Burroughs calls up successful motifs from earlier works and recombines them in a roller-coaster fashion. The work starts as a social critique of the inner city, Chicago, but quickly moves to sea. A lost city of Japanese samurai can be found on a tiny Pacific island, and this serves as the action-filled turf of Billy Byrne, a Chicago street thug. He experiences a mutiny among pirates, encounters a lost race of Samurai head-hunter degenerates, must compete with another man for the love of beautiful Barbara, and travels to Mexico where Burroughs combines social history and the traditional Western.

Billy Byrne is back! He fought his way out of a jail sentence for a murder he didn't commit. Then, forced to fight for his freedom, destiny led him through a startling series of further adventures to Mexico!

The Mucker is a novel by American writer Edgar Rice Burroughs. It was originally formed by two stories: "The Mucker", begun in August 1913 and published .

A day in the life of a dad on the brink: Josh Lansky—second-rate screenwriter, fledgling freelancer, and stay-at-home dad of two preschoolers—has held everything together while his wife is away on business . . . until this morning’s playdate, when he finds out through the mommy grapevine that she might be having an affair. What Josh needs is a break. He’s not going to get one.

For a thousand years, the Frame and its machine empire had ruled the people of Inalsol. A small group of Muckers struggled for survival in a semi arctic mountainous district known as Garvamore. In other places the Divines, a dehumanised elite, treat Muckers as slaves. Only in Garvamore can Muckers have any semblance of freedom. A small group fight for the survival and future of the human race of Inalsol, building their strength in secret until discovered by the Frame. The Frame will destroy them and all hope for the people unless they defeat the technologically superior Frame in battle against all odds.

Billy Byrne, a rough and unpolished young man, finds himself entangled in a series of unexpected events that lead him from the urban jungle of early 20th century Chicago to the high seas and, eventually, to revolutionary Mexico. When he and a wealthy heiress named Barbara Harding become shipwrecked on a remote island, the harsh realities of survival force Billy to reevaluate his values and confront his own identity. He undergoes a profound transformation, discovering hidden depths of courage, compassion, and integrity within himself. As Billy’s character evolves, so does the dynamic between him and Barbara, creating a captivating narrative that explores themes of identity, redemption, and the impact of one’s past choices. Edgar Rice Burroughs weaves a compelling narrative that keeps readers on the edge of their seats, blending elements of action, suspense, and introspection. Billy’s internal conflict adds depth to the story, making it more than just a typical adventure tale. “The Mucker” was first serialized in 1914 in All-Story Cavalier Weekly 1914; “Return of The Mucker” appeared in All-Story Weekly in 1916. The two stories were combined into a book by A. C. McClurg & Co. in 1921. This book is part of the Standard Ebooks project, which produces free public domain ebooks.

Billy Byrne was a thug and alcoholic, but his choices have lead to a life of adventure and peril!