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3.57 AVERAGE
3.57 AVERAGE
adventurous
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Not as good as the earlier novels. A series of ridiculous coincidences occur which deposit Tarzan’s son in the African jungle. I don’t think Burroughs has really thought it through. He just wants him there are quickly as possible so he can tell the story he wants to tell.
So the son takes to the jungle really well and soon enough we have a second Tarzan. It baffles me as to why Burroughs would think we need one, or why we would accept one. You have to be really good at suspending your disbelief when reading these novels. That this could happen twice is really pushing it. Anyway, there’s some suggestion that Korak or whatever his name is is well fitted to the jungle because of his exposure to the English public school system. But then we get this passage:
‘Much of this had Akut taught him, but far more was instinctive knowledge – a species of strange intuition inherited from his father.’
Perhaps this is something related to Burroughs’ white supremacist ideology, that worth can be passed down through blood, I don’t know, but it’s ridiculous. Has he also inherited a knowledge of how to put in a tampon from his mother? And if knowledge is passed down, how did Tarzan acquire his when his parents knew nothing of jungle life? It completely undermines Tarzan’s story where you have a naturally strong, intelligent person whose particular skills are imparted by upbringing.
Still, the book is readable and entertaining, though not always for the reasons Burroughs intends. It does pick up in the second half.
So the son takes to the jungle really well and soon enough we have a second Tarzan. It baffles me as to why Burroughs would think we need one, or why we would accept one. You have to be really good at suspending your disbelief when reading these novels. That this could happen twice is really pushing it. Anyway, there’s some suggestion that Korak or whatever his name is is well fitted to the jungle because of his exposure to the English public school system. But then we get this passage:
‘Much of this had Akut taught him, but far more was instinctive knowledge – a species of strange intuition inherited from his father.’
Perhaps this is something related to Burroughs’ white supremacist ideology, that worth can be passed down through blood, I don’t know, but it’s ridiculous. Has he also inherited a knowledge of how to put in a tampon from his mother? And if knowledge is passed down, how did Tarzan acquire his when his parents knew nothing of jungle life? It completely undermines Tarzan’s story where you have a naturally strong, intelligent person whose particular skills are imparted by upbringing.
Still, the book is readable and entertaining, though not always for the reasons Burroughs intends. It does pick up in the second half.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Child abuse, Death, Gun violence, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Murder, Colonisation
Overall this book was entriguing. Bringing in a female who lived like Tarzan brought in new perspectives and finally took the series away from the damsel in distress cliché. On top of that the twists and turns of the story were set up so nicely that you often did not see it coming while simultaneously being dissapointed in yourself for not picking up on it sooner. However, this is an older book that did not age well and there are many parts in it that are blatantly racist or show that Burroughs had little desire to see beyond his own social conversations.
Son of Tarzan traditionally isn't one of my favorite Tarzan novels. Through his strong opening trilogy, Burroughs settled Tarzan into life as a civilized family man, so I understand his conundrum and the desire to continue adventures through the son introduced in the third volume. But while Korak's adventures are as well-written and exciting as Tarzan's, and I care a lot about his friend Meriem, I still miss Tarzan for most of the book. But Burroughs knows this.
He gradually, cooly works the classic ape man back into the story and even though this wasn't my first time reading the book, I was weepy and cheering by the end.
My emotional reaction may have had something to do with the reading of Shelly Frasier in the audiobook I listened to this time. I question some of her accent choices for a couple of characters, but she's super effective at pulling me into the story and helping me feel what's going on.
He gradually, cooly works the classic ape man back into the story and even though this wasn't my first time reading the book, I was weepy and cheering by the end.
My emotional reaction may have had something to do with the reading of Shelly Frasier in the audiobook I listened to this time. I question some of her accent choices for a couple of characters, but she's super effective at pulling me into the story and helping me feel what's going on.
3.5 kinda sad that Burroughs couldn't even consider that white and black people could be friends, let alone have mutual respect. Ugh. Well, typical Burroughs racism aside I think this was my favorite since the original. Miriam also gets to break some gender roles which is fun. Cannot help but feel only sympathy for Jack's tutor and the crap he had to put up with.
Also need to extend my compliments to Ben Dooley who did a really fantastic job narrating the audiobook, giving each character a very unique voice.
Also need to extend my compliments to Ben Dooley who did a really fantastic job narrating the audiobook, giving each character a very unique voice.
I like Tarzan to be in Tarzan books, so this was a bit of a letdown. I just couldn't get in to Korak's story. Not a fan.
We discussed this series in a special episode of the All the Books Show: https://soundcloud.com/allthebooks/episode-247-lockdown-recommendations-books
We discussed this series in a special episode of the All the Books Show: https://soundcloud.com/allthebooks/episode-247-lockdown-recommendations-books
A weaker entry in the series. I've heard it improves with the next book.
As a child I found a tattered, moldy, ancient copy of The Son of Tarzan stuffed under a rafter in my grandparents' attic. It was the first time I realized Tarzan was anything other than a cartoon, and I was hooked- I read that copy until it disintegrated, and went on to others in the series, but this remained my favorite.
2.75*
The reason I’ve rounded up the rating is because these characters are just keep getting closer to my heart even though I could not for the life of me imagine what will happen in the next like 11 books in the series
The reason I’ve rounded up the rating is because these characters are just keep getting closer to my heart even though I could not for the life of me imagine what will happen in the next like 11 books in the series
This one was _really_ similar to the first one, except -- wait for it -- it's Tarzan's son having adventures now! I think I'm done reading Tarzan for a while.