Tarzan Triumphant

Tarzan #15

by Edgar Rice Burroughs

Evil men had come to the land that belonged to Tarzan of the Apes, looting and killing as they moved. Patiently, the ape-man pursued them. But there was other evil. In a small valley of the Ghenzi Mountains, the last remnants of an ugly, perverted people dwelled in what they called their faith. It was an ancient belief - one that had come with their ancestors from Rome nearly 2000 years before. Now they were wicked and many of them were insane. Now they had captured Lady Barbara Collis and meant to use her as a human sacrifice - unless Tarzan arrived in time!

Backed by Chief Muviro and his faithful Waziri warriors, Tarzan faces Soviet agents seeking revenge and a lost tribe descended from early Christians practicing a bizarre and debased religious cult.

Genres: Fantasy, Adventure, Fiction, Classics, Pulp, Action, Science Fiction

192 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1931

About the author

Edgar Rice Burroughs was an American author, best known for his creation of the jungle hero Tarzan and the heroic John Carter, although he produced works in many genres.

Reviews

[A.E. Chandler · Rating 3 out of 5]

Burroughs introduced his three disparate inspirations at the beginning this time – American mobster, a cult with epilepsy, and communist Russians – still jarring for the reader, and didn’t make too much sense, but appreciated the early warning.

[Louie the Mustache Matos · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tarzan Triumphant is Book #15 in the 24-book series of Tarzan books written by ERB. This is another story of a hidden part of the jungle with a secret culture. Here, the culture is based on the primitive Judeo-Christian church in its fledgling stages as the Apostles initiate the ministry after Jesus' death and resurrection circa 66AD as Paul is arriving on the scene.

I have previously communicated (complained) that these stories became overtly formulaic, but this is the first book that felt tediously repetitive. Everything here has already been done: a plane goes down in Africa, Russian villains, a member of British society in imminent peril, the main character (Tarzan) mostly absent throughout joins the story with an early cameo and winds up as hero in the climax.

I don't detest the plot. It just is something that any reader following the series would say, "I read this already." ERB is very descriptive with his purple prose a staple of the pulps. Disappointing!

[Tharindu Dissanayake · Rating 5 out of 5]

"attention to detail is essential to the continued pursuit of life, liberty, and happiness,"

"One should know something of many things to be truly educated,"

"Of course - the other fellow's religion is always nonsense; but not to him."

The 15th in the series , connecting it to one before with one sub-plots of the story, is more like an unrelated second part of the Tarzan the Invincible (14th book). It is presented in the same multi-sub-plot manner, which most are used to at this point of the series. However, the manner it is interpreted by ERB, as different threads of fate seemingly unrelated, was in my opinion a nice touch.

Loved the story as much as I did the last one.

"love is a strange force, and when it is aroused in the breast of a man by a clean and virtuous woman it makes him always a little tenderer and a little better."

[Quentin Wallace · Rating 3 out of 5]

It took me a long time to get into this one, and once I did it was almost over. That could just be me. Also, it felt like Tarzan was just a supporting character here, as most of the story dealt with the other characters. There were some weird things going on in this one, as others have stated in reviews. As usual, there's a few more "lost civilizations" popping up, which seems to happen in every novel. Not sure how they could stay so lost since there's like a trillion of them.

In any case it's another enjoyable Tarzan novel, and like I've said about this series before you usually either like it or you don't. Rarely is one superior, but thankfully rarely are they terrible either.

[Kristen (belles_bookshelves) · Rating 2 out of 5]

"Time is the warp of the tapestry which is life. It is eternal, constant, unchanging. But the woof is gathered together from the four corners of the earth and the twenty-eight seas and out of the air and the minds of men by that master artist, Fate, as she weaves the design that is never finished."

How I imagine the conversation with Burroughs went for the plot of this book:

"Well, the Romans traveled to Africa before. What if Tarzan found a lost civilization of Caesars and gladiators?"
"No, I did that already..."
"Um... well were there any Crusades that went that way? You could do Templar Knights, maybe?"
"Did that, too."
"Dinosaurs?"
"Did it a few times."
"We all hate the Nazis. Why don't you just have Tarzan kill Nazis."
"Yeah, did it."
"Jeez. Okay. Um - religious cult?"
"Yeah! Let's do that!"

And that's it, folks. Religious cult in the heart of Africa, taking things way too far and way out of proportion.

[Joel Jenkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

The formula for the last couple of Tarzan books is for the author, Edgar Rice Burroughs, to set up various safaris and characters with differing agendas and see how their paths intersect and collide with the denizens of Africa.

Tarzan amuses himself by observing at first and determining who is who. Sometimes, he is happy to let things play out because he doesn't have a stake in what happens. Then toward the end of the book, he makes his decisive moves.

This book involves a communist bent on revenge against Tarzan for foiling a plan of a communist takeover of Africa, a British aviatrix who crashes her plane and becomes stranded and imprisoned by a group of zealots who have fallen so far away from Christianity that human sacrifice is part of their worship, a geologist and a mob gunman. It makes for a diverse cast and it's fun watching their personalities play off of each other.

[James · Rating 3 out of 5]

As time goes on and with gaps between reading this collection, the books seemingly get better. Within this story are a couple of themes, all of which, Burroughs seems to combine perfectly. We have Lady Barbara Collis a pilot who crashes in Africa in a hidden and unknown tribe. Then we have an Italian Slave Trader, a Russian set out to kill Tarzan, Lafayette Smith an American Geologist and his sidekick ‘Gunner’ from Chicago.

This is a story of Tarzan being called on to deal with a group of “whites” dealing in the slave trade. Why the local Africans can’t do this I’m not too sure? We also have a group of White descendants from some type of Christian sect (never explained) after years of inbreeding a group of degenerates. This is where Lady Barbara Collis crashes and finds help by a member of the community.

Lafayette Smith an innocent American gets into all sorts of trouble wishing he was stronger than he was. A story of love, adventure and Americans in Africa.

As the stories goes on, I can see why the Americans like these stories and the “myth” of Africa as their playground for shooting has evolved. Tarzan and Hemingway have added to the American Psyche of killing animals in Africa.

Although I have never heard of Lafayette as a first name, it is routed in historical significance both in France and the American War of Independence.

[Joseph · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another wholly adequate Tarzan novel that I'm pretty sure I never read before.

Well, wholly adequate as a tale of adventure, but not without some highly questionable elements.

This time, Tarzan has left the Greystoke estates and is up in Abyssinia to teach some shifta slavers the error of their ways. Also in the mix, Lady Barbara Collis, a young and strikingly attractive British aviatrix, and a couple of Americans, Lafayette Smith, a geologist on an expedition accompanied by his new best friend Danny "Gunner" Patrick, a low-level Chicago gangster who, as a result of poor career choices, has decided that this would be a salubrious time to leave Chicago and visit the entire other side of the planet.

And we have yet another hidden mountain valley containing a couple of warring tribes, but this time they're descended from an early convert to Pauline Christianity and his beautiful slave girl. And the civilization they've founded is based on ostensibly Biblical principles, but they're much more of the "smite the wicked" variety, with a pretty broad definition of "wicked". And just to make things that much better, most of them are physically ugly and afflicted with epilepsy and interpret their epileptic fits as having direct visions from God telling them who shall be smoten. (And there are occasional throwbacks, such as our other protagonist Jezebel, who are beautiful and blonde in the style of their long-distant ancestress.)

And if you can't see how things are going to go, what with two beautiful young women and two heroic-ish young men (plus Tarzan, but he's above such things although at no point in the past several books has the word "Jane" ever been uttered), then you haven't been reading enough Burroughs.

[Norman Howe · Rating 3 out of 5]

A gangster, an aviatrix, a geologist, and Tarzan walk into a bar…
Not quite, but this is almost a comedy, a dark one at the least, involving slave traders, Russian assassins, two warring sects of inbred Christians, and a number of very frustrated carnivores.
If filmed, they’d call this one “Carry on Tarzan.”

[Curt · Rating 3 out of 5]

An easy to read Tarzan adventure. I could not totally grasp all the connections between early Christian characters and the ones with the same names in this story but I enjoyed the novel and the heroic intervention of Tarzan of the Apes.

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Of all of the later Tarzan books, this is my favorite. I remembered Gunner and his machine gun long after the rest of the details were lost in the fog of time. This is one of the rare Tarzan books that is genuinely funny. Gunner and his "kid" are such a wonderful couple and I thought it was clever of Edgar Rice Burroughs to bring in someone less than perfect for Jezebel. As worried as ERB was about genetics, he would never have matched up an upstanding, pinnacle of nobility with someone with such a horribly flawed genetic heritage.

And that brings up a controversial point. I love Edgar Rice Burroughs' stories and his imagination was literally boundless, but he also had some pretty weird hangups about genes and even advocated some awful policies based on eugenics. I'm glad that I was able to love Tarzan and his world decades before I knew the more unsavory parts of his creator's beliefs. I've already touched on the racism and sexism in his books - truly awful - but the genetic stuff is just as bad if not worse.

What do you do when something you love is created by a flawed human being? Can you separate the art from the artist? I can, mostly because I was lucky enough to encounter Tarzan without that baggage and I was savvy enough to reject the racism and sexism even as a young teenager. But, learning these things about ERB later did taint some of his writing for me. It's a little like the Cosby Show, can you watch it and enjoy the stories on the screen without thinking about the unforgivable behavior being perpetrated off-screen? I think it's something you can only resolve for yourself - for me, I can still love Tarzan but I can't imagine listening to Noah or watching Fat Albert ever again. Some things are just too much to forgive.

All of that being said, and I know I've strayed far from the point - I love this book and I had a lot of fun revisiting it. My biggest complaint, and it's common for the later books, is Tarzan is less of a character and more of a force of nature. I miss the days when he was caught between two worlds - that's the Tarzan I want to spend time with - not just the superman/demigod swinging through the jungle, saving stupid white people.

[Theresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Six groups come together in the heart of Africa. The lost ancestors of an exiled Roman and a slave girl, a young female aviator who crashed in a remote volcanic valley, a naïve geologist and a Chicago gangster, a Russian spy and an English Lord on a hunting trip. Tarzan has to find and save them all. All the running around reminds me of the Keystone Kops.

“Gunner’s” vocabulary is hilarious. It’s definitely another language. His whole way of thinking (England in London) is astounding.

The only problem I have with this story is that nothing was done about the situation in Midian.

Footnote: 1) Again he falls, but at least this time he didn’t hit his head and knock himself unconscious.

Fave scenes: Lady Barbara descending on the parachute, Smith’s journey through the canyon, Smith sitting on the baby kid and the lion chasing the horses.

[Jerimy Stoll · Rating 5 out of 5]

After the last Tarzan novel, I took a long break from Tarzan. In my opinion, the last novel was about a 2.75-star novel, so I was hesitant to pick these up again. I was glad I gave the series another chance. I absolutely loved this story. It is a very short book and there were a lot of elements and they were all tied together by the very end of the book. I was impressed. My favorite new character was, "The Gunner." Tarzan himself was barely involved in the story, but he was in just enough, and he wasn't knocked out a single time in this story.

Things I have learned from this book are,

1. Love is sporadic and unconditional.
2. Once a series is established well enough, the main character needs only make a minimal appearance to continue the storyline.
3. People can learn things quickly if they are introduced to the right motivators.

[C. William Willey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding Author. Truly a great npvel. I have read al

his books. Some more than two or three times.It a. measure to visit Agrica through his works It was outstanding g

[Eric Atkisson]

I'm determined to finish this series, but it can be a hard slog at times. It's incredible how many times Burroughs recycled the same basic story of a lost, unchanging civilization in some hitherto unexplored corner of Africa; characters who get lost, separated, and inevitably abducted within that world; a man and a woman among those characters who fall in love; and Tarzan having to save the day. I miss the earlier adventures that were more about Tarzan than random new characters who come and go.

[Angela Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

The books are becoming less savage. This one shows an interest in geology with an American geologist who find a companion in a gangster who is running from America. There is a lost tribe of Christians who have lost track of Christ's teachings and who rely more on a practice of vengeance on anything that does not suit there drab life of epileptic fits (walks with Jehovah). Once again, there is a "red" Russian--this one wants to take vengeance for the last one and joins forces with a slave trader/communist sympathizer. Great action and adventure.

[Francisco Lizardi · Rating 3 out of 5]

En esta novela aparece poco Tarzan, lo utilizan como salvavidas cuando las cosas para los demás personajes se han tornado demasiado difíciles para que salgan solos de ellas.

Entretenido, quizás ya no es tan llamativo como en las primeras novelas ya que hay mucha repetición de frases ("Tarzan, gran cazador, gran luchador", etc. y "se libera de su delgada piel de hombre civilizado").

Entretiene, me ayuda a pasar el rato.

[Shea Carlson · Rating 4 out of 5]

More Interesting Than the Last Book in the Series

Burroughs presents women with spunk who are actually better at some activities than their male acquaintances, and he acknowledges numerous coincidences -- which he describes as "Fate." The racism isn't quite as overt, but if I were a modern editor, I'd ask for a rewrite.

[Calvin · Rating 4 out of 5]

My favorite book when I was 12.

[Charles · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not great, but pretty weird. I enjoyed it.

[Rob Roy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Several different groups traveling through the jungle, a lost civilization, and a group of slave traders. Classic Burroughs, and a fun read.

[Matti Karjalainen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Edgar Rice Burroughsin Urhea Tarzan (Kauppakirjapaino, 1973) tarttui hetken mielijohteesta hyppysiini, ja sehän tempaisi mukaansa niin kuin vain nostalginen pulp-viihde parhaimmillaan voi. Luin Tarzan-kirjoja kymmenen ikävuoden kieppeillä, osan useampaan otteeseen, mutta tästä nimenomaisesta kirjasta ei ollut jäänyt mielikuvia. Erikoista sinänsä, sillä tässä oli melkoisesti menoa ja meininkiä jo sadan ensimmäisen sivun jälkeen.

Tarinaan sekoittuivat muun muassa sukurutsan rappeuttama heimo, jonka jäsenet saavat epileptisiä kohtauksia ja harjoittivat vanhatestamentillisia ihmisuhreja, lentämistä harrastava englantilainen perijätär, geologi-lukutoukan ja chicagolaisen gangsterin muodostama safariretkikunta ja venäläinen kommunistiagentti, joka oli saanut itseltään Stalinilta käskyn tappaa apinain Tarzan. Lisäksi menin laskuissa sekaisin montako kertaa joku joutui vangiksi tai joutui kissapedon hyökkäyksen kohteeksi.

Ei kai tämmöisen parissa voi olla viihtymättä? Ja kyllä, tiedostan hyvin että Tarzan-sarja on nykymittapuulla kaamean rasistinen ja muutenkin poliittisesti epäkorrektia fiktiota, mutta lukemisto täytyy suhteuttaa julkaisuaikaansa. Maailma oli kovin erilainen 30-luvun alussa. Lasten- ja nuortenkirjallisuudeksihan Tarzaneita ei myöskään ole alun perin tarkoitettu, vaikka sarja sellaiseksi meillä kirjastossa luokiteltiin.

[Brett Plaxton · Rating 2 out of 5]

In which there is very little Tarzan, but he finds himself up against Russians and lost tribes descended from early Christians who practice an a more bizarre and version of the religion. Even Joseph Stalin shows up as a minor character knowing who Tarzan is and wanting him eliminated. Imm not making any of that up.

Not gonna lie, I nearly DNF’d this one. Felt like Burroughs was really grasping at straws for a story here. The lack of Tarzan really pulled me out.

[Kenneth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Typical of the later Tarzan novels, there is a lost civilization (this one a bunch descended from early Christians who got out of the Roman Empire but whose understanding of the faith degenerated, a girl to be rescued and some bad guys. Stalin has sent a hitman to kill Tarzan. There is a Chicago gangster. All in all good fun, ERB style.

[Phillip Fitzsimmons · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found the story-line about the activites and sacrifices of the ancient cult to be over the top and unpleasant. Two broadly drawn characters are entertaining despite being one-dimensional.

Though not the best ERB or even the best Tarzan novel, it does satisfy the author's goal of being a relaxing and diverting novel. It isn't awful. I expect to read it again sometime.

[Pierre Tremblay · Rating 2 out of 5]

A dissapointment

Unfortunately this was not my favorite. It was not worth the paper it was printed on. It was anti GOD I cannot believe that Regard Rice Burrough would put out such Grady.Hopefully the rest of the series is better
Pierre Tremblay

[Dan Blackley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Evil men, an ancient race of insane men, kidnapped Lady and Tarzan in the middle of it.
15th in the series.

[Ted · Rating 3 out of 5]

Yet another lost civilization in Africa.

[Walt]

As the Tarzan series progresses, it is interesting to observe small references to the history of the time, most notably Stalin and the Ku Klux Klan. (#15 was written in 1932.)

[Geoffrey Greeley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can't go wrong with Tarzan and his warriors!