When earthmen came to Mars they found a world of dead sea-bottoms, lost civilizations, and secretive barbarian tribes who resented their intrusion on this ancient planet and sneered at the gleaming products of Terrestrial science. The Earthmen in turn looked down upon the crumbling Martian culture, laughed at the stories of invincible gods and magic still lingering in forbidden cities like Valkis,Jekkara, Barrakesh.. But the dangers were real.