May 29, 2025 and ninety-six years ago on this day in 1929, Edgar Rice Burroughs submitted “A Fighting Man of Mars” to Argosy. It was rejected. Burroughs promptly submitted the seventh novel in the Barsoomian series to Blue Book Magazine, which serialized it monthly installments from April through September 1930. Laurence Herndon illustrated covers for five of the six installments and Frank Hoban did seven interior illustrations for each issue.
Publishing details, several illustrations and covers, and a complete Ebook are located at: https://www.erbzine.com/mag7/0735.html
The novel features communication between Barsoom and Earth via the Gridley Wave. Jason Gridley, John Carter, and Ulysses Paxton make appearances, but the story belongs to the fighting man, Hadron of Hastor, who goes in search of the beautiful Sanoma Tora, who ultimately proves that beauty is only skin deep. She betrays Hadron, but when he saves her from the life she’s chosen, she switches allegiance and professes love for him. Hadron spurns her, saying that he loves a slave, the brave Tavia, a female worthy to be one of the heroines of Edgar Rice Burroughs.
The story also introduces “the cloak of invisibility,” and how Harry Potter every ended up with it is beyond me.
The 100-word dabble for today, “Love the One You’re With,” was inspired by the novel, “The Fighting Man of Mars.” Kudos to performing artist Stephen Stills for the title of the drabble.
Hadron rescued the faithless Sanoma Tora, a beautiful woman had professed love, feigned or real, for her captor.
She cried. “I never loved him. I only pretended too in order to survive. I only love you.”
“I imagine you told him much the same. You’re well fed and wearing the fine robes and jewels he gave you.”
She spoke haughtily. “And I should suffer while I wait for you? Look into my eyes. You’ll see how much I love you.”
“Sanoma, the only thing I see in your eyes is deceit and disappointment, and I’ve had my fill of both.”
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