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Burroughs used the longest introductory framing device in all his works to draw the reader into the adventures of the Julians. He opens with a description of the Earth, after a century of war, embarking upon a new era of peace. All the weapons of destruction have been gathered and destroyed and communication with the planet Mars has been established. The future prospects for the human race appear bright and full of hope. A passenger on a flight during these momentous events, encounters an admiral who relates a strange tale.
"I am going to tell you," he said, "what I have never told another; but on the condition that if you retell it you are not to use my name. I have several year sof this life ahead of me and I do not care to be pointed out as a lunatic. First let me say that I do not try to explain anyting, except that I do not believe prevision to be a proper explanation. I have actually lived the experiences I shall tell you of, and that girl we saw dancing on the table tonight lived them with me; but she does not know it. If you care to, you can keep in mind the theory that there is no such thing as Time--just keep it in mind--you cannot understand it, or at least I cannot. Here goes." And where we go is into the future. Earth has decided to send a spaceship to Mars. In command of the Barsoom is a young officer named Julian 5th and a rival Lieutenant Orthis, is also aboard the five man ship. The inevitable tension, betrayal and sabotage which is an Ed Burroughs trademark, occurs, crippling the Barsoom as it nears the Moon. Narrowly avoiding complete disaster, the Barsoom enters a vast crater which is apprently bottomless. Not long after the ship and crew enter the interior world (ala Pellucidar) of the Moon known as Vanah. Emerging from the opposite end of the crater, into an area with an atmosphere similar to Earths, the pervasive glow from rock and ground and refracted sunlight through hundreds of crater tunnels to the surface, reveals rugged mountains, immense forests and vast bodies of water. The atmosphere is confined to within 50 miles of the inner surface, becoming extremely rarified very quickly. The mountains are perpetually covered with ice and snow, sending huge glaciers which melt to provide flowing water. Thick clouds pass above the dense forests and the temperature remains a nearly constant 80 degrees Fahrenheit year round. Vanah is a place of violent monthly storms which the natives view with superstitious dread. Trees and animals--and people, too--are often carried away. Julian 5th soon learns there are other dangers, such as the centaur-like Va-gas. Equally dangerous are the court intrigues of the humans. These are all overcome by Julian 5th and he and the Barsoom, with Nah-ee-lah a lunar princess, return to Earth. Orthis, however, was not on that voyage and this would come back to haunt him. In the sequel, The Moon Men Orthis has militarized the Moon and given them space technology. The defenseless Earth is soon conquered by the Kalkars under his command. The tale of Julian 9th is a grim vision of a dictatorial regime trodding heavily upon the conquered Earth. Several hundred years later in The Red Hawk, the descendents of the Julians and Or-tis meet again, this time in a final battle for control of the Earth. The Moon Series
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