Thursday 22 May 2014

Tharks, Treens, Martians, Merseians, Vulcanians, Chereionites And Ferrans

I said three posts back (here) that hostile green aliens were a Golden Age sf cliche and, in fact, Edgar Rice Burroughs' Green Martians of the Thark, Warhoon and lesser hordes are both green-skinned and warlike. (The one good thing about the John Carter film is its accurate depiction of ERBian Green Martians. Computer-aided graphics get that much right.) Further, Dan Dare's Venus-based Treens were also green and warlike. Thus, Poul Anderson's green, warlike, extra-solar Merseians are part of a grand tradition.

Anderson's The Rebel Worlds parallels other sf works. When Dominic Flandry commands the escort destroyer, HMS Asieneuve, his executive officer is a Ferran who does not share human morality just as, when James T Kirk commands the starship, USS Enterprise, his exec is a Vulcan who does not share human emotions. However, Rovian of Ferra is fanged, has four arms of which the lower pair can double as legs and goes naked except for weapons and insignia. In all of this, he resembles the ERBian Greens although his black fur and tail differentiate him from them. Tharks etc are bald.

Kirk's friend, a Vulcan, has pointed ears and can telepathically "mind-meld." Flandry's opponent, a Chereionite, has pointed ears and is a universal telepath. But lastly, of course, Poul Anderson's sf is of a far higher imaginative and literary quality than that of ERB, Dan Dare or Star Trek.

1 comment:

Sean M. Brooks said...

Hi, Paul!

I certainly agree the SF writings of Poul Anderson are "of a far higher imaginative and literary quality than that of ERB, "Dan Dare" or "Star Trek." " I would simply add that I am also fond of the Barsoom books ERB. They remain classics of purple prose science fantasy. And, frankly, ERB could write well, if you don't mind his early 20th centruy, pre Hemingway style. To say nothing of how ERB was also in many ways ethically superior to many later writers. He honors courage, generosity to one's enmies, and chivalry towards women.

Hmmm, for that matter, so does Poul Anderson!

Sean