Master of Adventure: The Worlds of Edgar Rice Burroughs
Encyclopedia
Master of Adventure: The Worlds of Edgar Rice Burroughs is a book by Richard A. Lupoff
that explores the work of Edgar Rice Burroughs
, the creator of Tarzan
and author of numerous science fiction, fantasy, and adventure novels. The book is one of the few major works of criticism covering the work of Edgar Rice Burroughs, and it helped create renewed interest in Burroughs's work during the 1960s.
The book was first published in hardcover by Canaveral Press
in 1965 under the title Edgar Rice Burroughs: Master of Adventure. A revised and enlarged second edition with a new introduction by the author was published in paperback by Ace Books
in 1968, with a third "centennial edition," adding a new introduction by the author and also in paperback, following from the same publisher in 1975. Both Ace editions featured cover art by Frank Frazetta
, that of 1968 being recycled from the publisher's earlier edition of Burroughs's The Beasts of Tarzan
, and that of 1975 being new.
A fourth edition, again revised and enlarged with new content, was published as a trade paperback by Bison Books in 2005. The work was retitled Master of Adventure: The Worlds of Edgar Rice Burroughs for the fourth edition. New content in the 2005 edition includes a foreword by fantasy author Michael Moorcock
, an admirer of Burroughs's work, a new foreword by the author, an essay by Phillip R. Burger, a consultant to Edgar Rice Burroughs, Inc.; corrected text, and an updated bibliography.
All four editions include a preface by Henry Hardy Heins
and twelve black and white illustrations, including four by Al Williamson
and Reed Crandall
, two by Crandall alone, and six by Frank Frazetta
. For the fourth edition the frontispiece illustration by Williamson and Crandall, "Edgar Rice Burroughs and His Most Famous Creations," was colorized and reused as the cover illustration.
The book includes outlines for all of Burroughs's major novels and covers several aspects of his body of work, including influences upon his work, works influenced by Burroughs, and later works by Burroughs that never came to fruition due to his service in World War II
as a war correspondent and declining health later in life. Lupoff also offers a recommended reading list of essential Burroughs novels that is notable for its placement of the relatively obscure Burroughs novels The War Chief and The Mucker
at third and fourth place respectively.
series was heavily influenced by Lieutenant Gullivar Jones: His Vacation
(1905) and The Wonderful Adventures of Phra the Phoenician (1890) by Edwin L. Arnold.
Richard A. Lupoff
Richard Allen Lupoff is an American science fiction and mystery author, who has also written humor, satire, non-fiction and reviews. In addition to his two dozen novels and more than 40 short stories, he has also edited science-fantasy anthologies. He is an expert on the writing of Edgar Rice...
that explores the work of Edgar Rice Burroughs
Edgar Rice Burroughs
Edgar Rice Burroughs was an American author, best known for his creation of the jungle hero Tarzan and the heroic Mars adventurer John Carter, although he produced works in many genres.-Biography:...
, the creator of Tarzan
Tarzan
Tarzan is a fictional character, an archetypal feral child raised in the African jungles by the Mangani "great apes"; he later experiences civilization only to largely reject it and return to the wild as a heroic adventurer...
and author of numerous science fiction, fantasy, and adventure novels. The book is one of the few major works of criticism covering the work of Edgar Rice Burroughs, and it helped create renewed interest in Burroughs's work during the 1960s.
The book was first published in hardcover by Canaveral Press
Canaveral Press
Canaveral Press was a New York-based publisher of fantasy, science fiction and related material, active from the early 1960s through the mid-1970s. Richard A...
in 1965 under the title Edgar Rice Burroughs: Master of Adventure. A revised and enlarged second edition with a new introduction by the author was published in paperback by Ace Books
Ace Books
Ace Books is the oldest active specialty publisher of science fiction and fantasy books. The company was founded in New York City in 1952 by Aaron A. Wyn, and began as a genre publisher of mysteries and westerns...
in 1968, with a third "centennial edition," adding a new introduction by the author and also in paperback, following from the same publisher in 1975. Both Ace editions featured cover art by Frank Frazetta
Frank Frazetta
Frank Frazetta was an American fantasy and science fiction artist, noted for work in comic books, paperback book covers, paintings, posters, LP record album covers and other media...
, that of 1968 being recycled from the publisher's earlier edition of Burroughs's The Beasts of Tarzan
The Beasts of Tarzan
The Beasts of Tarzan is a novel written by Edgar Rice Burroughs, the third in his series of books about the title character Tarzan. Originally serialized in All-Story Cavalier magazine in 1914, the novel was first published in book form by A. C...
, and that of 1975 being new.
Michael Moorcock
Michael John Moorcock is an English writer, primarily of science fiction and fantasy, who has also published a number of literary novels....
, an admirer of Burroughs's work, a new foreword by the author, an essay by Phillip R. Burger, a consultant to Edgar Rice Burroughs, Inc.; corrected text, and an updated bibliography.
All four editions include a preface by Henry Hardy Heins
Henry Hardy Heins
Henry Hardy Heins was an American Lutheran minister, historian and bibliographer. He was born on Long Island and received degrees from Hartwick College and Gettysburg Theological Seminary. He was ordained a Lutheran minister in 1948 and served at parishes in the upstate New York towns of Central...
and twelve black and white illustrations, including four by Al Williamson
Al Williamson
Alfonso "Al" Williamson was an American cartoonist, comic book artist and illustrator specializing in adventure, Western and science-fiction/fantasy...
and Reed Crandall
Reed Crandall
Reed Crandall was an American illustrator and penciller of comic books and magazines. He was best known for the Quality Comics character Blackhawk and for stories in the critically acclaimed EC Comics of the 1950s.Crandall was inducted into the Will Eisner Comic Book Hall of Fame in 2009.-Early...
, two by Crandall alone, and six by Frank Frazetta
Frank Frazetta
Frank Frazetta was an American fantasy and science fiction artist, noted for work in comic books, paperback book covers, paintings, posters, LP record album covers and other media...
. For the fourth edition the frontispiece illustration by Williamson and Crandall, "Edgar Rice Burroughs and His Most Famous Creations," was colorized and reused as the cover illustration.
The book includes outlines for all of Burroughs's major novels and covers several aspects of his body of work, including influences upon his work, works influenced by Burroughs, and later works by Burroughs that never came to fruition due to his service in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
as a war correspondent and declining health later in life. Lupoff also offers a recommended reading list of essential Burroughs novels that is notable for its placement of the relatively obscure Burroughs novels The War Chief and The Mucker
The Mucker (novel)
The Mucker is an Edgar Rice Burroughs fiction novel. Originally two stories, The Mucker begun in August 1913 and published by All-Story Weekly in October and November 1914; and The Return of the Mucker begun in January 1916 and published by All-Story Weekly in June and July 1916. The book version...
at third and fourth place respectively.
Reception
While the response to both editions of the book has been generally favorable, it remains controversial among some Burroughs aficionados, particularly for Lupoff's argument that the BarsoomBarsoom
Barsoom is a fictional representation of the planet Mars created by American pulp fiction author Edgar Rice Burroughs, who wrote close to 100 action adventure stories in various genres in the first half of the 20th century, and is now best known as the creator of the character Tarzan...
series was heavily influenced by Lieutenant Gullivar Jones: His Vacation
Lieutenant Gullivar Jones: His Vacation
Lieutenant Gullivar Jones: His Vacation is a novel by Edwin Lester Arnold combining elements of both fantasy and science fiction, first published in 1905. The last of Arnold's novels, its lukewarm reception led him to stop writing fiction...
(1905) and The Wonderful Adventures of Phra the Phoenician (1890) by Edwin L. Arnold.