Edgar Rice Burroughs: Still Immortal
Edgar Rice Burroughs died on this date seventy-five years ago. That’s a good, long time. Despite that, his books still sell and his influence still lives on in the Sci-Fi/Fantasy realms.
Read MoreBarsoom Eternal: Roger Zelazny’s "A Rose for Ecclesiastes". An Appreciation
“A Rose for Ecclesiastes” was a triumphant re-telling of the great pulp story. Mars as the home of a mysterious alien civilisation, a secret history of triumph and collapse, played out in a past age while Earthmen fought battles with swords and spears.
Read MoreThe Land That Time Forgot at 100
The Land That Time Forgot uses science to build the world of Caspak, but the foundations are pure adventure. Edgar Rice Burroughs combines all sorts of wild concepts into a ripping yarn worthy of any adventure fan's library. A century later, it is still by no means ‘forgotten’.
Read MoreEdgar Rice Burroughs: Self-Publishing Pioneer
When Edgar Rice Burroughs incorporated himself and his creations in 1923, he blazed a trail for the thousands of other authors who have followed his example in the hundred years since.
Read MoreREVIEW: Tarzan Forever: The Life of Edgar Rice Burroughs by John Taliaferro
John Taliaferro has given us the living, breathing Edgar Rice Burroughs and shown us what a wonderful writer he was. He shows ERB as a courageous and admirable man, a patriot and a family man. Tarzan Forever is also a good book for anyone who wants to understand the pulps and how they produced the finest American stories.
Read MoreFritz Leiber -- Thirty Years Gone
Today marks the thirtieth anniversary of when Fritz Leiber departed this mortal coil. At the venerable age of eighty-one, he left behind him a truly great legacy in the fields of fantasy, science fiction and horror, not to mention the realms of literary criticism and role-playing games. When he died, Leiber had already influenced the likes of Ramsey Campbell, Michael Moorcock, Harlan Ellison, Terry Pratchett, Glen Cook, Tim Powers, Neil Gaiman and Michael Chabon, demonstrating the sheer breadth of what he had wrought.
Read MoreMichael Wm. Kaluta Turns 75
Michael Wm. Kaluta is a living legend in the field of SFF art. Mentored by Roy G. Krenkel, he went on to be part of The Studio, a legendary collective of 1970s artists. His illustrations of the Shadow and the creations of ERB and REH remain legendary.
Read MoreJoe Kubert -- Ten Years Gone
Joe Kubert passed on ten years ago today. An absolute legend in the comic book industry, Kubert's career spanned an astounding seventy-five years. Joe was one of the few comics giants to be admitted to various comic book halls of fame as a writer, artist and inker. In Comic Book Valhalla, Joe Kubert sits at the high table.
Read MoreKaor! (A Belated) Mars Day 2022
2022 marks several landmark anniversaries in the history of the Sword and Planet genre, so skipping Mars Day this year entirely was out of the question.
Read MoreWhat Makes a 'Good' Pastiche, In My Book
It occurred to me that I should clarify my views on 'pastiches', now that there appear to be new Conan pastiches on the horizon courtesy of Funcom.
Read More