Ryan Koch’s Reviews > The Chessmen of Mars > Status Update

No, this book is not an allegory because the characters and setting don't tie into anything historically. No situations in this book reflect human issues either.

Tara runs away from Barsoom due to a man making a move on her. She is captured by the Kaldanes due to a storm. She escapes with one of the people, renamed Turan, from her home who went after her. She, Ghek the Kaldane, and Turan are captured. Tara is then used as a prize for a fight in an arena, while Ghek and Turan await their fates.

When Tara and her comrade are captured by U-dor, her comrade offers to fight for freedom, but she tells him that "it is brave, but it is useless" (808).