Published in 1922-1923, with this copy being the 14th printing (from June 1988), and part of an excellent, recent eBay lot purchase that allowed me to acquire the rest of the 24 novels (in great condition). This marks the first novel I've read with a Boris Vallejo cover, instead of Neal Adams. And I've got to say, having a different cover artist affects your mental view of the main character. I finished it last night...finally. Some of it was a bit hard to get through, but I think that's more due to what I'd been going through since last week (see previous picture post for the horrifying details).
Despite being a bit exhausted from the pre-inspection moving and a case of FOMO from missing out on a couple of fall foliage out-of-town day trips, I'm going to give it my best shot at providing some comments on the book. Such as defining the meaning of "Jad-bal-ja" below...
What is Jad-bal-ja? Well, that's the name of Tarzan's pet lion, which he picks up in this story, saving him as a cub and raising him as a loyal "dog", teaching him to fetch, stay, etc. Does the name have a meaning? The book doesn't say, but I have a theory... The makers of Monopoly may have based one of their most sought-after cards after him, where the last word is the same one from "Born Free". It was the Golden Lion that saved the day in #16. His presence, in addition to being a handy sidekick, allows Tarzan to get into more precarious situations that he needs saving from.
The story also contains Jane and their son, Korak the Killer. (I have no idea how old everyone is supposed to be...is Tarzan 38?) They're returning from a previous epic adventure #8. And I'm beginning to think I made a mistake reading these out of order!! Once again, as seen in book #5, Tarzan has depleted his fortune, but this time not due to bad investments. No, they (like good little lords and ladies) were helping the War effort (WWI...I'm guessing). Well, maybe that was a bad investment; it depends on your politics. So off Tarzan goes to raid the golden treasure ingots from the vaults of Opar. Jane begs him to stay after what happened last time.
Unbeknownst to Tarzan, there is another group of Europeans with the same aim. It turns out Jane's former maid, who lived with them in both Africa and London, has hatched up a plan to steal the gold that she heard the Greystokes talk about in their home. Part of that plan consists of hiring an actor to pretend to be Tarzan to ease their travel in the region. Oh no, not another doppelgänger actor! Wait, that doesn't happen (again) until #17. Oy vey, (blame Marvel Comics for any Yiddish expressions in my vernacular), I'm getting all my Tarzan mythology crisscrossed. As part of Flora Hawkes' troupe, we have a colorful cadre of characters consisting of a German (Adolph Bluber), a Russian (Carl Kraski), a Spaniard (Esteban Miranda [faux-Tarzan]), and two British pugs, Throck and Peebles. Flora is the brains, Esteban is the brawn, and the rest are the "investors". Kraski and Esteban both have affections for Flora, which causes extra tension in the group. Their interactions are mostly enjoyable, except for the stereotypical accents people use, which just vakes it vard to vread. Oh, and Esteban isn't a direct look-alike; he utilizes convincing make-up.
If memory serves (and in this day and age, it should be fired for its poor performance), I think Tarzan gets to Opar first. But before he gets there, he actually encounters Flora's group, but not Flora, who was hiding in a tent. He's been tracking a "bad" hunter who kills recklessly (Esteban going full Heath Ledger in his role, actually thinking he's Tarzan at times). He's suspicious of their responses to his questions, but when they offer him coffee, that's his undoing. It seems John Clayton has a weakness for few things more than the ground coffee bean. Too bad this cup of java was drugged in a chapter ironically titled, "The Fatal Drops". If you grew up in the 70s/80s watching Maxwell House Ads, you know what I mean.
Sometimes people encounter Esteban, thinking he's really Tarzan, and vice versa. It's not too confusing when you're reading it, but in hindsight, I can't keep it all straight.
Anyway, Tarzan is captured by the evil High Priest of Opar, Cadj. Unfortunately, for the lovely La, she's had to mate with Cadj since the last novel. She's still in charge, but he's scheming to install a new High Priestess who will be less hateful toward his bestial "charms". He's going to use any leniency on her part to dethrone her. And it works -- La does risk it all to save Tarzan, and off they escape into the Valley of Diamonds. The VoD is populated by brutal Bolgani ape-men, and a slave class of black natives that aren't too bright. It's a whole mini-adventure within an adventure, a side quest if you will.
Man, I just want to use the downstairs TV later to watch Tron movies...
Tarzan seeks a way out of the valley, and La gets captured. When he finally finds her, she's just about to be sacrificed to an old Numa (lion), which the Bolgani worship. He saves her in time, but they're going to get slaughtered by sheer force of numbers. Until..."Here I come to save the day!", Jad-bal-ja arrives to turn the tide! He escaped from his pen and has been tracking Tarzan all this time. Tarzan liberates the much more numerous Gomangani, convincing them to turn against their brutal masters; eventually, killing Cadj and reinstalling La as ruler and picking up a pouch of diamonds. She still loves and longs for him, by the way.
Speaking of loving and longing for Tarzan, when Tarzan's Waziri return empty-handed to their bungallo, Jane goes off to rescue him!
Stuff happens.
There are double-crosses amongst the Europeans, with Esteban seeking to keep all the gold for himself with the help of an unscrupulous guide, Owaza. Having lost the gold, the rest of them try to gain some ivory before they leave the continent. Once again, the consequence of avarice plays a large part in their fates, but this time, you actually get to learn firsthand of Esteban's sorry state, which is fitting indeed. And just like the last commentary, Jane exhibits true Christian character, not only forgiving Flora, but hiring her again!
I have to say the endings have all been satisfying, even if the middle can sometimes wander a bit. But again, I can't judge for sure on this story, because you know the...
I've already started #14 last night, which should be the last Opar story. Just a few pages in and I'm already liking it.
Love the parenthetical comments. Middle does sound confusing.
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