T4 the Son of Tarzan

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

Burrough's character "Tarzan" has been the inspiration to more tv, movies, comics and merchandising than any other fictional character in history. Part of the series of original Tarzan stories, Son of Tarzan well holds up the tradition and captivating experience of the previous novels.