American author Edgar Rice Burroughs wrote a science fantasy book titled The Warlord of Mars. The Gods of Mars, the first book in the series, ended abruptly where this one picks up. The story opens with the wife of John Carter and two other women are imprisoned in a slowly revolving jail linked to the Temple of the Sun, which is only accessible to outside world once a year. Meanwhile, Xodar, a friend of Carter's, has taken over as the new Jeddak of the black Martian First Born, and the white Martian therns who oppose the traditional religion now have a new leader. The Holy Hekkador Matai Shang is one of the people who still supports the ancient, discredited religion. Meanwhile, Xodar, a friend of Carter's, has taken over as the new Jeddak of the black Martian First Born, and the white Martian therns who oppose the traditional religion now have a new leader. The Holy Hekkador Matai Shang is one of the people who still supports the ancient, discredited religion. Later, the story takes John Carter to the north polar cap where he discovers the Yellow Martians, who live on the north polar cap behind a ring-shaped ice barrier. Will our hero die as a result of this frozen civilization?