The Chessmen of Mars · Chapters
Chapters explained
Chapter companions for The Chessmen of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs.
Chapter 1
Prelude
John Carter visits Earth, appearing in his Martian attire, and recounts his ability to transport objects between worlds. He mentions his daughter Tara of Helium and the Martian game of Jetan, setting the stage for her story.
Chapter 2
The Chessmen of Mars
Tara of Helium, flying her flier, is caught in a violent storm and carried far from Helium. She crashes in a strange and desolate region, where she is captured by the Kaldanes, a race of beings who have evolved into disembodied heads with powerful intellects, and their servant Rykors, who are headless bodies. Tara is taken to their underground city of Bantoom, where she meets Ghek, a Kaldane who becomes fascinated by her. Meanwhile, Gahan of Gathol, disguised as the panthan Turan, sets out to rescue her, following her trail into the unknown.
Chapter 3
Tara in a Tantrum
Tara of Helium prepares for a midday function at her father's palace, bathes, and dresses. She joins the guests in the garden, where she is introduced to Gahan, Jed of Gathol. She observes Djor Kantos in deep conversation with Olvia Marthis, which stirs feelings of surprise and jealousy, though she tries to rationalize them as mere curiosity.
Chapter 4
At the Gale's Mercy
Tara of Helium, angered and humiliated by Gahan of Gathol's presumption and Djor Kantos's failure to seek her, defies her father's wishes and flies alone into a violent storm. The tempest carries her far from Helium, past the ancient city of Torquas, leaving her lost and helpless. Meanwhile, Gahan learns of her disappearance and expresses his determination to win her, while John Carter and Dejah Thoris discuss her future.
Chapter 5
The Headless Humans
Tara of Helium is caught in a devastating storm that wreaks havoc on Lesser Helium. Her flier, the Vanator, is blown far off course, and after the storm abates, she finds herself in a strange valley with dome-capped towers. She lands, hides her flier, and cautiously explores the valley, encountering dangerous banths and struggling to find food and water. She manages to gather fruit and drink from a stream, but realizes the peril of her situation and the difficulty of returning to her flier.
Chapter 6
Captured
Tara of Helium is captured by the Kaldanes after attempting to escape through the fields. She witnesses the horrifying transfer of heads between bodies and is taken to Luud's tower, where she is imprisoned.
Chapter 7
V: The Perfect Brain
Tara of Helium is taken deeper into the lair of the kaldanes, where she witnesses the horrifying sight of heads feeding on a human body. She learns from her captor Ghek that the kaldanes are detached brains that control rykor bodies, and that they view themselves as the pinnacle of evolution, aspiring to become pure brain. She is brought before Luud, the enormous kaldane leader, and struggles to comprehend their emotionless, utilitarian philosophy.
Chapter 8
VI: In the Toils of Horror
Tara of Helium is held captive by the Kaldanes, learning from Ghek the origin of the rykors and the Kaldanes' parasitic evolution. She grows weak from lack of sun and air, and is moved to a tower where she plots escape. Luud demonstrates his mind-control power, nearly compelling her into a hidden chamber, but she resists by averting her eyes.
Chapter 9
A Repellent Sight
Gahan of Gathol discovers Tara of Helium's disabled flier and deduces she is a prisoner in the nearby tower. He devises a plan to rescue her, towing the flier toward the tower. He is attacked by a herd of banths but escapes by ascending the flier. The chapter also recounts the storm's aftermath: Gahan falls from the Vanator after heroically saving a warrior, is tossed by the storm, and lands safely on the ochre moss, where he waits for dawn.
Chapter 10
Close Work
Tara of Helium, Gahan (disguised as Turan the panthan), and Ghek the kaldane attempt to escape from the clutches of Luud and the kaldanes of Bantoom. Gahan fights off pursuers while Tara and Ghek flee toward a flier. Ghek kills Luud with a dagger, and the trio escapes through the corridors, with Gahan's bravery and Tara's song of love playing key roles in their survival.
Chapter 11
IX: Adrift Over Strange Regions
Tara, Gahan (as Turan), and Ghek escape Bantoom in a flier, drifting over a barren wasteland for days without food or water. They spot a strange city and hide nearby, observing its warriors and deciding their next move.
Chapter 12
X: Entrapped
Tara of Helium and Ghek are captured by U-Dor and his warriors and taken to the city of Manator. Meanwhile, Turan the panthan attempts to enter the city to find food and water, but is tricked and imprisoned in a subterranean dungeon. Tara realizes she misses Turan and fears for his safety.
Chapter 13
XI: The Choice of Tara
Tara of Helium is taken into Manator, where she witnesses the silent, ritualistic watchers on balconies and learns of the city's slave trade from Gathol. She is brought before O-Tar, the jeddak, who offers to honor her, but she scornfully refuses, comparing him to a swine. O-Tar sentences her to be played for in the next Jetan game, and Ghek is sent to the pits. Tara is then taken to the Towers of Jetan, where she meets A-Kor, who shows her kindness. She reflects on her missing comrade Turan the panthan, realizing she values him for more than his sword.
Chapter 14
XII: Ghek Plays Pranks
Ghek, imprisoned in the pits beneath Manator, uses his kaldane abilities to survive and explore. After being chained, he feigns helplessness, then retrieves the key to his fetter and hides it in a burrow. He later explores the vast network of ulsio tunnels beneath the city, discovering a subterranean river and searching for a way to help Tara of Helium. Meanwhile, Turan (Gahan in disguise) awakens to find a Martian rat attacking him, but is hampered by his chain.
Chapter 15
XIII: A Desperate Deed
Tara of Helium kills E-Med when he attempts to assault her, then she and Lan-O hide the body. The chapter also reveals the brutal rules of Manator's living Jetan game, where prisoners fight to the death as pieces, and discusses A-Kor's fate.
Chapter 16
XIV: At Ghek's Command
Turan, chained in a cell, learns from fellow prisoner A-Kor that Tara of Helium is held in the Towers of Jetan as a prize for the next games. A-Kor reveals he is the son of O-Tar and the Gatholian princess Haja, making him Turan's cousin. Turan is later led to the throne room of O-Tar, where Tara faces accusations of being a Corphal (witch). U-Thor advises her to deny the charge, and Ghek is also brought before the jeddak.
Chapter 17
XV: The Old Man of the Pits
Turan carries Tara into the pits of O-Tar to escape capture, while Ghek uses his hypnotic power to spare O-Tar's life. O-Tar, shaken, orders them to win freedom in the Jetan games. In the pits, Turan confesses his love for Tara, who rebuffs him. They meet an old man who preserves the dead, revealing the macabre customs of Manator.
Chapter 18
Another Change of Name
Turan, under the alias U-Kal from Manataj, enlists in the Jetan games to win Tara of Helium. With help from A-Kor and Ghek, he secures funding and selects a team of slaves, including Val Dor of Helium and Floran of Gathol, to fight for Tara's freedom.
Chapter 19
A Play to the Death
The great Jetan game begins with U-Dor and Gahan as opposing chiefs. Tara is the Black Princess, and Gahan, disguised as the Black Chief, leads a team of Helium loyalists against Manatorian players. The game is fought to the death, with Gahan's skill and strategy gradually overcoming U-Dor's forces. After a prolonged duel, Gahan defeats the Orange Panthan and then challenges U-Dor directly, engaging in a fierce sword fight that continues as darkness falls.
Chapter 20
XVIII: A Task for Loyalty
Tara and Gahan share a moment of emotional vulnerability as Tara acknowledges her gratitude and loyalty to Turan (Gahan in disguise), while reaffirming her betrothal to Djor Kantos. Gahan reveals his love for her, but she gently rebuffs him. Meanwhile, Tasor (revealed to be A-Sor, a Gatholian in disguise) rescues Tara from a Manatorian warrior, and later explains his past: he was captured and sold into slavery in Manator, married a wealthy princess, and now serves in O-Tar's guard under a false identity. Gahan pursues Tara after she is taken by a Manatorian, but is halted when the captor threatens her life. A second warrior (Tasor) intervenes, killing the captor and revealing his true identity to Gahan.
Chapter 21
XIX: The Menace of the Dead
I-Gos reports to O-Tar that he has tracked Tara and Turan to the chambers of O-Mai the Cruel. O-Tar sends three reluctant chiefs to capture them, but they return terrified by ghostly phenomena. Meanwhile, Tara and Turan hide in a chamber, where Tara confesses her love for Turan, unaware he is Gahan of Gathol. They are nearly discovered by warriors playing Jetan but evade capture. O-Tar is challenged by a chief to lead the search himself, but is interrupted by a new arrival.
Chapter 22
XX: The Charge of Cowardice
Gahan searches for Tara after she mysteriously vanishes from the chamber of O-Mai, descending into dark pits and corridors. Meanwhile, O-Tar faces unrest among his chiefs, who accuse him of cowardice for not entering the haunted chambers. I-Gos brings Tara before O-Tar, who is captivated by her beauty and offers to make her his Jeddara, giving her seven days to prepare. Tara is imprisoned in the tower of the women's quarters under guard.
Chapter 23
A Risk for Love
Gahan risks his life to scale the tower where Tara is imprisoned, determined to speak with her and give her hope. He encounters I-Gos, who reveals his change of heart and offers friendship. After a tense confrontation with a eunuch guard, Tara kills the guard and Gahan reassures her of a rescue plan, sharing a kiss before departing.
Chapter 24
At the Moment of Marriage
As Tara of Helium is about to be forced into marriage with O-Tar, Turan (secretly Gahan of Gathol) reveals himself as the disguised groom. I-Gos exposes O-Tar's cowardice, leading to O-Tar's suicide. John Carter arrives with forces from Helium and Gathol, and A-Kor is proclaimed interim ruler. Djor Kantos confesses he married Olvia Marthis, freeing Tara from their betrothal. Gahan's true identity is revealed, and Tara accepts him. The chapter concludes with John Carter explaining Gahan's ruse and Ghek's fate.
Chapter 25
Jetan, or Martian Chess
This chapter provides the complete rules of Jetan, the Martian chess-like game, as dictated by John Carter. It describes the board, the pieces with their moves and values, the objective, and the gambling customs associated with the game.
Chapter 26
Endnotes
The endnotes provide clarifications on terminology, measurements, and cultural references used in the narrative, including explanations of Bantoomian leadership titles, the freelance warrior term 'panthan', Martian distance and time equivalents, and the physiological endurance of Martians.
