Edgar Rice Burroughs is best known for swinging through jungles with Tarzan, but in The Moon Maid, he sets his sights much higher—literally. This 1926 serial packs a surprising amount of story into its pages, blending science fiction, fantasy, and a dash of prophetic warning.

The Story

The tale begins with Julian, a young American officer who stumbles upon a secret: a scientist has built a spaceship. Not just any ship, but one that can travel to the moon. Julian joins the expedition, and they crash-land in the strange, underground world of Va-nah. Here, he finds a society in turmoil, caught between the peaceful but passive Va-gas and the savage, nomadic U-gas. Julian falls for Nah-ee-lah, the courageous Moon Maid of the title, and gets swept into their ancient conflict, fighting monstrous creatures and rival tribes to protect her and her people.

But here's the twist that makes this book stand out. This lunar adventure is actually a story-within-a-story, told by Julian's descendant in a far-future Earth that has fallen into a new dark age. Burroughs connects Julian's fate on the moon to a cyclical, epic struggle for civilization back on our own planet, making the stakes feel huge and strangely personal.

Why You Should Read It

Look, this is classic pulp fiction. The prose is straightforward, the action is constant, and the hero is brave and true. But don't let that fool you. Burroughs wasn't just writing a simple adventure. He was playing with big concepts—lost civilizations, the rise and fall of empires, and the enduring nature of the human spirit across millennia. Julian and Nah-ee-lah are classic Burroughs protagonists: resourceful, honorable, and always ready for a fight. Their relationship feels genuine amidst the chaos.

The real joy for me was the sheer, unfiltered imagination on display. The world-building is delightfully odd, filled with unique creatures and cultures. It's a product of its time, sure, but it has a creative spark that still feels fresh.

Final Verdict

The Moon Maid is perfect for readers who love foundational sci-fi and fantasy, enjoy a fast-paced adventure with a romantic heart, and appreciate seeing where today's genre tropes got their start. It's for anyone who wants to visit a wildly imagined world without overcomplicated science. If you approach it with the spirit of a Saturday morning serial—ready for cliffhangers, noble heroes, and pure, imaginative fun—you'll have a blast. Just be prepared for a story that goes much deeper than its surface might suggest.