What do You think about Tarzan At The Earth's Core (Tarzan, #13) (2006)?
I read several of the Pellucidar books, but this one sticks in my memory. I tend to say that Burroughs never let facts (or his ignorance thereof) interfere with his narrative. The laws of physics, the facts of biology, or geography, or optics--all ignored. Bur this is something of an oversimplification. Much of what Burroughs said (about the behavior of nonhuman apes, for example) was not known to be untrue in the literature of the times when he wrote, and he often did correct things when he learned more accurate versions.Many current scientists, science fiction authors, etc started with Burroughs as children--so he succeeded in getting to the curiosity and sense of exploration that children naturally have, and directing it toward the sciences, in many cases. Not a legacy to be despised.
—Valerie
This is a cross over pulp novel. It's actually Tarzan #13, but also Pellucidar #4. It's actually more relevant to the latter as the main plot is an expedition to rescue Tanar of Pellucidar.Some good pulp era speculative science here. Lord Greystoke and Jason Gridley build an vacuum power airship and fly into Pellicidar via the hole at the Earths north pole. Once they get there they get split up and the story follows them on their adventures from the two POVs. As you might expect, they all meet up again in the end, the good guy gets the girl etc, etc.I'm going to finish the Pellucidar series as they are not so well known as most of ERB's other works. The only problem being that they are not that easy to find. While reading these books, it's useful to have a map of Pellucidar, of which there are several on the internet.
—AndrewP
All right, I admit, this is not great literature, but it is a terrific Tarzan adventure. Scientists discover a super light super strong metal, and don't waste their time figuring out the ways it could completely transform society - that would be boring, I guess. Instead, they build a giant blimp and head out on a high risk adventure to explore the earth's core. And, being wise, they invite Tarzan along to help out. It's amazing - the earth turns out to be hollow with a mini sun suspended in the middle, and animals from all sorts of eras running around. Apparently gravity is reversed inside the earth's hollow skin, so there is no fear of falling to your death. There are the usual excellent battles, awkward love story, and embarrassingly racist attitudes (although Burroughs seems to have toned it down in this one). It was the stegosaurus episode that clinched that 5th star. A vicious stegosaurus decides to attack and eat our hero, so he spreads his plates flat, leaps from the top of a cliff, and glides down in a deadly flight. Paleontologists may object on many counts, but it is my favorite dinosaur description ever.
—Janet
