287 replies to this topic

[deuce]

Today is the 132nd birthday of Edgar Rice Burroughs. REH had more books on his bookshelf (as we know it) penned by ERB than any other author, including Jack London. For now, here's a link to the foremost ERB site:

http://erbzine.com/


Any and all discussions of ERB are perfectly welcome on this thread.

[Xaltotun]

Huzzah!

Happy b-day, Eddie!


BTW, I love John Carter and that other guy in a gorilla-coloured banana-hammock...um...what's-his-name...?

[Sermon Bath]

I liked Carter's son but I can't spell his name

[deuce]

Carthoris. BTW, the ERBzine site has a great gallery of Burroughs cover-art.

[greywho]

Deuce, glad you have started this thread. Burroughs was truly one of the great ones, and I am really glad that he has not faded into obscurity as have so many others. I love the Mars books, but my all-time personal favorites are the non-series stand-alone books, like THE MUCKER, THE MOON MAID, I AM A BARBARIAN, etc. Did you happen to pick up the Guidry and Adkins volume, FORGOTTEN TALES OF LOVE AND MURDER? I had hoped that on the strength of that one they would do the rest of the unpublished fiction ("Night of Terror"/"More Fun! More People Killed!," "Mr. Doak Flies South," "Angel's Serenade," "Uncle Miner and Other Relatives") or perhaps hardcover reissues of some of the more obscure pieces ("Pirate Blood," "Beware!"). However, it has been six years, and so far nary a word. Oh, well, we live on hope.

[deuce]

Deuce, glad you have started this thread. Burroughs was truly one of the great ones, and I am really glad that he has not faded into obscurity as have so many others.

Hey greywho! Thanks. I guess it demonstrates (amongst other things) Howard's good taste in influences. Reading ERB pretty much led me directly to reading REH.

I love the Mars books, but my all-time personal favorites are the non-series stand-alone books, like THE MUCKER, THE MOON MAID, I AM A BARBARIAN, etc.

Actually the first two had sequels: The Return of the Mucker and The Moon Men. Frazetta did great covers for both. BTW, Bison Books (who've brought us great stuff like the Lamb and REH reprints) has issued an expanded version with long-lost ERB text. I Am a Barbarian kicks a$$. Unfortunately, I can't find my copy right now.

Did you happen to pick up the Guidry and Adkins volume, FORGOTTEN TALES OF LOVE AND MURDER? I had hoped that on the strength of that one they would do the rest of the unpublished fiction ("Night of Terror"/"More Fun! More People Killed!," "Mr. Doak Flies South," "Angel's Serenade," "Uncle Miner and Other Relatives") or perhaps hardcover reissues of some of the more obscure pieces ("Pirate Blood," "Beware!"). However, it has been six years, and so far nary a word. Oh, well, we live on hope.

I haven't picked up the G&A book. Pirate Blood was a dark, bad-a$$ tale. I found out recently that Krenkel did a cover painting for it. Kaor!

[greywho]

Hey, Deuce. Actually, I was referring to the Canaveral hardcover editions, which included the sequels along with the originals. In addition to THE MOON MAID and THE MUCKER, they also did THE LAND THAT TIME FORGOT, with both sequels. When Ace did them in paperback, they split them up into two and three volumes, but I still consider them only one book. However, I am firmly convinced that his independent books were among the best things he ever wrote, with the only exception being the Mars novels. Tarzan can't hold a candle to the first two above. On the other hand, occasionally he would slip. THE MONSTER MEN was really bad.

[jak]

How about The Outlaw of Torn?

It's been years, but I remember reading that one two or three times.

[greywho]

THE OUTLAW OF TORN is a really good historical. Along with I AM A BARBARIAN (and to some extent THE WAR CHIEF and APACHE DEVIL), it shows that ERB really had a talent for bringing the past to life. (Also, if you are into historical fiction, check out H. Warner Munn's THE LOST LEGION. REH would have loved it)

[Sermon Bath]

Out of Time's Abyss was awesome.....I also liked Thuvia, Maid of Mars a LOT and Tarzan the Terrible was pretty kickin too

[deuce]

While the forum clock says it's already March 20th, here in SEK it is still the 19th. Edgar Rice Burroughs died 58yrs ago today. Wiki link:

http://en.wikipedia...._Rice_Burroughs

We'll be havin' a memorial party/wake for ERB and Arthur C. Clarke here at the bungalow tonight.

Man, March is hard on fantasy/sci-fi/horror writers. HPL on the 15th, Clarke on the 18th and ERB on the 19th.
Plus, in the realm of rock n' roll, Paul Kossoff (Free), Randy Rhoads, and Andrew Wood (Mother Love Bone) ALL died by way of misadventure on the 19th of March.

So, plenty of shades to drink to. We'll be remembering all the beauty they brought to this world tonight, here in SEK.

[godzilladude]

ERB Inc., holders of rights in all things Tarzan, have lost their latest round in their ten-year battle with the UK OHIM (the official trademark register guys) to register as a trademark the Johnny Weissmuller Tarzan yell. The OHIM rejected it saying that it wasn't in a regular musical notation form

ERB Inc. is filing again, this time using a sound file, which is now allowable under recent rule changes.

Given that UK lawyers cost about 1.5X what American lawyers cost, and how pricey trademark work is, I'd bet they've dropped at least a couple hundred grand on this so far. Wowzer. Good luck making some money licensing that out.

Just something I thought this group might find interesting.

[Kortoso]

That's funny, since it wasn't described in that much detail by ERB, AFAIK.

[Ironhand]

That's funny, since it wasn't described in that much detail by ERB, AFAIK.

I think it's just supposed to be "blood-curdling". So maybe it could be patented as a clotting agent.

[Axerules]

Totally absurd, IMO.
But since companies tried, through biological patent, to become owners of the human genome...
I guess everything is possible with lawyers. Oh yes, and money to pay them.

BTW, my comment is not directed against you, Paul. Every rule has some exceptions.

[John Maddox Roberts]

If anybody could trademark the Weissmuller yell, shouldn't it be MGM? In one of the books, ERB described the yell as "high-pitched." Maybe he was thinking in terms of an Indian warcry or a Rebel yell.

[deuce]

From what I know, the ERB heirs are fairly protective of the Tarzan™ image. Might they be trademarking the "yell" in order to keep it from being used in, say, tampon commercials? Basically, insuring that it isn't used to mock/cheapen the legacy of Tarzan? REH was very fond of the character, BTW. REH is said (according to a credible source) to have written ERB asking as to the correct pronunciation of "Tarzan". BTW, according to Howard, "Tarzan" is "Tar-ZAN" and "Conan" is "CO-nun".

[godzilladude]

Totally absurd, IMO.
But since companies tried, through biological patent, to become owners of the human genome...
I guess everything is possible with lawyers. Oh yes, and money to pay them.

BTW, my comment is not directed against you, Paul. Every rule has some exceptions.

None taken. Some are just more mercenary than others.

[deuce]

Just found out that ERB's grandson, Danton Burroughs, passed away.

http://museumsanfern...oughs-dies.html

Danton seems to have been a pretty cool guy. A chip off the ol' block.

[korak]

Just found out that ERB's grandson, Danton Burroughs, passed away.

http://museumsanfern...oughs-dies.html

Danton seems to have been a pretty cool guy. A chip off the ol' block.

This came as quite a shock. The listmeister on ERBlist had just had a great conversation with him on the phone that night, and posted about it for us! Danton had Parkinson's, and had some recent mild heart attacks. It may not be a coincidence that a fire had broken out that day before and destroyed a lot of priceless, irreplaceable memorabilia in the "Marble Room" of his estates. That came as a serious blow to his morale.

Danton looked much like ERB, with a similar face and balding dome. He was youngish in appearance, and this came as a shock to Burroughs fandom. In fact, just this week he had taken over as chairman of the board of ERB Inc, or some such elevated title.

BTW, the Mars movie from Pixar is progressing pretty well so far. Looks like that may happen. The Venus movie has been scratched for now. Del Toro was going to make a Tarzan film but now he has been grabbed to film HOBBIT, so I don't know what will happen to Tarzan. I was hoping he would make that. Tarzan has never really been authentically adapted to film, similar to Conan (except for about five decades more.)