Where to Start: Carson Napier's Journey
For readers looking to dive into Edgar Rice Burroughs’ Venus series (also known as the Amtor series), the path forward is straightforward. The recommended starting point is the very first novel, Pirates of Venus. Because the series follows a strict chronological progression tracing the exploits of Earthman Carson Napier, skipping ahead will leave you lost in the cloud-shrouded geography of Amtor.
Carson Napier is a unique hero in the Burroughs library. Unlike the peak physical specimen Tarzan or the battle-hardened John Carter of Mars, Carson is an amateur rocketeer who makes mistakes—most notably, miscalculating his trajectory to Mars and accidentally crash-landing on Venus. Reading the books in order allows you to experience his gradual maturation from a displaced Earthman into a capable leader, pilot, and defender of his adopted home.
The Core Amtor Novels in Order
Burroughs wrote five primary works set on Venus. The core series is typically read in order of publication, which aligns perfectly with the internal chronology of Carson’s adventures:
- Pirates of Venus (1934): Carson Napier crash-lands on the waterworld of Amtor. He is rescued by the inhabitants of Vepaja, a civilized society living in giant trees to escape the savage Thorists. Here, Carson falls in love with Duare, the daughter of the Vepajan ruler, and battles pirate factions in the vast oceans. Note that while this book was serialized in Argosy magazine in 1932, it was first published in book form in 1934.
- Lost on Venus (1935): Directly continuing the cliffhanger of the first book, Carson and Duare are separated and must navigate the bizarre, eugenics-driven city-state of Havatoo, as well as fight off various predatory beasts. This volume was serialized in 1933 before its 1935 book release.
- Carson of Venus (1939): Set in the land of Korva, this novel takes a sharp satirical turn. Burroughs introduces the Zanis, a tyrannical group clearly modeled on the rise of Nazi Germany in Europe. Carson must use his wits to overthrow the dictatorship and rescue Duare once again. Serialized in 1938, the book appeared in 1939.
- Escape on Venus (1946): A novel compiled from four interconnected novellas originally serialized in Fantastic Adventures between 1941 and 1942 ("Slaves of the Fish Men," "Goddess of Fire," "The Living Dead," and "War on Venus"). Carson and Duare explore new territories, encountering bizarre cultures such as the fishmen and the giant cloud people.
- The Wizard of Venus (1964): A posthumously published novella written in 1941 but left in Burroughs' files until it was compiled in the 1964 collection Tales of Three Planets. In this final adventure, Carson and his companion Ero Shan crash-land their flying machine in a region ruled by Morgas, a tyrant who pretends to have magical powers. Carson uses his own latent mental abilities to break Morgas' hold on the populace.
Publication Order vs. Chronological Order
In the Amtor series, publication order and chronological order are identical. The story moves chronologically from the moment Carson launches his rocket from Earth to his final stand against the fake wizard Morgas. However, readers should be aware of the difference between magazine serialization dates and hardcover book publication dates. While the first three books began their lives in pulp magazines between 1932 and 1938, their official book releases occurred from 1934 to 1939. For the most consistent narrative experience, follow the sequence listed above.
The Modern Expansion: The Edgar Rice Burroughs Universe
After a long hiatus following Burroughs' death in 1950, the world of Amtor was officially revived. In 2020, Edgar Rice Burroughs, Inc. launched the official "Edgar Rice Burroughs Universe" line of canonical novels. The very first book in this modern expansion was Carson of Venus: The Edge of All Worlds, written by Matt Betts.
Set in 1950, this novel acts as a direct continuation of Carson's story while serving as the opening chapter of the "Swords of Eternity" super-arc. This crossover project links Venus with other Burroughs worlds, including Pellucidar and Barsoom, utilizing the multi-dimensional journeys of characters like Jason Gridley and Victory Harben. If you want to experience the complete modern Amtor saga, you should read the prequel comic miniseries Carson of Venus: The Eye of Amtor before jumping into Betts' 2020 novel.
What to Know Before You Start
Unlike the dry, barren deserts of Mars (Barsoom), Burroughs' Venus is a vibrant waterworld covered by a thick, perpetual cloud layer. Because the inhabitants cannot see the stars, they believe the universe is a hollow sphere with Amtor at the center, leading to unique maps where the equator is cold and the poles are hot. The series is heavily character-focused, balancing Carson’s self-deprecating humor and mental projection powers with classic sword-and-planet swashbuckling. While the prose retains its vintage pulp flair, the political satire in the later books adds a distinct layer of historical interest for modern readers.