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topdragon's review against another edition
4.0
Tarzan is away from his plantation home in British East Africa, and just when he learns that Britain is now at war with Germany in what would someday be called “The Great War”, his home is destroyed by invading German troops. Tarzan speeds home only to find it in ruins and his beloved wife, Jane, charred to a crisp. In Tarzan’s mind, all Germans must pay and so he trails them to the battle front in East Africa where he sets about exacting his revenge in brutal fashion.
Eventually, Tarzan decides to return to his original home on the West coast and revisit his old tribe of great apes. He must traverse a great desert along the way, which almost proves to be his undoing. Then he finds himself in the familiar role of protector for two people: a young girl named Bertha Kircher whom he believes to be a German spy as well as a downed Royal Air Force pilot, Harold Percy Smith-Oldwick. A series of adventures ensues, many involving battles with lions or panthers or avoiding such.
Originally, this novel was to be only the first part of a larger effort, the second of which is published these days as [b:Tarzan the Terrible|40422|Tarzan the Terrible (Tarzan, #8)|Edgar Rice Burroughs|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1349075114s/40422.jpg|6418012]. This first one does end on a bit of a cliffhanger when Tarzan finds out at the very end that Jane is not dead after all, (I sincerely hope that is not a spoiler for anyone), and so must launch a rescue effort. Since the novel was first published in serial form (Redbook – March through August 1919), there is some repetitive information as to what has already transpired in order to bring readers up to speed. Some parts almost read like short stories strung together.
The book was written during wartime and it is interesting to see how ERB succumbed to the notion that all Germans were evil and irredeemable. Looking back, we know that ERB’s book sales in Germany in general (and Tarzan titles specifically) suffered quite a bit due to the controversy from this book as well as others written around this time. He did reverse his stance in later years, but it was a case of too little too late.
I quite enjoyed this book in the series. The scene in the desert when Tarzan is at the end of all hope and must trick Ska, the vulture, in order to survive is very well written and is often noted as among the best scenes in all the Tarzan tales. The later Tarzan tales do get some flak for becoming repetitive, especially when they concern stories of lost cities, but this novel is generally regarded as the best of those. The plot is fun even if a little over the top but that’s what I look for in a book such as this. Just sit back, put your feet up, and enjoy the experience.
Eventually, Tarzan decides to return to his original home on the West coast and revisit his old tribe of great apes. He must traverse a great desert along the way, which almost proves to be his undoing. Then he finds himself in the familiar role of protector for two people: a young girl named Bertha Kircher whom he believes to be a German spy as well as a downed Royal Air Force pilot, Harold Percy Smith-Oldwick. A series of adventures ensues, many involving battles with lions or panthers or avoiding such.
Originally, this novel was to be only the first part of a larger effort, the second of which is published these days as [b:Tarzan the Terrible|40422|Tarzan the Terrible (Tarzan, #8)|Edgar Rice Burroughs|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1349075114s/40422.jpg|6418012]. This first one does end on a bit of a cliffhanger when Tarzan finds out at the very end that Jane is not dead after all, (I sincerely hope that is not a spoiler for anyone), and so must launch a rescue effort. Since the novel was first published in serial form (Redbook – March through August 1919), there is some repetitive information as to what has already transpired in order to bring readers up to speed. Some parts almost read like short stories strung together.
The book was written during wartime and it is interesting to see how ERB succumbed to the notion that all Germans were evil and irredeemable. Looking back, we know that ERB’s book sales in Germany in general (and Tarzan titles specifically) suffered quite a bit due to the controversy from this book as well as others written around this time. He did reverse his stance in later years, but it was a case of too little too late.
I quite enjoyed this book in the series. The scene in the desert when Tarzan is at the end of all hope and must trick Ska, the vulture, in order to survive is very well written and is often noted as among the best scenes in all the Tarzan tales. The later Tarzan tales do get some flak for becoming repetitive, especially when they concern stories of lost cities, but this novel is generally regarded as the best of those. The plot is fun even if a little over the top but that’s what I look for in a book such as this. Just sit back, put your feet up, and enjoy the experience.
jamesbullinger's review against another edition
4.0
This more than any other Tarzan book so far, makes me want an HBO Tarzan series. But like, a brutal series where Tarzan runs around full of animal hate and rage murdering people all the time, like from this excerpt of Tarzan strangling a dude to death,
“Gradually his struggles lessened, his pin-point eyes popped from their sockets, rolling horribly upward, while from his foam-flecked lips his swollen tongue protruded."
Brutal.
Plus it had everything, jungle living, German killing, and strange societies. It was one of the better Tarzan novels.
AND there was a part where Tarzan followed the spirit in a prompting to help others.
“An inexplicable urge spurred Tarzan to increasing, speed. The same still, small voice that chided him for having neglected them seemed constantly whispering that they were in dire need of him now.”
You could turn that into a Sunday school lesson.
Just what to want from books, gratuitous violence and spiritual teachings.
“Gradually his struggles lessened, his pin-point eyes popped from their sockets, rolling horribly upward, while from his foam-flecked lips his swollen tongue protruded."
Brutal.
Plus it had everything, jungle living, German killing, and strange societies. It was one of the better Tarzan novels.
AND there was a part where Tarzan followed the spirit in a prompting to help others.
“An inexplicable urge spurred Tarzan to increasing, speed. The same still, small voice that chided him for having neglected them seemed constantly whispering that they were in dire need of him now.”
You could turn that into a Sunday school lesson.
Just what to want from books, gratuitous violence and spiritual teachings.
jordandeanbaker's review against another edition
2.0
The two star rating is more a reflection of my disappointment, than it is a reflection of the book’s quality in comparison to the other Tarzan books. All-in-all, it’s on par with the last few of its predecessors.
I got really excited for a Tarzan book set during WWI, and the book teases the reader with a little bit of Tarzan in the trenches of a northern African battlefield (did they really do trench warfare in the Northern African theater of war?). Unfortunately this plot line is quickly abandoned for a rehash of the lost city of Opar. I made the mistake of thinking that we were about to get more of the “Indiana Jones meets James Bond meets Sherlock Holmes” Tarzan from the second book, but nope, we get “woe is me, escape from reality” Tarzan instead.
The lost city and it’s inhabitants feel like they were ripped straight out of one of ERB’s John Carter novels.
Lastly, we learn that Tarzan’s racism isn’t reserved for the “gomangani” (great black apes AKA African natives). He’s also violently racist towards all Germans in this one.
I got really excited for a Tarzan book set during WWI, and the book teases the reader with a little bit of Tarzan in the trenches of a northern African battlefield (did they really do trench warfare in the Northern African theater of war?). Unfortunately this plot line is quickly abandoned for a rehash of the lost city of Opar. I made the mistake of thinking that we were about to get more of the “Indiana Jones meets James Bond meets Sherlock Holmes” Tarzan from the second book, but nope, we get “woe is me, escape from reality” Tarzan instead.
The lost city and it’s inhabitants feel like they were ripped straight out of one of ERB’s John Carter novels.
Lastly, we learn that Tarzan’s racism isn’t reserved for the “gomangani” (great black apes AKA African natives). He’s also violently racist towards all Germans in this one.
kathyscottage's review against another edition
adventurous
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
4.0
kcoccia's review against another edition
3.0
I just don't know if Ill go back to this series or not. Its dragging on a little too much for me. We'll see.
dingo765's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
gentlemanjeff's review against another edition
4.0
A shaky beginning gives way to a classic Tarzan tale with many of Lord Greystoke's Greatest Hits: terrorized natives, stoic resistance to being burned alive, losing consciousness and waking up in a lost city, cavalry rescue by animal pals. The City of Maniacs is a highlight, sufficiently different from Opar to feel like a new experience. The jingoistic revenge sequence in the Nazi plotline is objectionable, but as a plot device, it works well to propel Tarzan into his next outrageous adventure.
linddykal's review against another edition
4.0
One of the better Tarzan books. Tarzan believes Jane to be dead and goes on a rampage of revenge.
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