Happy Birthday Edgar Rice Burroughs

art by Al Williamson & Reed Crandall

Edgar Rice Burroughs was born on this day in 1875.

Having only really caught up with his books with the release of the film 'John Carter', his stories of adventure and interplanetary romance have quickly become some of my favourite reads.

The adventures he wrote of on Mars, Pellucidar, Caspak and Venus got me seeking more stories in a similar vein, and I discovered the stories of Otis A Kline, Philip Nowlan, Robert E Howard, Leigh Brackett, Kenneth Robeson and more vintage pulp sci-fi, fantasy as a result. Quickly becoming my favourite genre!

Without Burroughs, there might not have been any sci-fi to influence the pop culture of today. No Flash Gordon, no Superman, no Star Wars!

So I'd like to say thanks for the hours of joy from reading his books and to inspiring me in the world of science fiction (I have been tinkering away at a pulp SFF style story too).

Happy birthday Edgar Rice Burroughs!