So, I finished reading the original Tarzan of the Apes by Edgar Rice Burroughs. I won't even begin to talk about what a hash the movie and TV versions, especially the Disney version, made of an excellent story.

I expected not to enjoy this book very much. I never found Tarzan to be a very compelling character, in any of the incarnations I was familiar with. I expected to enjoy the Barsoom stuff much more, as the Science Fantasy trappings attracted me much more.

But I found, despite the trappings, that Tarzan is a more sympathetic and compelling character than John Carter of Mars. And I was never aware the original book ended on a tragic note, at least for Tarzan! Interesting stuff. Sure, the "noble savage" and "breeding wins out" stuff is crap, but it's a very fun read for all that. Despite being borderline superhuman, Tarzan is a sympathetic and kindly character, a sort of manly Ugly Duckling.