Customer Reviews

The Son of Tarzan

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The Son of Tarzan deserves a strong 4 star rating. While the story shares a lot in common with much of Burroughs' early Tarzan material, isn't that why you like the Tarzan series? The Son of Tarzan also stands out among the early Tarzan series for its excellent characterization. The book's best feature is the relationship that evolves between Tarzan's son Korak and the kidnapped French girl, Meriem. It is much more satisfactory than the Tarzan and Jane relationship, which really fizzles after the first couple of Tarzan books. The reader sympathizes with Meriem from the onset of the story. Burroughs patiently develops her character throughout the book, creating an appealing feminine presence. The reader also sympathizes with Korak, who proves to be more than just a "Tarzan Jr." While the two share certain similarities, Korak is his own man whose ultimate fate hangs in the balance until the very end of the novel.

Alongside these two strong leading characters, Burroughs works in a number of foes that add significant interest to the plot. The character of Baynes is the most interesting among these, and the reader will appreciate how Burroughs expands his role. The plot does not get overly complicated, nor is the reader buried under an avalanche of endless characters. By the end of the book, Burroughs is able to tie up all the loose ends that he has created.

There is a certain amount of predictability, and Burroughs is unsuccessful in his attempt to cloak the identities of the "Big Bwana" and "My Dear." This does not greatly detract from the overall book, though. I found that the book's pace gained momentum as the story progressed, and found the conclusion to be very satisfactory. It is not a conclusion that merely baits the reader into buying the next edition, unlike the present "Lord of the Rings" movie saga, for instance. It stands on its own.

The 1917 version that includes many outstanding illustrations by J. Allen St. John is the best way to go on this one. St. John's only lapses are his inability to capture Meriem in "civilized" garb, the illustration in which Tarzan looks like a skinny 90-year old man, and the bizarre, strangely proportioned Quasimodo-ish picture of Baynes fighting the black. Aside from these glaring exceptions, his work is top-notch.

This, the third book in the Tarzan series, is one of my favorites. Tricked by one of Tarzan's arch-enemies into running away from home, Tarzan's son Jack finds himself banished to the deep jungle with only Akut, the giant age as a companion. As time goes by, Jack learns to cope with the jungle and transforms into Korak, a jungle lord who converses with apes and rides Tantor the bull elephant. Korak rescues a little Arab girl with a hidden background, and the two young people become fast companions of the wild. The action is constant, the plot convoluted but typical of the Tarzan series with never a dull moment. My only objection is the ending of the book. All is, of course, resolved, but it is so quickly done one cannot help wondering if Burroughs was up against a deadline. Nevertheless, it is quick, good reading!

As I was looking for books for my new Kindle, I was so happy to find the Tarzan novels of my youth. I remember as a teenager reading every Tarzan book I could find. I've totally enjoyed going back and rereading the novels. They are not perfect but there still is a sense of adventure and freedom in the pages of the novels.

This one has an interestingly diverse plot that introduces to the public the character of Korak the Killer, son of Tarzan. Gotta read it!