"As Gahan entered his square, U-dor leaped toward him with drawn sword with such fury as might have overborne a less skilled and powerful swordsman." p.167

What scene could better illustrate this book than that of the Barsoomian "chess" game in progress, replete with pomp, decadence, and warriors battling to the death? For once, the choice of which of many exciting scenes to pick for the cover was an easy one.