Looking Back at a Historic Year—and Ahead to the Year of Mars!

As many of you know, 2023 has been a year of special significance for our company, as Mr. Burroughs founded and incorporated Edgar Rice Burroughs, Inc., 100 years ago to protect, preserve, and manage his literary and creative legacy. We are both humbled and honored to be here a century later continuing to bring Mr. Burroughs’ works and vision to the world, none of which would be possible without each and every reader of his tales of fantasy and romance, and all the fans worldwide of his unrivaled universe of exotic worlds and intrepid heroes.

In March of this past year, we commemorated the corporation’s hundredth anniversary with a Centennial Open House event at the historic offices in Tarzana, California, where Edgar Rice Burroughs managed his business and wrote many of his classic tales. The event was attended by many fans and friends of the company.

As part of the festivities, as well as for those who could not attend the event, we prepared a video to celebrate the past century of Edgar Rice Burroughs, which you may watch below. The video features tributes, reminiscences, and appearances by ERB’s grandsons Danton Burroughs and John Burroughs; ERB’s great-granddaughters Llana Jane Burroughs, Dejah Burroughs, and Kathleen Bonnaud; President Jim Sullos, Vice President of Operations Cathy Wilbanks, Director of Publishing Christopher Paul Carey, Assistant Treasurer Janet Mann, and Operations Manager Charlotte Wilbanks from ERB, Inc.; Tarzan actors Casper Van Dien and Wolf Larson; artist Thomas Yeates; longtime fans Bill and Sue-On Hillman from ERBzine; authors Win Scott Eckert and Will Murray; Burroughs Bulletin Editor Henry G. Franke III; author Jeffrey J. Mariotte; artist Douglas Klauba, Meteor House Publisher Mike Croteau; and longtime fan Jess Terrell.

Centennial Year Photo Gallery

Here’s a look at some very special memories from this past centennial year:

Onward to the Year of Mars, and More!

 

ERB Authorized Library Update

One major achievement of this past year was wrapping up production on Tarzan volumes #21–24 in the Edgar Rice Burroughs Authorized Library. For the first time in decades, all 24 volumes of the original adult Tarzan books will soon be back in print. Since our printer slowed down its output over the holidays, we are now expecting the books to begin shipping sometime in January 2024. It won’t be long now!

So, you might ask, what’s next? Mars, of course! Specifically, what we have begun calling the Year of Mars, with multiple Barsoom titles to be released in 2024. We are already well underway on the production of Barsoom volumes #1–3. The texts of the three novels are being proofread, the new front and back matter is being written, and artist Joe Jusko is hard at work creating a new set of stunning and iconic cover paintings and frontispieces destined to stand the test of time alongside more than a century’s worth of imaginative visualizations of ERB’s Barsoom.

With rising printing and production costs, we’ve decided to make it a little less painful for your pocketbook by releasing smaller sets of ERB Authorized Library volumes at a time, which will also allow us publish sets at a faster rate and get them into your hands sooner. So the first Barsoom set will include the classic three-book John Carter of Mars trilogy—A Princess of Mars, The Gods of Mars, and The Warlord of Mars—which we hope to put up for preorder this Spring. Then, a few short months later, after the first set has shipped to customers, we’ll switch to releasing two-book sets, with the next set to go up for preorder consisting of Thuvia, Maid of Mars and The Chessmen of Mars. And then presales for another two-book set will be announced only a few months later, and so on. This should help cut down on the time between preorder announcements and shipping the final product to customers—something we think we can all get behind, since we are as eager to release these timeless tales of adventure and romance as we know you are eager to read them!

Edgar Rice Burroughs Universe Update

Continuing with the Year of Mars, we are thrilled to be publishing the first novel to feature everyone’s favorite incomparable princess in the lead role—Dejah Thoris! A Princess of Mars: Shadow of the Assassins by Ann Tonsor Zeddies (author of Deathgift, Steel Helix, and Blood and Roses: A Jayne Taylor Novel, as well as the ERB Universe novelette “Victory Harben: Stormwinds of Va-nah”) turned in her novel earlier this year and has been waiting patiently for it to advance in the publishing cue. Well, the time is almost nigh! As soon as the cover art is finished, we’ll be putting the book up for preorder. As a bonus, the back pages of A Princess of Mars: Shadow of the Assassins will feature a brand-new novelette, “John Carter of Mars: Swords of the Mind” by fan-favorite author Geary Gravel (John Carter of Mars: Gods of the Forgotten).

While 2024 is the Year of Mars, it’s also the 100th anniversary of the book publication of The Land That Time Forgot and the 50th anniversary of the 1974 film of the same name directed by Kevin Connor and starring Doug McClure. To commemorate these occasions, we have commissioned a new Caspak novel to be written titled The Land That Time Forgot: Fortress Primeval. The author of the novel will be Mike Wolfer, whom ERB fans will know from the quality work he’s done on a host of Edgar Rice Burroughs Universe comic books and graphic novels, as well as for writing the prose novelettes “Victory Harben: Clash on Caspak” and “Beyond the Farthest Star: Escape on Zandar.”

We are also extremely excited to bring author Joshua Reynolds on board the ERB Universe team to write a direct sequel to The Monster Men, Edgar Rice Burroughs’ classic horror novel exploring the spine-tingling question of what it really means to be human. Josh has written more than 30 novels and numerous works of short fiction for properties such as Warhammer, Legend of the Five Rings, Mack Bolan: The Executioner, and Arkham Horror, in addition to penning his own excellent 1920s pulp-inspired Casefiles of the Royal Occultist series. We don’t yet have a release date for Return of the Monster Men, so it’s possible this one may slip onto the 2025 release schedule, but we wanted to let you know that the Monster Men are coming! And just to make sure everyone’s caught up on the story, we plan to release Return of the Monster Men simultaneously with a special Vintage Cover Art Edition of ERB’s original The Monster Men novel. Stay tuned!

Additionally, we’re happy to report that Win Scott Eckert’s upcoming novel, Korak at the Earth’s Core, Book One of The Dead Moon Super-Arc, is still on track for an early 2024 release. Win, of course, is the author of the very popular ERB Universe novel Tarzan: Battle for Pellucidar, so you’re not going to want to miss this first book in this brand-new Super-Arc.  Korak at the Earth’s Core will be followed by Pellucidar: Land of Awful Shadow  (Book Two in the Dead Moon Super-Arc trilogy) by Win Scott Eckert, so make sure you are signed up for the official Edgar Rice Burroughs Newsletter to be notified of the preorder announcement for next chapter in the saga.

Edgar Rice Burroughs Universe Illustrated Epics Update

Last year saw the publication of the ERB Universe prose novel Victory Harben: Fires of Halos by Christopher Paul Carey, featuring wayward scientist and adventurer Victory Harben, who finds herself unwittingly transported to the Omos planetary system from Edgar Rice Burroughs’ novel Beyond the Farthest Star (among other destinations in the spacetime continuum). We are proud to be presenting the next chapter in Victory’s far-flung exploits very soon, this time in the form of the full-length graphic novel Victory Harben: Ghosts of Omos, written by Mike Wolfer and illustrated by Alessandro Ranaldi, with colors by Arthur Hesli and lettering by Natalie Jane. But that’s not all. Alongside Ghosts of Omos, we will also be releasing a trade paperback titled Victory Harben: Warriors of Zandar, which will collect all four issues of the critically acclaimed Beyond the Farthest Star: Warriors of Zandar mini-series. The campaign for both graphic novels will launch on Kickstarter early in the New Year, and will include exclusive Kickstarter rewards that you’ll truly have to see to believe! (Hmmm…handcrafted Hucklebuck plushies, anyone…?)

Oh, we almost forgot… Another reason you might want to check out Victory Harben: Ghosts of Omos is because, in addition to being a satisfying standalone story, it just happens to be the lead-in to the upcoming, yet-to-be announced Victory Harben prose novel by Christopher Paul Carey. (Wait…did we just announce it…? More details on that later!)

Cover credits (left to right): Richard Ortiz & Arthur Hesli; Mike Wolfer & Arthur Hesli; Alessandro Ranaldi & Bruna Costa; and cover model Nina Andrade with design by Mike Wolfer

Also, if you missed the Kickstarter Edition of The Moon Maid: The Three Keys graphic novel (and even if you didn’t!), look for the Mass Market Edition to be arriving soon in the ERB Universe Illustrated Epics section of our webstore.

And if that’s not enough for you, we have even more ERB Universe Illustrated Epics in the works, but we’ll save the details of those projects for a later time!

Follow Us On Kickstarter!

Get the first look at each ERB Universe Illustrated Epic as it launches on Kickstarter! Just create a Kickstarter account or sign into your existing account, then click on the “Follow” button on ERB, Inc.’s Kickstarter profile page to be notified each time we have a new campaign ready for launch! Special Note: Our Kickstarter campaigns offer collectible Kickstarter exclusive and variant editions, along with other merchandise, that will never be made available anywhere else.

Wild Adventures of Edgar Rice Burroughs Update

And closing out the Year of Mars, we have Gauntlets of Mars: A Novel of Barsoom, the stunning sequel to Chris L Adams acclaimed novel Dark Tides of Mars. The latter story ended on something of a cliffhanger for protagonist Dat Voga, so we are all waiting with bated breath to find out what will happen in the next chapter of our hero’s amazing odyssey. We’ll also get answers to some intriguing questions about the mysteries of Ancient Barsoom before the seas dried up and scavenging hordes of green Martians began roving the forlorn, moss-covered dead sea bottoms.

 

 

 

Last Chance—Holiday Sale Ending Soon!

Don’t miss out on unprecedented savings—the massive Holiday Sale in our online store ends January 8, 2024! From ERB-related books, comics, puzzles, and playing cards to our classy Tarzan Crest Clothing and Hand-Painted Tarzan Centennial Anniversary Statue crafted by legendary artist Joe DeVito, it’s all on sale!


So that’s it for now. Until next time, en garde! Take your sword in hand and get ready for an adventurous New Year—the Year of Mars!

Best wishes for a Happy New Year from the Edgar Rice Burroughs, Inc., Team.


© Edgar Rice Burroughs, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Trademarks Edgar Rice Burroughs®, Edgar Rice Burroughs Authorized Library™, Edgar Rice Burroughs Universe™, ERB Universe™, Edgar Rice Burroughs Universe Illustrated Epics™, Tarzan®, Korak™, John Carter®, John Carter of Mars®, Dejah Thoris®, A Princess of Mars®, Gods of Mars®, Warlord of Mars®, Barsoom®, Pellucidar®, At the Earth’s Core™, The Land That Time Forgot®, Caspak™, The Monster Men™, The Moon Maid™, Beyond the Farthest Star™, and Victory Harben™ Owned by Edgar Rice Burroughs, Inc. Associated logos, characters, names, and the distinctive likenesses thereof are trademarks or registered trademarks of Edgar Rice Burroughs, Inc.

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Preorder Now: MAHARS OF PELLUCIDAR® and
RED AXE OF PELLUCIDAR® by John Eric Holmes!

The Legendary Fan-Favorite Novels
in Brand-New Authorized Editions!

Mahars of Pellucidar & Red Axe of Pellucidar

Cover art by Richard Hescox

Tarzana, California (June 29, 2022) The groundbreaking Edgar Rice Burroughs Universe series continues with two novels of classic adventure by John Eric Holmes!

Mahars of Pellucidar tells the tale of Chris West, a new hero who is transported to the prehistoric world of Pellucidar, which was first introduced in Edgar Rice Burroughs’ classic novel At the Earth’s Core. Mahars of Pellucidar was originally published in a mass market paperback edition by Ace Books in 1976, and this new release from Edgar Rice Burroughs, Inc., marks the first time the novel has been made available in a hardcover edition!

Red Axe of Pellucidar, the exciting sequel to Mahars of Pellucidar, achieved cult status in the decades since it was written and has never appeared in print in a professionally published, authorized edition—until now!

Preorders of both books are now available directly from ERB, Inc. Softcover and hardcover editions, as well as limited Collector’s Editions with signed bookplates, will be available in a simultaneous release. The novels are expected to ship to customers Late Summer 2022.

Bonus Trading Cards—While Supplies Last!

All preorders of Mahars of Pellucidar and Red Axe of Pellucidar placed directly from ERB, Inc.’s online store will come with an exclusive collectible ERB Universe trading card. Preorders of any edition (paperback, hardcover, or Collector’s Edition) of Mahars of Pellucidar will come with a trading card spotlighting the malevolent Mahars, and preorders of any edition (paperback, hardcover, or Collector’s Edition) of Red Axe of Pellucidar will come with a trading card featuring Jason Gridley of Earth. If you preorder both books, you will get both trading cards. Collect all of the trading cards by preordering each ERB Universe novel directly from ERBurroughs.com!

 

Hardcover Limited Collector’s Editions

The hardcover Collector’s Editions of Mahars of Pellucidar and Red Axe of Pellucidar each feature a special ERB Universe bookplate signed by Christopher West Holmes (John Eric Holmes’ son, who also wrote the books’ forewords and illustrated their frontispieces), along with facsimile signatures of John Eric Holmes and Edgar Rice Burroughs. Additionally, the Collector’s Editions of Mahars of Pellucidar and Red Axe of Pellucidar will include an additional ERB Universe trading card featuring Richard Hescox’s cover art for the respective book. Each Collector’s Edition is limited to only 300 copies.


Mahars of Pellucidar by John Eric HolmesMAHARS OF PELLUCIDAR – First Time in Hardcover!

Cover art by Richard Hescox
Frontispiece and foreword by Christopher West Holmes

When scientist Chris West saw the video-screen image of a beautiful woman about to suffer a gruesome death in an unknown land, he didn’t hesitate to race to her aid by means of an experimental matter transmitter. Plunged headlong into a world of savage men and prehistoric beasts at the Earth’s core, the young ex-Marine would soon be fighting for his own life as a captive of the Mahars, cruel reptilian rulers of the inner world of Pellucidar.

Includes the Bonus Classic Novelette
“Tarzan and the Land That Time Forgot”
by Joe R. Lansdale

While returning from a trip to the Earth’s core, the O-220 dirigible is blown off course by a violent tempest that plunges it into the frigid ocean off the coast of primeval Caspak. Now Tarzan, along with Captain Zuppner and a Pellucidarian woman named Zamona, must battle for survival amid the mysteries and dangers of the Land That Time Forgot!

 

Preorder your copy of Mahars of Pellucidar by John Eric Holmes today!


Red Axe of PellucidarRED AXE OF PELLUCIDAR – First Authorized Edition!

Cover art by Richard Hescox
Frontispiece and foreword by Christopher West Holmes

Chris West’s deadly prowess with his weapon of choice had earned him the name Red Axe in the Stone Age world of Pellucidar at the Earth’s core. Sentenced to die along with the woman he loved by the merciless Mahars, West had fought his way free of the lethal laboratories and ghastly arenas of their underground city. Now he must carve a path for his small band of fugitives through a primordial landscape teeming with monstrous beasts and brutish men bent on their destruction.

Includes the Bonus Novella
“Jason Gridley of Earth: Across the Moons of Mars”
A Tale of the Swords of Eternity Super-Arc
by Geary Gravel

Hurled from world to world by the vagaries of subatomic entanglement, Jason Gridley is plucked from the surface of Barsoom for a whirlwind tour of its mysterious satellites. Menaced by carnivorous cat-men on one moon and marooned with the survivors of a thousand-year-old catastrophe on the other, Jason and an enigmatic fellow traveler from Earth must find some way to survive the perils that threaten to spell their doom.

Preorder your copy of Red Axe of Pellucidar by John Eric Holmes today!


ABOUT THE AUTHORS

 

John Eric Holmes

John Eric Holmes (1930–2010) was the first writer after Edgar Rice Burroughs to pen an authorized novel set in Pellucidar, the world at the Earth’s core. He was also the author of the Buck Rogers novel Mordred as well as several short stories. He is perhaps best known for having written the popular 1977 Dungeons & Dragons Basic Set (also known among D&D players as the “Holmes Basic Set”), which introduced an entire generation to the world of fantasy tabletop roleplaying games. In 1993, he was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Edgar Rice Burroughs Chain of Friendship (ECOF).

Geary Gravel

Geary Gravel is the author of the Edgar Rice Burroughs Universe novel John Carter of Mars: Gods of the Forgotten, the Philip K. Dick Award finalist The Alchemists, and the novels The Pathfinders, A Key for the Nonesuch, and Return of the Breakneck Boys. He has written several novelizations, including Hook, based on the Steven Spielberg film, and Batman: Mask of the Phantasm, based on the animated movie. He lives in western Massachusetts, where he worked for decades as a Sign Language Interpreter for the Deaf.

Joe R. Lansdale

Joe R. Lansdale is the author of fifty novels and four hundred shorter works, including stories, essays, reviews, film and TV scripts, introductions and magazine articles, and a book of poetry. His work has been made into the films Bubba Hotep and Cold in July, as well as the acclaimed Sundance TV show Hap and Leonard.  He has received numerous recognitions for his work. Among them the Edgar, for his crime novel The Bottoms, the Spur, for his historical western Paradise Sky, as well as ten Bram Stokers for his horror works. He has also received the Grandmaster Award and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Horror Writers Association. He has been recognized for his contributions to comics with the Inkpot Life Achievement Award, and has received the British Fantasy Award, and has had two New York Times Notable Books. He has been honored with the Italian Grinzane Cavour Prize, the Sugar Pulp Prize for Fiction, and the Raymond Chandler Lifetime Achievement Award. The Edge of Dark Water was listed by Booklist as an Editor’s Choice, and the American Library Association chose The Thicket, for Adult Books for Young Adults. Library Journal voted The Thicket, as one of the Best Historical Novels of the Year. He has also received an American Mystery Award, the Horror Critics Award, and the Shot in the Dark International Crime Writer’s Award, and was recognized for his contributions to the legacy of Edgar Rice Burroughs with the Golden Lion Award. He is a member of the Texas Institute of Literature and has been inducted into the Texas Literary Hall of Fame and is Writer in Residence at Stephen F. Austin State University. He lives in Nacogdoches, Texas, with his wife, Karen.

ABOUT THE COVER ARTIST

Richard Hescox is one of the founding lights of the Imaginative Realism movement. He has contributed artwork to such projects as the films E.T. and The Dark Crystal, as well as computer games, record albums, and magazine illustrations. He has also provided cover art and interior illustrations for hundreds of books, including the limited edition of A Clash of Kings from the George R. R. Martin’s bestselling Game of Thrones series. Richard previously painted the iconic cover art for all five books of Edgar Rice Burroughs’ Carson of Venus series, as well as Skies of Venus: A Novel of Amtor by Neal Romanek and Tarzan and the Valley of Gold by Fritz Leiber.


Enter the Edgar Rice Burroughs Universe and join the adventure—preorder your copies of Mahars of Pellucidar and Red Axe of Pellucidar today!

SIGN UP FOR ALERTS

Stay tuned to EdgarRiceBurroughs.com and sign up for email updates to be among the first hear of future releases in the series. Also be sure to follow Edgar Rice Burroughs, Inc., on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to keep up with the latest Edgar Rice Burroughs news, publications, and merchandise.


Copyright © Edgar Rice Burroughs, Inc. Trademarks Edgar Rice Burroughs®; Edgar Rice Burroughs Universe™; ERB Universe™; Pellucidar®; At the Earth’s Core™; David Innes™; Dian the Beautiful™; Mahars™; Tarzan®; John Carter®; John Carter of Mars®; The Land That Time Forgot™; Caspak™; Jason Gridley™; Barsoom®; and Swords of Eternity™ owned by Edgar Rice Burroughs, Inc. Associated logos, characters, names, and distinctive likenesses thereof are trademarks or registered trademarks of Edgar Rice Burroughs, Inc.

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