The Warlord of Mars is the third of the Edgar Rice Burroughs Barsoom series. John Carter's wife, the princess Dejah Thoris, has been imprisoned in the Temple of the Sun by the vile pretender goddess Issus. In an effort to rescue her he follows the Holy Hekkador Matai Shang to liberate his beloved wife and Holy Thern's daughter.

The rescue takes Carter to the Northern polar regions of Mars where he discovers fantastic creatures and ancient Martian races where he is ultimately victorious in battle and proclaimed Warlord of Barsoom by his allies.

Edgar Rice Burroughs was an American author, best known for his creation of the jungle hero Tarzan, "Lost worlds" and the heroic Mars adventurer John Carter.