John Carter of Mars: Books 1-4 of the Barsoom Series

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 constant struggle, where martial prowess is paramount, and where many races fight over dwindling resources. It is filled with lost cities, heroic adventures, and forgotten ancient secrets. Recently made into a movie by Disney, the series has inspired a number of well-known science fiction writers in the 20th century, and also key scientists involved in both space exploration and the search for extraterrestrial life. It has informed and been adapted by many writers, in novels, short stories, television and film.