Edgar Rice Burroughs Books

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Edgar Rice Burroughs was a highly popular author that wrote science fiction, mysteries, thrillers, and Westerns. Best known for the Tarzan and John Carter stories, Burroughs was born in 1875 in Chicago to George Tyler Burroughs and Mary.

The author was the fifth of six sons, two of whom died shortly after birth. Burroughs and his remaining siblings attended Brown Elementary in Chicago. The author was eventually forced to adapt to a lonely childhood once his brothers went off to various schools.

His life was punctuated by bouts of illness, one of which interrupted his studies at Harvard School. After a stint at an Idaho ranch (which his brothers owned), the author returned home and joined Phillips Academy, Andover, MA, where he explored his creative side by drawing cartoons and writing poems for the school’s newspaper.

Unfortunately, his grades were quite poor. Burroughs’ father responded by sending him to the Michigan Military Academy. Initially, the relentless hazing threatened to derail Burroughs’ studies. But he persevered, becoming an outstanding student and athlete.

Although, he failed the West Point admittance exam and eventually found a home in the 7th US Calvary. But any plans he had for a future in the military faded when doctors discovered a heart murmur, and the army discharged him.

The author tried his hand at several jobs, including buying and running a stationary store, working at his father’s company, managing a gold dredging operation, securing employment as a railroad policeman, and more.

But besides his marriage to Emma Hulbert, nothing worked. At one point, Emma had to sell her jewelry to feed the family because her husband’s attempts to sell snake-oil medicine had failed.

There’s no telling what would have become of Burroughs if he hadn’t opened an agency to sell pencil sharpeners. The author started perusing pulp magazines because some of them advertised his wares. He read their stories and realized he could write stories of similar or superior quality.

Burroughs called upon the creative powers he first exercised during his childhood when he dabbled in fiction and submitted a short story called ‘Deja Thoris.’ All-Story Magazine bought the piece for $400, which was a lot of money at the time.

Because the story was longer than conventional short stories, the magazine released it in six installments. Years later, it became a full-length novel, the first in the Barsoom/John Carter series.

Although, Burroughs is still primarily known for Tarzan, a character he first introduced in his third All-Story Magazine piece. The character became a household name, prompting A.C. McClurg and Company to offer Burroughs a deal for multiple Tarzan novels.

Interestingly, the author’s desire to serve in the army never left him. He tried to enlist during WWI, but his health and age disqualified him. Years later, the attack on Pearl Harbor, which he witnessed, prompted him to join the civilian Businessmen’s Military Training Corps as a public relations officer.

Edgar Rice Burroughs Awards

Burroughs’ accolades include the Inkpot Award and a Hugo Award nomination.

Edgar Rice Burroughs Books Into Movies

Hollywood produced several movies and mini-series from Burroughs’ Tarzan books, including Tarzan 1999, Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, and The Adventures of Tarzan 1921. Additional adaptations include The Land That Time Forgot, At The Earth’s Core, Jungle Girl, The People That Time Forgot, and Tarzan the Tiger.

Best Edgar Rice Burroughs Books

The author had such a significant impact on science fiction that scientists named an impact crater on Mars after him. Burroughs’ best books include:

A Princess of Mars: John Carter’s life changed forever when he woke up on Mars. But the red planet wasn’t quite what he expected. Instead of a barren wasteland, Carter encountered a civilization of tribes engulfed in war. One such tribe took him prisoner and grew to respect him when the green six-limbed savages realized that Carter’s muscles gave him an advantage on Mars because the planet had a weaker gravity than Earth.

Now, Carter must decide whether he’s willing to risk everything to save a human-looking princess.

The Gods of Mars: After finding adventure and love on Mars, life on Earth couldn’t satisfy John Carter’s longing. He was essentially in exile. He thought his ordeal had ended when he finally returned to Mars. But the woman he loved was gone, and Carter was trapped in the Eden of Mars.

When Does The Next Edgar Rice Burroughs book come out?

Edgar Rice Burroughs doesn't seem to have an upcoming book. Their newest book is Skeleton Men of Jupiter and was released on May, 10th 2018. It is the newest book in the John Carter Of Mars Series.

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