The creator of the immortal characters Tarzan of the Apes and John Carter of Mars, Edgar Rice Burroughs is one of the world's most popular authors. His timeless tales of heroes and heroines transport readers from the jungles of Africa and the dead sea bottoms of Barsoom to the miles-high forests of Amtor and the savage inner world of Pellucidar, and even to alien civilizations beyond the farthest star. Mr. Burroughs' books are estimated to have sold hundreds of millions of copies, and they have spawned 60 films and 250 television episodes. Joan Bledig is an avowed longtime fan of the writings of Edgar Rice Burroughs, discovering Tarzan and Jane in the 1950s. Her goal was to assemble a complete set of Burroughs first editions, which she finally accomplished in the early years of the twenty-first century. She joined The Burroughs Bibliophiles in 1965. From 2014 to 2022, she served as Chairman of the Board of this international literary society. Joan has chaired and cochaired a number of Burroughs fan gatherings, both Dum-Dums and ECOFs. She has confessed to attempting to swing on a vine across a section of the north branch of the Chicago River near her childhood home and falling in the river instead. Of course, she said, "I chose a point to swing across to a gravel bar where the water was only about a foot deep. The channel between the bank and the bar was quite narrow, the main channel being significantly wider and on the other side of the bar. So, it wasn't that far to fall. At least I had the foresight to try this without anyone else in attendance to witness this, my ultimate jungle failure. Needless to say, it wasn't the first time I entered the waters of that river involuntarily. When I think of it now, I must have been crazy back then. Chicago River water cleanup was something far, far, far in the future." By the way, Joan connected a few years back with the man who had let her read his copy of Tarzan of the Apes. He still has the book and sent her a photo of it in his bookcase of Edgar Rice Burroughs books. Joe Jusko is among today's most acclaimed fantasy, pin-up, and comic artists. His work has been featured on book and comic posters, and on the much-praised 1992 Marvel Masterpieces trading cards. Jusko is a recipient of myriad industry honors, including a Certificate of Merit from the Society of Illustrators and a 2001 Chesley Award nomination. Fittingly, he was born on September 1, sharing his birthday with Edgar Rice Burroughs. Jusko's longtime love of Burroughs' work continues to inspire him in illustrating the Authorized Library and bringing the author's creative vision to life.