As one of the fathers of modern speculative fiction, Edgar Rice Burroughs®inspired generations of readers to seek adventure and dream of worlds beyond the stars. His stories captured the imaginations of millions of fans in the early 20th century, going on to influence creative and intellectual giants such as Ray Bradbury, James Cameron, and Carl Sagan. Much like the heroes of his stories, Burroughs' own life was extraordinary.

Born in Chicago in 1875, Burroughs was a solider, a cowboy, a gold miner, a railroad worker, and a pencil sharpenersalesmanbefore writing his first story, "Under the Moons of Mars" (1912). This extraordinary tale of John Carter of Mars would go on to become the first of theBarsoomstories. His next creation,Tarzan of the Apes,became a pop culture sensation, a best-seller, and launched what would be a legendary career.

Tarzan would go on to swing through the jungles of film, TV, and radio and lead Burroughs tofounda company, Burroughs-Tarzan Enterprises, to produce and control media adaptations of his works, somethingpractically unheardof at the time. In his later years, Burroughs went on to serve as a war correspondent during World War II.

In 1950, Burroughs set off on life's final adventure, passing away at the age of seventy-four in Encino, California. He is buried in a town named after his great hero of the jungle-Tarzana, California.