Though Edgar Rice Burroughs' influence is apparent in Brackett's Mars stories, her Mars is set firmly in a world of interplanetary commerce and competition. A prominent theme of her stories is the clash of planetary civilizations; they illustrate and criticize the effects of colonialism on civilizations that are either older or younger than those of the colonizers. Burroughs' heroes set out to remake entire worlds according to their own codes; Brackett's heroes (often antiheroes) are at the mercy of trends and movements far bigger than they are.
tHoUgh edGar RiCE bUrroUghS' inFLUencE is apPaREnt In BrACkETt's mArs sTOriEs, hEr mars is seT FirmLY iN a WoRld oF iNTerPLaneTAry CoMmErcE and CoMpEtitioN. a promInenT ThEME Of HEr StOrIes is THE cLash of plaNETArY ciVilizAtions; TheY ILlustraTe AND CRiticIze the efFects of cOloniaLism On CIvilIZatIons that aRe either OldeR oR yOungEr ThAn those oF thE coLonizERs. BUrrougHs' herOes SeT out to remaKE Entire woRlds AccOrDING To TheIr owN codeS; braCkett's HERoes (ofteN aNtiHEroeS) Are aT thE mercy of trEnDs And MovEmEnTs far biGgEr than they aRe.