#edgarriceburroughs - Every Day With Edgar Rice Burroughs - November 4, 2025

 November 4, 2025, election day in New Mexico, and it’s reported that ninety-eight years ago on this day in 1927, Script Magazine published Ed’s travelogue, “Eleven Year Itch.” In commemoration of his family’s 1916 cross-country trip, the family traveled to the Grand Canyon North Rim. His 52nd birthday was spent in Arizona, as were his 21st and his 50th: The article Eleven Year Itch is written to describe the event. Unfortunately, I don’t have that issue and I can’t find the article electronically. I can’t even confirm that Script Magazine was published in 1927, I show the first issue with a 1929 date.

Since I can’t find the article, the drabble for today, “Check-In Time,” is entirely fictional. Well, almost, the information about the hotels is accurate.

“Dad,” said Hulbert. “It was a really hard drive to the north rim of the canyon. I can’t say that it looks differently than it does from the other side.”

“No, the other side has an hotel, the El Tovar.”

Joan said, “They’re building a hotel here. It’ll open next year. “Doesn’t do us any good. We’re here now.”

“True,” said Ed. “ The first man who saw the San Fernando Valley probably though someday this will be great city.”

“Excuse me if I don’t care to wait. No beans for me. I’d like a shower and a nice cabernet.”

#edgarriceburroughs - Every Day With Edgar Rice Burroughs - November 3, 2025

 November 3, 2025 and on this day forty years ago in 1985, the Gray Morrow illustrated and Don Kraar scripted Tarzan Sunday newspaper story arc, The Night of the Meteor, concluded. The story arc ran for twelve weeks, typical of the time.

The entire story arc and several more Sunday Tarzans are available to read at www.erbzine.com. This one is available at: https://www.erbzine.com/mag35/3513.html

A catastrophic meteor shower was predicted and Tarzan raced to save a lost colony of Boer settlers, a few of which didn’t believe him and refused his help.

The drabble for today is, “The Sky, The Sky,” and it was inspired by the story arc, “The Night of the Meteor.”

Tarzan was trying to save wildlife from an expected meteor shower. He discovered a lost Boer village. He said, “You must leave quickly. A terrible meteor shower is coming tonight. It will destroy your village.”

Jan, a Boer leader, laughed. “You sound like Chicken Little. “The sky is falling. The sky is falling. I won’t leave.”

The meteors destroyed the village and killed Jan and his followers.

Tarzan said, “Those people didn’t have to die. If I was wrong, he could have just returned to his undamaged home. My way was a win/win. His was a win/lose. He chose poorly.”

#edgarriceburroughs - Every Day With Edgar Rice Burroughs - November 2, 2025

 November 2, 2025 and on this day years ago in 1942, Ed wrote to George Carlin, and no, not that George Carlin, thanking him for his United Press correspondent credentials. Edgar Rice Burroughs officially became the World’s Oldest War Correspondent. In early December, he reported for duty and began writing “Dairy of a Confused Old Man or Buck Burroughs Rides again” about his experiences. The entire diary is available to read online at: https://www.erbzine.com/mag68/6800.html. The diary is, of course, copyrighted by Edgar Rice Burroughs Incorporated.

The drabble for today, “Pack Up Your Ole Kit Bag,” is excerpted from the first entry in that diary. It’s been slightly edited for length to be exactly 100 words long.

Hulbert phoned to say G-2 had called to say there was a seat for me on a plane leaving the next morning reserved for me. I was in the midst of a poker hand, stayed to win it, got up, and walked out with the money.

I packed my B-4 and musette bag. G-2 told Hulbert I was allowed 55 pounds. My gear weighed much more than fifty-five. The B-4 was jammed full; so was the musette bag. I also had a tin hat and a typewriter. Later, I acquired a gas mask. When fully loaded, I could just stagger.

#edgarriceburroughs - Every Day With Edgar Rice Burroughs - October 29, 2025

 October 29, 2025 and eighty-four years ago on this day in 1941, Edgar Rice Burroughs completed the unpublished article, Fall of Democracy. The Second World War was raging in Europe and the attack on Pearl Harbor was less than six weeks in the future when the article was written. Soon America would be embroiled in the conflict and magazines were inundated with such articles, most of which were rejected. I’ve never seen the article. One can only hope that it’s survived in the archives at Edgar Rice Burroughs Incorporated and we’ll see on some future July 4th.

The drabble for today, “It’s Only Wrong in the Third Person,” is 100-words long and it reflects my understanding of Edgar Rice Burroughs’s patriotism.

The war in Europe threatens freedom everywhere. It will ultimately determine whether we live in a democracy or under totalitarian rule. Democracy is delicate balance. It can be toppled by power-hungry men appealing to the worst in us. Divide and conquer. All it takes is the application of freedom and fairness disproportionally. Laws must be applied fairly, especially to those with whom you disagree. Good for the goose, good for the gander. Whenever we limit behavior and rights to those that only agree with our points of view, that very second the Statue of Liberty will tumble into the harbor.

NEW ANTHOLOGY - LURKING IN THE GENE POOL

 LURKING IN THE GENE POOL, the fourth anthology published by THREE COUSINS PUBLISNING, an imprint of WEST MESA PRESS, was published yesterday. Three formats are available from Amazon, hardcover, paperback, and Kindle. Two formats are available from LULU, hardcover and paperback. An EBook version will be available soon from Lulu.

Here's the Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FXV398DZ/

The book contains the story, ON A FROZEN NIGHT, by CHRIS L. ADAMS. Chris spent years playing guitar in bands and, during that time, was more a voracious reader than writer. After his last band collapsed, he turned from writing songs to writing stories, including "Dark Tides of Mars" and its sequel, "Gauntlets of Mars."

Chris’s first published tale was a supernatural story titled "On a Winter’s Eve" and as it ended up, that tale inspired a retelling of it from a different POV, yielding an altogether different story. Should you enjoy On a Frozen Night, you may wish to read its sister story.

In addition to writing, Chris also dabbles in painting. As a matter of fact, the cover art for his Prehistoric Tales series features his paintings. Chris resides in Southern West Virginia with his wife and kids but may be found on the web at ChrisLAdamsBizarreTales.

#edgarriceburroughs - Every Day With Edgar Rice Burroughs - October 26, 2025

 October 26, 2025 and on this day thirty-years ago in 1992, Season 2, episode 3, “Tarzan and the Forbidden Jewels,” the Wolf Larson Tarzan television series, aired. A complete list of the episodes, along with a review of each, may be found at: https://www.erbzine.com/mag74/7464.html

It should be noted that the episodes did not always appear in the order they were written and filmed. Hauser, played by James Healy, is back and…wait. He claims he’s a reformed man and none of the regulars, Wolf Larson, Lydie Denier, and Roger Taft Jr. seem to question that he was supposed to serve five years in prison. Is this five years or later? Some sources ---Amazon, for one, claim that this season came out in 1997 (in some countries, namely America, this season didn’t air until then or later and season three in 1998). Did Hauser get out of jail early for good behavior? It would be nice if we were told. If it is 1997 here, everyone is six years older? It would explain why Roger looks older, a bit? The plot involves a lost temple that contains hidden jewels.

The 100-word drabble for today, “Forbidden,” was inspired by the story and by the thought of forbidden items and behavior.

Hauser said, “Tarzan, there’s a lost temple filled with jewels. Take me there.”

“I know the place. The temple is forbidden, as are the jewels.”

“Take me or my men will burn villages. You can’t stop them all.”

“Hauser, you do understand the word, forbidden?”

“I do, but I ask, forbidden by who?

Jane said, “You mean, by whom?”

Tarzan said, “It’s not the whom, it’s the why that matters. An American President said, ‘Forbidden fruit tastes sweeter, but the aftertaste is bitter.”

Hauser laughed, “Who cares. With the jewels, I’m sure I can afford mouthwash and a new toothbrush.”

#edgarriceburroughs - Every Day With Edgar Rice Burroughs - October 25, 2025

 October 25, 2025 and thirty-three years ago on this day in 1992, the Gray Morrow illustrated and Don Kraar scripted Sunday Tarzan story arc, “Bayou Fever,” concluded. The story began in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, moved to Morgan City, and finished in the swamps. It ran for 14 weeks.

A wealthy architect had commissioned the capture of a rare black leopard from Africa. He planned to have it released in the Louisiana swamps for he and his friends to hunt and kill the animal. Tarzan planned to intervene.

You can read the entire story arc at:

https://www.erbzine.com/mag35/3542.html

The drabble for today, “Okay By Me, If It’s Okay Bayou,” was inspired by the story.

Tarzan joined a game warden to prevent illegal hunting of a rare black African leopard in the Louisiana swamps. Tarzan found the hunters and shot an arrow into a beehive.

The angry bees swarmed. The hunting party’s leader dove into the bayou water. An alligator came after him. Tarzan jumped into the water and saved the man.

Handing the hunter over to the game warden, Tarzan said, “He was a big man, but I caught him. Are you ready to take this scoundrel to jail?”

“I am, but I'd hoped you’d let the alligator cut him down to size first.”

#edgarericeburroughs - Every Day With Edgar Rice Burroughs - October 24, 2025

 October 24, 2025, and ninety-five years ago on this day in 1929, Edgar Rice Burroughs wrote “My Diversions,” an essay prepared for Metropolitan Books. It remained unpublished until it was included in the Burroughs Bulletin Issue No. 53, Winter 2003. The complete essay is available to read at: https://www.erbzine.com/mag9/0948.html

The drabble for today, “Live and Let Live, is 100 words written by Edgar Rice Burroughs for that article.

What do I want? I should like to have a comfortable home and a few saddle horses. I would have no telephone and no radio. I should like to have a single gate leading into my grounds and this gate would be fastened with a padlock which could not be picked or broken, and I should have a sign on the gate that would doubtless be both rude and profane, but it would inform the world that I am minding my own business and suggest that it do the same.

#edgarriceburroughs - Every Day With Edgar Rice Burroughs - October 23, 2025

October 23, 2025 and seventy-six years ago on this day in 1949, the Burne Hogarth and Rob Thompson, Sunday Comic story arc, “Tarzan and the Ononoes, concluded after a run of twenty-five weeks. The Ononoes looked like Kaldanes on steroids, but a little more spherical. They weren’t adverse to just rolling along. I was never sure of the exact pronunciation, but I’m going with OH – N0 – N0S. Not unlike some people I’ve know whose response to almost everything is OH NO!.

In TARZAN AND THE GOLDEN LION, the Ononoes were a tribe of fierce cannibals, but these little bowling ball people aren’t them.

There’s a complete list of the Tarzan Sunday pages at www.erbzine.com, but unfortunately, the Hogarth pages aren’t available online.

The drabble for today is “No! No!” inspired by the name.

Tarzan was bowled over by a tribe of creatures who had rolled down a hill. They were spheroidal, with small arms and legs. Tarzan followed them. They were scattered about dazed from colliding with trees and boulders.

Tarzan helped one of them and asked, “’Are you okay.”

“Oh, no. I crashed into this big stone. Broke my spear and my nose.”

“You rolled very quickly. Is that how you usually stop?”

“Oh, no. Sometimes I hit a tree, but I always aim for a rock.”

“Perhaps you should walk.”

“Oh, no. Oh, no! I’ll never give up rock and roll!”

Told in the East by Talbot Mundy

 The Campbell Classic book published today is TOLD IN THE EAST by Talbot Mundy, who wrote adventure novels in the early 20th Century. Most were based on his personal experiences in Colonial India.

Here are two links where you can purchase the novel:

https://www.lulu.com/shop/talbot-mundy/told-in-the-east/paperback/product-yv97j84.html?q=told+in+the+east&page=1&pageSize=4

and

https://westmesapublishing.myshopify.com/products/told-in-the-east?_pos=1&_psq=told+in+the+east&_ss=e&_v=1.0

#edgarriceburroughs - Every Day With Edgar Rice Burroughs - October 22, 2025

 October 22, 2025 ,and eighty-five years ago on this day in 1940, Edgar Rice Burroughs finished writing “The Living Dead,” which was published in November 1941 in “Fantastic Adventures” and would become the part of the novel, “Escape on Venus.” Ed’s Venus stories featured Carson Napier from Earth and the beautiful Vesuvian, Duare.

Details about the novel, its publishing history and several illustrations have been assembled for your viewing pleasure at: https://www.erbzine.com/mag7/0751.html

The 100-word fictional drabble for today, “One Team or the Other,” was inspired by “The Living Dead.”

Carson Napier had been captured and imprisoned. Eventually, he and a fellow prisoner were forced into the arena. While the thousands of onlookers cheered, angry bulls were released, and a dozen cannibals entered and rushed the bulls.

Carson’s companion said, “I’m not getting involved. I don’t have anything against the bulls, and I don’t know the cannibals. I’ll just let them fight each other.”

Carson said, “I’m going to join the cannibals. I can talk to them. I can’t talk to cattle.”

“You won’t stay neutral?”

“No, I’ve learned if you don’t pick a side, a side will pick you.”

#edgarriceburroughs - Every Day With Edgar Rice Burroughs - October 21, 2025

 October 21, 2025 and nineteen years ago on this day in 2006, the first issue of ‘The Mucker’ fanzine was published by the ‘The Muckers,’ the Chicago chapter of the Burroughs Bibliophiles. 15 copies were assembled at the Oct. 21, 2006, meeting in the Pleasant Home used by the Historical Society of Oak Park and River Forest. Joan Bledig contributed the cover, from the McClurg art by J. Allen St. John that also was used by Canaveral; the cover design; and table of contents, which she did for all the early issues.

Read about the issue and see a complete list of the contents at: https://www.erbzine.com/mag30/3097.html

The 44 page issue included articles by Bill Ross, Lawrence Dunn, Jeff Long, Mike Conran, Ken Manson, Jim Hadac, Greg Phillips, and J. G. Huckenpohler. An illustration of a naked princess was inside, an item that became almost traditional.

The fictional drabble for today, “Muck and Mire,= was inspired by that publication and by the Chicago Muckers, long may they reign.

Joan said, “We gotta do our own fanzine. The National Capital Panthans have had one for ten years. Anything they can do, we can do better.”

“Joan, have you been watching Oliver, the musical again.”

“No, well, maybe. But if they can do it, we can do it. I’ll design and print the covers. The rest of you write an article. Print fifteen copies. We’ll call it THE MUCKER MAGAZINE.”

“How will we sell it? Who pays for shipping? What about copyrights and trademarks?”

“Crawl out of the muck. People get mired down in details, nothing ever gets done.”

#edgarriceburroughs - Every Day With Edgar Rice Burroughs - October 20, 2025

 October 20, 2025 and thirty-four years ago on this day in 1991, the Gray Morrow illustrated and Don Kraar scripted Sunday Tarzan story arc, The Kalahari, began. The story arc ran for fourteen weeks.

In the story, Jane and Meriam, are on a hijacked airplane. The hijackers, led by the mercenary Van Zandt, land the plane in the Kalahari desert. The leader of the hijackers seeks revenge on Tarzan. Tarzan, D’Arnot and a troop of baboons come to the rescue.

The entire story may be read at https://www.erbzine.com/mag35/3539.html Thousands of Sunday pages are available at www.erbzine.com

The 100-word fictional drabble for today, “Take The Win,” was inspired by the story arc. I’ve always said that it doesn’t matter who gets the credit as long as you get what you wanted. That’s a lesson Van Zandt never learned.

Jane said, “You never should have hijacked this airplane, Van Zandt. My husband, Tarzan, knows I was on this flight. He’ll come for me.”

“I'm counting on it. I hated my brother. Tarzan killed him before I could. Now, I’ll kill Tarzan.”

“That’s possibly the stupidest thing I've ever heard. You should thank my husband, not kill him.”

“No, I have to kill someone.”

“You don’t. Take the win. Let your hatred die with him.”

“Lady Greystoke, I can’t do that.”

“How sad for your mother to lose both sons. It’s silly to die because you got what you wanted.”

#edgarriceburroughs - Every Day With Edgar Rice Burroughs - 10/19/2025

 October 19, 2025 and nineteen years ago on this day in The Russian film, “Tarzan des Mers,” the name was changed to “The Amphibian Man” at the request of the ERB Inc., released in the US: The film had little to do with Tarzan, other than the appropriation of his name. The original film, based on the 1928 novel, “The Amphibian Man” by Alexander Beliaev. There’s no reason to explain the plot because the film, THE SHAPE OF WATER,” is virtually the same story, start to finish. The Shape of Water was even placed in the 1960s. “The Shape of Water” received 13 nominations at the 90th Academy Awards, the most of any film in the 2018 race. It won in four categories: Best Production Design, Best Original Score, Best Director, and Best Picture.

The drabble for today is “Under Water, No One Can Hear You Yell.” Like the film, The Shape of Water, plagiarized the Russian film, Tarzan de Mers, I plagiarized my own drabble about this film. It features my old friends from New Orleans, Pat and John.

Pat said, “John, Let’s go see that new Moscow made Tarzan Movie.”

“Pat, you know that I don’t speak Russian.”

“That’s not a problem, John. I checked with the Audubon Zoo. Amphibians don’t speak Russian either.”

“That’s not all, Pat. The Russians originally titled the film, “Tarzan de Mers.” That’s just wrong. Buying a ticket encourages bad behavior.”

“Excuse me?”

“Tarzan of the Apes. Not Tarzan of the Sea. Sounds like a tuna fish ad or a pasta order. Apes, not eels, not sharks, and not octopi. Underwater no-one can hear the Tarzan yell. It’d just be blub, blub, blub.”