, a deeply reported exploration of Iran’s decadeslong power struggle with the United Statesin the tradition of Steve Coll’s G...

  • John Carter of Mars synopsis, comments

    John Carter of Mars

    Edgar Rice Burroughs

    The world of Barsoom is a romantic vision of a dying Mars. With its many outlandish inventions and advanced technology, it is still a savage world of honor, noble sacrifice, and co...

  • Note to Self synopsis, comments

    Note to Self

    Gayle King

    In this New York Times bestseller, Gayle King collects her favorite inspiring letters from the popular CBS This Morning segment Note to Self, in which twentyfirst century luminarie...

  • The Guilty Wife synopsis, comments

    The Guilty Wife

    Elle Croft

    THE TOP 10 EBOOK BESTSELLER 'A gripping tale of betrayal, deceit, and duplicity. Fabulous.' Jenny Blackhurst, author of How I Lost You 'Relentless and intense...I loved the final ...

  • John Carter of Mars Series synopsis, comments

    John Carter of Mars Series

    Edgar Rice Burroughs

    Compiled in one book, the essential collection of John Carter of Mars books by Edgar Rice Burroughs A Princess of Mars 1912 The Gods of Mars 1914 Warlord of Mars 1918 Thuvia, Maid...

  • The John Carter of Mars Collection synopsis, comments

    The John Carter of Mars Collection

    Edgar Rice Burroughs

    Karpathos publishes the greatest works of history's greatest authors and collects them to make it easy and affordable for readers to have them all at the push of a button.  Al...

  • The Presidents Club synopsis, comments

    The Presidents Club

    Nancy Gibbs & Michael Duffy

    The New York Times bestselling history of the private relationships among the last thirteen presidentsthe partnerships, private deals, rescue missions, and rivalries of those selec...

  • The Residence synopsis, comments

    The Residence

    Kate Andersen Brower

    “Absolutely delicious.”Washington PostFrom the mystique of the glamorous Kennedys to the tumult that surrounded Bill and Hillary Clinton during the president’s impeachment to the h...

  • JFK synopsis, comments

    JFK

    Stephen Kennedy Smith & Douglas Brinkley

    Published in commemoration of the centennial of President John F. Kennedy’s birth, here is the definitive compendium of JFK’s most important and brilliant speeches, accompanied by ...

  • One Question synopsis, comments

    One Question

    Ken Coleman

    The motivating host of one of the nation's largest leadership conferences offers a collection of inspirational and applicable life lessons through conversations with various high p...

  • Murder in the Old West, Book Five synopsis, comments

    Murder in the Old West, Book Five

    Robert D. Coleman

    Murder in the Old West is a standalone book featuring John Carter’s Great, Great. Great. Great, Grandfather Jeb Carter in 1858 Texas. Jeb is a Texas Ranger who is sent to Freestone...

  • Alistair MacLean Sea Thrillers 4-Book Collection synopsis, comments

    Alistair MacLean Sea Thrillers 4-Book Collection

    Alistair Maclean

    Four classic tales of adventure at sea, from the master of action and suspense, available for the first time in this ebundle.Discover why Alistair MacLean was the most popular thri...

  • The Golden Rendezvous synopsis, comments

    The Golden Rendezvous

    Alistair Maclean

    A timeless classic of modernday piracy from the acclaimed master of action and suspense.Aboard the SS Campari, all is not well.For Johnny Carter, the Chief Officer, the voyage has ...

  • John Carter of Mars Series synopsis, comments

    John Carter of Mars Series

    Edgar Rice Burroughs

    John Carter of Mars is a series of books written by Edgar Rice Burroughs. It is currently being turned into a film produced by Disney and directed by Andrew Stanton (director of th...

  • First in Line synopsis, comments

    First in Line

    Kate Andersen Brower

    “An intimate, compulsively readable account of the dynamics that have shapedand sometimes destroyedrelations at the top of the American political hierarchy.... [and] a valuabl...

  • The Other Couple synopsis, comments

    The Other Couple

    Sarah J. Naughton

    THE NUMBER ONE BESTSELLER'I am sleep deprived having stayed awake desperate to find out what happened!' reader reviewFor fans of Clare Mackintosh's LET ME LIE, Cara Hunter's CLOSE...

  • Where Men Win Glory synopsis, comments

    Where Men Win Glory

    Jon Krakauer

    NATIONAL BESTSELLER A "gripping book about this extraordinary man who lived passionately and died unnecessarily" (USA Today) in post9/11 Afghanistan, from the bestselling author o...

  • On Becoming a Leader synopsis, comments

    On Becoming a Leader

    Warren G. Bennis

    A timeless classic from a pioneer in the field of leadership studiesthe only book you need to read on becoming an effective leader. Warren Bennis (19252014) was a pioneer in leader...

  • Murder and the Cold Case, Book One synopsis, comments

    Murder and the Cold Case, Book One

    Robert D. Coleman

    Limestone County Sheriff John Carter investigates a twentyyearold murder first investigated by his grandfather. Memories are long in smalltown Texas. Working with his grandfather's...

  • Barsoom Series Complete Collection synopsis, comments

    Barsoom Series Complete Collection

    Burroughs Edgar

    "Barsoom Series Complete Collection: 11 Books (13 Novels) of John Carter Fully Illustrated" is a collection of all the 11 books of the Barsoom series by Edgar Rice Burroughs. All t...

  • The Black Lizard Big Book of Locked-Room Mysteries synopsis, comments

    The Black Lizard Big Book of Locked-Room Mysteries

    Otto Penzler

    The Most Complete Collection of Impossible Crime Stories Ever Assembled, with puzzling mysteries by Stephen King, Dashiell Hammett, Lawrence Block, Agatha Christie, Georges Si...

  • John Carter synopsis, comments

    John Carter

    Edgar Rice Burroughs

    Edgar Rice Burroughs was an American writer best known for his creations of the jungle hero Tarzan and the heroic Mars adventurer John Carter. John Carter series, where John Carte...

  • Doomed to Succeed synopsis, comments

    Doomed to Succeed

    Dennis Ross

    A necessary and unprecedented account of America's changing relationship with IsraelWhen it comes to Israel, U.S. policy has always emphasized the unbreakable bond between the two ...