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Tarzan #8
Tarzan the Terrible
In the previous volume, the Lord of the Jungle discovered the burnt corpse of his wife, Jane, after a visit to his African home by German soldiers. (One suspects that Burroughs never did like Jane; this sort of thing happened to her a lot.) In this volume, Tarzan learns that Jane was not murdered by the Germans but kidnaped -- and sets off in pursuit. As the novel begins, Tarzan has spent two months tracking his mate to Pal-ul-don ("Land of Men"), a hidden valley in Zaire, where he finds a land dinosaurs and men even stranger -- humanoids with tails. Ta-den is a hairless, white-skinned, Ho-don warrior; O-mat is a hairy, black skinned, Waz-don, chief of the tribe of Kor-ul-ja. In this new world Tarzan becomes a captive -- but he impresses his captors so well that they name him Tarzan-Jad-Guru ("Tarzan the Terrible"). Meanwhile, a second visitor has come to Pal-ul-don -- wearing only a loin cloth and carrying an Enfield rifle along and a long knife. Pal-ul-don is where Jane is being held captive, of course. . . .
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First published September 1, 1921
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About the author
Edgar Rice Burroughs
2,808 books2,735 followersEdgar 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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 129 reviews
June 20, 2024
Tarzan the Terrible is book number eight from the Tarzan series of novels that reached a formidable 24 books written by ERB. It follows approximately two months after the last novel (Tarzan the Untamed) where Tarzan has just found out that Jane was not killed, but abducted for what appears to be the 37th time in eight books. Even in this one, Jane Porter is abducted at least two more times. Hay Dios mio!
Published in serial form by Argosy All-Story Weekly in 1921, it is clear that ERB has a fully realized idea as to what the lost world of Pal-ul-don looks like. He even includes a map in the version I read and a glossary of terms at the end.
In tracking Jane, Tarzan enters a hidden valley, lost world area populated with dinosaurs, and two races with fully functional tails. The hairless, white Ho-don live in cities, while the hairy, black Waz-don live in the hills. Although the men typically demonstrate animosity toward each other, Tarzan capably gets the men to work with him to navigate a difficult and dangerous situation. His skills earn him the name "Tarzan-Jad-Guru" (or Tarzan the Terrible).
Jane is held captive in Pal-ul-don by the World War I German soldier that staged the scenario at the Greystoke manor that caused Tarzan to believe his wife had been killed. Clearly, as these thins typically go, things get worse before they get better. Loved the novel as much as I love Tarzan. These novels are special to me.
Published in serial form by Argosy All-Story Weekly in 1921, it is clear that ERB has a fully realized idea as to what the lost world of Pal-ul-don looks like. He even includes a map in the version I read and a glossary of terms at the end.
In tracking Jane, Tarzan enters a hidden valley, lost world area populated with dinosaurs, and two races with fully functional tails. The hairless, white Ho-don live in cities, while the hairy, black Waz-don live in the hills. Although the men typically demonstrate animosity toward each other, Tarzan capably gets the men to work with him to navigate a difficult and dangerous situation. His skills earn him the name "Tarzan-Jad-Guru" (or Tarzan the Terrible).
Jane is held captive in Pal-ul-don by the World War I German soldier that staged the scenario at the Greystoke manor that caused Tarzan to believe his wife had been killed. Clearly, as these thins typically go, things get worse before they get better. Loved the novel as much as I love Tarzan. These novels are special to me.
May 15, 2020
"Things were as they had always been and would always be as they were."
Tarzan the Terrible, the 8th in the series is the second part of the Tarzan the Untamed. However, it was a little different world which the story unfolds that is completely different from any that we had seen before.
Java Men and Dinosaurs... not the things around which one can wrap their heads quickly.
The story was fun and thrilling, and I think it was almost as good as the last one.
"Tenacious indeed of life is Hope even though it be reduced to cold and lifeless char - a veritable phoenix."
"You may teach a lion tricks, but he is still a lion."
Tarzan the Terrible, the 8th in the series is the second part of the Tarzan the Untamed. However, it was a little different world which the story unfolds that is completely different from any that we had seen before.
Java Men and Dinosaurs... not the things around which one can wrap their heads quickly.
The story was fun and thrilling, and I think it was almost as good as the last one.
"Tenacious indeed of life is Hope even though it be reduced to cold and lifeless char - a veritable phoenix."
"You may teach a lion tricks, but he is still a lion."
February 3, 2022
This might be the best of the Tarzan novels?
It begins as an immediate continuation of Tarzan the Untamed -- Tarzan, having discovered that Jane was not, in fact, killed by the German troops who razed the Greystoke estate at the beginning of the previous book, is tracking the last surviving German officer who disappeared, with Jane, into the trackless wastes of central Africa. And Tarzan, following them and crossing a nigh-impenetrable morass, finds himself in the fabulous land of Pal-ul-don, inhabited by two different subspecies (one hairy, one not, both with prehensile tails) of Pithecanthropus, plus various other fabulous beasts, most notably the gryf a sort of carnivorous descendant of Triceratops.
And, having entered this fabulous land, Tarzan naturally finds himself being captured, escaping, finding allies and enemies and otherwise getting enmeshed in all manner of local schemes & plots (and assisting multiple pairs of star-crossed lovers to get together) in his quest to be reunited with his beloved Jane. (And who, pray tell, is the mysterious, savage figure, clad only in loincloth, but with an Enfield strapped to his back in addition to his knife & bow, who we occasionally see also making his way towards Pal-ul-Don? Spoilers, sweetie. Spoilers.)
And, as typical of Burroughs at his best, events gallop along at an almost breathless pace, but we can rest confident that by the end of the book Tarzan and Jane will of course, be reunited, and that last surviving German villain will be ... less surviving.
(And, not to put too fine a point on it, one reason this is at the top of my personal list of Tarzan novels is that, because of its isolated setting, we don't have to deal, except in the most peripheral manner, with Burroughs' less-than-stellar portrayal of African natives.)
It begins as an immediate continuation of Tarzan the Untamed -- Tarzan, having discovered that Jane was not, in fact, killed by the German troops who razed the Greystoke estate at the beginning of the previous book, is tracking the last surviving German officer who disappeared, with Jane, into the trackless wastes of central Africa. And Tarzan, following them and crossing a nigh-impenetrable morass, finds himself in the fabulous land of Pal-ul-don, inhabited by two different subspecies (one hairy, one not, both with prehensile tails) of Pithecanthropus, plus various other fabulous beasts, most notably the gryf a sort of carnivorous descendant of Triceratops.
And, having entered this fabulous land, Tarzan naturally finds himself being captured, escaping, finding allies and enemies and otherwise getting enmeshed in all manner of local schemes & plots (and assisting multiple pairs of star-crossed lovers to get together) in his quest to be reunited with his beloved Jane. (And who, pray tell, is the mysterious, savage figure, clad only in loincloth, but with an Enfield strapped to his back in addition to his knife & bow, who we occasionally see also making his way towards Pal-ul-Don? Spoilers, sweetie. Spoilers.)
And, as typical of Burroughs at his best, events gallop along at an almost breathless pace, but we can rest confident that by the end of the book Tarzan and Jane will of course, be reunited, and that last surviving German villain will be ... less surviving.
(And, not to put too fine a point on it, one reason this is at the top of my personal list of Tarzan novels is that, because of its isolated setting, we don't have to deal, except in the most peripheral manner, with Burroughs' less-than-stellar portrayal of African natives.)
July 30, 2015
This was one of the more confusing Tarzan books to me. You end up with Tarzan caught between two ancient civilizations, which seems to happen a lot to him. There sure were a lot of lost civilizations in Africa around 100 years ago. Anyway, we have a prehistoric race complete with tails. Also, we have dinosaurs! Triceratops show up, but these are meat eaters. At first, I thought it was just bad science, but it was something Burroughs called attention to a few times. He was either saying the scientists got it wrong, or the dinosaurs had become meat eaters as time passed. I almost got the sense he scoffed at the idea of a vegetarian dinosaur, but that's conjecture.
Next we have Jane, still captured by the German Soldier as she was in the last book. We also have a surprise character who is tracking Tarzan down that I won't spoil here, but it wasn't that hard to guess.
Overall, as I mentioned earlier, it was slightly confusing because the names were all complicated, most of them with dashes. Obi-jobi, hoota-toota, ooo-la-la, and such. (OK I made those up but you get the idea.) Of course, some of Tolkein's names confused me as well, so it could just be me. The storyline itself got a little convoluted too, but that's par for the course with Tarzan.
Overall, it's another entry in the Tarzan series. Not better than the rest, but not really the worst either. You probably already know if you'll like this one or not.
Next we have Jane, still captured by the German Soldier as she was in the last book. We also have a surprise character who is tracking Tarzan down that I won't spoil here, but it wasn't that hard to guess.
Overall, as I mentioned earlier, it was slightly confusing because the names were all complicated, most of them with dashes. Obi-jobi, hoota-toota, ooo-la-la, and such. (OK I made those up but you get the idea.) Of course, some of Tolkein's names confused me as well, so it could just be me. The storyline itself got a little convoluted too, but that's par for the course with Tarzan.
Overall, it's another entry in the Tarzan series. Not better than the rest, but not really the worst either. You probably already know if you'll like this one or not.
April 10, 2025
One of the very best in the series so far!
March 7, 2012
A fairly typical day in the life of Tarzan seems to go like this: (1) Scale a cliff with some new friends in search of a girl who recently fled an attacker; (2) fight and kill a lion that had menaced that girl. (3) fight single-handedly against 20 enemy warriors, taking out several before finally being dropped by a blow from behind; (4) awake as a prisonor, kill the guard, and escape; (5) finally locate the above girl just in time for another hand-to-hand battle with a loathsome subhuman creature that had been molesting her. Then it's time to catch a few winks on the floor of a cave before the crises resume.
In short, the story can be seen as a vehicle for moving our hero from one extreme situation to the next. Generally, Tarzan prevails through a combination of his cleverness and his astonishing strength. Occasionally, however, a deus ex machina is needed to get him out of a particularly difficult situation, and when that's the case, Edgar Rice Burroughs comes through just in time. Realism this is not.
That doesn't mean I don't find it enjoyable. I've always been impressed by the inventive scenarios in this and all Burroughs' books. I've always liked the way he can make me burn through the pages to find out what will happen next. His occasional flourishes of somewhat overdone prose can be annoying when I'm in that mode, but I suppose the idea is to draw out the suspense.
Burroughs tends to overuse certain words, to the point where they become obvious. For young readers, that can be good. I remember first encountering the verb "wrest" in Tarzan of the Apes and pondering the fact that it means almost the opposite of "rest." Initially, that made for a little confusion in a sentence like "they lay down upon their blankets to wrest, through sleep, a brief respite of forgetfulness." Anyway, "wrest" is one of his words that would be more effective if used less often. "Soliloquize" (as a synonym for "muse") is another. I suspect most readers fascinated with the story don't notice. Unfortunately, someone who makes a living with word choices cannot avoid noticing, even when indulging in a little escapist reading.
Hard to say how many stars this should have. Of course, as a kid, I would have given it five. It's not great literature. On the other hand, without first thoroughly enjoying books like this, I might never have found my way to literature. And here I am choosing to pick it up again even today. So let's go with four.
In short, the story can be seen as a vehicle for moving our hero from one extreme situation to the next. Generally, Tarzan prevails through a combination of his cleverness and his astonishing strength. Occasionally, however, a deus ex machina is needed to get him out of a particularly difficult situation, and when that's the case, Edgar Rice Burroughs comes through just in time. Realism this is not.
That doesn't mean I don't find it enjoyable. I've always been impressed by the inventive scenarios in this and all Burroughs' books. I've always liked the way he can make me burn through the pages to find out what will happen next. His occasional flourishes of somewhat overdone prose can be annoying when I'm in that mode, but I suppose the idea is to draw out the suspense.
Burroughs tends to overuse certain words, to the point where they become obvious. For young readers, that can be good. I remember first encountering the verb "wrest" in Tarzan of the Apes and pondering the fact that it means almost the opposite of "rest." Initially, that made for a little confusion in a sentence like "they lay down upon their blankets to wrest, through sleep, a brief respite of forgetfulness." Anyway, "wrest" is one of his words that would be more effective if used less often. "Soliloquize" (as a synonym for "muse") is another. I suspect most readers fascinated with the story don't notice. Unfortunately, someone who makes a living with word choices cannot avoid noticing, even when indulging in a little escapist reading.
Hard to say how many stars this should have. Of course, as a kid, I would have given it five. It's not great literature. On the other hand, without first thoroughly enjoying books like this, I might never have found my way to literature. And here I am choosing to pick it up again even today. So let's go with four.
June 21, 2024
One of my favorite Tarzan novels.
July 17, 2023
I first read this back in 1989. It's a direct sequel to "Tarzan the Untamed," where Edgar Rice Burroughs decided to kill off Jane so Tarzan could have more and different love interests, but Burroughs' wife put her foot down and wouldn't have it, so at the end of that novel, he reveals that Jane lived after all, and it was just a Nazi plot to make Tarzan think Jane was dead. It never really made sense, since Jane dying only resulted in Tarzan entering the war and killing tons of Nazis in revenge, and there was no real purpose in making it appear she was dead. Anyway, ERB had to appease his wife, so she lives.
And thus, in Tarzan the Terrible, Tarzan goes in search of his kidnapped Jane. I enjoy this novel a lot. It has dinosaurs and a lost culture. The dinosaur, a gryf, is a carnivorous descendant of the Triceratops, and it's wonderful to behold. The lost culture of Pithecanthropus descendants is marvelously detailed. The world-building here is phenomenal. You have multiple races of Pithecanthropus, and the dominant race is split by factions, primarily between the religious caste and the warrior caste, but also by lesser kings of various tribes. It's a situation rife with tension, and Tarzan makes a wonderful catalyst to burst that tension into tangible (and violent) change.
Tarzan, of course, is Tarzan of the Apes. I think most people have an idea of who Tarzan is without me having to say much. He's one of the best known literary characters of all time, sharing company with the likes of Sherlock Holmes, Dracula, and Frankenstein, a character that people know even if they've never seen the character in a movie or read the novels. Yes, some would argue Tarzan displays the problematic White-Savior trope, and there are a lot of racial/cultural objections one could make toward the character and/or author, but I am not here to be on a soapbox either for or against that type of reading. For me, I find the adventures to be thrilling escapism.
I also acknowledge that while I do enjoy the stories, they are not particularly well-written. Not only is ERB's writing formulaic from book to book, its formula is repetitive even within the novels. It's always progress for the character, setback, progress, setback, progress, setback. Much of the progress is hinged on chance and coincidence. Much of the setbacks involve the character getting captured repeatedly. I don't recommend reading ERB novels one after the other. Let some time pass between his novels, lest the formula really grow grating. That said, I've never had much of a problem with formulaic writing: I'm a huge fan of Perry Mason and Stephanie Plum. As I have said before of these, I know what I am getting when I pick up one of their novels, and when I pick up their novels, it's because I want what they are offering. They deliver exactly that.
Jane was interesting in this novel. She basically rescued herself, made weapons, a home, defended herself from a German, found food, and pretty much only re-united with Tarzan via a chance meeting as Tarzan was escaping his captors and happened on Jane's hut that she built in the lost valley. I rather liked that she basically saved herself and was able to live in the wilds on her own.
Also, I liked that the book included Korak the Killer, the son of Tarzan and Jane, although his identity is not specified until the end, there aren't a lot of people of his description wandering through central Africa. His adventures were short herein and he never really was dealt the setback of being captured, like everyone else in the story.
Tarzan uses religion against his enemies, and, at the same time, re-ignites religion in his friends by posing as the son of their god and instilling new values into their violent, people-sacrificing practicies. He makes friends with the noble and kind, and enemies of the cowardly and cruel. Tarzan teaches the white, fur-less Pithecanthropus people to be friends with the black, furry Pithecanthropus people. By the end of the novel, Tarzan frees all the slaves and forbids human (well, Pithecanthropus) sacrifice. He eliminates the extant priesthood, and orders that from now on, the women will tend to the temples.
While not a literary masterpiece by any stretch of the imagination, I love this novel for its adventure, the dinosaurs, the lost world of Pithecanthropus peoples, and Jane's depiction as capable and heroic in her own right. This remains a favorite of mine among the 24 Tarzan novels ERB wrote. Yes, it is formulaic, but when I wanted a rollicking adventure with a superheroic protagonist, this fit the bill perfectly.
And thus, in Tarzan the Terrible, Tarzan goes in search of his kidnapped Jane. I enjoy this novel a lot. It has dinosaurs and a lost culture. The dinosaur, a gryf, is a carnivorous descendant of the Triceratops, and it's wonderful to behold. The lost culture of Pithecanthropus descendants is marvelously detailed. The world-building here is phenomenal. You have multiple races of Pithecanthropus, and the dominant race is split by factions, primarily between the religious caste and the warrior caste, but also by lesser kings of various tribes. It's a situation rife with tension, and Tarzan makes a wonderful catalyst to burst that tension into tangible (and violent) change.
Tarzan, of course, is Tarzan of the Apes. I think most people have an idea of who Tarzan is without me having to say much. He's one of the best known literary characters of all time, sharing company with the likes of Sherlock Holmes, Dracula, and Frankenstein, a character that people know even if they've never seen the character in a movie or read the novels. Yes, some would argue Tarzan displays the problematic White-Savior trope, and there are a lot of racial/cultural objections one could make toward the character and/or author, but I am not here to be on a soapbox either for or against that type of reading. For me, I find the adventures to be thrilling escapism.
I also acknowledge that while I do enjoy the stories, they are not particularly well-written. Not only is ERB's writing formulaic from book to book, its formula is repetitive even within the novels. It's always progress for the character, setback, progress, setback, progress, setback. Much of the progress is hinged on chance and coincidence. Much of the setbacks involve the character getting captured repeatedly. I don't recommend reading ERB novels one after the other. Let some time pass between his novels, lest the formula really grow grating. That said, I've never had much of a problem with formulaic writing: I'm a huge fan of Perry Mason and Stephanie Plum. As I have said before of these, I know what I am getting when I pick up one of their novels, and when I pick up their novels, it's because I want what they are offering. They deliver exactly that.
Jane was interesting in this novel. She basically rescued herself, made weapons, a home, defended herself from a German, found food, and pretty much only re-united with Tarzan via a chance meeting as Tarzan was escaping his captors and happened on Jane's hut that she built in the lost valley. I rather liked that she basically saved herself and was able to live in the wilds on her own.
Also, I liked that the book included Korak the Killer, the son of Tarzan and Jane, although his identity is not specified until the end, there aren't a lot of people of his description wandering through central Africa. His adventures were short herein and he never really was dealt the setback of being captured, like everyone else in the story.
Tarzan uses religion against his enemies, and, at the same time, re-ignites religion in his friends by posing as the son of their god and instilling new values into their violent, people-sacrificing practicies. He makes friends with the noble and kind, and enemies of the cowardly and cruel. Tarzan teaches the white, fur-less Pithecanthropus people to be friends with the black, furry Pithecanthropus people. By the end of the novel, Tarzan frees all the slaves and forbids human (well, Pithecanthropus) sacrifice. He eliminates the extant priesthood, and orders that from now on, the women will tend to the temples.
While not a literary masterpiece by any stretch of the imagination, I love this novel for its adventure, the dinosaurs, the lost world of Pithecanthropus peoples, and Jane's depiction as capable and heroic in her own right. This remains a favorite of mine among the 24 Tarzan novels ERB wrote. Yes, it is formulaic, but when I wanted a rollicking adventure with a superheroic protagonist, this fit the bill perfectly.
July 11, 2020
Tarzan the Terrible or just some terrible Tarzan? It was hard to decide, frankly. My opinion was largely based on what part of the book I was reading, as there were clearly some parts that were stronger than others.
Overall, I'd say this is a pretty soft conclusion to the "Finding Jane" storyline started in the previous entry, "Tarzan the Untamed," where the mate and wife of our titular hero is abducted and presumed killed by a trio of nasty Nazis. The final showdown between Tarzan and Lieutenant Obergatz, the last surviving Nazi from "The Untamed" never really happens. In fact, other than the brutal strangulation and beheading of a rather innocent guard, Tarzan does very little in this novel. Mostly he rides around bareback on wild carnivorous triceratops and pretends to be a Christ figure to tribes of prehistoric humans in yet another lost civilization that seems to populate half the African continent of this science fiction universe.
What's particularly annoying is that for fans who have followed the series, the reunion of Tarzan with Jane that occurs in this entry should have been more narratively and emotionally impactful. But no. Tarzan reacts with no more excitement than finding a couple of bucks in the laundry, then he promptly leaves her alone so that Burroughs could keep the tension going by having Jane get abducted once more. If Burroughs really had to go there, then he should have killed Jane off for good. That would have made the series interesting again for a few more books, following a mourning Tarzan and how he has changed since losing his wife permanently so quickly after finding her again. Instead, the character of Jane is largely forgotten as the series progresses from this book forward, which is a shame because Burroughs seemed to be going somewhere with her in this story, having her actually use some of the skills that Tarzan had taught over the years to embrace the dangers of the jungle as a burgeoning heroine in her own right.
Burroughs does explore some politicocultural themes regarding religious zealotry, manipulation of the proletariat by the elite, and systemic racism, but it is not as cleverly woven into the story as in his Radium Age scifi classic "Tarzan and the Antmen." That being said, there are some great moments in the book, such as when Tarzan, under the guise of a Christ figure, plants seeds for racial equality with a tribal princess.
"And now to be told by the son of god that she stood no higher in divine esteem than the black handmaiden at her side was indeed a shock to her pride, her vanity, and her faith."
Another positive is that this book does show how Burroughs was an early master of thriller and adventure pacing, inventing the narrative patterns and cadence of literary and film adventures for the next century.
And did I mention this book has flesh-eating triceratops? They are a fun addition to a series that grew increasingly more campy with each entry.
If you are not much of a Tarzan fan, this book will not likely win you over. This is just an old school action/jungle adventure/scifi yarn to escape from the worries of a long day.
Overall, I'd say this is a pretty soft conclusion to the "Finding Jane" storyline started in the previous entry, "Tarzan the Untamed," where the mate and wife of our titular hero is abducted and presumed killed by a trio of nasty Nazis. The final showdown between Tarzan and Lieutenant Obergatz, the last surviving Nazi from "The Untamed" never really happens. In fact, other than the brutal strangulation and beheading of a rather innocent guard, Tarzan does very little in this novel. Mostly he rides around bareback on wild carnivorous triceratops and pretends to be a Christ figure to tribes of prehistoric humans in yet another lost civilization that seems to populate half the African continent of this science fiction universe.
What's particularly annoying is that for fans who have followed the series, the reunion of Tarzan with Jane that occurs in this entry should have been more narratively and emotionally impactful. But no. Tarzan reacts with no more excitement than finding a couple of bucks in the laundry, then he promptly leaves her alone so that Burroughs could keep the tension going by having Jane get abducted once more. If Burroughs really had to go there, then he should have killed Jane off for good. That would have made the series interesting again for a few more books, following a mourning Tarzan and how he has changed since losing his wife permanently so quickly after finding her again. Instead, the character of Jane is largely forgotten as the series progresses from this book forward, which is a shame because Burroughs seemed to be going somewhere with her in this story, having her actually use some of the skills that Tarzan had taught over the years to embrace the dangers of the jungle as a burgeoning heroine in her own right.
Burroughs does explore some politicocultural themes regarding religious zealotry, manipulation of the proletariat by the elite, and systemic racism, but it is not as cleverly woven into the story as in his Radium Age scifi classic "Tarzan and the Antmen." That being said, there are some great moments in the book, such as when Tarzan, under the guise of a Christ figure, plants seeds for racial equality with a tribal princess.
"And now to be told by the son of god that she stood no higher in divine esteem than the black handmaiden at her side was indeed a shock to her pride, her vanity, and her faith."
Another positive is that this book does show how Burroughs was an early master of thriller and adventure pacing, inventing the narrative patterns and cadence of literary and film adventures for the next century.
And did I mention this book has flesh-eating triceratops? They are a fun addition to a series that grew increasingly more campy with each entry.
If you are not much of a Tarzan fan, this book will not likely win you over. This is just an old school action/jungle adventure/scifi yarn to escape from the worries of a long day.
August 17, 2025
It will be hard to sum up all the things happening at the start of "Tarzan the Terrible" so instead I'll just rattle off a few of them. Jane had been captured by German soldiers in Africa during WWI in a prior book but when Tarzan finally arrived to rescue her he found that she had already escaped. He starts a distant pursuit, piecing together clues to her whereabouts through native rumor and speculation and also his own skills as a jungle tracker in the Congo.
At the start of this tale, a lone member of a species of primate not seen by human eyes, essentially a man with a monkey's tail and feet, is fleeing from a jungle lion before Tarzan springs to his defense. Tarzan realizes now that, in his pursuit of Jane, that he has found himself in a strange, hidden place in Africa with monkey-men, dinosaurs, jungle lions, and cannibals, a kind of 'lost world' where evolution supposedly hit the brakes and life goes on with fierce tribal conflicts and dangerous animals. We also meet other members of this world with first-person chase narratives and action sequences, three distinct kinds of pre-humans with different cultures and trust issues all around.
"Tarzan the Terrible" (1921) is my first attempt at a Tarzan novel and is included in its entirety in the Otto Penzler-edited "the Big Book of Adventure Stories" that I just finished reading. This outstanding adventure tale is the final story in the collection.
Verdict: A fun adventure with two great characters, an immersive new world, fantastic chase sequences and peril, and now I'm a fan. I need to find copies of Burroughs' original Tarzan novels.
Jeff's Rating: 4 / 5 (Very Good)
movie rating if made into a movie: PG-13
At the start of this tale, a lone member of a species of primate not seen by human eyes, essentially a man with a monkey's tail and feet, is fleeing from a jungle lion before Tarzan springs to his defense. Tarzan realizes now that, in his pursuit of Jane, that he has found himself in a strange, hidden place in Africa with monkey-men, dinosaurs, jungle lions, and cannibals, a kind of 'lost world' where evolution supposedly hit the brakes and life goes on with fierce tribal conflicts and dangerous animals. We also meet other members of this world with first-person chase narratives and action sequences, three distinct kinds of pre-humans with different cultures and trust issues all around.
"Tarzan the Terrible" (1921) is my first attempt at a Tarzan novel and is included in its entirety in the Otto Penzler-edited "the Big Book of Adventure Stories" that I just finished reading. This outstanding adventure tale is the final story in the collection.
Verdict: A fun adventure with two great characters, an immersive new world, fantastic chase sequences and peril, and now I'm a fan. I need to find copies of Burroughs' original Tarzan novels.
Jeff's Rating: 4 / 5 (Very Good)
movie rating if made into a movie: PG-13
December 7, 2022
My least favorite of the 6 Tarzan novels I've read so far. It does pick up with Tarzan attempting to track down the German lieutenant who kidnapped Jane in the previous book.
But from there to the end is a long and winding narrative set in a strange land with native part human tribes, giant prehistoric beasts, and a plethora of odd names and places that one finds difficult to keep track of.
But from there to the end is a long and winding narrative set in a strange land with native part human tribes, giant prehistoric beasts, and a plethora of odd names and places that one finds difficult to keep track of.
June 26, 2016
I liked how not just Tarzan, but all the good guy characters (including Jane!) are pretty darn awesome.
I felt Burroughs got a little too cutesy with concealing the identity of the man with the rifle until the end; people who have read the rest of the series will know who it is immediately, first-timers won't get it at all.
For more adventure reviews, see http://www.skjam.com/tag/adventure/
I felt Burroughs got a little too cutesy with concealing the identity of the man with the rifle until the end; people who have read the rest of the series will know who it is immediately, first-timers won't get it at all.
For more adventure reviews, see http://www.skjam.com/tag/adventure/
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March 29, 2016I honestly can't stand Don W Jenkins' voice
November 20, 2025
Entre los ocho libros de la saga que llevo leídos, "Tarzán, el terrible" es, sin dudas, uno de los más entretenidos y fascinantes. Es la mezcla perfecta entre la aventura clásica y el “mundo perdido”, con un ritmo constante que no da respiro. La historia se aleja de los escenarios más realistas del primer libro "Tarzán de los monos" para adentrarse en una geografía exótica, llena de lagos, gargantas, ciudades de piedra y criaturas prehistóricas. Es una novela que captura la imaginación desde las primeras páginas.
Sin embargo, esa misma riqueza del mundo que Burroughs crea termina siendo, a veces, su mayor obstáculo. El autor utiliza una gran cantidad de nombres y palabras en el idioma ficticio de los pueblos de Pal-ul-don, y eso puede resultar confuso. Los términos se parecen mucho entre sí y obligan a consultar constantemente el glosario del final del libro; esa experiencia interrumpe la lectura y complica la comprensión de una geografía que, aunque apasionante, está descrita con cierta tardanza (muchas veces uno ya se había imaginado el escenario de otra manera cuando llega la explicación).
En lo narrativo, la novela es aventura pura y dura. No busca grandes reflexiones, aunque deja entrever algunos mensajes políticos y un tono pacifista, ingenuo pero bienintencionado. Se percibe la sombra del contexto histórico de la Gran Guerra, sobre todo en la aparición de los “alemanes malvados”, que funcionan como un eco de los demás libros que se publicaban en misma época dentro de los países que habían triunfado en ese conflicto.
El universo de Pal-ul-don, con sus razas enfrentadas, sus dioses y sus ciudades, es extraordinario. Burroughs logra un equilibrio curioso entre lo primitivo y lo civilizado: una sociedad compleja, jerárquica y religiosa en la que Tarzán (como siempre, incorruptible) intenta moverse como mediador y fuerza de justicia. Su heroísmo es el del aventurero clásico: el que cae, se levanta y vence no por suerte, sino por convicción (aunque en algunos momento tiene mucha suerte... de verdad que la tiene).
Entre los temas más interesantes está la religión, presentada como una herramienta de manipulación, pero también como símbolo de unión y transmisión de valores. Hay una crítica clara a los líderes que usan la fe para dominar, y una reivindicación de la creencia sincera como fuerza moral.
En conjunto, "Tarzán el terrible" acaba siendo una lectura muy disfrutable, aunque exigente por su complejidad geográfica y lingüística. Si existieran las medias estrellas, le daría 3,5: me tira atrás lo confuso del idioma inventado pero la aventura es tan buena que cuesta no redondear hacia arriba. Una historia distinta dentro de la saga, donde el espíritu explorador y el asombro por lo desconocido están en su punto más alto.
Sin embargo, esa misma riqueza del mundo que Burroughs crea termina siendo, a veces, su mayor obstáculo. El autor utiliza una gran cantidad de nombres y palabras en el idioma ficticio de los pueblos de Pal-ul-don, y eso puede resultar confuso. Los términos se parecen mucho entre sí y obligan a consultar constantemente el glosario del final del libro; esa experiencia interrumpe la lectura y complica la comprensión de una geografía que, aunque apasionante, está descrita con cierta tardanza (muchas veces uno ya se había imaginado el escenario de otra manera cuando llega la explicación).
En lo narrativo, la novela es aventura pura y dura. No busca grandes reflexiones, aunque deja entrever algunos mensajes políticos y un tono pacifista, ingenuo pero bienintencionado. Se percibe la sombra del contexto histórico de la Gran Guerra, sobre todo en la aparición de los “alemanes malvados”, que funcionan como un eco de los demás libros que se publicaban en misma época dentro de los países que habían triunfado en ese conflicto.
El universo de Pal-ul-don, con sus razas enfrentadas, sus dioses y sus ciudades, es extraordinario. Burroughs logra un equilibrio curioso entre lo primitivo y lo civilizado: una sociedad compleja, jerárquica y religiosa en la que Tarzán (como siempre, incorruptible) intenta moverse como mediador y fuerza de justicia. Su heroísmo es el del aventurero clásico: el que cae, se levanta y vence no por suerte, sino por convicción (aunque en algunos momento tiene mucha suerte... de verdad que la tiene).
Entre los temas más interesantes está la religión, presentada como una herramienta de manipulación, pero también como símbolo de unión y transmisión de valores. Hay una crítica clara a los líderes que usan la fe para dominar, y una reivindicación de la creencia sincera como fuerza moral.
En conjunto, "Tarzán el terrible" acaba siendo una lectura muy disfrutable, aunque exigente por su complejidad geográfica y lingüística. Si existieran las medias estrellas, le daría 3,5: me tira atrás lo confuso del idioma inventado pero la aventura es tan buena que cuesta no redondear hacia arriba. Una historia distinta dentro de la saga, donde el espíritu explorador y el asombro por lo desconocido están en su punto más alto.
January 8, 2020
Lots of good Tarzan stuff in here and even Jane gets a chance to shine.
September 24, 2025
This has been one of my favorites so far! This was definitely the most complicated world Burroughs has developed (lots of unique names and creatures) and also very fun!
December 12, 2011
Kindled for free: Tarzan goes to meet some tailed cryptoid Pithecanthropoi and is given the nickname "the terrible" because he is so much more hardcore than them. Another classic. Not as quotable as some of the others, but still good elemental writing. Three quotes:
{Burrough’s vision of humanity}
So rapt had Tarzan been in the scene below him that he had given no thought to escape, for he realized that for him and Pan-at-lee time had in these brief moments turned back countless ages to spread before their eyes a page of the dim and distant past. They two had looked upon the first man and his primitive beasts of burden. And now the ridden gryf halted and looked up at them, bellowing. It was sufficient. The creature had warned its master of their presence. Instantly the Tor-o-don urged the beast close beneath the tree which held them, at the same time leaping to his feet upon the horny back. Tarzan saw the bestial face, the great fangs, the mighty muscles. From the loins of such had sprung the human race—and only from such could it have sprung, for only such as this might have survived the horrid dangers of the age that was theirs. The Tor-o-don beat upon his breast and growled horribly—hideous, uncouth, beastly. Tarzan rose to his full height upon a swaying branch—straight and beautiful as a demigod—unspoiled by the taint of civilization—a perfect specimen of what the human race might have been had the laws of man not interfered with the laws of nature.
{A very unusual passage for Burroughs, filled with emotion. This is the first time Tarzan and Jane find each other after about a year (2 books) apart, in which she was kidnapped – very spoilerific.}
Before the rude shelter built among the branches he paused listening. From within there came to his sensitive nostrils the same delicate aroma that had arrested his eager attention at the little stream a mile away. He crouched upon the branch close to the little door. "Jane," he called, "heart of my heart, it is I." The only answer from within was as the sudden indrawing of a breath that was half gasp and half sigh, and the sound of a body falling to the floor. Hurriedly Tarzan sought to release the thongs which held the door but they were fastened from the inside, and at last, impatient with further delay, he seized the frail barrier in one giant hand and with a single effort tore it completely away. And then he entered to find the seemingly lifeless body of his mate stretched upon the floor. He gathered her in his arms; her heart beat; she still breathed, and presently he realized that she had but swooned. When Jane Clayton regained consciousness it was to find herself held tightly in two strong arms, her head pillowed upon the broad shoulder where so often before her fears had been soothed and her sorrows comforted. At first she was not sure but that it was all a dream. Timidly her hand stole to his cheek. "John," she murmured, "tell me, is it really you?" In reply he drew her more closely to him. "It is I," he replied. "But there is something in my throat," he said haltingly, "that makes it hard for me to speak." She smiled and snuggled closer to him. "God has been good to us, Tarzan of the Apes," she said. For some time neither spoke. It was enough that they were reunited and that each knew that the other was alive and safe. But at last they found their voices and when the sun rose they were still talking, so much had each to tell the other; so many questions there were to be asked and answered.
{Indulgent Tarzan and the woman}
"You came just in time," replied Pan-at-lee; "but who are you and how did you know that I was here and what do you know of Om-at and where did you come from and what did you mean by calling Om-at, gund?" "Wait, wait," cried Tarzan; "one at a time. My, but you are all alike—the shes of the tribe of Kerchak, the ladies of England, and their sisters of Pal-ul-don. Have patience and I will try to answer you!
{Burrough’s vision of humanity}
So rapt had Tarzan been in the scene below him that he had given no thought to escape, for he realized that for him and Pan-at-lee time had in these brief moments turned back countless ages to spread before their eyes a page of the dim and distant past. They two had looked upon the first man and his primitive beasts of burden. And now the ridden gryf halted and looked up at them, bellowing. It was sufficient. The creature had warned its master of their presence. Instantly the Tor-o-don urged the beast close beneath the tree which held them, at the same time leaping to his feet upon the horny back. Tarzan saw the bestial face, the great fangs, the mighty muscles. From the loins of such had sprung the human race—and only from such could it have sprung, for only such as this might have survived the horrid dangers of the age that was theirs. The Tor-o-don beat upon his breast and growled horribly—hideous, uncouth, beastly. Tarzan rose to his full height upon a swaying branch—straight and beautiful as a demigod—unspoiled by the taint of civilization—a perfect specimen of what the human race might have been had the laws of man not interfered with the laws of nature.
{A very unusual passage for Burroughs, filled with emotion. This is the first time Tarzan and Jane find each other after about a year (2 books) apart, in which she was kidnapped – very spoilerific.}
Before the rude shelter built among the branches he paused listening. From within there came to his sensitive nostrils the same delicate aroma that had arrested his eager attention at the little stream a mile away. He crouched upon the branch close to the little door. "Jane," he called, "heart of my heart, it is I." The only answer from within was as the sudden indrawing of a breath that was half gasp and half sigh, and the sound of a body falling to the floor. Hurriedly Tarzan sought to release the thongs which held the door but they were fastened from the inside, and at last, impatient with further delay, he seized the frail barrier in one giant hand and with a single effort tore it completely away. And then he entered to find the seemingly lifeless body of his mate stretched upon the floor. He gathered her in his arms; her heart beat; she still breathed, and presently he realized that she had but swooned. When Jane Clayton regained consciousness it was to find herself held tightly in two strong arms, her head pillowed upon the broad shoulder where so often before her fears had been soothed and her sorrows comforted. At first she was not sure but that it was all a dream. Timidly her hand stole to his cheek. "John," she murmured, "tell me, is it really you?" In reply he drew her more closely to him. "It is I," he replied. "But there is something in my throat," he said haltingly, "that makes it hard for me to speak." She smiled and snuggled closer to him. "God has been good to us, Tarzan of the Apes," she said. For some time neither spoke. It was enough that they were reunited and that each knew that the other was alive and safe. But at last they found their voices and when the sun rose they were still talking, so much had each to tell the other; so many questions there were to be asked and answered.
{Indulgent Tarzan and the woman}
"You came just in time," replied Pan-at-lee; "but who are you and how did you know that I was here and what do you know of Om-at and where did you come from and what did you mean by calling Om-at, gund?" "Wait, wait," cried Tarzan; "one at a time. My, but you are all alike—the shes of the tribe of Kerchak, the ladies of England, and their sisters of Pal-ul-don. Have patience and I will try to answer you!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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July 23, 2016Creo que tan importante como reseñar las cosas buenas es hacerlo con las malas, sobre todo cuando el concepto "clásicos" oculta el hecho de que también entre los clásicos hay cosas prescindibles.
Tarzan el Terrible, como la inmensa mayoría de obras E. R. Burroughs es, sin paliativos, un enorme cagarro (creo que lo único que se salva es la primera novela de Tarzan, Tarzan de los Monos)
Siempre se ha dicho que Burroughs, si bien fallaba a la hora de crear sus personajes, ya que estos son, sin excepción, totalmente planos, era un mago a la hora de crear la sensación de la maravilla y retratar escenarios increíbles. Sobre el papel este libro cumpliría esa premisa, ya que Tarzan se internará ni más ni menos que en un valle aislado del mundo exterior donde la evolución a seguido un rumbo ajeno al del resto del planeta y los dinosaurios, los tigres dientes de sable y los pitecantropos han seguido su propia historia. Con semejante escenario a mano ¿qué podría salir mal?
Todo. Porque en vez de aprovechar las posibilidades del mundo perdido, como sí hizo Conan Doyle en la novela del mismo nombre, Burroughs se limita a escribir el sobadísimo esquema de todas y cada una de sus novelas: chica secuestrada, conflicto, persecuciones, intrigas, trampas mortales y final feliz. Y con todos los tópicos al uso: guerreros valerosos y nobles que enseguida se hacen amigos del protagonista, salvajes supersticiosos sin personalidad y malvados tan patéticos en su maldad que uno se pregunta como han llegado a viejos dado que no son capaces ni de mirar de frente sin que la villanía y la cobardía afloren a sus ojos. EL argumento de esta novela podría trasladarse sin la más mínima dificultad al escenario de Barsoon, cambiando a tarzan por john carter, y no notaríamos la diferencia.
Y es que, si el conjunto de los personajes de Burroughs es gris y sin personalidad, sus héroes no se salvan. Tarzán, como Carter de Marte o Carson de Venus, es tan perfecto, es tal el cúmulo de virtudes físicas, intelectuales y estéticas que derrama sobre él el autor, párrafo tras párrafo, que se le coge asco antes de que acabe el capítulo segundo. Y Jane no da menos asco que su depilado marido, uno no deja de imaginársela en la selva perfectamente peinada, sin un solo cabello fuera de sitio y con unas uñas ideales aunque esté tallando una lanza de piedra.
Como anécdota, ésta es la segunda novela de Burroughs ambientada en la I Guerra Mundial, y el autor no deja de soltar perlas sobre los enemigos de Gran Bretaña. Lo más suave que le dedica al teniente Obergatz, vil secuestrador de Jane (y cobarde, despreciable, lerdo, brutal, borracho, demente... como todos los enemigos de Tarzán) es el apelativo "tudesco de cara de cerdo".
LO único realmente reseñable de esta obra es la invencion de Pal_ull_Don, el mundo prehistórico, no por el nulo provecho que le sacaría Burroughs, sino por que los autores que trasladaron las aventuras de tarzan al comic sí supieron aprovecharlo, y muy en especial el genial Russ Manning, que convirtió la tierra de los dinosaurios en el escenario de las aventuras trepidantes que su creador fue incapaz de desarrollar. Si alguien quiere conocer a Tarzán sin llevarse una enorme desilusión, más le vale empezar por ahí.
Y si, pese a todo, os animáis a leer Tarzán al Terrible, pues no será porque yo no haya avisado, pero oye, hay gente para todo
Tarzan el Terrible, como la inmensa mayoría de obras E. R. Burroughs es, sin paliativos, un enorme cagarro (creo que lo único que se salva es la primera novela de Tarzan, Tarzan de los Monos)
Siempre se ha dicho que Burroughs, si bien fallaba a la hora de crear sus personajes, ya que estos son, sin excepción, totalmente planos, era un mago a la hora de crear la sensación de la maravilla y retratar escenarios increíbles. Sobre el papel este libro cumpliría esa premisa, ya que Tarzan se internará ni más ni menos que en un valle aislado del mundo exterior donde la evolución a seguido un rumbo ajeno al del resto del planeta y los dinosaurios, los tigres dientes de sable y los pitecantropos han seguido su propia historia. Con semejante escenario a mano ¿qué podría salir mal?
Todo. Porque en vez de aprovechar las posibilidades del mundo perdido, como sí hizo Conan Doyle en la novela del mismo nombre, Burroughs se limita a escribir el sobadísimo esquema de todas y cada una de sus novelas: chica secuestrada, conflicto, persecuciones, intrigas, trampas mortales y final feliz. Y con todos los tópicos al uso: guerreros valerosos y nobles que enseguida se hacen amigos del protagonista, salvajes supersticiosos sin personalidad y malvados tan patéticos en su maldad que uno se pregunta como han llegado a viejos dado que no son capaces ni de mirar de frente sin que la villanía y la cobardía afloren a sus ojos. EL argumento de esta novela podría trasladarse sin la más mínima dificultad al escenario de Barsoon, cambiando a tarzan por john carter, y no notaríamos la diferencia.
Y es que, si el conjunto de los personajes de Burroughs es gris y sin personalidad, sus héroes no se salvan. Tarzán, como Carter de Marte o Carson de Venus, es tan perfecto, es tal el cúmulo de virtudes físicas, intelectuales y estéticas que derrama sobre él el autor, párrafo tras párrafo, que se le coge asco antes de que acabe el capítulo segundo. Y Jane no da menos asco que su depilado marido, uno no deja de imaginársela en la selva perfectamente peinada, sin un solo cabello fuera de sitio y con unas uñas ideales aunque esté tallando una lanza de piedra.
Como anécdota, ésta es la segunda novela de Burroughs ambientada en la I Guerra Mundial, y el autor no deja de soltar perlas sobre los enemigos de Gran Bretaña. Lo más suave que le dedica al teniente Obergatz, vil secuestrador de Jane (y cobarde, despreciable, lerdo, brutal, borracho, demente... como todos los enemigos de Tarzán) es el apelativo "tudesco de cara de cerdo".
LO único realmente reseñable de esta obra es la invencion de Pal_ull_Don, el mundo prehistórico, no por el nulo provecho que le sacaría Burroughs, sino por que los autores que trasladaron las aventuras de tarzan al comic sí supieron aprovecharlo, y muy en especial el genial Russ Manning, que convirtió la tierra de los dinosaurios en el escenario de las aventuras trepidantes que su creador fue incapaz de desarrollar. Si alguien quiere conocer a Tarzán sin llevarse una enorme desilusión, más le vale empezar por ahí.
Y si, pese a todo, os animáis a leer Tarzán al Terrible, pues no será porque yo no haya avisado, pero oye, hay gente para todo
February 14, 2025
A direct sequel to "Tarzan the Untamed," it opens with Tarzan trying to find Jane, who was captured by Germans at the beginning of the previous novel. Tarzan killed two of the three Germans responsible for this in "Untamed," believing that Jane was dead. Having learned that Jane still lives, he pursues the last of the Germans (who is still holding her captive) into the deep jungle.
Everyone eventually ends up in the remote land of Pal-ul-don, inhabited by men with tails, dinosaurs and large lions. Tarzan is soon enmeshed in events of that land, which involves human sacrifice, plots against kings and high priests, shifting loyalties and pitched battles.
Looking back through Burroughs' books published before "Tarzan the Terrible," I think its safe to say that this book is his most sophisticated example of world-building up to that time. The various factions of Pal-ul-don's civilization, clashing over political and religious differences, all ring true to human nature and human history. The overall plot, therefore, is potentially confusing. But ERB's skills as a storyteller allow him to keep the characters and their motivations straight and a reader has no trouble following that story.
The novel is full of great action sequences. Perhaps most notable is a sequence in which Jane escapes from the German and, alone in the jungle, puts the skills she's learned from Tarzan to good use. Soon, she's hunting prey with makeshift weapons, building a secure treehouse, and--despite the constant danger--comes to a better appreciation of why her husband loves the jungle. It isn't long before Jane largely disappears from the Tarzan books (though she makes an awesome comeback in "Tarzan's Quest") and its great to see her as more than just a damsel in distress. Instead, she's a brave and intelligent woman who is able to take care of herself.
Everyone eventually ends up in the remote land of Pal-ul-don, inhabited by men with tails, dinosaurs and large lions. Tarzan is soon enmeshed in events of that land, which involves human sacrifice, plots against kings and high priests, shifting loyalties and pitched battles.
Looking back through Burroughs' books published before "Tarzan the Terrible," I think its safe to say that this book is his most sophisticated example of world-building up to that time. The various factions of Pal-ul-don's civilization, clashing over political and religious differences, all ring true to human nature and human history. The overall plot, therefore, is potentially confusing. But ERB's skills as a storyteller allow him to keep the characters and their motivations straight and a reader has no trouble following that story.
The novel is full of great action sequences. Perhaps most notable is a sequence in which Jane escapes from the German and, alone in the jungle, puts the skills she's learned from Tarzan to good use. Soon, she's hunting prey with makeshift weapons, building a secure treehouse, and--despite the constant danger--comes to a better appreciation of why her husband loves the jungle. It isn't long before Jane largely disappears from the Tarzan books (though she makes an awesome comeback in "Tarzan's Quest") and its great to see her as more than just a damsel in distress. Instead, she's a brave and intelligent woman who is able to take care of herself.
June 29, 2011
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.
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.
December 27, 2024
I recently re-read this book which I had originally read as a child of 8 or 9 back in the late 1950's. I will confess that I didn't remember much after 60+ years beyond the basic plot line, but it still comes across as quite the rousing adventure story and not quite as marred by stereotyping as other Tarzan books, perhaps because it is set outside the "regular" African environment. This time around I found the chapters that centre on Jane's adventures while on her own to be of particular interest; she comes across as a capable person, not a helpless "damsel-in-distress".
January 2, 2025
One of if not the best Tarzan books.
This story is does all the classic Tarzan tropes, but the world of Pal-ul-don and the mysterious rifle man make this story standout.
As Tarzan searches for his kidnapped wife (a plot point carried over from the previous book) Tarzan finds himself in a hidden kingdom. Here he befriends a group of monkey like men and fights triceratops like beasts called Gryfs.
Tarzan is pushed to his limits both physically and mentally as he tries to save Jane.
If you only want to read some of the Tarzan books read this one as it should not be missed.
This story is does all the classic Tarzan tropes, but the world of Pal-ul-don and the mysterious rifle man make this story standout.
As Tarzan searches for his kidnapped wife (a plot point carried over from the previous book) Tarzan finds himself in a hidden kingdom. Here he befriends a group of monkey like men and fights triceratops like beasts called Gryfs.
Tarzan is pushed to his limits both physically and mentally as he tries to save Jane.
If you only want to read some of the Tarzan books read this one as it should not be missed.
March 6, 2017
The more books I read in this series, the less I enjoy them. The last few books have all had the same basic plot. In this book, many of the places and characters even have similar names adding confusion and thus making the book less interesting. It's also odd the role Tarzan and Jane's son plays in this book. It's as though Burroughs believes his audience has read enough books to forget such a large detail only to bring him back in what he thinks is a surprise.
June 7, 2013
Not one of my favorites from the series. The use of multi-hyphenated names starting mostly with "J" for everything and everyone in the strange land Tarzan found himself got to be annoying. Also a little too much political intrigue in between head banging. Tarzan is his usual godly self though and Jane is strong and independent. And carnivorous triceratops - Yikes!
April 18, 2013
Last one I've read, Burroughs' writing style was getting boring.
January 3, 2024
Exciting........
Very recommended ! Another exciting yarn about Tarzan and his exploits. Can't wait until I read the next book in the series to see what lies in store.
Very recommended ! Another exciting yarn about Tarzan and his exploits. Can't wait until I read the next book in the series to see what lies in store.
October 3, 2024
A lost civilization tale with wall to wall action.
August 20, 2017
Tarzan visits lost cities in uncharted Africa in half of the 24 authorized Burroughs novels and, on occasion, he revisits the same place. Unless I've missed one, he goes to Opar four times, always a party in the ape man's loincloth vis-à-vis La's repeated schemes. Twice he swings by Cathne and Athne, the Cities of Gold and Ivory respectively, where another lonely queen/priestess/empress entertains designs to compromise Tarzan's determined Victorian values. Other exciting ports of call on the lord of the jungle's map include sister cities Castra Sanginarius and Castrum Mare; Xuja, in the valley of Luna; the ant men's civilization within a thorn barrier; and other bizarre locales.
Opar is an absolute blast however my hands-down favorite party town in Africa has to be Pal-ul-don, where our hero spends most of his time in TARZAN THE TERRIBLE [Tarzan-jad-guru in the lingua franca of Pal-ul-don]. Refreshingly absent from the cast in this book is the female ruler lusting after Lady Greystoke's hubbie. Out of all the time-lost civilizations Tarzan stumbles upon, Pal-ul-don is the closest Burroughs came to transplanting a Martian city on the African continent. Pal-ul-don doesn't have origins on Mars but it might as well, everything about it is fantasy: cliff-dwelling colorfully-skinned tailed humans and equally multi-hued dinosaurs.
By the time this book was published Burroughs had been a professional writer for seven or eight years, still full of fire and very much on top of his narrative game. TARZAN THE TERRIBLE is one of the very best Tarzan novels, lodged second in the finest story arc Burroughs ever imagined for the ape man. That arc stretches over four books and in every one Tarzan travels to a lost city: Xuja in Tarzan the Untamed, Pal-ul-don in TARZAN THE TERRIBLE, Opar in Tarzan & the Golden Lion and the ant colonies in Tarzan & the Ant Men. Like the first four Tarzan novels, these four books can be read as one long story because they are so closely interrelated.
The lost city device in TARZAN THE TERRIBLE wasn't too formulaic in Burroughs' Tarzan series (not at that point anyway) as the arc is depicted in earlier novels, the seventh through tenth. Lost cities remained a staple but captivating formula when Burroughs again relied on it in the eleventh and twelfth Tarzan volumes. After besting so many lions and bull apes a jungle lord must look for new challenges and this applies especially to his creator as well; lost cities run riot with them. In the thirteenth Tarzan novel Burroughs basically reused the device once more by taking Lord Greystoke to Pellucidar, a lost land but not a lost city in Africa.
No worries, it's as solid a fictional vehicle when employed by ERB as it was when, more than a decade later, Robert E. Howard took Conan to numerous lost cities in the pulps.
Opar is an absolute blast however my hands-down favorite party town in Africa has to be Pal-ul-don, where our hero spends most of his time in TARZAN THE TERRIBLE [Tarzan-jad-guru in the lingua franca of Pal-ul-don]. Refreshingly absent from the cast in this book is the female ruler lusting after Lady Greystoke's hubbie. Out of all the time-lost civilizations Tarzan stumbles upon, Pal-ul-don is the closest Burroughs came to transplanting a Martian city on the African continent. Pal-ul-don doesn't have origins on Mars but it might as well, everything about it is fantasy: cliff-dwelling colorfully-skinned tailed humans and equally multi-hued dinosaurs.
By the time this book was published Burroughs had been a professional writer for seven or eight years, still full of fire and very much on top of his narrative game. TARZAN THE TERRIBLE is one of the very best Tarzan novels, lodged second in the finest story arc Burroughs ever imagined for the ape man. That arc stretches over four books and in every one Tarzan travels to a lost city: Xuja in Tarzan the Untamed, Pal-ul-don in TARZAN THE TERRIBLE, Opar in Tarzan & the Golden Lion and the ant colonies in Tarzan & the Ant Men. Like the first four Tarzan novels, these four books can be read as one long story because they are so closely interrelated.
The lost city device in TARZAN THE TERRIBLE wasn't too formulaic in Burroughs' Tarzan series (not at that point anyway) as the arc is depicted in earlier novels, the seventh through tenth. Lost cities remained a staple but captivating formula when Burroughs again relied on it in the eleventh and twelfth Tarzan volumes. After besting so many lions and bull apes a jungle lord must look for new challenges and this applies especially to his creator as well; lost cities run riot with them. In the thirteenth Tarzan novel Burroughs basically reused the device once more by taking Lord Greystoke to Pellucidar, a lost land but not a lost city in Africa.
No worries, it's as solid a fictional vehicle when employed by ERB as it was when, more than a decade later, Robert E. Howard took Conan to numerous lost cities in the pulps.
November 9, 2017
Well it took me to #8 to decide my adventures with Tarzan had reached their end. I am as willing to suspend disbelief as the next guy, but this particular tale required a scorecard to keep track of the tribes, titles and locales. For example, " Ko-tan now appears to accept the stranger as Dor-ul-Otho. Ko-tan resumes the business of the court. He presides over a dispute involving Ja-don, the Lion Man, father of his friend Ta-den." Since I was listening to what appears to be the last audio recording of the 24 volume Tarzan series (Libravox and any other source it seems as next book, Tarzan and the Golden Lion is not on audio. Wonder why there isn't a box set of all, but then maybe folks got to this book and said they are all set:). Here is an example of the place names, perhaps not confusing to some but to listener all was too much.
Places
Pal-ul-don - “Land of Men” hidden valley in Zaire
Jad Pele ul Jad-ben-otho (the Valley of the Great God) central valley of Pal-ul-don
Kor-ul-gryf “Gorge of Gryfs”
Kor-ul-ja “Gorge of Lions” inhabited by the Waz-don tribe
Kor-ul-lul “Gorge of Water” inhabited by a Waz-don tribe
Jad-bal-lul - “The Golden Water” lake of Pal-ul-don
Jad-ben-lul - “The Great Water” central lake
Jad-in-lul - “The Dark Water” lake on which the city of Tu-lur was built
Tu-lur “Bright City” ruled by Mo-sar
A-lur “City of Light” capital city of the Ho-don, cut from limestone hills
Bu-lur - “Moon City” cliff village of Waz-ho-don
So not only was it unclear who the good guys are and where they came from, but the bad guys (except for the German, was pretty clear who he was) were a dime a dozen and seemed to come from everywhere. Nice he figured out how to tame Gryf, though I can live a long time without hearing the Libravox narrator do his "wheee-ooh" impression again. Cool also that Jane got a chance to be free and independent, and a woman no less, Go Jane! Really had some catching up to do and wouldn't you know it, for the bazillionth time they get captured, tied up with thongs and sentenced to their doom. I guess you figured out they don't die since there are 16 more of these adventures to slog through. I will try to actually read one to see if that improves my comprehension of who is who and what is what, and I did enjoy much of the trip, now is time to head home, like Tarzan to await next one.
Places
Pal-ul-don - “Land of Men” hidden valley in Zaire
Jad Pele ul Jad-ben-otho (the Valley of the Great God) central valley of Pal-ul-don
Kor-ul-gryf “Gorge of Gryfs”
Kor-ul-ja “Gorge of Lions” inhabited by the Waz-don tribe
Kor-ul-lul “Gorge of Water” inhabited by a Waz-don tribe
Jad-bal-lul - “The Golden Water” lake of Pal-ul-don
Jad-ben-lul - “The Great Water” central lake
Jad-in-lul - “The Dark Water” lake on which the city of Tu-lur was built
Tu-lur “Bright City” ruled by Mo-sar
A-lur “City of Light” capital city of the Ho-don, cut from limestone hills
Bu-lur - “Moon City” cliff village of Waz-ho-don
So not only was it unclear who the good guys are and where they came from, but the bad guys (except for the German, was pretty clear who he was) were a dime a dozen and seemed to come from everywhere. Nice he figured out how to tame Gryf, though I can live a long time without hearing the Libravox narrator do his "wheee-ooh" impression again. Cool also that Jane got a chance to be free and independent, and a woman no less, Go Jane! Really had some catching up to do and wouldn't you know it, for the bazillionth time they get captured, tied up with thongs and sentenced to their doom. I guess you figured out they don't die since there are 16 more of these adventures to slog through. I will try to actually read one to see if that improves my comprehension of who is who and what is what, and I did enjoy much of the trip, now is time to head home, like Tarzan to await next one.
July 16, 2018
The eighth novel in the Tarzan series is really best read as part two of the previous novel, Tarzan the Untamed. It was first published as a serial in the pulp magazine Argosy All-Story Weekly in the February and March issues of 1921. The first book edition was published in June 1921.
Tarzan is hot on the trail of Jane who we found out at the end of the previous novel, survived her ordeal with her German kidnappers. His journey takes him to another lost city in a hidden corner of Africa, a plot device that will be more and more relied upon as Tarzan’s adventures continue.
Pal-ul-don is one of the more fleshed out of these lost civilizations and Burroughs even includes a glossary of their language at the end of the book as well as instructions on how it developed. Pal-ul-don is a strange place filled with dinosaurs, (including an omnivorous version of Triceratops) and is also home to two different human-like creatures: the hairless and white skinned Ho-don who live in cities and the furry black-skinned Waz-don who live in the hills. These two groups are adversaries and this forms the main plot of the story.
There are a couple of surprises in store but fans of the series will most certainly recognize the identity of one mysterious character who is trailing after Tarzan. There are a few too many characters with weird names (Ja-Don, Ko-tan, Om-At, Es-sat, Mo-sar, and many more) as well as similar place names (Kor-ul-gryf, Kor-ul-ja, Kor-ul-lul, etc.) and that makes this story a bit harder to absorb than most. But if the reader references the glossary, the names do make logical sense and that makes it easier.
Next up: Tarzan and the Golden Lion.
Tarzan is hot on the trail of Jane who we found out at the end of the previous novel, survived her ordeal with her German kidnappers. His journey takes him to another lost city in a hidden corner of Africa, a plot device that will be more and more relied upon as Tarzan’s adventures continue.
Pal-ul-don is one of the more fleshed out of these lost civilizations and Burroughs even includes a glossary of their language at the end of the book as well as instructions on how it developed. Pal-ul-don is a strange place filled with dinosaurs, (including an omnivorous version of Triceratops) and is also home to two different human-like creatures: the hairless and white skinned Ho-don who live in cities and the furry black-skinned Waz-don who live in the hills. These two groups are adversaries and this forms the main plot of the story.
There are a couple of surprises in store but fans of the series will most certainly recognize the identity of one mysterious character who is trailing after Tarzan. There are a few too many characters with weird names (Ja-Don, Ko-tan, Om-At, Es-sat, Mo-sar, and many more) as well as similar place names (Kor-ul-gryf, Kor-ul-ja, Kor-ul-lul, etc.) and that makes this story a bit harder to absorb than most. But if the reader references the glossary, the names do make logical sense and that makes it easier.
Next up: Tarzan and the Golden Lion.
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