MY PRINCESS!

"Jed or panthan, "she said. "What difference does it make what one's slave has been?"

The above words were the last ever uttered by my favorite of all ERB's beautiful princesses, Tara of Helium, at the end of "Chessmen of Mars", the fifth Barsoom novel.

"Far across the distance, and spaces between us......."
"Love can touch you one time, and last for a lifetime!......"

Those lyrics from "Titanic" certainly reflect my own feelings when it comes to the heroines of ERB's books; and most particularly when I think of the daughter of the Warlord.

I fell in love with this fictional princess when I was about seventeen, and this nostalgic and fictional love still gives me a great deal of pleasure, and fun, too.

She is not the most popular of ERB's female characters. Dejah Thoris and Jane are the best-known, and best-loved, of the women.

Still, Tara will always be my favorite.

These lovely, courageous, fiercely loyal women are but three of so many memorable ERB princesses. Each book featured a new romance; and a new, unique girl for the hero to love.

Perhaps neither of the girls depicted in this Boris Vallejo sketch is Tara of Helium; or Dejah Thoris; or even a princess of Barsoom. It is however a beauatiful sketch of two girls who could be ERB princesses; girls who could bring quiet and passionate moments of peace,love, beauty, and happiness to a warrior; and give him also someone to fight for, and even to die for.

Because many of ERB's women have unique characteristics, and charms, I depict them separately. These are many I have enjoyed in his books. They are not necessarily presented in accordance with my fondness for them; except for the first few. As I read the books, I will add to the list, and to my thoughts about each one. I use the term "Princess" to describe them all; whether cave girl or Queen. They are all princesses to me.

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Copyright 1998 by Robert A. Woodley. All rights reserved worldwide.

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