If you are drawn to the adventure stories penned by Edgar Rice Burroughs, you might be on the lookout for authors who create works with a similar spirit. Burroughs is of course the man who gave us Tarzan of the Apes and John Carter of Mars.
His tales often involve lost worlds, daring heroes, and imaginative science fiction elements. He wrote about vine-swinging jungle men and Martian warriors. If these kinds of stories capture your imagination, there are other writers you may want to explore.
If you enjoy Edgar Rice Burroughs’ thrilling adventures set in exotic locations, you may also appreciate the storytelling of H. Rider Haggard. Haggard, best known for his adventure tales and memorable characters, wrote exciting stories filled with suspense and mystery.
A good place to start is with his novel “King Solomon’s Mines.” The story follows explorer Allan Quatermain, who is hired by a man named Sir Henry Curtis to find his missing brother.
They set off into unknown lands in southern Africa, where legends speak of great treasure and deadly peril. Along the way, Quatermain and his companions must survive harsh conditions, dangerous encounters, and unexpected twists.
The novel has action, friendship, and discovery—elements that fans of Burroughs would likely find entertaining.
If you enjoy Edgar Rice Burroughs’ exciting adventures set in exotic worlds, Leigh Brackett might be what you’re looking for. She wrote vivid tales blending science fiction with a dash of fantasy and thrilling adventure.
Take her book “The Sword of Rhiannon,” where archaeologist Matt Carse stumbles into ancient ruins on Mars and suddenly finds himself transported a million years into the planet’s legendary past.
Ancient civilizations, lost oceans, fierce battles, and mysteries await as Matt uncovers the secrets behind the legendary sword of Rhiannon. Brackett’s stories offer a mixture of adventure, exotic settings, and action-packed storytelling similar to Burroughs’ classic style.
Poul Anderson was a prolific science fiction and fantasy author whose books blend adventure, imaginative worlds, and heroic storytelling. Fans of Edgar Rice Burroughs might particularly enjoy Anderson’s novel “The High Crusade.”
The story kicks off in medieval England when knights preparing for the Crusades encounter a spaceship landing near their village. After defeating the alien invaders, the knights take control of the ship, determined to use it to attack the Holy Land.
Instead, they’re accidentally transported across the galaxy, leading to thrilling adventures, daring battles, and fascinating encounters in a universe completely beyond their understanding.
Anderson’s engaging storytelling and flair for exciting action sequences make “The High Crusade” an entertaining and memorable read.
Robert E. Howard was a pioneer of classic pulp adventure stories, whose bold characters and vivid storytelling earned him lasting fame, especially through his “Conan the Barbarian” tales.
If you enjoy Edgar Rice Burroughs’ thrilling adventures and exotic settings, you may find Howard’s “The Hour of the Dragon” equally captivating. This novel follows Conan, a mighty barbarian king whose throne has been usurped by dark sorcery.
Betrayed and exiled, Conan must overcome monstrous beasts, sinister magic, and powerful enemies to reclaim his kingdom. Filled with fast-paced swordplay, dark sorcery, and vibrant settings, Howard crafts a vivid ancient world that keeps the reader hooked from start to finish.
Andre Norton was an influential science fiction and fantasy author whose stories combine adventure, mystery, and rich world-building. Fans of Edgar Rice Burroughs who enjoy imaginative tales set in exotic lands may appreciate Norton’s classic work, “The Time Traders.”
This novel follows Ross Murdock, a rebellious young man who is recruited for a secret government program. Ross embarks on missions through time to recover ancient secrets and artifacts before rival powers can exploit them.
His travels lead him to face danger, unexpected alliances, and fascinating discoveries in prehistoric and historical settings. Norton’s vivid storytelling creates worlds as immersive as the jungles of Burroughs’ Tarzan or the exotic landscapes in the Barsoom series.
Jack Williamson was a pioneer of science fiction whose adventurous tales blend excitement, imagination, and bold heroes, similar in spirit to the works of Edgar Rice Burroughs.
In his novel “The Legion of Space,” Williamson tells the story of an elite team dedicated to protecting humanity from interstellar threats. The crew, led by brave and capable John Star, faces formidable alien enemies called the Medusae.
The narrative unfolds through daring escapades, thrilling battles, and the pursuit of an ancient secret critical to Earth’s survival. Fans of Burroughs’ vivid storytelling and epic adventure tales may find Williamson’s “The Legion of Space” equally entertaining and satisfying.
Readers who enjoy Edgar Rice Burroughs might also appreciate the adventures crafted by Jules Verne. His book, “Journey to the Center of the Earth,” invites readers into an exciting underground expedition.
Professor Otto Lidenbrock stumbles upon an ancient manuscript that describes a route to Earth’s core. Driven by curiosity and a thirst for discovery, he sets off with his nephew, Axel, into the unknown depths beneath Earth’s surface.
Their incredible journey brings them face-to-face with mysterious creatures, hidden seas, and unexpected dangers. Verne’s vivid imagination, compelling storytelling, and spirit of exploration could resonate with fans of Burroughs’ tales of adventure and daring escapades.
Readers who enjoy Edgar Rice Burroughs may also appreciate the adventurous worlds created by L. Sprague de Camp. Known for blending fantasy with science fiction and humor, de Camp offers fast-paced storytelling filled with imaginative characters and vivid settings.
In his novel “The Tritonian Ring,” readers follow Prince Vakar of Lorsk on a perilous quest to save his kingdom from destruction. Facing sorcerers, mythical beasts, and ruthless enemies, Vakar must locate a legendary magical ring before time runs out.
Fans of Burroughs will find familiar excitement in de Camp’s vibrant, action-filled fantasy tales.
Readers who enjoy Edgar Rice Burroughs might find great pleasure in the adventurous tales by Lin Carter. Carter wrote exciting science fiction and fantasy stories filled with heroic journeys, vivid settings, and imaginative creatures.
A good place to start is his book “Jandar of Callisto.” It follows Jonathan Dark, a helicopter pilot mysteriously transported to Callisto, one of Jupiter’s moons. There, he encounters strange beasts, exotic cities, and brave warriors, becoming a fearless adventurer himself.
Carter’s storytelling echoes the classic spirit of exploration and danger found in Burroughs’ own fantastic worlds.
Readers who enjoyed Edgar Rice Burroughs will likely find A. Merritt’s work equally fascinating. Merritt was famous for stories filled with lost civilizations, daring adventures, and mysterious worlds.
In his novel “The Moon Pool,” Dr. Walter Goodwin sets out on a quest to discover the truth behind a strange disappearance in the Pacific Islands. What he finds is a hidden underground world full of ancient secrets, unusual creatures, and danger at every turn.
Merritt weaves fantasy, science fiction, and adventure into a thrilling tale. Fans of fast-paced action and imaginative storytelling will find “The Moon Pool” hard to put down.
Readers who enjoy the adventures and vivid storytelling of Edgar Rice Burroughs might also appreciate Arthur Conan Doyle. Doyle is famous for creating the iconic detective Sherlock Holmes, a character combining sharp intellect with thrilling adventures.
In “The Hound of the Baskervilles,” Holmes investigates a chilling legend about a monstrous hound haunting the Baskerville family estates. Set on the foggy, mysterious moors of England, the story unfolds with suspense, atmospheric details, and intriguing twists.
Doyle’s talent for crafting memorable characters, suspenseful storylines, and vivid settings makes his books appealing to fans of exciting adventure tales.
Books by C. L. Moore offer classic adventure and imaginative worlds readers of Edgar Rice Burroughs would certainly appreciate.
Her novel “Northwest of Earth” introduces Northwest Smith, a rugged space adventurer whose daring exploits take him across strange and dangerous planets.
In one memorable story, Smith discovers ancient alien ruins that hide dark secrets and powerful entities older than humanity itself. This book mixes gritty action, exotic alien settings, and suspenseful plots.
Fans of John Carter’s adventures on Mars will feel right at home with Northwest Smith’s journeys through mysterious worlds and thrilling adventures.
Clark Ashton Smith was a master of vivid imagination who wrote fantastic tales filled with strange worlds, otherworldly adventures, and richly crafted settings.
Readers who love Edgar Rice Burroughs, creator of Barsoom and Tarzan, will find Smith’s “The City of the Singing Flame” fascinating. This story transports readers to an alien dimension through a gateway discovered accidentally by a curious poet.
Once across, he encounters a mesmerizing city whose beautiful, haunting music draws travelers toward an unknown fate. Smith excels at creating imaginative landscapes and surreal scenarios that invite wonder and suspense.
If you’re thrilled by Burroughs’ adventures on distant planets, Smith offers exciting journeys to places that stretch imagination to its limits.
Fritz Leiber is an author whose fantasy worlds could appeal to fans of Edgar Rice Burroughs. His book “Swords and Deviltry” introduces readers to Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser, two adventurous rogues who rely on wit and courage to survive their dangerous escapades.
Set in the mythical city of Lankhmar, their story is filled with sword fights, sorcery, and clever banter. Readers who enjoy imaginative adventures set in vivid lands, where heroes encounter strange danger at every turn, will find themselves easily drawn to Leiber’s work.
Michael Moorcock is a British author known for imaginative fantasy and science fiction tales filled with action and adventure. Readers who enjoy Edgar Rice Burroughs’ thrilling stories of heroism and strange new worlds will find plenty to like in Moorcock’s work.
Consider “Elric of Melniboné,” the first novel in his classic fantasy series. The novel introduces Elric, the conflicted ruler of a decaying kingdom, whose sword Stormbringer drinks souls to maintain its terrible power.
Moorcock’s tale is dark, vivid, and full of exciting confrontation, centered around a character who struggles constantly between his humanity and the seductive lure of chaos.
If you enjoy bold heroes, fierce battles, and richly imagined worlds, Moorcock’s storytelling is sure to appeal.