Tarzan Alive: A Definitive Biography of Lord Greystoke (Bison Frontiers of Imagination) (Paperback)

~ Philip Jose Farmer (Author), Mike Resnick (Introduction), (Foreword) "Without wine, we would never have known the story of the most famous adventurer since Odysseus or of the strongest man since Samson..." (more)
Key Phrases: John Clayton, Black Michael, Lord Greystoke (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"The old vine swinger is one of a handful of fictional characters to rank a biography. Such books give the authors the opportunity to expound on the characters, providing background, side stories, and updates not offered by their creator. Farmer's 1972 volume borrows from Edgar Rice Burroughs but also adds to the legend by tracing Tarzan's lineage . . . and extends his exploits beyond the African jungle as an RAF pilot in World War II. Great fun."-Library Journal, Classic Returns (Library Journal, Classic Returns )

"Farmer goes one step further than mere literary fun. He takes engaging advantage of the reader's inherent susceptibility to myth."-Publishers Weekly (Publishers Weekly )

"Tarzan is seen as a 20th-century heroic figure having much in common with the mythical demigods of an earlier day, and this book will not fail to please and enthrall his many followers."-Library Journal (Library Journal )

"The most innovative part of the book [is] Tarzan's family tree linking him to every great hero in pulp literature. . . . Farmer is less well known today than he was forty years ago. Nevertheless, Alive ages well and gives the reader the sourcebook for so many writers today."-American Book Review (American Book Review )

"Farmer does a fine job of consolidating all the material. He leaves the reader with a three dimensional portrait of the main characters, their foibles, and motivations. . . . For an introduction to one of the most resilient heroes in literature, Tarzan Alive is a remarkable offering."-Green Man Review (Green Man Review )

Product Description

Through the tales of Edgar Rice Burroughs, generations of readers have thrilled to the adventures of Lord Greystoke (aka John Clayton, but better known as Tarzan of the Apes). In this biography Philip José Farmer pieces together the life of this fantastic man, correcting Burroughs’s errors and deliberate deceptions and tracing Tarzan's family tree back to other extraordinary figures, including Sherlock and Mycroft Holmes, the Scarlet Pimpernel, Doc Savage, Nero Wolfe, and Bulldog Drummond.

 

Tarzan Alive offers the first chronological account of Tarzan's life, narrated in careful detail garnered from Burroughs’s stories and other sources. From the ill-fated voyage that led to Greystoke's birth on the isolated African coast to his final adventures as a group captain in the RAF during World War II, Farmer constructs a comprehensive and authoritative account. Farmer’s assertion that Tarzan was a real person has led him to craft a biography as well researched and compelling as that of any character from conventional history. This definitive Bison Books edition also includes Farmer’s “Exclusive Interview with Lord Greystoke” as well as “Extracts from the Memoirs of ‘Lord Greystoke’” first anthologized in Mother Was a Lovely Beast.

See all Editorial Reviews

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Product Details Paperback: 316 pages Publisher: Bison Books; Revised edition (April 1, 2006) Language: English ISBN-10: 0803269218 ISBN-13: 978-0803269217 Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.4 x 0.9 inches Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies) Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews) Amazon.com Sales Rank: #342,106 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books) Popular in these categories: (What's this?) #12 in  Books > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Authors, A-Z > ( F ) > Farmer, Philip Jose #15 in  Books > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Authors, A-Z > ( R ) > Resnick, Mike #65 in  Books > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Fantasy > History & Criticism

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Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!

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Inside This Book (learn more)

First Sentence:
Without wine, we would never have known the story of the most famous adventurer since Odysseus or of the strongest man since Samson. Read the first page

Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
John Clayton, Black Michael, Lord Greystoke, Sir William, Priory School, Black Peter, Tarzan of the Apes, William Cecil, Sir John, Burke's Peerage, New York, Sherlock Holmes, Doc Savage, Lord Saltire, Alice Rutherford, Colonial Office, James Wilder, Baron Tennington, John Caldwell, John Drummond, Rabba Kega, Lord Peter Wimsey, Tarzan the Terrible, William Clayton, Old English

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Citations (learn more)

This book cites 100 books:

• Tarzan of the Apes (Signet Classics) by Edgar Rice Burroughs on 15 pages
• An Unsocial Socialist (Norton Library) by George Bernard Shaw on 10 pages
• Tarzan the Terrible by Edgar Rice Burroughs on 8 pages
• Lord Peter: A Collection of All the Lord Peter Wimsey Stories by Dorothy L. Sayers on 5 pages
• The Lost World (Tor Classics) by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle on 4 pages

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1 book cites this book:

• Using Voice and Movement in Therapy: The Practical Application of Voice Movement Therapy by Paul Newham in Back Matter

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Books on Related Topics (learn more)

Jungle Tales Of Tarzan by Edgar R. Burroughs

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• two hyenas
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• Tarzan of the Apes

The Return of Tarzan by Edgar Rice Burroughs

Discusses:

• fifty frightful men
• John Clayton
• Lord Greystoke

The Return of Tarzan by Edgar Rice Burroughs

Discusses:

• fifty frightful men
• John Clayton
• Lord Greystoke

Jungle Tales of Tarzan by Edgar Rice Burroughs

Discusses:

• two hyenas
• Lord Greystoke
• Tarzan of the Apes

Jungle Tales of Tarzan by Edgar Rice Burroughs

Discusses:

• two hyenas
• Lord Greystoke
• Tarzan of the Apes

Jungle Tales Of Tarzan by Edgar R. Burroughs Discusses: two hyenas Lord Greystoke Tarzan of the Apes The Return of Tarzan by Edgar Rice Burroughs Discusses: fifty frightful men John Clayton Lord Greystoke The Return of Tarzan by Edgar Rice Burroughs Discusses: fifty frightful men John Clayton Lord Greystoke Jungle Tales of Tarzan by Edgar Rice Burroughs Discusses: two hyenas Lord Greystoke Tarzan of the Apes Loading...

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	79% buy the item featured on this page: Tarzan Alive: A Definitive Biography of Lord Greystoke (Bison Frontiers of Imagination) 4.3 out of 5 stars (13) $12.33
	7% buy Myths for the Modern Age: Philip Jose Farmer's Wold Newton Universe 4.6 out of 5 stars (12) $11.21
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Customer Reviews

13 Reviews 5 star:  (7) 4 star:  (5) 3 star:    (0) 2 star:    (0) 1 star:  (1)           Average Customer Review 4.3 out of 5 stars (13 customer reviews)		Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most Helpful Customer Reviews 11 of 12 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars A postmodern classic, March 23, 2006 By  Christopher Paul Carey - See all my reviews Far too long out of print, TARZAN ALIVE: THE DEFINITIVE BIOGRAPHY OF LORD GREYSTOKE is a postmodern classic that will appeal to readers of Edgar Rice Burroughs and Philip José Farmer, as well as those interested in parascholarship, fictional biographies, and literature in general. This is the book that launched the concept of the Wold Newton family, the genetic lineage exposed to a radioactive meteorite in 1795, thus spawning a number of great detectives, scientists, explorers, and adventurers, some of whom border on the superhuman. Farmer's addendums, expanding this concept to include a multitude of literary characters (such as those from Jane Austen's PRIDE AND PREJUDICE and Jack London's THE SEA WOLF, to name only a couple), alone make the cost of this book worth it. This is truly the definitive edition of TARZAN ALIVE, and Bison Books has wisely added a number of extras that will make this edition worth owning even if one already has a Doubleday, Popular Library, or Playboy Paperbacks copy of the book. Collected here, but missing from the older versions of the book, are two gems: 1) "Extracts from the Memoirs of `Lord Greystoke' (previously only available in the hard to find anthology MOTHER WAS A LOVELY BEAST); and 2) "Tarzan Lives: An Exclusive Interview with the Eighth Duke of Greystoke" (in which Farmer himself interviews the Jungle Lord). Further, the Bison Books edition includes an insightful new foreword by Win Scott Eckert (editor of MYTHS FOR THE MODERN AGE: PHILIP JOSÉ FARMER'S WOLD NEWTON UNIVERSE), which places TARZAN ALIVE in the context of "Sherlockian biographical scholarship," showing how Farmer's book is truly exemplary (and also transcendent) in the field of fictional biography. This is followed by a new introduction by science fiction author Mike Resnick discussing Farmer's other Tarzan pastiches. The book itself is a compelling read. Farmer treats the subject of his "biography" as a living person about whom Edgar Rice Burroughs chronicled in fictionalized form. This livens up what otherwise would be a dry summary of ERB's Tarzan series, as Farmer often interjects with persuasive comments, conjectures, and elaborations in the brilliant style that is unique to him. In TARZAN ALIVE, Farmer breaths new life into the legend of Tarzan, all out of a respectful love for the character which pours from every word on every page of this delightfully wonderful work. 10 of 13 people found the following review helpful: 4.0 out of 5 stars Real Man's Biogrpahy, April 20, 2006 By  Kendal B. Hunter (Provo, UT United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)    Amazon Verified Purchase Bison Books has become one of my favorite publishing houses. They have taken upon themselves the almost thankless task of republishing the out of print classics-and I might add, the out of print essentials-of science fiction. This new edition of "Tarzan Alive" is already a treasured possession. In addition to having the original text, they have included some of Philip Jose Farmer's extras, such as the text of his interview with Lord Greystoke and his worship's memories. We can, therefore, call this the "Director's Cut" edition. By the way, the cover art takes the cake! I has to be my favorite image of Lord Greystoke! For the uninitiated, "Tarzan Alive" is a faux-biography of Burroughs's famous ape man. What makes this book interesting is Farmer's extensive research: take a look at the Greystoke coat of arms-you get a feel for Farmer's desire to make Tarzan as real as possible. Another gem is Farmer's assertion that the apes were really a form of Australopitheci. This makes more sense, in as much as the apes have their on language, Mangani. Although the book asserts that it is reprint "in its entirety" (p. vii), there is one omission. In the hardback editions, Farmer had included a genealogical table of Tarzan, and his many famous relatives, such as Sherlock Holmes, James Bond, and Doc Savage. Admittedly, in many of the later paperback editions this family tree was also omitted; however, I would have preferred it to be included. For the curious, any good "World Newton Family" web page will have a copy of this key chart. With that one let-down, I recommend this book for fans of the Ape Man, or anyone into the Victorian Classics or the retro Steam Punk novels. Hopefully with the success of this book, Bison will publish its companion volume "Doc Savage: His Apocalyptic Life," and include the revised family tree. 7 of 9 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars Indispensable, June 24, 2006 By  Lucky Jackson (Las Vegas) - See all my reviews I first read this book when I was ten or so, but I have returned to it time after time a an adult. Phil Farmer, a noted science fiction writer, wrote this book, which proports to be a biography of the man upon whom Edgar Rice Borroguhs based his Tarzan novles. When you read this, you will find yourself wondering if Farmer is pulling one of the greatest literary practical jokes ever, or if Farmer actually does believe that Tarzan was a real person, and, inevitably, you will find yourself wondering if Tarzan actually was a real person. The biography of Tarzan is useful if you are a fan of the Edgar Rice Burroguhs books. Farmer will show how some of the more outlandish elements of the books can be scientifically explained, and how they might ahve happened in the world you and I inhabit. The book is also useful if you have never read Burroughs and are looking for a quick introduction to his most popular series. The endnotes, where Farmer sketches Tarzan's family tree and shows how e was related to Sherlock Holmes, Leopold Bloom, the Shadow, Nero Wolfe and a number of other lierary characters is also fascinating.		Ad feedback   Most Recent Customer Reviews 4.0 out of 5 stars Very good...however... Great new edition of a terrific book. This Bison Books edition adds Farmer's "exclusive interview with Lord Greystoke (from Esquire) and "Extracts from the memoirs of "Lord... Read more Published 20 months ago by JoeNoir 5.0 out of 5 stars Super Reader This is great. Almost mind-boggling the effort that Farmer has put in, here. Try and find the men with grey eyes. Read more Published on August 6, 2007 by Blue Tyson 4.0 out of 5 stars The House of Tarzan Edgar Rice Burroughs put out 24 books on the adventures of Tarzan. I enjoyed most of these and would recommend them without a doubt. Read more Published on May 25, 2007 by R. Howell 4.0 out of 5 stars Good book... but... I greatly enjoyed the tales of Tarzan as presented in Tarzan Alive. The problem I have is this... I haven't read the original source material. Read more Published on February 9, 2007 by Preston Halcomb 4.0 out of 5 stars Fun biography, even for casual fans of Tarzan and/or Farmer Farmer's direct tribute to Edgar Rice Burroughs is a fictional biography of Tarzan. It is probably not going to be interesting to those who have never read one of Burroughs'... Read more Published on October 4, 2006 by P. Kufahl 5.0 out of 5 stars Uniquel! "Sherlock Holmes of Baker Street" is out-of print and so is "Doc Savage and his Apocalyptic Life". Almost all other works are either out-of-print or are simply not available... Read more Published on August 18, 2006 by RIJU GANGULY 5.0 out of 5 stars Kreegah!!!! Tarzan of the Apes is the GREATEST fictional hero of all time! In Tarzan Alive, Mr. Farmer places Lord Greystoke in a world where he exist side by side with Heroes and... Read more Published on June 26, 2006 by Charles Loridans 5.0 out of 5 stars Tarzan IS alive! This book is probably Philip Jose Farmer's magnum opus and is the culmination of Farmer's lifelong fascination with the character of Tarzan of the Apes. Read more Published on June 24, 2006 by Dennis Power 5.0 out of 5 stars Philip Jose Farmer was thinking leagues ahead of any writer in sci-fi, that's what. First off, this is a review I intend to edit later to give readers more of an an idea of the merits of this wonderful book. Read more Published on June 24, 2006 by Henry Covert 1.0 out of 5 stars What the hell was Farmer thinking? Someone obviously forgot to tell Farmer Tarzan was ERB's creation, not his. This ridiculous removal of most of the ape-man's adventures and radical restructuring of what's left is... Read more Published on June 23, 2006 by Jay Search Customer Reviews Only search this product's reviews

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Product Details

• Paperback: 316 pages
• Publisher: Bison Books; Revised edition (April 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0803269218
• ISBN-13: 978-0803269217
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #342,106 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #12 in	Books > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Authors, A-Z > ( F ) > Farmer, Philip Jose
  #15 in	Books > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Authors, A-Z > ( R ) > Resnick, Mike
  #65 in	Books > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Fantasy > History & Criticism

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A postmodern classic, March 23, 2006

By	Christopher Paul Carey - See all my reviews

Far too long out of print, TARZAN ALIVE: THE DEFINITIVE BIOGRAPHY OF LORD GREYSTOKE is a postmodern classic that will appeal to readers of Edgar Rice Burroughs and Philip José Farmer, as well as those interested in parascholarship, fictional biographies, and literature in general. This is the book that launched the concept of the Wold Newton family, the genetic lineage exposed to a radioactive meteorite in 1795, thus spawning a number of great detectives, scientists, explorers, and adventurers, some of whom border on the superhuman. Farmer's addendums, expanding this concept to include a multitude of literary characters (such as those from Jane Austen's PRIDE AND PREJUDICE and Jack London's THE SEA WOLF, to name only a couple), alone make the cost of this book worth it.

This is truly the definitive edition of TARZAN ALIVE, and Bison Books has wisely added a number of extras that will make this edition worth owning even if one already has a Doubleday, Popular Library, or Playboy Paperbacks copy of the book. Collected here, but missing from the older versions of the book, are two gems: 1) "Extracts from the Memoirs of `Lord Greystoke' (previously only available in the hard to find anthology MOTHER WAS A LOVELY BEAST); and 2) "Tarzan Lives: An Exclusive Interview with the Eighth Duke of Greystoke" (in which Farmer himself interviews the Jungle Lord). Further, the Bison Books edition includes an insightful new foreword by Win Scott Eckert (editor of MYTHS FOR THE MODERN AGE: PHILIP JOSÉ FARMER'S WOLD NEWTON UNIVERSE), which places TARZAN ALIVE in the context of "Sherlockian biographical scholarship," showing how Farmer's book is truly exemplary (and also transcendent) in the field of fictional biography. This is followed by a new introduction by science fiction author Mike Resnick discussing Farmer's other Tarzan pastiches.

The book itself is a compelling read. Farmer treats the subject of his "biography" as a living person about whom Edgar Rice Burroughs chronicled in fictionalized form. This livens up what otherwise would be a dry summary of ERB's Tarzan series, as Farmer often interjects with persuasive comments, conjectures, and elaborations in the brilliant style that is unique to him. In TARZAN ALIVE, Farmer breaths new life into the legend of Tarzan, all out of a respectful love for the character which pours from every word on every page of this delightfully wonderful work.

10 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Real Man's Biogrpahy, April 20, 2006

By	Kendal B. Hunter (Provo, UT United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Amazon Verified Purchase

Bison Books has become one of my favorite publishing houses. They have taken upon themselves the almost thankless task of republishing the out of print classics-and I might add, the out of print essentials-of science fiction.

This new edition of "Tarzan Alive" is already a treasured possession. In addition to having the original text, they have included some of Philip Jose Farmer's extras, such as the text of his interview with Lord Greystoke and his worship's memories. We can, therefore, call this the "Director's Cut" edition.

By the way, the cover art takes the cake! I has to be my favorite image of Lord Greystoke!

For the uninitiated, "Tarzan Alive" is a faux-biography of Burroughs's famous ape man. What makes this book interesting is Farmer's extensive research: take a look at the Greystoke coat of arms-you get a feel for Farmer's desire to make Tarzan as real as possible. Another gem is Farmer's assertion that the apes were really a form of Australopitheci. This makes more sense, in as much as the apes have their on language, Mangani.

Although the book asserts that it is reprint "in its entirety" (p. vii), there is one omission. In the hardback editions, Farmer had included a genealogical table of Tarzan, and his many famous relatives, such as Sherlock Holmes, James Bond, and Doc Savage. Admittedly, in many of the later paperback editions this family tree was also omitted; however, I would have preferred it to be included.

For the curious, any good "World Newton Family" web page will have a copy of this key chart.

With that one let-down, I recommend this book for fans of the Ape Man, or anyone into the Victorian Classics or the retro Steam Punk novels. Hopefully with the success of this book, Bison will publish its companion volume "Doc Savage: His Apocalyptic Life," and include the revised family tree.

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Indispensable, June 24, 2006

By	Lucky Jackson (Las Vegas) - See all my reviews

I first read this book when I was ten or so, but I have returned to it time after time a an adult. Phil Farmer, a noted science fiction writer, wrote this book, which proports to be a biography of the man upon whom Edgar Rice Borroguhs based his Tarzan novles.

When you read this, you will find yourself wondering if Farmer is pulling one of the greatest literary practical jokes ever, or if Farmer actually does believe that Tarzan was a real person, and, inevitably, you will find yourself wondering if Tarzan actually was a real person.

The biography of Tarzan is useful if you are a fan of the Edgar Rice Burroguhs books. Farmer will show how some of the more outlandish elements of the books can be scientifically explained, and how they might ahve happened in the world you and I inhabit. The book is also useful if you have never read Burroughs and are looking for a quick introduction to his most popular series.

The endnotes, where Farmer sketches Tarzan's family tree and shows how e was related to Sherlock Holmes, Leopold Bloom, the Shadow, Nero Wolfe and a number of other lierary characters is also fascinating.