Tara, Princess of Helium and daughter of John Carter and Dejah Thoris, unwisely flies off into a storm after rejecting her suitor, Gahan of Gathol. Gahan, sets off in pursuit and finds himself fighting for an amnesiac Tara on the chessboards of Manator.

"The Chessmen of Mars" was first published in Argosy All-Story Weekly (February 18, 25, March 4, 11, 18, 25, 1922). The first hardcover edition was published by A.C. McClurg & Co., November 29, 1922. The dust jacket and eight sepia interior plates were done by J. Allen St. John.