giugno

This was a satisfying finale to the Tarzan oeuvre. Joe R. Lansdale was given the (thankless) task of fleshing out Edgar Rice Burroughs' final 83-page outline, the last unfinished Tarzan novel before his death. Lansdale created (or, at least, augmented) a vintage Tarzan plot. This was Burrough's imagined Africa: an unexplored dark continent of hidden kingdoms, savage cannibals, and lost treasure. It was a compelling, exciting adventure yarn. Lansdale brought back many secondary series characters for a final swan song, including Jad-bal-ja, the golden lion, and Nkima, the braggart monkey. Even the fictional underground world of Pellucidar plays a prominent role. Judging from other online reviews, I don't think this book ever found its natural audience. Lansdale wrote his novel in a contemporary voice that reflected the 1990's, instead of the 1940's when the other Tarzan novels were published. Hardcore ERB fans weren't satisfied; they wanted Burrough's signature, but decidedly outdated, prose. They didn't appreciate Lansdale's signature violence or the sometimes sarcastic dialogue. They also complained that Lansdale's Tarzan didn't seem to care when he was separated from his wife, Jane. But other than simply mimicking an old style of fiction, this was as much of an homage to Burroughs as any writer could provide. Lansdale created a fun, entertaining story from ERB's outline, making the story and characters his own, while at the same time honoring the traditions of the series and the essence of the characters.

2022-11-14 17:16