The protagonist is a soldier from the Great War whose tale John Carter has brought to Earth. Having saved the life of an ancient Martian who sells new bodies to wealthy Martians, he learns from this genius the arts of suspended animation and brain transplantation. During his apprenticeship, he falls in love with one of the victims of his master's profitable trade. When her body becomes the property of the evil ruler of a distant city, he revives experimental subjects and sets forth to reco...