If you loved
John Carter
Film · 2012
What hooked you in John Carter is the way a displaced outsider becomes the reluctant catalyst for saving a dying world.
Books on the same thread
The Martian Chronicles
Ray Bradbury · Book · 1977
Like John Carter, this exploration of Mars focuses on the complex relationship between humanity and a foreign landscape, capturing the same sense of wonder found on the red planet.
Red Planet
Robert Anson Heinlein · Book · 1990
If you enjoyed the Martian adventure of John Carter, you will appreciate this story of a young protagonist who must defend his adopted home against a looming planetary threat.
Howling Dark
Christopher Ruocchio · Book · 2020
This epic journey across the stars mirrors the scale of John Carter, featuring a war-weary hero searching for lost civilizations while navigating the political tensions of interstellar conflict.
The Starless Crown
James Rollins · Book · 2022
Fans of John Carter will recognize the familiar structure of a quest narrative where an unlikely alliance must uncover ancient secrets to prevent an apocalyptic prophecy from destroying their world.
Series on the same thread
Farscape
Rockne S. O'Bannon · Series · 1999
This series captures the essence of John Carter by throwing an unprepared man into a chaotic alien battlefield, forcing him to adapt to survive in a vast, unknown galaxy.
Avatar: The Last Airbender
Michael Dante DiMartino · Series · 2005
You will find the same spirit of heroism in this story of a young boy who must master his destiny to bring balance to a world fractured by war, much like John Carter.
Battlestar Galactica
Glen A. Larson · Series · 2004
The desperate struggle for survival and the weight of protecting a civilization that defines John Carter are at the heart of this harrowing journey to save the last of humanity.
Samurai Jack
Genndy Tartakovsky · Series · 2001
The experience of being a fish out of water in a dangerous, exotic land is shared by both this legendary warrior and John Carter as they fight for redemption and justice.
Podcasts on the same thread
Dan Carlin's Hardcore History
Dan Carlin · Podcast · 2025
If the themes of civilizational collapse in John Carter resonated with you, this historical analysis provides a deeper look at the patterns of power and human nature that drive such decline.
Revolutions
Mike Duncan · Podcast · 2025
This investigation into the mechanics of societal collapse mirrors the high-stakes political instability of Barsoom, offering a nonfictional look at the same conflicts depicted in John Carter.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is John Carter a story about a military captain?
Yes, John Carter is a war-weary former military captain. After being transported to the mysterious planet of Barsoom, he transitions from his past life to becoming a reluctant hero embroiled in an epic conflict to ensure the survival of the planet and its people.
What happens to John Carter when he arrives on Barsoom?
Upon arriving on the exotic planet of Barsoom, John Carter finds a world on the brink of collapse. He becomes reluctantly involved in a massive conflict and discovers his humanity while realizing that the fate of the planet and its inhabitants rests entirely in his hands.
Is John Carter set on Mars?
John Carter takes place on the mysterious and exotic planet of Barsoom. In the context of the film, Barsoom serves as the name for Mars, where the protagonist is inexplicably transported and eventually tasked with saving the people of the planet from an epic conflict.
Does John Carter become a hero in the movie?
John Carter evolves from a war-weary former military captain into a hero during his time on Barsoom. He rediscovers his humanity when he finds himself tasked with the responsibility of preventing the total collapse of the planet and saving its people from a looming conflict.