A Princess of Mars, the first volume in his Barsoom series, was written by American novelist Edgar Rice Burroughs. From February to July 1912, it was first serialized in the pulp publication All-Story Magazine. The book, which features plenty of swordplay and valiant acts, is recognized as a classic example of pulp fiction from the 20th century. It also serves as a pivotal example of the planetary romance subgenre of science fiction, which gained popularity in the decades that followed its publication. Its opening chapters also contain elements of the Western genre. Mars, which is portrayed in the book as a dying planet with a harsh desert climate, serves as the setting. This representation of Mars was produced based on the work of astronomer Percival Lowell, whose views gained broad support in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Several well-known science fiction authors from the 20th century, including Jack Vance, Ray Bradbury, Arthur C. Clarke, Robert A. Heinlein, and John Norman, were influenced by the Barsoom trilogy. Many scientists working in the disciplines of space travel and the hunt for extraterrestrial life found inspiration in the book, including Carl Sagan, who read A Princess of Mars as a young boy.
