Black Amazon of Mars

"Black Amazon of Mars" by Leigh Brackett is a science fiction novel written in the early 1950s. The story follows Eric John Stark, a rugged Earthman, as he traverses the harsh, icy landscapes of Mars, seeking to fulfill a promise to his dying Martian friend, Camar. Stark finds himself entangled in a conflict revolving around a powerful talisman linked to ancient Martian legends, leading him to confront dark forces beyond the Gates of Death. The opening of the novel introduces Stark as he and Camar wait in a ruined tower in Mars' Norlands. Stark learns of Camar's past as a thief who stole a sacred talisman, which he entrusts to Stark with the hope of returning it to the city of Kushat before he dies. As Stark’s journey unfolds, he is warned about the dangers of the North and the impending threat from the savage riders of Mekh. Tension mounts as Stark grapples with visions evoked by the talisman, which reveals a sinister history and portends the dangers that lie ahead, not only for himself but for the city he is bound to protect.