01 - Black Amazon of Mars by Leigh Douglass Brackett

In a desperate bid to fulfill a fallen comrades last request, mercenary Eric John Stark embarks on a perilous journey to reclaim a stolen talisman. His destination? A walled city near the Martian pole that harbors the enigmatic Gates of Death. But the path is fraught with danger as he must navigate the ruthless clans of Mekh and the sinister Lord Ciaran, all while grappling with the talismans haunting memories of the Gates. Raised by Mercurian aborigines, Starks quest is as much about survival as it is about uncovering the secrets of his past. Black Amazon of Mars is the third tale featuring Brackett‚As iconic hero Eric John Stark, later expanded into the novel People of the Talisman. Originally published in Planet Stories magazine in March 1951, this story promises an adventurous plunge into the depths of Mars‚A mysteries. (Summary by Gregg Margarite)