Forget about the fact that Disney blew 50 billion dollars (okay, maybe just $250 million) and turned the cinematic version of this classic into a box-office flop. These novels feature John Carter, a Virginian who finds himself inexplicably transported to Mars via astral projection after the Civil War. Once he gets there, he finds himself stronger and more capable on the foreign planet. He soon becomes a warlord and wins the heart of the Mars Princess. If you haven’t seen the movie – don’t. Just do yourself a favor and read the book instead.