Tarzan the terrible...#8?...I've only read Tarzan of the Apes which I assume (recall?) is #1? I don't believe the order is important....and this will be...about the 7-9th? from ERB I've read.This one begins:Silent as the shadows through which he moved, the great beast slunk through the midnight jungle, his yellow-green eyes round and staring, his sinewy tail undulating behind him, his head lowered and flattened, and every muscle vibrant to the thrill of the hunt.Onward and upward.UpdateComplete...finished, 8:44 p.m. e.s.t.So...Tarzan is older here than in Tarzan of the Apes...old enough to have a grown son with his wife, Jane. Not that the reader is made aware of that...not until well into the story. So, time had passed between #1 and this one, #8.There is some story here to do w/the Germans that seems like it must be addressed in an earlier Tarzan story. In this episode, one German is a part of the story, and there is mention of others, but I don't believe (and how can I say that not having read them?) that one needs to read the stories in between this one and the 1st to enjoy this one.Not present in this ERB-story, as has been present in a big way in the others...12, I believe, not the 7-9? I thought earlier...but not present are some of the astounding coincidences...or not present in the same way and shape as they are found in so many of ERB's other stories.There's some interesting details in this one, a species of black...a species of white...these are not human--they are at some other level on the turtle's back though I doubt they feel the weight of those above them...they think they are the top of the food chain, each group, although there's a monster or two running around that humbles them all from time to time.The story of the German military man is an interesting one. I enjoyed how ERB portrayed him...reminded me of Trashcan man in King's The Stand. Jane and him have wandered into this land, as does Tarzan, on the scent of his woman...it is indicated that they have been there for a time and the German has become separated from Jane. When he meets Jane again (and here I suppose is the closest coincidence and not much of one) and when he takes up with one of the tribes, he has clearly lost it. Disheveled and cackling at times (like Trashy) he is mistaken for a god and he is wise enough to play on that misunderstanding.What else? There's some phrasing that isn't like ERB's other stories. Makes me wonder if he was trying to write sentences that fit the place. They do not occur that often, so maybe? That other ERB story I just read, Pellucidar had a hoity-toity front-end...1st....ummmm, 35% of the story, and that was dropped, or I got used to it one....so maybe at times he was writing for effect. Shrug.Good read...wasn't in the mood for stories, though, me...things happen.
Tarzan the Terrible by Edgar Rice Burroughs, the eighth novel in the Tarzan series, continues the adventures of the Ape Man from Tarzan the Untamed during World War I (the novel was published in 1921).Jane has been taken by Germans soldiers and Tarzan is frantically looking for her. The fact that they are English and World War I is raging doesn’t help. Tarzan stumbles upon Pal-ul-don (Land of Men) filled with strange humans and prehistoric animals.Tarzan befriends Ta-den, a warrior of the Ho-don (a white and hairless race) and Om-at, a chief of the Waz-don (hair and black skinned) tribes. Tarzan impresses his friends / capturers so much that they name him Tarzan-Jad-Guru (Tarzan the Terrible). Lo and behold, Jane is also a captive at Pal-ul-don and is actually leading her incompetent German captors through the jungle.Tarzan the Terrible by Edgar Rice Burroughs should more accurately be called Tarzan the Untamed Part II. The story picks up from the point where Untamed has ended but the reader is privy to a bit more information (I don’t think I’m spoiling anything when saying that Jane is … gasp … alive!)It seemed that in this book Mr. Burroughs has came to admit that Jane will be Tarzan’s mate, she comes to her own, has a bit more spunk and even hunts a rabbit. Of course, our beloved protagonist is put through much agony, fights and daring escapes, as is only appropriate.Even though there are still many more books in the series, it’s obvious that at this point the author is milking his successful formula for all its worth.And you know what?It works.While I did not enjoy this book as some of the others, I still thought the novel was exciting and fun to read. Burroughs sets up the darkest regions of Africa to hold lost cities full with secrets, gold and … dinosaurs, not a bad setup for future novels.For more reviews and bookish posts please visit: http://www.ManOfLaBook.com
What do You think about Tarzan The Terrible (2003)?
Tarzan the Terrible was a great book. I read it without knowing it was in a series, but it still made sense. It had many different twists and turns that I never predicted. The story line is interesting because while Tarzan is in search of his wife Jane, he meets many different races of civilized people. He helps them fight battles and solves some of their problems then moves on. The beginning was a little slow but it is action packed at the end. It also had a very high vocabulary. A good book, but not for young readers.
—Climber Girl
I'll be honest, I was getting burned out on the Tarzan series. I loved the first three books, liked Son Of, but the last couple were just the same thing repeated and I was getting bored.So I started reading Tarzan the Untamed and felt more or less the same about it as I did the last couple, until the end when it goes "to be continued..."...ok, ok, you have my attention...and Tarzan the Terrible was a completely different book with all sorts of new twists and situations (I'm trying to be vague so as to not spoil any of what happens). I really found myself having a hard time putting this one down (when I had time to pick up a book that is) and I'm glad I continued to read the series because this one has renewed my interest in the series. I am hoping, based on the titles of the upcoming books, that they are as new and interesting as this one when it comes to story development.
—Justin Anthony
This was a very good book. When Ta-den showed up I was so confused but then I got over the idea of monkey-like people. When the book kept saying that someone was following them, I kept thinking, that's Jack, it's Jack, I know Jack's following them. Then finally when he comes out in the end I was like, told you so! And when Jane went primitive, I was so excited! She learned so much from Tarzan, I would totally hang her spear up above my fireplace too. Jane really has become the perfect mate for T
—Lydia
