Tarzan: the Lost Adventure
Encyclopedia
Tarzan: the Lost Adventure is a novel written by Joe R. Lansdale
based on an incomplete fragment of a Tarzan
novel written by Edgar Rice Burroughs
but left unfinished at his death. The book was serialized in four parts by Dark Horse Comics
, before being published as a single volume in 1995.
, the golden lion, and Nkima
, the little monkey, are also brought back for one last swan song. Burrough's manuscript ends before Ur is reached, but in the novel as completed by Lansdale, Ur turns out to be a society revering a giant and supposedly immortal praying mantis, which is used to slay condemned prisoners in the arena. Tarzan speculates that the creature is originally from the underground world of Pellucidar
, to which Ur is connected by a system of caverns and passages. Trapped underground at the end of the story, he seeks escape by seeking out the route to Pellucidar himself.
by Richard A. Lupoff
), Phillip R. Burger praises Lansdale's prose style in the novel as an "appropriate extension in the evolution of Burroughs' prose" (but asks "Would Burroughs have ever made Tarzan battle a 'croc'?") and welcomes Lansdale's depiction of Tarzan as the "elemental force" and the "vicious 'throw the decapitated head into the enemy's camp' ape-man" of the earlier Burroughs Tarzan novels.
. It follows Burroughs 24 main novels, a children's novel by Burroughs, and Fritz Lieber's authorized Tarzan and the Valley of Gold which was published in 1966 as the 25th Tarzan novel.
Lansdale's novel, was followed by two further novels authorized by Edgar Rice Burroughs, Inc.
: R. A. Salvatore's 1997 Tarzan: The Epic Adventures, and Philip José Farmer
's 1999 the Dark Heart of Time
.
Joe R. Lansdale
Joe R. Lansdale is an American author and martial-arts expert. He has written novels and stories in many genres, including Western, horror, science fiction, mystery, and suspense...
based on an incomplete fragment of a Tarzan
Tarzan
Tarzan is a fictional character, an archetypal feral child raised in the African jungles by the Mangani "great apes"; he later experiences civilization only to largely reject it and return to the wild as a heroic adventurer...
novel written by Edgar Rice Burroughs
Edgar Rice Burroughs
Edgar Rice Burroughs was an American author, best known for his creation of the jungle hero Tarzan and the heroic Mars adventurer John Carter, although he produced works in many genres.-Biography:...
but left unfinished at his death. The book was serialized in four parts by Dark Horse Comics
Dark Horse Comics
Dark Horse Comics is the largest independent American comic book and manga publisher.Dark Horse Comics was founded in 1986 by Mike Richardson in Milwaukie, Oregon, with the concept of establishing an ideal atmosphere for creative professionals. Richardson started out by opening his first comic book...
, before being published as a single volume in 1995.
Plot
In Burroughs' last Tarzan story, left unfinished at the time of his death, the ape man plays guardian to an expedition seeking the lost city of Ur. In addition to Tarzan himself, his animal companions Jad-bal-jaJad-bal-ja
Jad-bal-ja, the Golden Lion is a fictional lion character in Edgar Rice Burroughs's Tarzan novels, and in adaptations of the saga to other media, particularly comics.-Character:...
, the golden lion, and Nkima
Nkima
Nkima is a fictional monkey character in Edgar Rice Burroughs's Tarzan novels, and in adaptations of the saga to other media, particularly comics.-Character:...
, the little monkey, are also brought back for one last swan song. Burrough's manuscript ends before Ur is reached, but in the novel as completed by Lansdale, Ur turns out to be a society revering a giant and supposedly immortal praying mantis, which is used to slay condemned prisoners in the arena. Tarzan speculates that the creature is originally from the underground world of Pellucidar
Pellucidar
Pellucidar is a fictional Hollow Earth milieu invented by Tarzan creator Edgar Rice Burroughs for a series of action adventure stories. In a notable crossover event between Burroughs' series, there is a Tarzan story in which the Ape Man travels into Pellucidar.The stories initially involve the...
, to which Ur is connected by a system of caverns and passages. Trapped underground at the end of the story, he seeks escape by seeking out the route to Pellucidar himself.
Reception
The novel received generally favorable reviews at the time of its release. In the 2005 essay "Forty More Years of Adventure" (which is included in the 2005 edition of Master of Adventure: The Worlds of Edgar Rice BurroughsMaster of Adventure: The Worlds of Edgar Rice Burroughs
Master of Adventure: The Worlds of Edgar Rice Burroughs is a book by Richard A. Lupoff that explores the work of Edgar Rice Burroughs, the creator of Tarzan and author of numerous science fiction, fantasy, and adventure novels...
by Richard A. Lupoff
Richard A. Lupoff
Richard Allen Lupoff is an American science fiction and mystery author, who has also written humor, satire, non-fiction and reviews. In addition to his two dozen novels and more than 40 short stories, he has also edited science-fantasy anthologies. He is an expert on the writing of Edgar Rice...
), Phillip R. Burger praises Lansdale's prose style in the novel as an "appropriate extension in the evolution of Burroughs' prose" (but asks "Would Burroughs have ever made Tarzan battle a 'croc'?") and welcomes Lansdale's depiction of Tarzan as the "elemental force" and the "vicious 'throw the decapitated head into the enemy's camp' ape-man" of the earlier Burroughs Tarzan novels.
Tarzan series
The Lost Adventure, is the twenty-seventh book published in the Tarzan novel seriesTarzan (book series)
Tarzan is a series of twenty-four adventure novels written by Edgar Rice Burroughs, followed by four novels either co-written by Burroughs, or officially authorized by his estate...
. It follows Burroughs 24 main novels, a children's novel by Burroughs, and Fritz Lieber's authorized Tarzan and the Valley of Gold which was published in 1966 as the 25th Tarzan novel.
Lansdale's novel, was followed by two further novels authorized by Edgar Rice Burroughs, Inc.
Edgar Rice Burroughs, Inc.
Edgar Rice Burroughs, Inc. is an American company founded in 1923 by author Edgar Rice Burroughs. It is based in Tarzana, California. The company holds the rights to the literary works of Burroughs that are still protected by copyright .Burroughs was one of the first artists to...
: R. A. Salvatore's 1997 Tarzan: The Epic Adventures, and Philip José Farmer
Philip José Farmer
Philip José Farmer was an American author, principally known for his award-winning science fiction and fantasy novels and short stories....
's 1999 the Dark Heart of Time
The Dark Heart of Time
The Dark Heart of Time: a Tarzan novel is a 1999 work by Philip José Farmer authorized by Edgar Rice Burroughs, Inc. The book was first announced under the title Tarzan's Greatest Secret in 1997....
.