The Chessmen of Mars · Chapter
Endnotes explained
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 equival
What happens
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.
Characters to notice
- John Carter
Author of the endnotes, providing explanatory annotations.
Key passages
“I have used the word “king” in describing the rulers or chiefs of the Bantoomian swarms, since the word itself is unpronounceable in English, nor does jed or jeddak of the red Martian tongue have quite the same meaning as the Bantoomian word, which has practically the same significance as the English word “queen” as applied to the leader of a swarm of bees.”
The term 'king' is an approximation for the Bantoomian leader, as their actual title is untranslatable and more akin to a queen bee than a Martian jed or jeddak.
Clarifies the translation of Bantoomian rulership terminology.
“Those who have read John Carter’s description of the Green Martians in A Princess of Mars will recall that these strange people could exist for considerable periods of time without food or water, and to a lesser degree is the same true of all Martians.”
As noted in 'A Princess of Mars', Green Martians can survive long stretches without sustenance, and all Martians share this trait to some extent.
Explains Martian endurance capabilities referenced in the story.