Black Amazon of Mars by Leigh Brackett (short review)

Grimly Eric John Stark slogged toward that ancient Martian city-with every step he cursed the talisman of Ban Cruach that flamed in his blood-stained belt. Behind him screamed the hordes of Ciaran, hungering for that magic jewel-ahead lay the dread abode of the Ice Creatures-at his side stalked the whispering spectre of Ban Cruach, urging him on to a battle Stark knew he must lose!

- (From the blurb on Amazon)

This was another read in my Appendix N quest. It is a short story and will get a short review.

The book is strongly reminiscent of Edgar Rice Burroughs’ A Princess of Mars, and also Robert E. Howard’s Conan. The Mars setting feels more like Hyboria than Barsoom—not just because of the Celtic/Gaelic-sounding names, but also because there’s little that feels distinctly alien (not many spaceships or ray guns here). Even the most sinister creatures resemble ghosts more than extraterrestrials.

The story isn’t nearly as imaginative as Burroughs’ Barsoom, nor as gritty as Conan, or as weird as The Shadow People. In that sense, the book was a bit of a disappointment.

However, it’s still a fun read. Brackett’s prose is leaner and faster than Burroughs or Howard, maintaining a pace of nonstop action that never lets you get bored. The alien villains have compelling motives and backstories, and while the setting is somewhat sparse, it still has its cool moments (and can provide some inspiration for your D&D games, especially if you like Dark Sun). The main character is a bit underdeveloped, but the supporting cast shows more personality than most pulp coadjutants.

To me, Burroughs + Howard + Lovecraft/Merrit monsters sounds like a winning formula, and Brackett’s action-driven style could have made this a standout. But in the end, it felt a bit derivative and predictable. Then again, it’s a short book—which explains both its strengths (tight pacing) and its weaknesses (underdeveloped elements).

Overall, it’s worth the read—especially if you enjoy pulp, sword and planet, Burroughs or Howard. Maybe I'll look further into her work in the future.