[gmw]

I am not sure if it's a male/female perspective or just a difference in expectation. If you come at this as a romance (in the modern sense) then the ending is obviously lacking*. But if you come at it as an adventure/thriller (a romance in the older sense) then the ending makes more sense**.

* The meme (the protagonists being too noble/proud/selfless to think of asking each other what they actually want as opposed to what they think is right) is common enough in romance (modern sense again), but usually as an inciting incident in the story (start or middle). To see it used as a reason for protagonists not getting together at the end is that much more of a discord if a modern romantic conclusion is expected.

** But the other way of looking at it is the heroic romance (older sense), where the hero selflessly sacrifices himself for what he perceives is the greater good. This works for an adventure you want left open to continue.


As to John Carter ... it's been a long while since I last read them, but I remember enjoying them. I think it worth noting that Michael Moorcock wrote a few books as a tribute to Burroughs' John Carter stories. They are, in essence, I slightly more modern (1965) variation of Burroughs' stories. Moorcock's protagonist is called Michael Kane, and the three books are: Warriors of Mars (aka The City of the Beast), Blades of Mars (aka Lord of the Spiders) and Barbarians of Mars (aka Masters of the Pit). I found them good fun, rather short, fast and furious.