In 1866, at the end of the Civil War, Captain Carter, a cavalry officer in the Southern Army, suddenly flew to Mars from a sacred cave. At that time, Mars was far more scientifically advanced than Earth. But on Mars there are the Tharks, ruled by tall, ugly, four-armed green men, and the kingdom of Helium, ruled by pretty, peace-loving reds, who look a lot like earthlings. All in all, it was a chaotic situation. Carter put his talent to good use, chivalry, with the most beautiful princess Dejah Thoris married. He spent ten years of peace there. This book is set in the vast scenes of Mars and Earth, and has the gripping appeal of a magical adventure novel.

The incomparable interestingness constitutes the archetype of what has been called the cosmic opera in the history of science fiction. John Carter, a veteran U.S. cavalry captain, went after the war to explore for gold in the Arizona mountains with his old friend James Powell, an exploration specialist. John Carter lost his way to save an old friend by attacking him in a ruse, and found himself on Mars after a coma. On the surface of Mars he felt weightless, jumping thirty feet high and a hundred feet away. He had dealt with several peoples and nations on Mars, fought in many battles and wars, and had an affair with Dejah Thoris, the princess of Mars. In order to save the princess who was captured by the alien race, Carter went through hardships and dangers, showing the wisdom and courage of the earth people, finally not only rescued the princess, but also won peace and friendship for the inhabitants of Mars. After marriage he lived happily with the princess for ten years, and while on a mission to open an atmospheric manufacturing factory for the Martians, he passed out from thin air and exhaustion. When he woke up, he found himself lying in the same place he had left the earth ten years before.