One of the things you don't realize until you have to research the genealogy of superhero stories is how literally all of American pop culture is descended from the Barsoom series. John Carter of Mars should unironically be taught in English classes.
It's weird because you'd think (like I did, going in) that Superman would've been mostly a take on Doc Savage. (The "man of tomorrow/man of bronze" epithets alone...) but no, almost everything derives from John Carter. (albeit indirectly through Flash Gordon in some cases)
And not just sci-fi and capeshit. For example: Burroughs has a good case to make for having invented what's basically the "orc" fantasy archetype with the Green Martians. He's at Marie Corelli magnitudes of influence, but barely any more people know about it. Surreal.
And when you consider that influence, the foundational role of planetary romance in 20th century American culture, (and 21st,since we can't let it go lol) you begin to appreciate Frank Herbert's Dune as one of the most genuinely subversive works of literature in modern history.
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