Books On Board

Bunduki Books in Order

  • 4 Books
  • 1975 – 1980 Published

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Reading order
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Where to Start with the Bunduki Series

If you want to jump into the wild world of Zillikian, the absolute best place to start is with the first published novel, Bunduki (1975). While J.T. Edson wrote several short story prequels set on Earth, these were published years later in unrelated Western anthologies. The first book provides the essential introduction: it explains how the protagonists are mysteriously plucked from Earth and dropped into a primal, savage counter-Earth.

Bunduki Books in Publication Order

The core series follows a simple publication trajectory, culminating in an unfinished manuscript published decades after J.T. Edson's passing:

  1. Bunduki (1975) - James Allenvale "Bunduki" Gunn and Dawn Drummond-Clayton are snatched from Earth following a Land Rover accident and deposited on the untamed planet Zillikian.
  2. Bunduki and Dawn (1976) - The duo must survive capture, local tribes, and the harsh rules of the "Suppliers."
  3. Sacrifice for the Quagga God (1976) - Dawn is abducted for a tribal sacrifice, forcing Bunduki to use every survival tactic at his disposal.
  4. Fearless Master of the Jungle (1980) - The final completed novel sees the return of the villainess Charole.
  5. Amazons of Zillikian (2023) - The unfinished fifth novel, released posthumously by Piccadilly Publishing.

Chronological Reading Order: The Earth-Based Prequels

For completionists who want to read the entire saga chronologically, you should track down J.T. Edson's short stories. These stories are set on Earth before the fateful crash that transports the pair to Zillikian. Since they were published as filler in Edson's Western anthologies, they can be difficult to find:

  • "The Mchawi's Powers" (First chronological adventure; published in J.T.'s Hundredth, 1979)
  • "Death to Simba Nyeuse" (Published in J.T.'s Ladies, 1980)
  • "Accident – or Murder?" (Published in More J.T.'s Ladies, 1987)
  • "A Good Time Was Had by All" (Published in Mark Counter's Kin, 1990)

The Tarzan Connection and Copyright Disputes

The Bunduki series has a fascinating publishing history. The first three novels were officially authorized by the Edgar Rice Burroughs estate, allowing Edson to explicitly state that Bunduki was the adopted son of Tarzan and that Dawn was Tarzan's cousin (a descendant of the Drummond-Clayton line). However, authorization was withdrawn before the publication of the fourth novel, Fearless Master of the Jungle. As a result, subsequent stories had to rely on clever euphemisms to reference Tarzan without using trademarked names.

The Wold Newton Universe

For fans of literary crossovers, the Bunduki series is a notable addition to Philip José Farmer's Wold Newton family tree. Philip José Farmer himself corresponded with Edson, establishing that Bunduki and Dawn fit perfectly into the Wold Newton mythology, linking the characters to classic pulp heroes and the extended Greystoke lineage.

Frequently Asked

Who is James Allenvale 'Bunduki' Gunn?

James Allenvale "Bunduki" Gunn is the protagonist of the series. Raised in Africa, he is the adopted son of Tarzan (Lord Greystoke). The Swahili word bunduki translates to "gun."

Who is Dawn Drummond-Clayton?

Dawn is Bunduki's cousin and partner. She is a descendant of the Drummond-Clayton family, which links her directly to the Greystoke family tree, and she possesses formidable jungle survival skills.

What is Zillikian?

Zillikian is a counter-Earth planet created as a massive wildlife preserve by mysterious alien entities called the Suppliers. It is populated by Earth's fauna but lacks modern technology.

Why did J.T. Edson stop writing the Bunduki series?

Edson ceased writing the series after losing authorization from the Edgar Rice Burroughs estate to use Tarzan's name directly, though he wrote one final book in 1980 using euphemisms to reference his characters' heritage.

Where can I find the Bunduki short stories?

The four prequel short stories were published in J.T. Edson's Western short story collections, such as J.T.'s Hundredth, J.T.'s Ladies, More J.T.'s Ladies, and Mark Counter's Kin.

Is 'Amazons of Zillikian' a complete novel?

No, Amazons of Zillikian is an unfinished manuscript that J.T. Edson did not complete before his death. It was published posthumously by Piccadilly Publishing in 2023 for fans of the series.