You've heard it said, "You can't judge a book by its cover". Well, I can now say that the picture is fairly accurate, but what on earth does that have to do with the title? This is one of two Tarzan books that I bought new from a bookstore sometime around high school (1984 printing), and I've always wondered about the incongruity. That's because I never got around to reading it, but boy does it look nice still. I figured the Lion Man must be this Gorilla-creature with the Don King haircut, thinking that the tawny colored hair was the only thing that could possibly relate to a lion. Having finished it last night, I now know the truth...
That "thing" is not the Lion Man, not even close. There are zero clues, neither on the back cover copy nor even hinted at in the front page teaser blurb.
The story was originally published serially in late 1933 until early 1934 (like one week into "early"). And do you know what happened in 1932? Johnny Weissmuller starred in his first Tarzan picture, and he'd completed his second of around a dozen by the time this story was written. So, is it any surprise (in hindsight) that ERB brings Hollywood into the picture? I assume he must have had some measure of consulting with the film studios, living nearby in Tarzana, CA. He must have or at least he paid attention to the goings on, because the first half of the novel is all about Hollywood types trying to make a picture on location in Africa.
You see, someone has an inspired (ripoff) idea to make a story about a guy raised by Lions in the jungle. They've got a handsome, muscular lad, who's a bit dim and a real scaredy cat, named Stanley Obroski. He's making some time on the side with the famous "I'm too good for this" actress, Naomi Madison. Often referred to as "The Madison". She's aloof, demanding, and complaining all the time. Her stunt double is another beautiful woman, who's much nicer and more capable, named Rhonda Terry. The director, Orman, likes Naomi, and is none too pleased that she may be "cheating" on the side with Stanley. The cameraman, Bill West, really loves Rhonda, who is also interested in him, but still hangs with the other guys; which is sending him mixed signals, especially when she covers for Naomi by saying she's into Stanley.
Oh, and Tarzan doesn't even actively participate until one-third into the book! That's okay because Stanley is his exact doppelgänger, at least in physique if not behavior. And while that might be a tough pill to swallow in a "realistic" Tarzan novel, you just have to roll with it. I did find the first half of the story quite enjoyable, detailing the travails and tragedies of the expedition as well as all the colorful personalities. There are sicknesses, attacks (a lot of crewmen die), and a group of "up to no good" Arabs (they seem to always be portrayed this way) that somehow know the prop map used by the group is authentic. This same map that points to the "Valley of Diamonds"!
Tarzan is hunting nearby, and seems none too interested in helping them out. I mean he helps who he wants, not just everybody. Remember "book" Tarzan is different from TV/movie Tarzan. He also like to sink his jaws into an animal's neck for a nice warm blooded kill.
The safari is taking weeks/months to get to their on-site location and diminishing along the way. Their shortcut through unfriendly regions is taking a heavy toll. They're losing their help too. Their leading man, Stanley, has been captured and is presumed dead. He's not dead yet, but he's about to be eaten by some cannibals that hope to gain vitality by consuming his strong flesh. Tarzan helps Stanley out mainly because he's his lookalike. After the rescue, Tarzan sends Stanley off to a (hopefully) safer locale. Tarzan can't go with Stanley because the Arabs have just kidnapped the girls since they can read the map. The "white women" will either lead them to the diamonds, or they'll ransom them back to the safari, or sell them on the slave market (or maybe they'll keep them for themselves).
Since Tarzan doesn't "get out much", he likes to have his fun where he can, so he decides to pretend he's Stanley Obroski for the rest of the adventure. Whenever he encounters members of the safari, they naturally assume that he's Stanley, and he doesn't dissuade them. They're baffled by his commanding, brave, and athletic behavior. A stark contrast from the guy who used to hide under the truck when the poisoned arrows were flying about.
The second half of the novel really takes a weird turn. The Arabs are ambushed by talking apes! Not just talking, English speaking. These apes steal the girls for their king and their god, both located in the valley of diamonds. Tarzan manages to rescue Naomi, but then has to return for Rhonda Terry. The two girls were separated and Naomi feared that Rhonda had been killed by a lion.
"God" is really an old man who has been conducting genetic experiments on the apes over the decades. He's created a race of apes with much of the mind of man who can speak. These apes have taken on classic English nobility names because that's where he stole their genetic material from! He's been experimenting on himself to prolong his life and now looks a bit like an ape/human hybrid. He's the one with the Don King haircut. He plans to eat Tarzan and Rhonda so he can get back some more youthful human traits. But he might decide to keep Rhonda around for other purposes. The king, Henry the Eighth, is trying to revolt against "God", and he wants the hairless-she for himself.
Stuff happens and Tarzan and Rhonda eventually escape into the jungle where they encounter the other tribe. Some of the genetic experiments led to more hybrid births, including a few where the appearance is human but the mind is more ape-like. One of these, but a bit smarter, is the fierce naked woman, Balza. She ends up going with Tarzan who drops her off with the now reunited film crew, where she can learn to wear uncomfortable clothes, smoke cigarettes, and "be unhappy".
It turns out poor Stanley died on his way out of the jungle, but his name is now immortalized for Tarzan's feats while using his name.
The final chapter really serves more as an epilogue. If this had been originally published as a novel, that's exactly what it would be. Tarzan in his John Clayton, rich English Lord persona, travels to Hollywood a year later. Balza is now the hottest Hollywood starlet and premiering her next picture. Tarzan is invited to a Hollywood bash by the hotel bellboy, who is really crashing the joint, pretending he belongs. But some producer types see John and think he might be perfect for the next Tarzan picture. No, he's not the right type! He does get a callback for a bit role as a scared white hunter who needs to be rescued by the film Tarzan.
Unfortunately, when the stage lion starts to go amuck, John leaps on his back and stabs him to death. He almost does his traditional yell following the kill, but just stops himself. The studio is furious, that lion was worth 10 grand. John is fired from the Tarzan picture and heads back to Africa.
Despite the far out aspects of the second half, and lack of Tarzan in the first, I still enjoyed this story. I can empathize with ERB's need to mix things up a bit. He's got to churn out these Tarzan tales, but he's going to make it interesting for himself! Delving into the Hollywood lifestyle at the same time when the Tarzan films were reaching their glory years was genius.
I'm now on book #5, the other copy I bought 40 odd years ago.
Oh, and before I leave you today, here's a comparison of my 1984 (eighth) printing and my newly acquired 1988 (ninth) printing. The Neal Adams image is now bordered and slightly reduced, but it's also clearer with slightly brighter colors. I prefer the yellow Tarzan logo, but it still counts as a black cover copy. And the price increased by $1 in four years.
Crazy crazy tale.
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