The Chessmen of Mars (version 3)


Read by Mark Nelson

(4.8 stars; 392 reviews)

In the fifth book in the Barsoom series, Tara of Helium, daughter of John Carter, becomes lost in an unknown area of Mars when her single-seat flier is caught in a rare Martian hurricane. She is first captured by the bizarre and hideous Kaldanes, then the brutal Manatorians, where she is the prize in a tournament of Martian chess, jetan, that is played by live game pieces, and to the death! (Summary by Mark Nelson) (9 hr 16 min)

Chapters

Prelude - John Carter Comes to Earth 6:17 Read by Mark Nelson
Tara in a Tantrum 24:21 Read by Mark Nelson
At the Gale's Mercy 24:19 Read by Mark Nelson
The Headless Humans 27:44 Read by Mark Nelson
Captured 28:14 Read by Mark Nelson
The Perfect Brain 23:13 Read by Mark Nelson
In the Toils of Horror 29:11 Read by Mark Nelson
A Repellant Sight 26:35 Read by Mark Nelson
Close Work 23:25 Read by Mark Nelson
Adrift Over Strange Regions 25:57 Read by Mark Nelson
Entrapped 23:12 Read by Mark Nelson
The Choice of Tara 25:04 Read by Mark Nelson
Ghek Plays Pranks 22:20 Read by Mark Nelson
A Desperate Deed 26:04 Read by Mark Nelson
At Ghek's Command 25:23 Read by Mark Nelson
The Old Man of the Pits 23:58 Read by Mark Nelson
Another Change of Name 24:44 Read by Mark Nelson
A Play to the Death 23:20 Read by Mark Nelson
A Task for Loyalty 26:29 Read by Mark Nelson
The Menace of the Dead 20:50 Read by Mark Nelson
The Charge of Cowardice 25:12 Read by Mark Nelson
A Risk for Love 22:06 Read by Mark Nelson
At the Moment of Marriage 28:19 Read by Mark Nelson

Reviews

Possibly the best book of the series


(5 stars)

Wow, what a pleasant surprise. I had thought about only listening to the first three books because I had heard that John Carter didn't play much of a role in the 4th and 5th books. I'm glad I pushed on in to the last two books. Both were as good as the rest of the series and Chessmen is probably my favorite entry in the series (primarily due to the bizarre Kaldane character named Ghek). As usual there is an awful lot of cliffhangers. A fair amount of romance and, of course, loads of action and sword play. It's campy, it's pulpy, and it's a simple guilty pleasure. Mark Nelson does another bang up job but I really didn't like the fact that now, after already narrating 4 books in the series, he decided to give John Carter a very heavy southern accent (which is probably more accurate for the Virginian). Luckily John Carter isn't in the book much but when he is he sounds like Colonel Sanders. I wish Mark would have stuck with the standard voice he used for John Carter throughout the rest of the series. But as noted this happens very briefly and Mark's reading is flawless as usual. I highly recommend this recording and honestly you really can't go wrong with just about anything read by Mark Nelson.

Wonderful story, with wonderful narration


(5 stars)

Adventurous and enteraining from beginning to end, as all five of the John Carter novels. It would be most impossible to find a more dynamic and enjoyable narrator, for Mark Nelson has been a complete joy for all five books.

great book


(5 stars)

it is written and narrated in such way that you have to battle yourself to stop listening and do other things :) it is beautiful peace of scyfi ,and for me personally narrator is huge part of this story,he is giving different characters different voice's that suits them ,and he brings up tension where it's needed with his reading. Only thing I can complain about is that i have went through almost all of his books and other then him i liked only one other reader that have past away back in 2012. And since I didn't rate so far almost any other book, this time i just wanted to thank our fearless reader that took us on many jurney,s trough space ,time , situation's and always giving himself fully. THANK YOU MARK

the same but different


(5 stars)

although I found the story to be well written beautifully narrated it is but the same story that has been told in the previous books only the characters and the landscape has changed


(4 stars)

I keep coming back to these Burroughs Mars stories filled with bygone chivalry, notions of honor, implausible disguises and hidden passages galore. He is not a great writer but his adventures are an easy pleasure.

Rev. GWE


(5 stars)

Burroughs surpasses himself in imagination in this, his 5th book in the Mars/Barsoom series. Exciting. Fun. Mr. Nelson's narration is expressive and flawless. I have listened to all 5 of his Barsoom readings.

Another exciting tale of Barsoom


(5 stars)

Another fine installment of the tales of John Carter and his family of Mars. All action packed and very enjoyable. A particularly great reading by this narrator

Another great story by ERB


(5 stars)

Mark Nelson did a great job reading as usual, although giving the character of John Carter a southern accent after all these novels was a little odd.