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Hola, fellow travelers and tale-chasers,

It’s not every day you get to strap into a rocket of imagination and hurtle toward the red sands of Mars, but that’s exactly what I did when I popped in my earbuds and dove into the “Warlord of Mars” audiobook by Edgar Rice Burroughs, narrated by JD Weber. The story unfolds like a dusty trail through an alien desert, winding past strange creatures, ancient ruins, and a love so fierce it could crack the Martian bedrock. As a travel writer who’s spent more nights under foreign stars than I can count, this free audiobook experience swept me back to a memory of driving through Chile’s Atacama Desert, the driest place on Earth. The surreal landscape – craggy and crimson – felt like Barsoom itself, and I half-expected John Carter to crest the next dune, sword in hand.

For those who haven’t yet ventured into the Barsoom series, “Warlord of Mars” is the third chapter, picking up where “The Gods of Mars” left off. John Carter, our Earth-born hero turned Martian warlord, is on a relentless quest to free his wife, Dejah Thoris, from the clutches of the Temple of the Sun. Along the way, he tangles with the Yellow Martians – a race thought extinct – and uncovers more of Mars’ sprawling, mysterious tapestry. Burroughs, writing in the early 20th century, leaned hard into Percival Lowell’s theories of a canal-crisscrossed Mars, blending science fiction with swashbuckling fantasy. You can almost hear the creak of leather and the clash of steel as Carter battles his way through a world both alien and achingly familiar.

What struck me first about this audiobook experience was how it pulled me into themes that resonate beyond the page – or the speaker, in this case. Love, courage, survival – they’re the threads I’ve seen woven into stories from every corner of the globe. It reminds me of a time when I stayed with a family in Oaxaca, listening to their abuela spin tales each evening. Her voice carried the weight of history, pausing just long enough to let the silence build anticipation. JD Weber’s narration has a similar magic. His tone is steady and warm, with a gravelly edge that suits Carter’s rugged determination. You can almost feel the heat of the Martian sun and taste the dust on your tongue as he voices the hero’s relentless drive. Weber doesn’t rush; he lets the story breathe, much like that Oaxacan grandmother knew how to wield a pause.

Burroughs’ world-building is a feast for the senses, and Weber’s delivery amplifies it. The Yellow Martians, with their towering frames and eerie stillness, come alive in a way that made me think of the ghostly statues I once stumbled across in a forgotten Andean village – silent witnesses to a lost time. The novel’s exploration of Martian races and their divisions also stirred thoughts of my anthropology days at NYU, where we’d debate how societies splinter and survive. Burroughs doesn’t shy away from big ideas, even if his lens is tinted by the racial stereotypes of his era – a limitation worth noting. Still, the sheer scope of his imagination, paired with Weber’s measured pacing, makes this listening experience a journey worth taking.

That said, it’s not flawless. The characters, while vivid, can feel a bit flat – Carter’s a hero through and through, but he rarely stumbles into the gray areas that make a soul feel real. Dejah Thoris, too, remains more a prize than a person, a trope that creaks under modern scrutiny. And while Weber’s narration is a strength, there were moments I wished for a touch more dynamism – say, a sharper snarl for the villains or a softer lilt for the tender bits. The audio quality itself, provided by LibriVox, is clean and clear, though it lacks the polish of a high-budget production. But here’s the kicker: it’s free. A full-blown sci-fi adventure for the price of a download? That’s a deal I’d take any day over a roadside taco stand – and I’ve had some d*mn good tacos.

Comparing this to other planetary romances, I’d put it alongside H.G. Wells’ “The Time Machine” for its bold leaps into the unknown, though Burroughs leans harder into sword-and-sorcery flair – think Robert E. Howard’s Conan with a Martian twist. It’s a genre mashup that’s influenced everything from “Star Wars” to “Avatar”, and listening to it now, you can hear the echoes of its legacy. For sci-fi and fantasy fans, this audiobook freebie is a no-brainer – especially if you’ve got a soft spot for tales of valor and far-off worlds.

What I loved most, though, was how it transported me. I’ve always believed stories are a kind of travel, and “Warlord of Mars” took me somewhere wild and untamed. It’s not just Carter’s quest; it’s the way Weber’s voice carries you across the red plains, past crumbling cities and into the heart of a man who’d defy a planet for love. If you’re new to audiobooks or just craving an escape, this is a stellar pick. Pair it with a long drive or a quiet night under the stars, and let it sweep you away.

Reflecting on it now, I’m reminded of why I chase stories – whether it’s a podcast mic, a notepad in a bustling mercado, or an audiobook humming through my speakers. They connect us to something bigger, something human, no matter how alien the setting. “Warlord of Mars” isn’t perfect, but it’s a d*mn fine ride – and with JD Weber at the helm, it’s one I’ll revisit the next time I need to feel the wind of another world on my face.

Until the next road, the next tale – safe travels, amigos,
Marcus Rivera