This is the 11-book series I have loved since I was a teenager. John Carter is the ultimate adventure hero, especially if you're a teenager. He's strong, a born leader, lovesick, and petulant. A few of the novels in the series veer away from Carter, with varying levels of success. But the world Burroughs creates is consistent: It's romantic to the nth degree, with an emphasis on honor and chivalry, even in the face of the most hideous adversaries. ERB may be remembered as the creator of Tarzan, but many of us are more grateful to him for Barsoom. ( )