So I dug into the history and learn that this novel is
considered the probable inspiration for Burroughs' and now that I've read it I
can say it most certainly HAD to be. In the story Lt. Gulliver Jones, a US navel
officer in debt to a tailor and other creditors, obtains a strange rug and
while standing on it wishes he were anywhere - why not Mars! Said rug then
whisks him off to the Red Planet where he proceeds to have many adventures
learning the mores and custom of its very human inhabitants. True to
expectations he falls in love with a beautiful princess and has to go off in a
mad rescue attempt when she is kidnapped by nasty barbarian type folk. Sounds a
lot like ERB minus the multi-colored races, huh? There are a number of other
differences and overall I think Burroughs is a more entertaining writer but
this is pretty enjoyable pastiche of Gulliver's Travels. I think I'll
eventually have to track down the Marvel comics adaptation in Creatures on the
Loose with art by Gil Kane. I understand its not a very faithful version of the
tale but it should be interesting.
No comments:
Post a Comment