Summary
In The Chessmen of Mars, Edgar Rice Burroughs shifts the spotlight from John Carter to his headstrong and fearless daughter, Tara of Helium. During a solo flight over the Martian skies, Tara is caught in a violent storm and crash-lands in an uncharted region of Barsoom.
There, she encounters strange and deadly creatures—including the grotesque, tentacled Kaldanes, who live parasitically by attaching themselves to headless humanoid bodies called Rykors.
Tara is eventually captured and taken to Manator, a mysterious city where prisoners are forced to play a deadly version of live-action chess called Jetan, with real humans acting as the pieces—fighting to the death at each move.
Meanwhile, a mysterious and scarred warrior named Gahan of Gathol (disguised as “Turan the panthan,” a mercenary) embarks on a dangerous mission to rescue her.
As the two navigate treacherous politics, brutal gladiator games, and hidden identities, a romantic and action-packed story unfolds.