I knew Edgar Rice Burrough’s John Carter
A Princess of Mars was “of its time” - but it’s really really racist. I guess I am privileged enough to have forgotten that John Carter’s a former Confederate soldier. And in the first 2 chapters, which take place on Earth, John Carter’s attitude towards the Native Americans who have taken his colleague (“a polished southern gentleman”) is horrible - he uses the term “savage” at least 3 times over the course of 2 pages.
20 pages in, and I’ve got 10 of the 11 books - I’m assuming the racism continues throughout. And that John Carter never critically looks at his own role in the Civil War as a soldier defending the institution of chattel slavery. Also, John Carter is the poster boy for "White Savior" archetype - blech
There are plenty of these out in the world if people want to seek them out - but I won't assist them in finding it. So goodbye John Carter books
Now at least they'll participate in carbon capture as my local landfill will turn paper and other organics into mulch/soil
I will also say that I should have known - pre-1980 books continue to disappoint from a racism/sexism/colonialism/etc standpoint. I don't have the time left in my life to force myself to read books "of their time". So many other good books in the world for me to read.