Customer Reviews (6)

Can't Dejah Thoris stay out of trouble?
Dejah Thoris is kidnapped... Again.

John Carter, Warlord of Mars seeks to rid Barsoom of the Assassin's Guild.In his efforts to stamp out the local 'Murder Inc." he personally goes undercover in a city where John Carter is not held in high esteem.When the local assassins realize they're being hunted by the Warlord of Mars, they go on the offensive, kidnapp John Carter's wife Dejah Thoris and carry her off to one of the moons of Mars.Needless to say, Our Hero goes after her, finds allies, meets new races (one fair skinned and blue haired [but not little old ladies], the other like a cat on bad drugs),kills bad guys, rescues slave girls, hangs from cliffs (figuratively), raids fortresses, and all those other things we've come to know and love.

Up until the last chapter, this was in the running for the best of the series.Action, a fast pace, new escapes, allies, and enemies, and a more personal view of John Carter.In the last chapter, the author seemed in a rush to tie everything off.It was still very good and as much of a page-turner as the rest of the series, but the ending was abrupt.

Still better than what's hitting the shelves today.

E. M. Van Court

A great example of the series.
Swords of Mars is one of my favorites of the Martian Tales. Although late in the series, it has all the elements that made Burroughs a classic in the field:

1.
It is a John Carter novel. He is still the best character in the series.

2.
It does not suffer from the same artifacts of serialization that you see in some of the other Mars books. The chapters flow together very nicely without too many inconsistencies or abrupt breaks.

3.
It manages to deal with the political aspect of life on Barsoom while staying smaller. I enjoy the more intimate focus on John Carter more than I do the more epic sweeps of some of the other books.

Recommended for fans of the series. People new to the series should really at least read A Princess of Mars series. However, if you have read that one and are skipping around, this would be a good one to skip around to.

READ IT AND HAVE FUN!
This was about number eight in the Martian Series and the story continues.With this book, Burroughs has John Carter fighting and trying to put an end to the practice of assissination on Mars.Like the rest of the Mars Series, the action is non stop.While I will grant you that ERB has certainly used a formula (Dejah Thoris is captured again and John Carter must rescue), it is never-the-less an effective formula.These books of course are sort of the grand-daddy of much of the Fantasy Fiction of today.Please keep in mind when they were written and do enjoy the style and syntax.This was some of the best pulp fiction coming out in the early part of the last century.Read and enjoy.Recommend highly.

John Carter decides to take down the Assassins Guild
After being relegated to the background for the previous four Martian novels, "Swords of Mars" brings John Carter back to the forefront as he vows to bring an end to the Assassins Guild and travels to one of Barsoom's moons.Carter shows up at Edgar Rice Burroughs' cabin in the mountains of Arizona and relates this tale, which ERB then serializes as the eighth Martian story in six issues of "The Blue-Book Magazine" in 1934-35.Carter has created a secret organization of super assassins to strike back against the powerful guild of assassins, which is headquartered in the city of Zodanga, and goes to the city undercover to infiltrate their ranks.As the first step in an attempt to overthrow Ur Jan, the head of the assassins, Carter pretends to be a panthan and becomes the body guard of Fal Sivas, an inventor.Eventually, as he gets closer to his goal, Carter has to go to Thuria, one of the moons of Mars.

For the most part "Swords of Mars" is one of the most intimate novels in the series, by which I simply mean that it does not have the gigantic armies of variously colored Barsoomians and thousands of air ships arrayed in battle.The first half of the novel is basically a spy story, while the second half find Burroughs indulging in one of his imaginative flights of fancy.Of course, it is not an ERB Martian novel if Carter's beloved Dejah Thoris, princess of Helium, does not need to be rescued. Just because ERB sticks to his pulp fiction formula does not distract from the fact he was a master of the form.This is an above average Burroughs yarn and while it is a step below his best Martian tales, such as "The Chessmen of Mars," it is still a compelling tale.Best of all, John Carter is back front and center.I wound rate this novel as a 4.5, but I will round up for Carter's return.

Besides "A Princess of Mars," I think it is clear that "Swrods of Mars" is one of the primary inspirations for John Norman's Gor series, which was one of the best series that followed in the footsteps of ERB's Martian seres.Note:The first letters of the first words in the preface and twenty-four chapters from an acrostic message: "TO FLORENCE WITH ALL MY LOVE ED."The reference is to Florence Gilbert, ERB's second wife, whom he married in 1935.

AS FUN AS THEY GET
"Swords of Mars" is the 8th of 11 John Carter of Mars books that Edgar Rice Burroughs gave to the world. It first appeared serially in the "Blue Book Magazine" in six parts, from November 1934 to April 1935, and is one of the best in the Carter series. For the first time since book 3, "The Warlord of Mars," Carter himself takes center stage, rather than making a brief cameo appearance, and his return as the lead character is perhaps the best single element of this book. This time around, Carter goes to the Barsoomian city of Zodanga to put an end to the assassins guild that is thriving there. In the first half of the novel, Carter goes undercover to infiltrate this Murder Inc.-type of organization, and this segment is extremely tense and exciting. In the second half, Carter's wife, Dejah Thoris, in what to any reader of this series must come as an instance of Dejah vu (sorry...couldn't resist!), is abducted again, and Carter follows her kidnappers to one of the Martian moons, using one of that planet's first spaceships. His subsequent adventures on the moon propel the reader into the realm of pure fantasy. Both parts of the novel are as fun as can be, although very much different in tone.
This novel features very few of the inconsistencies--both internal and with other books in the series--that mar every previous Carter novel. There are some, however. For example, the great Scarlet Tower of Greater Helium is referred to in this book, whereas in previous novels, this tower was referred to as being in Lesser Helium, and besides which, was destroyed in book 5, "The Chessmen of Mars." More of a problem in the current volume are the book's implausibilities. For example, Carter & company jump out of their spaceship on that Martian moon, without bothering to check on the moon's breathable air. Fortunately, the air is just fine, thank you, although Burroughs makes nothing of this...surprising, given the pains he had taken in previous books to explain the breathable air on Mars itself. The invisibility-inducing hypnosis that the moon people use against Carter is a bit much to buy, but that's alright; it's all in good fun. But Burroughs' theory that a person who lands on this 7-mile-wide moon would be the same relative size that he would be on Mars--in other words, that he would shrink in proportion to the planetoid's mass; his so-called "compensatory adjustment of masses"--is, as Carter puts it, "preposterous," though, as it turns out, such is the case in the book. Like I said, it's all in good fun. And this book IS as fun as they get.
Oh...one other nice touch. As pointed out in the ERB List, a fine Burroughs Website, if you take the first letter of each first word of each chapter in this book, you will find a secret message that Burroughs incorporated for his new bride. A nice touch. ... Read more

Product Description
Dark Horse is proud to present an all-new tale by the Master of Adventure himself, Edgar Rice Burroughs! Written before the twin blockbusters of A Princess of Mars and Tarzan of the Apes, Minidoka is a whimsical fantasy in the tradition of Jonathan Swift`s Gulliver`s Travels and Lewis Carroll`s The Hunting of the Snark. Illustrated by comics legend Michael Wm. Kaluta, and featuring a never-before-published cover painting by J. Allen St. John, this fractured fairy tale for children of all ages is sure to become a highly sought-after collectible! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Fairy Tale for Every Child, Even Those of us Who Are Adults
Minidoka? What kind of a word is that, you say? Then you stop and think, "Oh, Edgar Rice Burroughs, creator of Tarzan and John Carter. It's a made up word!" WRONG. Minidoka is a small town (or was, I don't knowif it is still there) in Idaho where Mr. Burroughs worked in one of hismany failed careers as a gold miner (1901 to 1904) with his brother at theYale Dredging Company. It didn't pan out, pardon the pun, and the world ismuch more richer for the failed attempt.

Burroughs has never been accusedof being a literary genius, although his stories have reached every cornerof the world, his books are published in over sixty different languages(not counting dialects), his tales have been the basis for dozens of films,TV series, animations and comics. What Mr. Burroughs was gifted with wasthe art of storytelling and that trait has made him a legend.

Mindoka,937th Earl of One Mile Series M is a story that sprung from that ability.No one knows for certain when this wonderful tale was created, perhaps itwas one of the series of bedtime stories Burroughs told his children eachnight. All of them created on the spot as he paced the hall of their smallhome and spoke in a loud voice so that all in the house could hear. Whatever occurred, Burroughs liked this particular story so much that hecommitted it to paper. Of a sorts, at least. He used the backs of oldletterheads from the mining company, photo bills from Pocatello andletterheads of the American Genealogical Society to compose this story.None of the hand written manuscript is dated, nor was it discovered until1955, five years after his death, in his personal belongings. The paper thestory was written on gives proof that this is Burroughs first ever writtenwork, never before seen by another beside himself until after he had diedand never published until today. This makes that story almost a centuryold!

The tale is very strange, not at all like his works that werepublished in his lifetime. This is a children's story, it is written withthe intention of being read aloud to children and has all the classicelements of fairy tales. Horrible monsters, magic spells, beautiful damselsto rescue and battles to be fought, all of these are in there along with anever before seen look at the man's sense of humor.

The story itself isquite captivating, even if it is a bit difficult to read for an adult. Idare say that I will be hard pressed to pronounce some of the words thatBurroughs has created for this story, but many of the characters andcreatures are quite endearing. I really liked the hoobody and hookidooki.The hoobody reminded me of one of the mythical creatures of my people, theApache, (perhaps that's where he got the idea) and the hookidooki was justplain fun to read about even if it was a villain.

The setting for thestory is Idaho of a million or more years in the past, but with Europeantype kingdoms all based as the origin of Irish names. Very interestingconcept and for the life of me I can't determine why he took that tact inthe story. But it matters not, as the tale is fantastic.

Many aspects ofhis published works can be seen in this story. The way his heroes act andreact is based on this tale. Many animals and places for completelyunrelated stories are mentioned here as something else. It is almost as ifhe created an entire universe from the seeds that he planted for himself inthis story to his children.

There is something else that is very specialabout this book. The cover art is a painting by J. Allen St. John that hasnever been published before. Who is St. John, you ask? This is the man thatmade every single cover painting for Burroughs books starting in 1915 withThe Son of Tarzan and ending in 1942 with The Tiger Girl (I have copies ofall of these). The painting was made over 50 years ago when an art directortold St. John that it was impossible for an artist to do an illustrationusing all known mediums that were known at the time. St. John went to hisloft and created a drawing he titled Minidoka by those exact means just toprove the man wrong. This cover is the first printing of thatpainting.

The book is a mere 63 pages long with about 15 of those pagesbeing lavishly drawn full page illustrations. Each page also has drawingsaround the edges that have to do with what the story is talking about atthe time.

Fairy Tale for Every Child, Even Those of us Who Are Adults
Minidoka? What kind of a word is that, you say? Then you stop and think, "Oh, Edgar Rice Burroughs, creator of Tarzan and John Carter. It's a made up word!" WRONG. Minidoka is a small town (or was, I don't know if it is still there) in Idaho where Mr. Burroughs worked in one of hismany failed careers as a gold miner (1901 to 1904) with his brother at theYale Dredging Company. It didn't pan out, pardon the pun, and the world ismuch more richer for the failed attempt.

Burroughs has never been accusedof being a literary genius, although his stories have reached every cornerof the world, his books are published in over sixty different languages(not counting dialects), his tales have been the basis for dozens of films,TV series, animations and comics. What Mr. Burroughs was gifted with wasthe art of storytelling and that trait has made him a legend.

Mindoka,937th Earl of One Mile Series M is a story that sprung from that ability.No one knows for certain when this wonderful tale was created, perhaps itwas one of the series of bedtime stories Burroughs told his children eachnight. All of them created on the spot as he paced the hall of their smallhome and spoke in a loud voice so that all in the house could hear. Whatever occurred, Burroughs liked this particular story so much that hecommitted it to paper. Of a sorts, at least. He used the backs of oldletterheads from the mining company, photo bills from Pocatello andletterheads of the American Genealogical Society to compose this story.None of the hand written manuscript is dated, nor was it discovered until1955, five years after his death, in his personal belongings. The paper thestory was written on gives proof that this is Burroughs first ever writtenwork, never before seen by another beside himself until after he had diedand never published until today. This makes that story almost a centuryold!

The tale is very strange, not at all like his works that werepublished in his lifetime. This is a children's story, it is written withthe intention of being read aloud to children and has all the classicelements of fairy tales. Horrible monsters, magic spells, beautiful damselsto rescue and battles to be fought, all of these are in there along with anever before seen look at the man's sense of humor.

The story itself isquite captivating, even if it is a bit difficult to read for an adult. Idare say that I will be hard pressed to pronounce some of the words thatBurroughs has created for this story, but many of the characters andcreatures are quite endearing. I really liked the hoobody and hookidooki.The hoobody reminded me of one of the mythical creatures of my people, theApache, (perhaps that's where he got the idea) and the hookidooki was justplain fun to read about even if it was a villain.

The setting for thestory is Idaho of a million or more years in the past, but with Europeantype kingdoms all based as the origin of Irish names. Very interestingconcept and for the life of me I can't determine why he took that tact inthe story. But it matters not, as the tale is fantastic.

Many aspects ofhis published works can be seen in this story. The way his heroes act andreact is based on this tale. Many animals and places for completelyunrelated stories are mentioned here as something else. It is almost as ifhe created an entire universe from the seeds that he planted for himself inthis story to his children.

There is something else that is very specialabout this book. The cover art is a painting by J. Allen St. John that hasnever been published before. Who is St. John, you ask? This is the man thatmade every single cover painting for Burroughs books starting in 1915 withThe Son of Tarzan and ending in 1942 with The Tiger Girl (I have copies ofall of these). The painting was made over 50 years ago when an art directortold St. John that it was impossible for an artist to do an illustrationusing all known mediums that were known at the time. St. John went to hisloft and created a drawing he titled Minidoka by those exact means just toprove the man wrong. This cover is the first printing of thatpainting.

The book is a mere 63 pages long with about 15 of those pagesbeing lavishly drawn full page illustrations. Each page also has drawingsaround the edges that have to do with what the story is talking about atthe time.

The book is published by Dark Horse Comics and is availablenow at all book stores. You will more than likely have to special order it,because it is a limited edition print. The price is ... well worthit. I can hardly wait until it is mass produced so that I can get a readingcopy to give my children when they are old enough. Get one of these firstprints while they are still out there. You will never regret it. ... Read more

Product Description
Jungle adventure, first published in 1914. According to Wikipedia: "Edgar Rice Burroughs (1875 – 1950) was an American author, best known for his creation of the jungle hero Tarzan and the heroic John Carter, although he produced works in many genres." ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

In a quest for revenge, Tarzan comes into his full power
Tarzan, aka Lord Greystoke, and his wife, Lady Jane Porter Greystoke, are happily ensconced in their London home with their newborn son when the wrathful and utterly monstrous Russian villains from the previous book (THE RETURN OF TARZAN), Rokoff and Paulvitch, hatch a scheme to wreak their vengeance on the ape-man and his family once and for all.The child is kidnaped, and the parents separately taken away - Tarzan is thrown off on Jungle Island off the west coast of Africa, there to make his way slowly back to the continent to find his wife and child, and to rid himself of his enemies once and for all.One would think that by this time the wily and seemingly resourseful villains would know that just shooting Tarzan in the head is the only way to get rid of him, but that wouldn't be much fun, would it?

On the island Tarzan makes friends with a tribe of anthropoid apes similar to those that raised him, in particular their somewhat smarter chief Akut; later he also finds powerful allies in Sheeta, a half-tame panther, and Mugambi, a native African chief.Finally in this third book, the legend of Tarzan as movie- and tv-viewers were to know him is complete: now when he makes his terrible battle cry, the "beasts" of Tarzan are at his beck and call to do his bidding.He has truly become "Lord of the Jungle".

The Jungle Island sequence aside, THE BEASTS OF TARZAN is something of a letdown from the previous two books; the plot is an example of what would become all-too typical in Burroughs - take away the hero's wife and have him chase the bad guys for the whole book.All of the major characters, good and bad, make dumb mistakes at various points upon which the plot hinges; isn't Tarzan versed well enough in the ways of human deceit by this point not to be duped into going down to the bad section of the docks at night, alone, just because a stranger tells him that he'll get his child back?Too many examples of smart characters acting stupid, and an abundance of coincidences, make this more than a little silly at times, and the pacing is ridiculously fast even by Burroughs' standards.

On the plus side though, his writing does improve here; he manages to create some real pathos in the character of the "evil"-looking, but kind-hearted Swede who protects Jane in the middle of the book, and there's a striking passage near the end where Rokoff kills a young tribesman and steals his boat that has a real poetic quality to it - a real feeling that indeed, these African "savages" in their natural habitat are far better off than we cynical and greedy westerners.We also get to see Jane acting more resourceful and less the damsel-in-distress than before; this is the first time where she really seems to be an appropriate partner to her super-heroic husband.

Still high-grade pulp entertainment, then, though perhaps the weakest overall of the first half-dozen or so books in the series.

Tarzan, the ape (and cat) man
First off, if you are interested in the Tarzan series, you can get this book and the next one together in the Tarzan 2-in-1 (The Beasts of Tarzan/The Son of Tarzan) (Tarzan the Classics) (v. 1) for about half the price.

In this third Tarzan things start out with Tarzan settled in to English life. Of course, its not too long before he finds himself in the jungle again, this time accompanied by a motley crew of jungle animals.This book was not quite as good as the first two, though it was still quite entertaining. It also seemed to be a little shorter.

A bit of a disappointing bore...
While this novel was well written, I still often found myself bored silly reading it.

The tale of Tarzan, Lord Greystroke, was wonderfully told and concluded within the first two novels ("Tarzan of the Apes" and "The Return of Tarzan")...but in all honesty, I really felt it should have ended there. A third novel (and I'm sure the 20 or so sequels that followed this one) was not needed at all.

As mentioned in the title, I found this third novel really disappointing.I stopped reading it a couple of times because I found it so tedious and dull (which was never the case with the first two novels), and was glad it was over when I finally finished it!

Honestly, the only good part about it was seeing Tarzan's determination to save his family, and the long over-due conclusion to a particular character.Other than that...I really felt it was a waste of my time.

Which is a shame, because Mr. Rice Burroughs is quite a fine writer, and the first two books were fantastic.

the beasts of tarzan
this is another typical tarzan book. lots of mystery and suspense. lofs of colorful characters and the animals are wonderful!

Super Reader
Tarzan, back in civilisation, soon has to leave again. The dodgy Rokoff is now again a free man, and continues to give Lord Greystoke problems. This time it is a kidnapping, involving his own flesh and blood, and his wife.

Tarzan must become the ape-man superhero again, but he is not without allies, in the jungle animals, and the native Mugambi, a friend. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Nice end to the series
In 1964 a new Tarzan book was published. The twenty-third book of the Tarzan series had not been released when it was completed in 1941, but placed in a safe while Burroughs left to be a war correspondent. His son Hubert published the book posthumously. The Ballantine edition on this page is the first paperback edition. In the story, Tarzan's reputation of his cunning, animal like strangth and bravery has grown so far and wide that people he has never met are using his name for profit, and in some cases ruining his reputation. Tarzan fights back as only he knows how. You have to wonder if the author wrote this due to his own frustrations with merchandise being sold with Tarzan name or image that was unauthorized by him. The book that was printed after this was actually a collection of 3 short Tarzan stories, known as Tarzan and the Castaways. ... Read more

Product Description
Barsoom is a fictional representation of the planet Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs. The first Barsoom tale was serialized as Under the Moons of Mars in 1912, and published as a novel as A Princess of Mars in 1917. Ten sequels followed over the next three decades. Collected here are the first five. It is soon to be the bases of a Pixar movie "John Carter of Mars." Included in this collection is an active table of contents to help you easily find the work you are looking for. This edition includes:

A Princess of Mars
The Gods of Mars
Warlord of Mars
Thuvia, Maid of Mars
The Chessmen of Mars ... Read more

Product Description
This Halcyon Classics ebook is the second in Edgar Rice Burroughs' 'Tarzan' series, THE RETURN OF TARZAN.

THE RETURN OF TARZAN is the story of a young man who, although born of a woman, was left by a succession of untoward circumstances to be reared in an African jungle by a she-ape, the only mother he ever knew. Tarzan was drawn from the jungle by love for a young American girl whom chance threw in his way. Disappointment in love, in this new volume, results in his return to the jungle where he has many strange adventures and whence he is again led forth by love, this time happy love.

Edgar Rice Burroughs (1875-1950) was a prolific author, best known for his characters Tarzan and John Carter of Mars, although he wrote in a number of genres including westerns and non-fiction.He completed more than seventy books during his career.
... Read more

Product Description
This Halcyon Classics ebook contains 5 novels of the Barsoom Series by noted fantasy writer Edgar Rice Burroughs.Includes an active table of contents.


Contents:

A Princess of Mars
The Gods of Mars
Warlord of Mars
Thuvia, Maid of Mars
The Chessmen of Mars
... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Classic Sci-Fi , but....
While the Mars series is an enduring classic, this five volume set has no active table of content, making it difficult to navigate through. ... Read more

Product Description
This is Book 2 in Edgar Rice Burroughs' Martian Series, also known as the Barsoom Series.

This is the extraordinary story of John Carter, who returns to the Red Planet in search of his beloved, Dejah Thoris. John lands in the Valley Dor, which is populated by vicious plant men, and discovers the Lost Sea of Korus, guarded by the great white apes and horrifying lions of Barsoom. It is here that he finds the princess Thuvia, who is a captive of the Holy Therns, high priests who eat only human flesh slain by their plant men. But this is only the beginning of John Carter's adventures under the double moons of Mars before he fights his way back to his own people as the Prince of the House of Tardos Mors. ... Read more

Product Description
Tarzan of the Apes was written by Edgar Rice Burroughs and first published in novel form in 1914. It is the story of Tarzan, the son of a British Lord and Lady marooned on the West coast of Africa by mutineers. When Tarzan is a year old, his mother dies of natural causes, and his father is killed by Kerchak, leader of the ape tribe into which Tarzan is adopted. Tarzan meets a young American woman, Jane Porter, who along with her father and others of their party is marooned at exactly the same spot on the African coast where Tarzan's parents were twenty years earlier. When Jane returns to America, Tarzan leaves the jungle in search of her, his one true love, only to learn the bitter news that she has become engaged to William Clayton. Meanwhile, clues from his parents' cabin have proved Tarzan's true identity. Instead of claiming his inheritance, Tarzan chooses to conceal and renounce his heritage for the sake of Jane's happiness. Tarzan follows a "return to nature" philosophy. While he is able to pass within society as a civilized individual, he ultimately prefers life in his native jungle. This publication of Tarzan of the Apes is part of the Qualitas Classics Fireside Series, where pure, ageless classics are presented in clean, easy to read reprints. For a complete list of titles, see: http://www.qualitaspublishing.com ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Amazing!
Brune Hogarth was one of the best illustrators to ever draw Tarzan. This book is a MUST HAVE for Hogarth fans.

Beautiful, fascinating!
I got this book in the early seventies, shortly after it came out in 1972. I was already a fan of Burroughs' books and the Tarzan character and story, but when I first opened Hogarth's lush, gorgeous depiction of the tale, I was almost literally floored! Inside the slick pages, someone with a Master's talent had accurately captured every mental image of Burrough's world that I have ever envisioned while reading his books. To say Hogarth is talented is like saying Michelangelo is a pretty good draftsman. The colors are nearly blindingly brilliant, but it is the flow of the story that makes this piece of art stand out. On many pages, the images almost flow off the page. The jungle flora, the birds, the animals, and, of course, Tarzan himself, are breathtaking. I have reverently re-read this book many times in the 30 odd years I've had it, and my joy has never dimmed. If you can get a copy, do so.

Illustrated fiction
This is a beautifully drawn adaptation of the original story by Edgar Rice Burroughs. It faithfully follows the book and should leave every fan satisfied. The follow up book, "The Jungle Tales of Tarzan", is also as well made. If you can find it.

the amazing art of burne hogarth
if you have followed the career ofburne hogarth one of the most awesome exponents of the art of figure drawing,you would find that this album"Tarzan of the apes" represents a landmark, this book wasdrawn many years after he stopped drawing tarzan for the newspapers. he hadput a phenomenal amount of work in each frame of this book .Anyone who hasread his dynamic series of books will realize that this book is a very goodexample of what sort of work you can produce if you follow the principlesoutlined by him . burne hogarth was a michaelangelo in the field ofcomicbook art.Sadly this great artist and teacher is not amongst us any more. ... Read more

Product Description
Collected her in this mammoth oversized book are eight complete Tarzan novels by the master of pulp fiction Edgar Rice Burroughs. Include are Tarzan of the Apes, The Return of Tarzan, The Beasts of Tarzan, The Son of Tarzan, Tarzan and the Jewels of Opar, Jungle Tales of Tarzan, Tarzan the Untamed, and Tarzan The Terrible. Journey to an Africa that never was and join Tarzan in his many adventures in the deepest, darkest jungle. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

The First Half of the Book
It is very hard to find a book that is written before 2000 that a modern teenager can relate to and not find themselves bored to death with the lack of extreme romance. So when I got this book, I was expecting maybe a bunch of short storis written by a guy in the fifties, or something, who never got a great review. Instead, I got a seven hundred fifty one page book filled with nine books, all of which contained adventure, the ever boy appealing violence, and the ever girl appealing romance. Right now I am only half way through all of them, but I cannot wait to finish the rest. When I do finish this book, Tarzan/John Clayton/Lord Greystoke will have definitly maid the final pull for a five star rating.

Cumbersome collection of classic tales
Great but physically cumbersome collection of the first eight classic Tarzan tales. The warning label about the non politically correct content is idiotic, especially in light of the mass amount of contemporary garbage there is that masquerades as literature.

Very Good Book
Burroughs wrote with a captivating style which makes this a good escape adventure read. His constant references to the theory of evolution are annoying because the theory is a LIE. Never the less, I recommend the Tarzan books. This book is too big and bulky. It would have been better printed with smaller fonts in a smaller volume. I had no problem in taking care so as to not damage the binding. I always prefer hard cover.

A Book Too Big.


I purchase this item because I have been a Burroughs fan since my pre-teen days, over 60 years ago. My problem with this collection of Tarzan stories is that it is just too big to hold and read comfortably. Not only that but since it is paper bound it will probably fall apart before anyone can get to volume III. My advice is to purchase these stories as single issues in new hardback editions and enjoy them forever.

Classic
Forget the movies, they'll never do this book justice.Burroughs all time classic, Tarzan, is still as riveting as it was nearly a century ago. ... Read more

Product Description
The Mucker is an Edgar Rice Burroughs fiction novel. Originally two stories, The Mucker begun in August 1913 and published by ""All-Story"" in October and November 1914; and The Return of the Mucker begun in January 1916 and published by ""All-Story Weekly"" in June and July 1916.

In 1917, Burroughs wrote a third Mucker story entitled The Oakdale Affair featuring the protagonist of The Mucker, Billy Byrne, in a supporting role. The story was serialized the next year. ... Read more

Product Description
"Warlord of Mars" is a science fiction novel written by Edgar Rice Burroughs, the third of his famous Barsoom (Mars) series."Thuvia, Maid of Mars" is the fourth of the Barsoom series. In this novel the focus shifts from John Carter, Warlord of Mars, and Dejah Thoris of Helium, protagonists of the first three books in the series, to their son, Carthoris, prince of Helium, and Thuvia, princess of Ptarth. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (21)

A profound disappointment
I took the John Carter of Mars series in order, and am glad I did.Had I started with this one, I would have dropped whatever ones I hadn't read.

It's a basic John Carter bouncing around the dying planet of Mars with his faithful companions story, but rewritten for younger audiences.While the rest of the series isn't espeially intellectual, but requires a reasonable vocabulary and level of comprehension, say about ten to twelve year old level, this one is for seven or eight year olds.Where some volumes in the John Carter series took serious looks at science, religion, relationships, and technology, this one dedicates itself to being understandable to even younger audiences.I suspect that someone waved a lot of money under ERB's nose when he was a little hungry, and in a moment of weakness, he gave in.

The story is merely OK, but the descriptions are so watered down, that the character of a real John Carter book is lost.Don't bother with this one, just treasure the other ten.

E.M. Van Court

2 Stories, Second One Awesome, First One So-So
The last book published in the John Carter series, this book contains 2 separate stories: "John Carter and the Giant of Mars", and "Skeleton Men of Jupiter."

The second story, "Skeleton Men of Jupiter", is awesome.ERB intended this to be the first in a mini-series but he never followed it up with other installments. There are things left unresolved at the end because the other installments were never written, but that's no reason not to read it; it just leaves the rest of the story to your imagination.Lots of action in an imaginative setting.

"John Carter and the Giant of Mars" did not strike me as up to the same caliber as the other books in the series.According to something I read, this story was not even written by ERB but by his son, so maybe that's why it's not as good.I wish the publisher would have noted that ERB did not write this story himself.Even though it's not as good, the Giant of Mars is short and has some amusing parts, so may still be worth the read.

So five stars for Skeleton Men of Jupiter, and minus a star since John Carter and the Giant of Mars was not as good.

2 Stories, Second One Awesome, First One So-So
The last book published in the John Carter series, this book contains 2 separate stories: "John Carter and the Giant of Mars", and "Skeleton Men of Jupiter."

The second story, "Skeleton Men of Jupiter", is awesome.ERB intended this to be the first in a mini-series but he never followed it up with other installments. There are things left unresolved at the end because the other installments were never written, but that's no reason not to read it; it just leaves the rest of the story to your imagination.Lots of action in an imaginative setting.

"John Carter and the Giant of Mars" did not strike me as up to the same caliber as the other books in the series.According to something I read, this story was not even written by ERB but by his son, so maybe that's why it's not as good.I wish the publisher would have noted that ERB did not write this story himself.Even though it's not as good, the Giant of Mars is short and has some amusing parts, so may still be worth the read.

So five stars for Skeleton Men of Jupiter, and minus a star since John Carter and the Giant of Mars was not as good.

the 11th and last
Pity the Mars books didn't have a definite ending and a single adventurer.I guess if Burroughs had known how popular it was going to be, he would have structured them more carefully.But oh well.

There are eleven books in the series, and this one is the final book.Unlike the first, say, five books in the Barsoom series, "John Carter of Mars" is not so much a single book as it is an anthology of two long stories:"John Carter and the Giant of Mars" and "Skeleton Men of Jupiter."

If you gotta have it, then you gotta have it.And you gotta have it if you want to complete your collection of all eleven.

But both stories here are disappointing:the first one is for kids, and the second one leaves you hanging, since Burroughs intended to write a sequel.He never did.

Sad to report, these have never been assembled into an omnibus edition, like The Complete Chronicles of Conan, or even a series of similar-looking tomes, such as was vouchsafed to E. E. "Doc" Smith's Triplanetary (The Lensman).

The Mars saga continues
This isn't a single novel, but two novellas - one that was originally co-written with ERB's son as something to be adapted to an illustrated format, and a secondthat seemingly opened a new continuity, one that was never continued.

The first, "John Carter and the Giant of Mars," picks up elements from the earlier "Synthetic Men." One of those vat-bred humanoids has mastered part of the sysnthesis technology and threatens Helium with a 130 foot tall giant, a composite made from the tissues of hundreds of others real and man-made men. After many daring escapes and marvelous acts of skill and bravery, John Carter saves the day in by the strength of his mighty sword-arm. You know, the usual, but without the confused and mercurial romantic theme.

Then Carter is taken captive by "The Skeleton Men of Jupiter," preparatory to their invasion of Mars. Since he'd never reveal the military secrets they demand, the bad guys (ugly and humorless, by the way) capture his Barsoomian bride and threaten her with un-nameable horrors, possibly resembling bad dates that some female readers will recall. He leads the usual band of desperate but hnorable prisoners in the usual daring escape that humiliates the hubristic captors, amid the usual swordplay and mayhem. Oddly, however, the invasion plans are left largely intact, presumably to have been defeated in the unwritten sequels.

These aren't the strongest in the Carter canon, but still good fun for the ERB enthusiast. I recommend starting with other books in the Barsoom series - once you've developed the taste for them, you might find this more palatable.

-- wiredweird ... Read more

Product Description
Tarzan the Untamed CHAPTER I HUB DEB. AX'D PILLAGE HAUPTMANN FRITZ SCHNEIDER trudge* ?wearily through the somber aisles of the dark forest. Sweat rolled down his bullet head and stood upon his heavy jowls and'bull neck. His lieutenant marched beside him while Unterlicutcnant von Goss brought up the rear, following with a handful o£ nskaris the tired and all hut exhausted porters whom the black soldiers, following the example of their white officer, encouraged with the sharp points of bayonets and the metal-shod butts of rifles. There were no porters within reach of Hauptmana Schneider so he vented his Prussian spleen upon the askaris nearest at hand, yet with, greater circumspection since these men bore loaded rifles - and the three white men were alone with them in the heart of Africa. Ahead of the Hauptmann marched half his> company, behind him the other half^ thus were the dangers of the savage jungle minimized' for ^ the German captain. At the forefront of the colum

Table of Contents

CONTENTS; CHAPTER; I Murder and Pillage; II The Lion's Cave ; III In the German Lines; IV When the Lion Fed V The Golden Locket ; VI Vengeance and Mercy; VII When Blood Told ; VIII Tarzan and the Great Apes; IX Dropped from the Sky; X In the Hands of Savages; XI Finding the Airplane; XII The Black Flier ; XIII Usanga's Reward; XIV The Black Lion XV Mysterious Footprints; XVI The Night Attack ; XVII The Walled City ; XVIII Among the Maniacs ; XIX The Queen's Story ; XX Came Tarzan ; XXI In the Alcove ; XXII Out of the Niche ; XXIII The Flight from Xuja; XXIV The Tommies

About the Publisher

Forgotten Books is a publisher of historical writings, such as: Philosophy, Classics, Science, Religion, History, Folklore and Mythology.

Forgotten Books' Classic Reprint Series utilizes the latest technology to regenerate facsimiles of historically import ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Tarzan Books
I thought that I had read all of the Tarzan books during my youth.I was exposed to the first book recently and came to realize that what I had read must have books written specifically for children.I therefore decided to read all of the books as originally written.I am part way through the series and I am enjoying them tremendously.

Tarzan meets World War I
It took me a while to get into this book, but once Bertha Kircher really started making her presence known I was very interested.

In this novel we have the 'death' of Jane, and Tarzan's return to the jungle, but fate has other things in mind.World War I has made itself known in Africa, and Tarzan gets embroiled in things.

Bertha Kircher, is a german double agent that Tarzan is forced throughout the novel to rescue over and over again and respect as well--as she rescues him many times.He hates her though, because she is German.

I was excited with this premise because here was a man right in the middle of World War 1 setting up a very strong female and German character.However, the last page of the book ruined this for me. Because instead of being a new lesson on how there could be one good person, or something to admire in a people, it is instead about Burroughs usual schtick, on blue-blood running true.

There are a few new jungle people in this book as well, an odd tribe that is insane--Burroughs uses outdated science to describe how Tarzan and others can recognize these people's madness.Facial and scull structure, posture, etc.

This is very much a book of its time, as Burroughs was very much a man of his time.Its an interesting story and one that would be interesting to study from a social/historical stand point.But most importantly its a good adventure book.

Tarzan the Untamed tracks down the killers of Jane
Edgar Rice Burroughs was less than impressed with Jane as the mate for Tarzan thinking that La, the High Priestess of Opar was a better match. With the Germans making themselves international bad guys by starting the First World War, ERB took advantage of their moving against British possessions in Africa to kill off Jane in this seventh novel in the Tarzan series. "Tarzan the Untamed" was first published as a six-part serial in "The Red Book Magazine" in 1919 with the story continued as "Tarzan and the Valley of Luna" in a five-part serial in "All-Story Weekly" in 1920. The result is one of the most atypical Burroughs pulp fiction yarns, in which the standard romantic adventure has the hero (whether he is Tarzan, Korak, John Carter, David Innes, etc.) pursuing his beloved (Jane, Miriam, Dejah Thoris, etc.) across a dangerous environment (darkest Africa, Barsoom, Pellucidar, etc.). But in "Tarzan the Untamed," the hero is out for revenge. The result is arguably ERB's best Tarzan novel, past paced and with a prose style that rises above his average effort.

This is amply proven in the opening chapter. Hauptmann Fritz Schneider and his men stumble upon the estate of John Clayton, Lord Greystoke, in British East Africa in the fall of 1914. Tarzan and his son, Korak, are away, and Lady Jane does not know that war has broken out between German and the British Empire, so she welcomes them to her home. Meanwhile, Tarzan learns of the war in Nairobi and hurries home only to find the smoking ruins of his estate when he returns. Wasimbu, the son of Muviro, has been crucified on the wall, and the rest of the natives are all dead. Tarzan also finds the charred body of his wife, recognizable only the rings on her fingers. Cursing the Germans, Tarzan swears vengeance and leaves behind the trappings of civilization. During a tremendous thunderstorm, Tarzan kills a leopard, symbolizing the return of the Lord of the Jungle--and this is just the first chapter.

Tarzan heads south into German East Africa and almost immediately begins wrecking havoc on the Germans, displaying same sort of animal cunning and creative cruelty that he displayed as a youth in "Tarzan of the Apes" (and covered a bit as well in "The Jungle Tales of Tarzan"). Even encountering an entrenched German army does not stop Tarzan from getting his revenge on his enemy. Eventually he finds an English flier, Lieutenant Harold Percy Smith-Oldwick, who is captured by cannibals and in need of rescue, and who becomes the character who argues, rather unconvincingly I might add, for Tarzan to be civilized in his one-man war against the Germans. But nothing is going to stop Tarzan from hunting down every last one of the invaders who destroyed his home and killed his wife. Of course, the circumstances of Jane's death lead us to suspect the surprise that awaits Tarzan at the end of this adventure and which sets up the next novel, "Tarzan the Terrible."

The Tarzan series does become extremely formulaic by the time you get halfway through the twenty-four volumes, but it is worthwhile to at least make you way through the first eight volumes (maybe a bit further, especially if you like lions). "Tarzan the Terrible" is perhaps the quintessential Tarzan novel and the original "Tarzan of the Apes" is the one essential ERB novel to read, but I would agree that "Tarzan the Untamed" is the best yarn in the bunch. Final Note: Not surprisingly, this Tarzan novel was not well received in post-war Germany and effectively ended the publication of Burroughs' work in that country.

Tarzan the Untamed tracks down the killers of Jane
Edgar Rice Burroughs was less than impressed with Jane as the mate for Tarzan thinking that La, the High Priestess of Opar was a better match.With the Germans making themselves international bad guys by starting the First World War, ERB took advantage of their moving against British possessions in Africa to kill off Jane in this seventh novel in the Tarzan series."Tarzan the Untamed" was first published as a six-part serial in "The Red Book Magazine" in 1919 with the story continued as "Tarzan and the Valley of Luna" in a five-part serial in "All-Story Weekly" in 1920.The result is one of the most atypical Burroughs pulp fiction yarns, in which the standard romantic adventure has the hero (whether he is Tarzan, Korak, John Carter, David Innes, etc.) pursuing his beloved (Jane, Miriam, Dejah Thoris, etc.) across a dangerous environment (darkest Africa, Barsoom, Pellucidar, etc.).But in "Tarzan the Untamed," the hero is out for revenge.The result is arguably ERB's best Tarzan novel, past paced and with a prose style that rises above his average effort.

This is amply proven in the opening chapter.Hauptmann Fritz Schneider and his men stumble upon the estate of John Clayton, Lord Greystoke, in British East Africa in the fall of 1914.Tarzan and his son, Korak, are away, and Lady Jane does not know that war has broken out between German and the British Empire, so she welcomes them to her home.Meanwhile, Tarzan learns of the war in Nairobi and hurries home only to find the smoking ruins of his estate when he returns.Wasimbu, the son of Muviro, has been crucified on the wall, and the rest of the natives are all dead.Tarzan also finds the charred body of his wife, recognizable only the rings on her fingers.Cursing the Germans, Tarzan swears vengeance and leaves behind the trappings of civilization.During a tremendous thunderstorm, Tarzan kills a leopard, symbolizing the return of the Lord of the Jungle--and this is just the first chapter.

Tarzan heads south into German East Africa and almost immediately begins wrecking havoc on the Germans, displaying same sort of animal cunning and creative cruelty that he displayed as a youth in "Tarzan of the Apes" (and covered a bit as well in "The Jungle Tales of Tarzan").Even encountering an entrenched German army does not stop Tarzan from getting his revenge on his enemy.Eventually he finds an English flier, Lieutenant Harold Percy Smith-Oldwick, who is captured by cannibals and in need of rescue, and who becomes the character who argues, rather unconvincingly I might add, for Tarzan to be civilized in his one-man war against the Germans.But nothing is going to stop Tarzan from hunting down every last one of the invaders who destroyed his home and killed his wife.Of course, the circumstances of Jane's death lead us to suspect the surprise that awaits Tarzan at the end of this adventure and which sets up the next novel, "Tarzan the Terrible."

The Tarzan series does become extremely formulaic by the time you get halfway through the twenty-four volumes, but it is worthwhile to at least make you way through the first eight volumes (maybe a bit further, especially if you like lions)."Tarzan the Terrible" is perhaps the quintessential Tarzan novel and the original "Tarzan of the Apes" is the one essential ERB novel to read, but I would agree that "Tarzan the Untamed" is the best yarn in the bunch.Final Note: Not surprisingly, this Tarzan novel was not well received in post-war Germany and effectively ended the publication of Burroughs' work in that country.

As good as the others
It's very good and keeps you in the plot but try not to judge it by today's standards.The language shows what we would call today bigotry, prejudice and racism ... Read more

Product Description
Not since the days of the "Jungle Books" has any one succeeded in bringing humans and brutes together with the success of Edgar Rice Burroughs. You all know his Tarzan stories and have reveled in the glamour of that ape-man's friendships and adventures with the beasts of the wild. Here is a new hero with a new companion. (The Editor - All-Story Weekly). From ERBville Press. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Another enjoyable romp
The more I read by ERB the more I become a fan of his.Even knowing from my modern standpoint that some of his literary means are wrong, or that some of his racial observations are at times jarring. (though he almost always rectifies those in some way)I love his books!They are engaging with flowing plots that are not easy to predict and take the reader for a very enjoyable ride.

This book, is a sort of throw back to his original idea of Tarzan, instead of an Ape-Man though, the culmition is a lion man.We have no Baltimore beauty, but instead a desert princess, haughty and spoiled, but very passionate.

Michael is the grandson of a king, somewhere in Europe,and the next in line to the throne.His grandfather, assasignated, has sent his grandson away.Little could anyone predict the boat would sink and Michael would become the latest victim of one of Burroughs favorite plot devices, an amnesiac.The boy doesn't remember a thing about his previous life, speech, civilization, nothing.

He is picked up by a (the most villanous character in the book) deaf mute in a boat, who also has a lion cub kept in a cage.The two (lion and lad) a victim of this nameless man's cruelties and become 'brothers'.

Eventually, they find land andMichael has a few Tarzanish episodes.

While all of this is happening ERB returns us at regular intervals to the happenings of Michael's homeland, and things are not going well.This book, is the first I have read by him to have such totally divergent plots (and never the twain shall meet)once Michael is seperated from his homeland, his effect on the country is nothing (except being mentioned wistfully, as he is thought dead and its effect on him is nothing).

The ending is rather ironic, but as it should be, I think, though I wouldn't be surprised if there were some ideas for a sequel bouncing around ERB's head as he wrote this, it leaves the option open.

You CAN go home again
I bought and read a paperback copy of this book when I was 10.At the time, I enjoyed it tremendously.For decades afterwards, it gathered dust on a bookshelf.Finally, with dread of being disappointed, I decided tore-read it.To my relief and surprise, again, I enjoyed it tremendously. Adventure, friendship,honor. Edgar Rice Burroughs knows how to tell astory. ... Read more

Product Description
Purchase one of 1st World Library's Classic Books and help support our free internet library of downloadable eBooks. 1st World Library-Literary Society is a non-profit educational organization. Visit us online at www.1stWorldLibrary.ORG- - Twelve years had passed since I had laid the body of my great-uncle, Captain John Carter, of Virginia, away from the sight of men in that strange mausoleum in the old cemetery at Richmond.Often had I pondered on the odd instructions he had left me governing the construction of his mighty tomb, and especially those parts which directed that he be laid in an OPEN casket and that the ponderous mechanism which controlled the bolts of the vault's huge door be accessible ONLY FROM THE INSIDE. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Be sure to read "A Princes of Mars" first
We last left John suffocating and wondering if we will ever see him again (except for those few intrepid people that dare to read ahead)

"Twelve years passed since I laid the body of my great-uncle, Captain John Carter, of Virginia, way form the sight of men in that strange mausoleum in the old Cemetery at Richmond."

John returns to a Mars he never saw before yet soon finds old friends and new adventures. Not everything is black and white as in the Saturday morning cowboys.The story is a never-ending series of last minute escapes until the very end when, well read the book and find out. Once again, we get to kibitz.

A Princess of Mars
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