Picture an American storyteller who whisked readers to Venus, Mars, and untamed jungles—meet Otis Adelbert Kline! Born in 1891, this pulp-era maestro spun thrilling planetary romances and jungle adventures that rivaled the best of his time. With a knack for vivid imagination and a career that spanned writing, editing, and literary agenting, Kline left a vibrant mark on speculative fiction.
Though often overshadowed by a rumored feud with Edgar Rice Burroughs, Kline’s tales of swashbuckling heroes and exotic worlds captivated readers of Weird Tales and Argosy. His unique blend of adventure, romance, and orientalist flair makes him a hidden gem worth rediscovering.
The Making of Otis Adelbert Kline
Born on July 1, 1891, in Chicago, Illinois, Otis Adelbert Kline was a curious soul with a passion for storytelling. Taught to read and write at age four by his grandmother, young Kline devoured juvenile periodicals, sparking his love for exotic locales and daring heroes. His early career was a whirlwind of odd jobs—songwriter, silent movie scenarist, and even a stint in Chicago’s Tin Pan Alley—before he found his calling in pulp fiction. By the 1920s, Kline was penning tales for Weird Tales, where his first serial, 'The Thing of a Thousand Shapes,' debuted in 1923.
An amateur orientalist and student of Arabic, Kline’s fascination with Eastern cultures shaped his storytelling. His research, including visits to Arabian and Turkish restaurants, infused his work with rich, authentic details, setting him apart in the pulp world.
Otis Adelbert Kline’s Unforgettable Stories
Kline’s stories are a thrilling mix of planetary romances, jungle adventures, and oriental mysteries. His Venus series, starting with Planet of Peril (1929), follows Earthman Robert Grandon, who swaps bodies with a Venusian prince and battles ferocious beasts and barbaric nations. The sequels, Prince of Peril (1930) and Port of Peril (1932), expand this swashbuckling saga, blending romance and high-stakes adventure.
His Mars series, including The Swordsman of Mars (1933) and The Outlaws of Mars (1933), features Earthmen navigating a vibrant, sword-clashing Martian world. Kline’s Jan of the Jungle (1931), later adapted as the serial Call of the Savage, tells the tale of Jan, a boy raised by a chimpanzee, who faces dinosaurs and primitive monsters in a lush, danger-filled jungle. Unlike Burroughs’ Tarzan, Kline’s Jan respects native cultures, offering a less dated take on the jungle hero trope.
Kline’s style is fast-paced, with vivid settings and larger-than-life characters. His orientalist influences shine in stories like 'The Dragoman’s Tales,' where Hamed the Attar navigates love, treachery, and desert wars. Though sometimes criticized as derivative, Kline’s ability to craft immersive worlds made him a pulp standout.
Why Otis Adelbert Kline Matters
Kline’s impact extends beyond his stories. As a literary agent, he represented Robert E. Howard, creator of Conan the Barbarian, from 1933 until Howard’s death in 1936, and continued managing Howard’s estate. His editorial work at Weird Tales helped shape the magazine’s early years, nurturing the pulp era’s speculative fiction boom. Though the rumored Burroughs feud was debunked, Kline’s planetary romances pushed the genre forward, inspiring later sci-fi and fantasy writers.
Today, Kline’s work remains a nostalgic window into the pulp era’s boundless imagination. His tales of adventure and romance continue to charm readers seeking escapist thrills, proving that even lesser-known authors can leave a lasting legacy.
- Born: July 1, 1891, Chicago, Illinois
- Died: October 24, 1946
- Key Works: Planet of Peril, Jan of the Jungle, The Swordsman of Mars
- Notable Role: Literary agent for Robert E. Howard
Snag Jan of the Jungle or Planet of Peril and dive into Otis Adelbert Kline’s thrilling pulp adventures! Let his vivid worlds sweep you away to a time when heroes battled beasts and won hearts among the stars.