The secret is out! We at Edgar Rice Burroughs, Inc., are again receiving transmissions from other worlds, just as Edgar Rice Burroughs himself did during the first half of the twentieth century. And just like Mr. Burroughs, we are presenting the accounts of these transmissions to an eager reading public under the guise of “novels,” featuring a spectacular array of heroes and heroines such as Tarzan, John Carter of Mars, and more.
The first out of the gate is CARSON OF VENUS: THE EDGE OF ALL WORLDS, transcribed by author Matt Betts. The whole thing began when Matt visited our Tarzana offices last year and had an unexpected encounter with Carson Napier. In Matt’s book, which was released last week, we finally catch up with Carson on the planet Amtor after more than a half century of silence. Napier’s last recorded adventure, THE WIZARD OF VENUS, was first published in 1964.
CARSON OF VENUS: THE EDGE OF ALL WORLDS is set in 1950, the year of Mr. Burroughs’ passing. It launches what we are calling the Swords of Eternity super-arc, a cycle of “novels” and “novelettes” set in the interconnected Edgar Rice Burroughs Universe. Here is a teaser for the new tale:
When a mysterious enemy attacks his adopted nation of Korva, Earthman Carson Napier discovers his own arrival on Venus years ago may have unknowingly triggered the strike. The invaders’ trail of death and destruction leads Carson and his beloved princess Duare headlong into battle against a seemingly invincible, primordial race. But that is not Carson’s only challenge, for an uncanny phenomenon has entangled him with two strange individuals from beyond spacetime. Will Carson be able to solve the mysteries of his past and the enigmatic visitors before the entire planet descends into chaos?
But wait — I can already hear your question! How can these “novels” and “novelettes” possibly be real? We know that Venus is too hot and inhospitable to support human life, and that the many Martian landers have indicated that Mars — the adopted home of that famed fighting man of Virginia, John Carter — appears to be uninhabited. Moreover, Pellucidar, the hollow world at the Earth’s core that Mr. Burroughs wrote of — how could it feasibly exist?
The latter is just the question that young physics student Victory Harben asks at the opening of “Pellucidar: Dark of the Sun,” the bonus “novelette” at the end of CARSON OF VENUS: THE EDGE OF ALL WORLDS. I have personally transcribed this tale from transmissions received via our Gridley Wave set, here in Tarzana. We recently discovered the device in a locked drawer in Mr. Burroughs’ old desk. As the Swords of Eternity super-arc continues in new releases over the next year, the reader will discover the answers to these enigmatic questions and learn to ask new ones.
The saga of the Edgar Rice Burroughs Universe is just getting started! Stay tuned for further accounts of adventure and wonder over the coming months, including TARZAN: BATTLE FOR PELLUCIDAR by Win Scott Eckert, JOHN CARTER OF MARS: GODS OF THE FORGOTTEN by Geary Gravel, and VICTORY HARBEN: FIRES OF HALOS by yours truly. I can assure you, the ERB Universe is a reality you’re going to want to get lost in!
(Christopher Paul Carey is the author of several books, including SWORDS AGAINST THE MOON MEN — an authorized sequel to Edgar Rice Burroughs’ THE MOON MAID — and the forthcoming ERB Universe novel VICTORY HARBEN: FIRES OF HALOS. He has also scripted comic books featuring Burroughs’ characters such as Tarzan, Dejah Thoris, and Carson of Venus. He is Director of Publishing at Edgar Rice Burroughs, Inc., and the creative director of the Edgar Rice Burroughs Universe series.
Covered by clouds and shrouded in mystery, the planet Venus was the last place Carson Napier expected to touch down when he launched his rocket for Mars. But a miscalculation sent him hurtling out of control through the cloaking mists of Earth’s sister world. When Napier’s rocket crashed on Venus, he knew that there would be no return to Earth for him.
Edgar Rice Burroughs originally wrote about the world of Venus — known as Amtor — during the 1930s for ARGOSY. The first novel in the series — “The Pirates of Venus” — was serialized in six parts by the Munsey pulp magazine. The initial segment of the story appeared in the September 17, 1932 issue, behind a cover by Paul Stahr.
Burroughs’ original Venus series included five novels, first published between 1932 and 1964. Matt Betts continues the adventures of Carson Napier this April with THE EDGE OF ALL WORLDS. Published by Edgar Rice Burroughs, Inc., it features cover art by Chris Peuler.
Copyright © Edgar Rice Burroughs, Inc. All rights reserved. Trademarks Edgar Rice Burroughs®, Edgar Rice Burroughs Universe™, ERB Universe™, Tarzan®, John Carter®, John Carter of Mars®, Carson of Venus®, Pellucidar®, and Victory Harben™ owned by Edgar Rice Burroughs, Inc. All relevant logos, characters, names, and the distinctive likenesses thereof are trademarks or registered trademarks of ERB, Inc. Used by permission.)
