Tarzan: Battle for Pellucidar

Edgar Rice Burroughs Universe #2

by Win Scott Eckert, Mike Wolfer

The Lord of the Jungle at the Earth's Core Tarzan of the Apes, Jason Gridley, and the crew of the airship O-220 return to Pellucidar, the world at the Earth's core, on a wartime mission to stop the Nazis from obtaining a powerful superweapon. But when the Lord of the Jungle's murderous adversaries partner with the Mahars-Pellucidar's routed reptilian overlords-and his adventurous granddaughter Suzanne goes missing on a reconnaissance mission, can Tarzan prevent the conquest and enslavement of all humanity in both the inner and outer worlds? Also includes the bonus novelette "Victory Clash on Caspak" by Mike Wolfer Hurled through time and space from her homeworld of Pellucidar, Victory Harben plummets into peril when she finds herself on the island continent of Caspak, the Land That Time Forgot. Using skills learned from her friend Tarzan and the Stone Age land of her birth, Victory fights for her very survival against savage beasts and uncanny Wieroos, the winged humanoid terrors of Caspak. But that is only the beginning of her trials, as a strange visitor arrives with an omen of Victory's role in the machinations of the Swords of Eternity super-arc! THE FIRST UNIVERSE OF ITS KIND A century before the term "crossover" became a buzzword in popular culture, Edgar Rice Burroughs created the first expansive, fully cohesive literary universe. Coexisting in this vast cosmos was a pantheon of immortal heroes and heroines--Tarzan of the Apes, Jane Clayton, John Carter, Dejah Thoris, Carson Napier, and David Innes being only the best known among them. In Burroughs' 80-plus novels, their epic adventures transported them to the strange and exotic worlds of Barsoom, Amtor, Pellucidar, Caspak, and Va-nah, as well as the lost civilizations of Earth and even realms beyond the farthest star. Now the Edgar Rice Burroughs Universe expands in an all-new series of canonical novels written by today's talented authors! SWORDS OF ETERNITY SUPER-ARC When an unknown force catapults inventors Jason Gridley and Victory Harben from their home in Pellucidar, separating them from each other and flinging them across space and time, they embark on a grand tour of strange, wondrous worlds. As their search for one another leads them to the realms of Amtor, Barsoom, and other worlds even more distant and outlandish, Jason and Victory will meet heroes and heroines of unparalleled courage and Carson Napier, Tarzan, John Carter, and more. With the help of their intrepid allies, Jason and Victory will uncover a plot both insidious and unthinkable--one that threatens to tear apart the very fabric of the universe... The Swords of Eternity super-arc comes to our universe in a series of four interconnected Carson of The Edge of All Worlds by Matt Betts Battle for Pellucidar by Win Scott Eckert John Carter of Gods of the Forgotten by Geary Gravel Victory Fires of Halos by Christopher Paul Carey (c) ERB, Inc. All rights reserved. All logos, characters, names, and the distinctive likenesses thereof are trademarks or registered trademarks of ERB, Inc.

Genres: Fiction, Pulp, Science Fiction, Sword and Planet, Fantasy, Adventure

316 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 27, 2020

About the author

WIN SCOTT ECKERT is a novelist, editor, essayist, and author of short fiction. He is steeped in the works of famed science fiction writer Philip José Farmer, particularly Farmer’s shared universe literary-crossover Wold Newton cycle and the Lord Grandrith/Doc Caliban series. He has a deep interest in studying fictional biographies, creating detailed chronologies of fictional characters and universes, and exploring the metafictional connections between seemingly unrelated works, which resulted in MYTHS FOR THE MODERN AGE: PHILIP JOSÉ FARMER’S WOLD NEWTON UNIVERSE (MonkeyBrain Books), a 2007 Locus Awards finalist, and the critically acclaimed, encyclopedic CROSSOVERS: A SECRET CHRONOLOGY OF THE WORLD 1 & 2 (Black Coat Press, 2010).

Eckert is also an expert on many of the authors and characters who inspired Farmer—such as Edgar Rice Burroughs (Tarzan, Pellucidar, John Carter of Mars, and more), the pulp heroes (Doc Savage, The Shadow, The Avenger, etc.), Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes and Professor Moriarty, Ian Fleming’s James Bond, and Sax Rohmer’s Denis Nayland Smith, Fu Manchu, and Sumuru—as well as other heroic characters whose adventures Eckert has chronicled, including Zorro, Sexton Blake, the Phantom, Honey West, the Scarlet Pimpernel, the Domino Lady, and the Green Hornet, all of which can be found in the pages of anthologies from Moonstone Books, Meteor House (THE WORLDS OF PHILIP JOSÉ FARMER), Black Coat Press (TALES OF THE SHADOWMEN), and Titan Books (TALES OF THE WOLD NEWTON UNIVERSE).

An accomplished essayist, Eckert contributed a new foreword the 2006 edition of Farmer’s well-known fictional biography, TARZAN ALIVE: A DEFINITIVE BIOGRAPHY OF LORD GREYSTOKE (University of Nebraska/Bison Books), as well as several forewords and afterwords to Titan Books’ reissues of Farmer’s novels. As Executive Editor for Meteor House, he played a key role in reissuing definitive editions of Farmer’s fictional biography DOC SAVAGE: HIS APOCALYPTIC LIFE (2013), and Farmer’s authorized Burroughs novel, TARZAN AND THE DARK HEART OF TIME (2018).

Eckert is the authorized legacy author of Farmer's Patricia Wildman series (THE EVIL IN PEMBERLEY HOUSE, THE SCARLET JAGUAR). His latest releases are an authorized Avenger book from Moonstone, HUNT THE AVENGER (2019); an authorized novel in the new Edgar Rice Burroughs Universe, TARZAN: BATTLE FOR PELLUCIDAR (2020); and, as coauthor with Farmer, the fourth novel in Farmer's Secrets of the Nine series, THE MONSTER ON HOLD (2021), furthering the titanic saga of Doc Caliban's battle against the dark manipulators who hold the secret to eternal life, the Nine. His Edgar Rice Burroughs Universe novel KORAK AT THE EARTH'S CORE is forthcoming in April 2024.

Find him online at winscotteckert dot com

Reviews

[Jim · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have NO problem giving this book by Win Scott Eckert, published in 2020, 5/5 stars, as I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was exactly what I was looking for--a rip-roaring adventure story. And, most of all, it's a great Tarzan story!
As a kid in the 60s, I was thrilled to read the Tarzan books by Edgar Rice Burroughs (1875-1950), which were being published as paperbacks then ( my dad would buy them for me and also read them himself!). I still remember my dad giving me the Ace paperback edition of "Tarzan and the Jewels of Opar," the fifth in the Tarzan series, which led me to go on to acquire the rest of what would turn out to be twenty-four books in all ( and there was the twenty-fifth, "Tarzan and the Valley of Gold," an excellent pastiche by Fritz Leiber). And then from Tarzan, I went on to get all the other books by Burroughs available as paperbacks--the Mars, Venus, and Pellucidar books and others such as "The Monster Men" and "The Lost Continent."
I think what I liked most about Eckert's book is that it captures the true spirit of Tarzan and the sense of wonder and adventure of the best of ERB. It not only fits in with the Tarzan series but expands on it wonderfully. We see Tarzan return to the prehistoric world at the Earth's Core--Pellucidar--a follow-up to Tarzan #13, "Tarzan at the Earth's Core," certainly one of the strangest and most challenging of all Tarzan's adventures. This time, Tarzan has more experience with the bizarre world, as we learn more about Pellucidar and as Tarzan deals with new threats that are even more dangerous than any he has encountered before.
The story takes place during World War II. If you know the Tarzan movies, Tarzan as played by Johnny Weissmueller battled the Nazis in Africa. However, in the books ( #22,"Tarzan and the Foreign Legion"), Tarzan as Lord Greystoke is a colonel in the RAF. He is in a bomber that crashes in Sumatra in the then Dutch East Indies under Japanese occupation. The jungle lord then leads a guerrilla war against the Japanese. But I always wondered what Tarzan had done in the war before the events of "Foreign Legion." Win Scott Eckert answers that ( and I would love to say it was worth the wait!). Tarzan is sent on a mission to stop a Nazi invasion of Pellucidar. It turns out to be a mission that could affect the outcome of the war. The Nazis have entered the inner world seeking a lost superweapon from the past, from what they believe was Atlantis. They have found an ancient "lost" city which reminds Tarzan of Opar--bringing me back to remembering that very first Tarzan book I read ( back during the Kennedy administration), especially Tarzan exploring a lost and mysterious ancient city (Opar).
As I said before, Eckert has expanded on ERB's universe and we see that Greystoke/Tarzan has a granddaughter, Suzanne, who accompanies Tarzan on the mission to Pellucidar. She is a hero in her own right, having been involved in the French Resistance. She gets separated from Tarzan and has her own exciting adventures.
The story certainly moves at a fast pace right to the final battle for Pellucidar and the defeat of the Nazis! That shouldn't be a spoiler because we know Tarzan has to save the world (or worlds) from Nazi domination.
If all of that isn't enough--there's a novelette at the end of the book, "Victory Harben: Clash on Caspak" by Mike Wolfer. We have the character, Victory von Harben, involved in an adventure in the prehistoric world of Caspak ( is there a connection to Pellucidar?).
Both Eckert's and Wolfer's stories are part of an arc of stories, all of which involve Victory Harben ( I believe). So there are more thrills to come in the Burroughs universe... I feel like a kid again, except for all the aches and pains I have now! I don't think I can climb trees like I used to but at least I still have books to read!!

[Frank · Rating 5 out of 5]

(This review is based on reading an advance readers copy.)

Tarzan was one of my first heroes, a legendary character who was as amazing to me as Greek myths. I read his tales over and over, watched the films every time they were on and read as many comics as I could find. I never imagined I would see the character in new tales.

Win Scott Eckert takes up the mantle of the legendary hero and produces a tale as exciting as any by the creator, Edgar Rice Burroughs. The pace is quick and perfectly fit with the past stories as well as other works by Burroughs. I found myself looking forward to every page and regretting that end would come soon.

A first class adventure tale that I highly recommend. Probably the most enjoyable book of 2020 for me and I look forward to future novels by Win Scott Eckert with this legendary hero.

[Little Timmy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very nice modern addition to ERB's Pellucidar series. Both well written and perfectly matching the tone of the original novels. Recommended

[Dale Russell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Warning...There may be minor spoilers ahead. All adventurers should proceed at their own risk...
NOTE: I was provided an Advanced Reader Copy in return for an honest and impartial review.

2019 was a landmark year for the worlds of Edgar Rice Burroughs and all of his many creations. For the past few years leading up to that time, new books and stories were being created under the title, THE WILD ADVENTURES OF EDGAR RICE BURROUGHS. These stories ranged in quality from verging on fan fiction to professionally written and incredibly accurate to canon adventures.

But...in 2019, Christopher Paul Carey was brought on board to be the new Publishing editor for ERB, Inc. His goal was nothing less than to bring new stories and new life to the legacy created by Burroughs. With direction and guidance from the powers that be at ERB, Inc., Carey introduced the world to the new EDGAR RICE BURROUGHS UNIVERSE!!! New tales of red Barsoom...cloud shrouded Venus...the hidden world of Pellucidar...and more stories from beyond the farthest stars. And...amazingly...those stories would be canon. New journeys and new adventures that would continue and expand upon those already living classics that ERB had left as his legacy. And so, with the ground work laid and the journey begun, 2020...with all its terrible storms, raging wildfires, deadly pandemics, and western society looking to make significant social changes that would rival the best of fiction...saw the launch of the SWORDS OF ETERNITY SUPER-ARC. A new ongoing collaboration between some the best young writers in the field of fantasy and adventure. Which leads us to today...

As has become the standard for all "NEW" Edgar Rice Burroughs Universe books, this volume gives us the novel length TARZAN: BATTLE FOR PELLUCIDAR and is followed up by the short VICTORY HARBEN: CLASH ON CASPAK...

In the first story...

The second WAR TO END ALL WARS is raging across the face of the earth. The forces of the Third Reich have pushed their way across the European and African Continent in pursuit of their Furher's grand plan to conquer and rule. To help achieve those goals Reichsfurher Heinrich Himmler has created within the SS the AHNENERBE, a group dedicated to finding scientific and historical evidence to prove the Nazi belief of racial superiority. But, they are not limited to only the mundane world of science and fact. The AHNENERBE continue to scour the world for mystical artifacts that will help to win the war. The Arc of the Covenant...The Spear of Destiny...the Rings of Solomon...all these and more are the targets of their search. A search that has now lead them to discover one of the greatest secrets of human history. For the world is hollow and Nazi Germany has found their way there. Found their way to...PELLUCIDAR.

It is to put an end to that incursion that John Clayton - known to the world as a Group Captain in the RAF, but to a select few as his truest identity as Tarzan, Lord of the Jungle - must return once more to hidden Pellucidar.

Along with some of his staunchest companions and family, Tarzan boards the newly recreated O-220 and returns to the lost world of strange races...lost civilizations...ancient monuments to unknown gods - and perhaps the most dangerous of all - the Mahars!!! And so begins a race against time and space to save the rest of humanity from destruction...

Story the second...

Following the events that transpired in the earlier book CARSON OF VENUS: THE EDGE OF ALL WORLDS, Victory Harben has been thrown across time and space, bouncing from world to world at the seemingly random whims of whatever unknown force that tore her from the inner world of Pellucidar and all her family and friends.

Tossed into each new world naked and unarmed, she must find a way to survive until thrust once more into the universe hopefully to find her way home. But, landing on this strange new world that she is tossed into is different. The air...the animals...the world itself!!!...seems so familiar to Victory. But...that familiarity may be the death of her. New friends...New enemies...and perhaps someone who may be both - or neither! Victory must survive to solve the whys and wherefores of the journey she was set upon...and hopefully...find the way back home.

Authors Win Scott Eckert and Mike Wolfer have jumped feet first into the waters of the ERB Universe and have given their readers two stories that read as if they had come directly from the mind and pen of the master himself...(long time ERB readers...look for several Easter egg cameos from other characters and locations within the ERBU).

Win's Tarzan is that truly magnificent and incredible Lord of the Jungle that so many us remember from his journeys to lost cities such as Opar, and fighting against evil incarnate as the Nazis have presented in both Burroughs' stories of the past and this new entry. This is the eternal Jungle Lord who uses his superior abilities to fight and survive. Eckert captures the feel and the pace of those adventures and turns it up a notch as he adds new characters - a certain granddaughter comes to mind - and new trials. In this story, Eckert seemingly channels Burroughs himself as the adventure has the beat and tempo...as well as the phrasing and wording of ERB.

Eckert is no stranger to the world of pulp characters as he has crafted new stories about those greats from the past such as Zorro, The Green Hornet, The Avenger, The Phantom, Captain Midnight, The Domino Lady, The Green Ghost, Honey West, and Sherlock Holmes as well as editing several collections and collaborating with Philip Jose Farmer to write the adventures of Patricia Wildman in THE EVIL OF PEMBERLEY HOUSE and its sequel, THE SCARLET JAGUAR. He currently is one of the main curators and info sources for the WOLD NEWTON UNIVERSE that was proposed by PJF and is a regular contributor to the ongoing TALES OF THE SHADOWMEN anthologies. With that background behind him, its very easy to under stand how Win Scott Eckert is one of the current masters of all things NEW PULP as well as those pulp creations of the past.

Michael Wolfer is a fairly well known name to readers of the ERB Universe. After previously writing the LAND THAT TIME FORGOT adaption for the AMERICAN MYTHOLOGY COMIC companyMike was tapped by AM and ERB, Inc. to write the first authorized comic book lead in to an ERB canon novel with CARSON OF VENUS: THE EYE OF AMTOR. The comic itself leads into the first new novel in the SWORDS OF ETERNITY super-arc and directly affects Matt Betts, CARSON OF VENUS: THE EDGE OF ALL WORLDS. Wolfer began his career as a self published author forming the GROUND ZERO COMICS company. His first major claim to fame being his WIDOW line of stories before moving on to work for such major companies as Dark Horse, London Night Studios, and Chaos! Comics.

This is Wolfer's first straight formed prose story in the ERB Universe and it's a great one carrying on the story of Victory Harben's universe spanning travels created by Christopher Paul Carey that began in THE EDGE OF ALL WORLDS. Wolfer does not miss a beat as he navigates through CASPAK and the Land That Time Forgot as if he was born there.

For me, this book was a return to my childhood and teen years when I was discovering the worlds and adventures that could be found between the covers of those incredible novels by Burroughs. I had the same sense of enjoyment and excitement now as I did then.

Next up in the story arc is JOHN CARTER OF MARS: GODS OF THE FORGOTTEN by Geary Gravel...should be amazing!!!

[Bill Wormstedt · Rating 5 out of 5]

(This review is based on reading an advance readers copy.)

Edgar Rice Burroughs, Inc. is now publishing new ‘in canon’ stories with Burroughs heroes – Tarzan, John Carter of Mars, David Innes of Pellucidar and Carson of Venus. (‘In canon’ meaning, stories that fit closely into the timeline as developed by Burroughs, and do not conflict with his many stories.) I have just finished reading Win Scott Eckert’s new book, “Tarzan: Battle for Pellucidar”, the second of four stories in the “Swords of Eternity” arc. The previous book, which came out earlier this year, was “Carson of Venus: Edge of All Worlds”.

To an long time Burroughs reader like I am, this is JUST what I am looking for! In addition to giving the book ‘the feel’ of a book actually written by Burroughs, Eckert has added many references to the original Burrough stories – and even links to other works that have been determined to be ‘in canon’, such as Philip Jose Farmer’s “Tarzan and the Dark Heart of Time”, and even newspaper strips by Russ Manning and Gray Morrow.

The story itself is quite interesting and surprising. It introduces new characters to the ERB Universe, such as Victory Harben (well, actually, Victory was introduced in the previous book in the series) and Suzanne Clayton, who I expect I will hear from again. The reader gets reacquainted with other Pellucidarian characters, such as David Innes, and gets to explore more of Pellucidar, the land inside the hollow earth.

And how can you go wrong fighting Nazis during the Second World War, who have found their way inside the earth for their own nefarious plans?

I definitely recommend this book to any fan of Edgar Rice Burroughs, and to any fan of high adventure.

[Joshua Small · Rating 5 out of 5]

Win Scott Eckert's “Tarzan: Battle for Pellucidar” is an action- adventure story in true Burroughs fashion.

The novel has "roots" interconnecting so many of Tarzan's adventures, past and future, and builds upon the existing Burroughs universe and the characters within. No matter what you may be looking for in a Burroughs story - action, adventure, mysterious new lands, dangerous beasts or lost civilizations - “Battle for Pellucidar” has it.

Plus: Tarzan fighting Nazis! Always a plus!!

Also, “Battle for Pellucidar” - true to Burroughs’ form - features not just the strong male characters of Tarzan and Jason Gridley among others, but also female characters who are more than just damsels in distress to be saved. In fact, at times they are the ones doing the saving.

“Battle for Pellucidar” is also an amazing jumping-off point for the larger “Swords of Eternity” super-arc. Tthe accompanying novelette, “Victory Harben: Clash on Caspak,” reveals another of Victory's adventures through space and time that shouldn't be missed.

[Anthony · Rating 5 out of 5]

Note: I reviewed this book via an electronic Advance Review Copy. The book will be published in October by Edgar Rice Burroughs, Inc.

Edgar Rice Burroughs wrote 24 Tarzan novels (25 if we include Tarzan and the Tarzan Twins, which would now be considered a “middle grade” novel, I think, or 26 if we include Tarzan: The Lost Adventure, which Joe Lansdale completed from a manuscript started by Burroughs), and six Pellucidar novels. Burroughs virtually created the idea of fictional universes, linking his various series in ever-inventive ways to create a consistent whole. (See for instance the novel Tarzan at the Earth’s Core, in which the Jungle Lord visits the Hollow Earth for the first time.) Over the years since Burroughs’ passing, the Burroughs Estate has “authorized” quite a lot of novels featuring Tarzan, John Carter, Carson Napier, and other Burroughs creations. But only recently has the estate, through Edgar Rice Burroughs Inc., decided to issue new works tied intimately enough to the detailed chronology and characterizations of the original books to be considered “canonical” (as compared to merely “authorized.”)

So how does one approach reading a new canonical novel that once again ties two of Burroughs’ most well-known series together, especially if that book is also the second title in a new “super-arc” connecting even more of Burroughs’ original creations? Must one read all of the Tarzan and Pellucidar novels before opening the cover of Win Scott Eckert’s Tarzan: Battle for Pellucidar?
I am happy to report the answer to that question is “no.” I have read only a small handful of the original Tarzan novels and none of the Pellucidar series. Tarzan at the Earth’s Core is not one of the handful of Tarzan novels I have read. Despite these holes in my Burroughsian reading history, I loved this book and was fully engaged with the characters and plot throughout.

Win Scott Eckert has not only crafted a novel that is true to the character of Tarzan as detailed by Burroughs in the original novels (versus what we see in most movie/television versions), he’s given us a novel that is an excellent jumping-on point for readers who are new to Tarzan, to Pellucidar, or to both. There was not a moment in this book where I felt like I was missing out on vital information by not having read the originals. And even though this is the second book in the new Edgar Rice Burroughs Universe “Swords of Eternity super-arc,” one does not have to have read the preceding release (Carson of Venus: The Edge of All Worlds, written by Matt Betts) to jump into this one. Like Burroughs himself, the new ERBU writers are working hard to make every book accessible on its own. Eckert does this by having characters reminisce about previous exploits in just enough detail to fill new readers in without derailing the momentum of the current story, supplemented by footnotes letting the reader know where to go to read the original stories.

Eckert gives us the Tarzan I remember from the few novels I’ve read and from the DC and Marvel comics of the late 70s: imposing, multi-lingual, a strategist when called for and a brute force when appropriate, a man who loves his family and will do anything to protect them, a man who can fit with “polite society” but who always has “the beast” simmering under the surface. Here, he is the focal point around whom everything else orbits, the most compelling character in a cast of compelling characters. The best Tarzan writers understand how to use the Jungle Lord’s personal dichotomies to propel a story, and Eckert proves here that he is among the best.

Eckert also does a wonderful job incorporating the setting of Pellucidar into the novel almost as another character. I’m intrigued by the way time does/doesn’t move in the “hollow Earth,” and how the landscape and stationary sun and moon influence the way characters think and react. I really cannot wait to go back and read the Burroughs originals as well as the soon-to-be-rereleased (by ERB, Inc.) authorized sequels by John Eric Holmes, and all credit for that goes to Win Eckert. (Okay, perhaps a little bit of credit should also go to Mike Grell, whose hidden world of Skartaris in DC Comics’ The Warlord was my first and most beloved exposure to the “hollow Earth” concept and which was clearly inspired by Pellucidar.)

Tarzan: Battle for Pellucidar is also as fast-paced as one would expect from a Burroughs novel. There’s a bit of slow set-up in the first few chapters as Eckert moves all of his chess pieces into place, but after that the action is pretty much non-stop. As with Burroughs, Eckert expresses characterization as much through action as through internal monologue. I read the second half of the book in one sitting. Burroughs wrote several books in which Tarzan and Korak fight in World War One, so it’s a natural extension of the brand that a still fighting-fit Lord John Clayton and his family members would be tapped to help protect England from the Nazi menace of the Second World War. Especially when the Nazis are on the verge of discovering Pellucidar and the mind-controlling abilities of the native Mahars.

Much has been made of the “Swords of Eternity” super-arc introducing a new lead character, Victory Harben, into the ERBU. In Tarzan: Battle for Pellucidar, we get to see Victory at a much younger age and see the experience that transforms her life and brings her under the care of Tarzan and Jane in England. But Victory isn’t the only “next generation” character being added to Burroughs’ family trees. In Tarzan: Battle for Pellucidar, Eckert introduces us to Suzanne Clayton (Tarzan’s grand-daughter, the second child of Tarzan’s son Korak and daughter-in-law Meriem) and to Janson Gridley (son of Jason Gridley and Pellucidarian native Jana). Suzanne follows closely in her father’s and grandfather’s footsteps, plunging into adventure without so much as a backwards glance, equally at home in the jungle as in a city. Janson doesn’t see much action but I loved the almost-sibling interplay between him and Victory (who is Jason Gridley’s god-daughter). I hope that as the new ERBU progresses, we’ll see more of both of these younger characters alongside Victory and Korak and Meriem’s son Jackie Clayton. While it has been well-established by Burroughs himself that Tarzan and his immediate family are very long-lived and essentially immortal (something the Jungle Lord ruminates about a lot in this book, which takes place during World War II), injecting new characters into the ERBU also follows Burroughs’ own tradition.

The main novel is followed by a bonus novelette, “Clash on Caspak,” which connects the current super-arc to yet another of Burroughs’ original on-going series: “The Land That Time Forgot.” I’ve never read the Caspak books, although I remember the movies based on them. Mike Wolfer does a great job relaying what makes Caspak similar to and yet unique from Pellucidar through Victory Harben’s eyes. The novelette advances Victory’s storyline that started in Christopher Paul Carey’s novelette “Dark Heart of the Sun,” giving us more hints about why Victory is being bounced through time and space and what role her mysterious tattoo might play. As I may have mentioned, I find Victory an intriguing character and can’t wait for her to star in her own novel (titled Fires of Halos and due out sometime in 2021, I believe).

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

(The following review is based on an advanced readers' copy.)


Now THIS is Tarzan!

A few years back, in a review of one entry in the recent spate of new novels featuring the famed jungle hero that have been authorized by Edgar Rice Burroughs Inc. over the past decade or so, I made the following observation: "As a life-long fan, I have long been of the opinion that even lackluster Tarzan tales are ultimately better than no new Tarzan tales at all. (I’ll be the first one to admit that some stories have sorely tested this belief, but in general I think it remains a valid point of view.)"

It pleases me, well beyond my meager ability to properly convey, that I can honestly and enthusiastically report the following: the latest such adventure, Win Scott Eckert's "Tarzan: Battle For Pellucidar," is far from being "lackluster." I'll even go so far as to say that this is, in fact, the very best Tarzan novel to have appeared in a good, long time.

And I'm perfectly willing to sic little Nkima (who, after all, was given his own stash of Kavuru pills) on anyone who says otherwise.

Since ERB Inc. ramped up its long-dormant publication program several years ago, with the launch of the "Wild Adventures" series, the new additions to the Tarzan mythos in particular have been… well, let's be honest, uneven at best. My love for the character is such that I have found something to enjoy in each and every one of them - even when, as noted above, the total overall result may not have been to my individual liking. But at the same time I came away from each and every one of them feeling some degree of disappointment, and in one or two instances even questioning whether the author had ever bothered to read any of the ERB originals. (I'm still scratching my head, for example, over one author's apparent attempt to re-imagine Tarzan as "Batman of the Apes" - but that's a discussion for another time...)

I had no such questions or misgivings regarding "Battle of Pellucidar" upon finishing the book - released under the separate, canonical "Edgar Rice Burroughs Universe" banner, as opposed to the aforementioned "Wild Adventures" umbrella. I'm telling you, Win Scott Eckert has hit it clear out of the park with this novel. (Sports metaphors usually aren't my thing… did I do that right?)

Even if I had not already been familiar with Eckert's previous efforts as an author experienced with other licensed properties, or already known about his own deep love for Burroughs and Tarzan, it would have obvious to me as a fan myself that this is a writer who has done his homework. This is Lord Greystoke as ERB first imagined and presented him to the world more than a century ago: noble savage, fierce warrior, loyal to friends and family, a man more at home in the wild but able to don what Burroughs called “the thin veneer of civilization" when the situation demands.

For the first time in a long time, I felt that I was in the presence of the real Tarzan. And a grand and glorious reunion it has proved to be. (And as the title indicates, Tarzan is not the only old friend we get to see again during the course of the tale - but I don't want to spoil any surprises.)

Set during the height of World War II (and a few months prior to the events of ERB's "Tarzan and the 'Foreign Legion,' one of my favorite titles in Burroughs' later cycle of Tarzan tales) Eckert's adventure sends the Lord of the Jungle - now as before in the company of a valiant team of adventurers that once again includes ERB's friend Jason Gridley - on a return trip to that savage and mysterious prehistoric world at the earth's core. There they find themselves pitted against not only the monstrous Mahars and other denizens of Pellucidar, but also the single greatest evil that Mankind has ever known: the Nazis, who naturally have their own dark designs with eyes set on secrets held by the Inner World that could ultimately aid their efforts at global domination…

To say more would be to rob others of the joy they will encounter when reading the book for themselves. (Or, as the kids these days are so fond of saying: "No spoilers!") Suffice it to say that the Jungle Lord and his companions find themselves in a thrilling adventure that would have had Old Burroughs himself cheering with the turning of each page. Eckert even manages to properly explain an incident depicted in one of ERB's later Pellucidar novels that many readers - Richard Lupoff and my late father among them - have long regarded as something of a "cheat" on the part of the Master of Adventure.

(Did I mention that Tarzan battles the Nazis? Take THAT, Hitler!)

Along the way there are references to other stories - some by ERB, some written by others - that add to the overall sense of fun and further cement the cohesive fictional universe that ERB (the first writer to do so) created when he had John Carter's nephew track down the evidence of Tarzan's existence before receiving that first message from David Innes and then discovering the bottle containing Bowen Tyler's account of his adventures on Caspak…

Like the previous book in the new "ERB Universe" series, "Battle For Pellucidar" is both an enjoyable adventure on its own AND the second chapter of a marvelously conceived, four-novel super-arc entitled "Swords of Eternity." And like the first volume in that super-arc - Matt Betts' wonderful "Carson of Venus: The Edge Of All Worlds" - this new book also includes a couple of special features that further build upon the larger story being told.

Mike Wolfer's contribution, a novelette entitled "Victory Harben: Clash On Caspak," puts the focus on the new ERB Universe character created for the super-arc and fills in some of the details that have thus far only been hinted at in the novels themselves. And there's a fun little surprise at the conclusion of the book - you might call it the literary equivalent of those post-end credit scenes in the Marvel Cinematic Universe films - that sets the stage for even greater adventures to come.

There is so very much more about this book that I want to say - but I fear I've rambled on for too long as it is and, as noted above, I really do want to avoid spoiling the fun for other readers. Suffice it to say that I heartily recommend "Tarzan: Battle For Pellucidar" to anyone who loves Edgar Rice Burroughs, has enjoyed the previous works of Win Scott Eckert, or is simply a fan of what they used to call "ripping good yarns."

Let me conclude by offering the following:

I have written in the past about how my father first introduced me to the works of Edgar Rice Burroughs when I was in the third grade. I will not rehash that memory again here - except to note that this was back in the fall of 1971, when what Lupoff and others have called the "Great Burroughs Boom" was still in full bloom. In the forty-nine years that have passed since then, my greatest desire as a reader has been to find authors who not merely remind me of Burroughs in terms of both style and substance, but actually seem to channel the Master to such an extent that it feels like I am reading ERB himself.

In all that time, I have been able to count on the fingers of just one hand the authors whose contributions to the Tarzan Mythos have had that kind of effect on me: Fritz Leiber, Philip José Farmer, Joe Lansdale and, now, Win Scott Eckert. (And we can expand that list ever-so-slightly by the inclusion of two writers who have contributed to the exploits of other ERB heroes besides Tarzan: Christopher Paul Carey and Matt Betts.)

I can think of no greater compliment.

[Ric · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love surprises in my reading.

That’s probably why fantastic fiction makes up the lion’s share of what I buy, what I read. I gravitate towards authors who show me all the cards in the deck, but then pull a card of a previously unknown suit and number from that same deck to wave under my nose. Philip Jose Farmer did this, Michael Moorcock plays the same magic, but the guy who first delighted me with it was Edgar Rice Burroughs.

One of Burroughs’ tales might introduce you to a lost baby, an English lord no less, who is brought up by apes. In the next you’d be reading about Southern gentleman who finds himself on Mars and basically conquers the planet. Then you might read of another adventurer who lands on Venus but was originally trying to get to Mars to check in on that previously mentioned Southern gentleman! And then you read a series of books about a prehistoric world at the center of our Earth, you discover that the third book in that series actually features (in its title no less) that first Lord of the Apes? Just three of a multitude of unexpected connections in Burroughs writing.

So when you’re looking for someone to continue the work that Burroughs began, to help create a new series of novels whose interconnectedness is a worthy addition and extension, who can you turn to? Who do you trust to deliver the story with the most connections so far, and stir them all up to create an amazing addition?

Win Scott Eckert is the obvious choice. He is the both the archeologist and architect of adventure connections, having written thousands of pages in his Crossovers: A Secret Chronology of the World, his contributions to the Tales of the Shadowmen volumes, his continuations of Philip Jose Farmer’s thinly veiled Doc Savage and Tarzan stories, and indeed additional related works too many to note here. Eckert has both the knowledge and obvious love of the subject matter to continue Burrough’s legacy.

So, with Tarzan: Battle for Pellucidar we’re promised an epic story, another voyage into the center of the Earth with Tarzan Lord of the Apes. Where do we start? Well, after a short foreshadowing scene in Pellucidar, we move to war-torn Southern Europe where a very familiar “man with piercing grey eyes” is acting as an English spy amidst the Nazi occupation.

Right off the bat, Tarzan fights Nazis. Does fantastic fiction get any better than that?

For many people, this location and activity will be a surprise. The popular vision of Tarzan is of the loincloth wearing Adonis, sounding his victory cry while swinging through the African jungle. But that’s just the classic movie Tarzan, a somewhat watered-down version of the much richer character. Eckert presents us with a Tarzan worthy of Burroughs. He is a true man-of-the world. Worlds even. Personable, worldly, well spoken, a quick and accurate judge of character, and someone able to make peace as well as war. But whose mannerisms successfully hide the savage jungle lord present and ready just beneath the surface.

Plus, did I mention we get chapters of Tarzan punching Nazis! Bonus! Yay!

OK, the early chapters are setup for Tarzan taking another trip to Pellucidar to fight another unexpected threat. To Tarzan, having made many such journeys, the World at the center of our world is almost like a summer home. But make no mistake, there is serious adventure getting there. And it’s no real surprise that we run into most of the heroes of Pellucidar during that excursion. There are even more familiar faces in the literal army Tarzan brings with him. Delightfully, one of these characters is a new addition to the Tarzan family, of whom I’ll say no more.

That’s as close to spoilers as I’m going to get. This story is too good, and the source of that goodness is all the wonderful surprises for both new and long-time readers. Tarzan: Battle for Pellucidar is wholly a surprising book. Beyond recalling and reinvigorating the familiar themes that Burroughs knitted into his stories, in many ways it surpasses them in the number of connections to earlier stories. And by turning it all “up to 11.”

If you want to hunt Easter eggs, this is the field you’re looking for. But even if you’re not, it’s still a great place to hang out for the sheer enjoyment of it all.

This is the second volume in the Swords of Eternity Super-Arc, planned out by ERB Universe Creative Directory Christopher Paul Carry. Two more volumes will follow. Although chronologically Tarzan: Battle for Pellucidar takes place years before Matt Betts’ Carson of Venus: The Edge of all Worlds, the story takes up some of that novel’s threads and intent, in a manner with which Doctor Who fans will feel quite at home.

And we get more Victory Harben, who we’ve seen featured in the bonus Novella in Bett’s novel, as a main character in Tarzan: Battle for Pellucidar. A native of Pellucidar, but educated in the United Kingdom, Victory is shaping up to be the “glue between this multiple-worlds narrative.” She appears in both the main story, and the accompanying novella. Her outing expands our view of the many worlds of Edgar Rice Burroughs, but actually introduces more mysteries than it solves. Indeed, it ends on a literal cliff hanger. She does, after all, have her own novel coming in our future.

All this connection talk may make you think that you really need to read all the supporting stories to make sense of what’s going on here, but nothing could be further from the truth. Tarzan: Battle for Pellucidar stands strongly on its own, a fully realized epic adventure that will keep you turning the pages to asking, “how are they going to get out of this one?” Sure, I’d advise making a few notes, especially on works called out in footnotes. You may want to add them to your “to read” list. But that’s only if you’re looking to explore deeper into the many worlds of Edgar Rice Burroughs. Like this book, which might have been titled Tarzan Party in Pellucidar, they contain an unexpected amount of fun!

Notes:
This review is written after having read an Advanced Reader Copy provided to yours truly in return for an unbiased and honest review.

More information on The Edgar Rice Burroughs Universe and additional upcoming novels in this series can be found at http://edgarriceburroughs.com/erbuniv...

[Sean · Rating 5 out of 5]

I greatly enjoyed the first new authorized novel set in the Edgar Rice Burroughs Universe, Matt Bett's Carson of Venus: The Edge of All Worlds, and I loved this second novel just as much. As someone who has been following Win Scott Eckert's literary career for years, I have watched him make his mark as a writer, and he never fails to impress me. He captures Burroughs' characters beautifully, while introducing new second-and-third-generation characters worthy to stand alongside their forebears. Victory (Von) Harben, previously seen in The Edge of All Worlds, also makes an appearance, years before that book. The action scenes are all exciting, and eagle-eyed Burroughs fans will spot many references to his work outside the Tarzan or Pellucidar series, as well as references to authorized adaptations and pastiches of those two series. These Easter Eggs are cool if you spot them, but don't bog the story down at all. And really, what's not to love about the idea of Tarzan fighting Nazis at the Earth's core? Mike Wolfer's bonus story is great too, continuing the "Sword of Eternity super-arc" running through the new ERBU novels. Chris Peuler's cover art is simply stunning. I will be seeking out more of his work. This is a superb book, worthy to stand alongside Burroughs' originals!

[Glen · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's World War II and Tarzan goes to Pellucidar to fight Nazis.

Unfortunately, he's a guest star in his own book, as his granddaughter takes up much of the narrative, and the daughter and son also have their own sub-plot.

I would have preferred a lot more Tarzan.

[Joel Jenkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Win Scott Eckert has the amazing ability to gather disparate elements and characters from various Edgar Rice Burroughs works and meld them into an engaging story. Really enjoyable.

[Rob Olsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

11/18/2020: I wrote this shortly after finishing the book over a period of a few days. I didn’t read other reviews and only once went back and skimmed the book to refresh my memory.
I am a serious long time Edgar Rice Burroughs (ERB) fan. Not a crazy super-fan but close to it. Burroughs created the best worlds ever. Barsoom being the best, Pellucidar next and then Tarzan’s Africa. I bought the Collectors Edition of this book directly from the ERB website. I read it between the second and fifteenth of November 2020. I read almost all of ERB’s original stories from mid 70’s to early 80’s. At that time I was between the ages of 12 to 18 yrs old. They were fantastic. They hit me at the right time and place. They are not children’s books, they were written for adults. I consider ERB to be my favorite author of all time because of the thrill and excitement his books gave me back when I was a teen. Since that time I have only re-read the Mars series (multiple times) and a couple of the Tarzan books. I’m in my mid 50’s now. I’ve read plenty of great authors since then and only Patrick O’Brian and Bernard Cornwell have come close to overtaking my number one favorite author spot.

My review for someone not familiar with Burroughs original Tarzan and Pellucidar stories: Four of five stars.

Battle for Pellucidar This is a fun and good book, you’ll enjoy it. It’s fun like going to a good action adventure movie, tons of cool stuff with dashes of unexpected violence.

SPOILER ALERT:
This book has it all…1943 WW2, Secret missions, Earth’s core, dinosaurs, Nazi’s, machine guns, submarines, lost civilizations, monster like men, smart alien like reptiles, air ships, mystery science, some good rated R action, spears, caves, underground creepy places, exploration, survival, chases, strong women heroes, and Tarzan.


My review for strong ERB fans: Five of five stars:
This is my very positive book review and critique but also my official thank you note to ERB Inc. Specifically I’m thankful for Christopher Paul Carey, the ERB Universe, and the ERB Authorized Library. I push this book review up from four stars to five stars because of giving me so much extra good ERB stuff in it besides just a fun story. By ‘extra stuff’ I’m referring to the ERB Universe tie-ins and Swords of Eternity super arc.

The main story: It’s very good. Did I get the same thrill as when I read ERB as a teenager? Answer: At times I did! I mentioned before that I read ERB’s original stories from mid 70’s to early 80’s. I have only re-read the Mars series since then and a couple of the Tarzan books.

SPOILER ALERT: Do not read this if you have not read the book. It might ruin it for you.
I feel Win Scott Eckert mimicked Burroughs style and pacing well. I can tell he knows the source material very well. Short chapters, cliff hangers, different intertwined story lines. The main three story lines are Tarzan’s, Suzanne’s, and Victory’s. The bad guys have a good story too. The book jumps from thread to thread with most chapters, lots of action and discovery. The story and writing are good. This book felt like an ERB book at first. Then it felt like a warm reunion of ERB characters. Then it proceeded into a mysterious adventure.

What’s new (and good in my opinion), Battle for Pellucidar had great new characters Suzanne and Victory and “Clash on Caspak” had See-Ta and Victory. All the characters were put in unique but ERB like situations. I really liked their plot lines, especially the one that involves Suzanne with Lordan.

The addition of fighting women heroes equivalent to the men is a great idea. It works in my modern mindset. I hang out with a lot of tough women.

There’s multiple tie-ins to ERB’s original works, the Earth’s Core series, the Tarzan series (eg. Opar) and others I don’t recall exactly now. The new expanded ERB universe elements are great. Has hints of connections to P. J. Farmer’s and C. P. Carey’s prior ERB spin off novels.
W. S. Eckert’s Tarzan is presented like the intelligent badass he is. That’s the way Burroughs wrote him. Eckert’s portrayal of Tarzan started great, but I feel that in the middle and end it got too busy trying to incorporate a lot of Tarzan type action. But on the other hand I liked that too. Maybe I felt this way because not long after I started reading the book I was laid off of work and I was stressed about that while reading the rest. So the rush of events and my stress detracted from my main goal, hang out with Tarzan in his element. I guess what I’m trying to say is that I really liked the opening Tarzan sequence.

ERB Universe and Swords of Eternity super arc:
I’ve met ERB Inc.’s Christopher Paul Cary, Jim Sullos, and Scott Tracy Griffin. I have a very favorable opinion of them and the company. I say all this so that anyone who reads my review will know my perspective and maybe get some of my positive energy for this book and series.

To me, a lifelong ERB fan, the ERB Universe and Swords of Eternity/Victory Harben super arc, is like candy. I never predicted this. In the past the ERB Inc. company has seemed very restrictive on allowing expansion of Burroughs material. I understood that but was disappointed. I never anticipated all this new material.

The Victory Harben super arc story line is great. I like the pace of the super arc story reveal. I’ve previously read the first book in the arc, Carson of Venus: Edge of All World upon it’s release, the American Mythology (that’s the company’s name) ERB comic books, watched the various live Zoom presentations by the ERB Universe creative team and just now read Tarzan: Battle for Pellucidar. All of this has many tie-ins, references, characters, places, an accurate timeline to ERB original works. Carson of Venus, Tarzan of the Apes, John Carter of Mars, Pellucidar are all involved. Just writing those names down is such a blast. I’m impatiently anticipating the next book in the series. It’ going to be a John Carter story, probably set on Barsoom/Mars, my favorite ERB world. These books are written and produced by authors with the same ERB passion I have. I’m really having a lot of fun anticipating where they are going with the super arc. My excitement in all this is increasing as details are revealed. It’s so much fun I never anticipated happening. It’s a treat.

Also wrapped up in this ERB publishing boom is the American Mythology’s ERB comics, some are tied to the super arc, all true to the ERB sources. I’m loving those as well. Mike Wolfer is behind those and I mention him here because at the back of Battle for Pellucidar is his novelette “Clash on Caspak”. Wow, he writes very well, his story was great. I don’t know if I was just in a good mood at the time I read his novelette but it ‘popped’. It’s got another female hero and she kicks ass. I would really like to see him write a full length ERB novel.

No conclusion, end of my review. Just wanted to get my thoughts out to say thanks to Matt Betts, Win Scott Eckert and ERB Inc.

Rob Olsen

[Chuck Loridans · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the Tarzan novel I've been waiting for since I was a young kid.

Tarzan has been my favorite adventure hero as far back as I can remember. Something is just so cool about guy who can win against an army of soldiers with guns, using only his hunting knife, bow and arrow, cunning and the help of his animal friends.

Having read through all of Edgar Rice Burroughs books, I'm always craving more. I loved Philip Jose Farmer, Joe Lansdale and Fritz Leiber's Tarzan Novels, but it's been decades since those came out.

Recent authors have written Tarzan books in the last five years or so, but none of them satisfied that itch. With the exception of Will Murray, I didn't feel the authors actually understood both the character and the huge fantasy universe (Created by Burroughs) that Tarzan existed in.

Win Scott Eckert perfectly understands both!

Tarzan and the Battle for Pellucidar, is written very cinematically. As I read, I felt like I was in the story. I could hear the sounds, feel the trees and experience it in total immersion.

The story is a grand adventure.
The battle and fight scenes are epic, and easily visualised as you read. The characters are deep and fully fleshed.

It's all great fun. There were no parts where I was looking ahead, wondering how many pages were left, because of boredom. There WAS no boredom.

When Eckert gets into a scene where people are discussing things, it never lags, and always shoes keen insight into the human condition.

Eckert is also very careful to never go against the continuity of anything Burroughs has established, which is quite a task, considering it a literary universe spanning hundreds of books, which began over a hundred years ago.

This has not seemed to put up roadblocks in his ability to tell the story he wants to tell.

Eckert has added fascinating new characters into the Edgar Rice Burroughs Universe canon with this novel that feel like they've always belonged there. I sincerely hope to see them in future stories.

One complaint I see among young readers, concerning characters like Tarzan, is there is a lot of uncomfortable, racist aspects to them. Especially concerning Africa and it's history.
Eckert wisely chose to place this adventure in a fantasy, "Weird World" setting that avoids all those racist tropes. My favorite books in the Tarzan series were always about him voyaging to a lost city, filled with the descendants of a lost legion of Romans or something similar, usually getting thrown into a dungeon and emerging victorious, after beating up and humiliating a bunch of aristocratic white people!

In this book he fights NAZIS.... RIDING DINOSAURS!!!

I could not be happier with this book. It satisfies ten year old me and Fifty Five year old me.

Seriously!!!.. Tarzan fighting dinosaur riding Nazis?!!!!! How could you NOT want to read it.

An added bonus in the book is the short story "Victory Harbin: Clash in Casbak" by Mike Wolfer.

This story takes place in the land of Casbak from Edgar Rice Burrough's "Land that Time Forgot" series.

It's a rip roaring adventure featuring two women.
One a woman of color, in the Indiana Jones/Lara Croft genre, teaming with a bow and arrow wielding cavewoman in a battle with strange creatures in a pre-historic world.

Very well written, never boring.

This story, along with the main take, are connected to a larger story arc that is running through the new ERB Universe novels being published.

They are all great stand alone stories, but you can tell they are leading up to something huge and epic!

If you are a fan of high adventure.... Especially Tarzan and other Edgar Rice Burroughs stories... I highly recommend this book!!!!

[David Mann · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the 1960s I, and thousands of teenage boys my age probably, became captivated with the works of Edgar Rice Burroughs. At the time the bookstore shelves were full of the Ace and Ballantine paperback reprints of his books, with wonderful colorful covers by Roy Krenkel, Frank Frazetta, and Robert Abbett. Now, 60 years later, presumably many of the copyrights have expired, but Edgar Rice Burroughs, Inc. keeps the works alive, and is actively adding to the Burroughs canon, via comics and new novels. "Tarzan: Battle for Pellucidar" is one such novel, accompanied by a related short story. Win Scott Eckert is a literary heir to Phillip Jose Farmer, whose Wold Newton hypothesis manages to tie together the lineages of not only Tarzan and Doc Savage, but also virtually every fictional character that exists, from Arsène Lupin to Captain Nemo. Eckert expanded this genealogy, and was a natural choice to author this crossover novel involving Tarzan and the inner world of Pellucidar.
Burroughs' series of novels were the first or one of the first to feature a self-contained, consistent science-fiction universe. This is evident from the prequel to this book, Burroughs' own "Tarzan at the Earth's Core." For the first time Tarzan of Africa has adventures in Pellucidar and we realize that Tarzan's world and David Innes' world are in the same universe. Eckert goes one step further, starting the tale in the eastern European country of Lutha (from "The Mad King") and introducing several descendants of the of Tarzan clan and of other characters from previous books, along with the return of Jason Gridley, of Gridley Wave fame. Throw in some Nazis, a resurgence of the pterodactyl-like, human-eating Mahars, a new O-220 zeppelin, and a lot more into the mix, and things get pretty entertaining.

There are some mysteries left unsolved, which are perhaps less mysterious if you are familiar with PJF's Tarzan related writings. And one continues to wonder how that giant hole in the Earth's crust near the North Pole remains unknown to this day. Such things were fanciful even in Burroughs' day, though maybe still possibly believable given the extent of the world that was unexplored at the time. In today's era of Google Earth, it is only our love of the characters and of the settings that allows us to suspend disbelief. If you, like I, were hooked on Burroughs at a young age, this novel will bring back memories of those halcyon days when there was nothing better than curling up in a chair with a newly minted Ace book (only 40 cents!) from ERB.

[Tim Deforest · Rating 5 out of 5]

A volume of the new Edgar Rice Burroughs Universe series--novels approved by ERB, Inc to be an official part of the Burroughs Canon. In other words, adventures that "really" happened to Tarzan, John Carter and other Burroughsian heroes.

I would have no problem considering this novel to be a "real" part of that universe. The author does a great job of portraying Tarzan appropriately as an intelligent and educated man who is also completely at home in the jungle and able to out-fight just about anyone.

And the premise of the novel is wonderful. Set during World War II, Tarzan and several other of Burroughs' characters lead an expedition to Pellucidar, the world beneath the Earth's core. They need to deal with a Nazi excursion to that some world. In fact, the Nazis have teamed up with the Mahars, the intelligent, telepathic pterodactyls who were the villains of the first two Pellucidar novels.

All you have to say to me is "Nazis in Pellucidar" and I'll scream "Shut up and take my money!" at you.

What follows is an exciting story in which the point-of-view shifts between several characters at cliffhanger moments--the same technique that Burroughs often used in the original novels. There are battles, escapes and plot twists aplenty. I especially enjoyed the chapters featuring Tarzan's granddaughter Suzanne, who proves to be as brave and capable as both Tarzan and her father Korak. But my favorite part is probably when Tarzan takes out a half-dozen Nazis despite the fact that the Nazis carried submachine guns and were riding dinosaurs. It's would be difficult to get more cool than that.

Aside from Suzanne, the other important new character is Victory Harben, the daughter of a character from one of the original Tarzan novels. Victory, as I understand it, will be a key character in a story arc that will run through the various ERB Universe novels. I think this novel is our introduction to her and she does play an important part in resolving this particular adventure. It's obvious that her character arc and a few unsolved mysteries are setting up future stories, but this is woven into the main plot seemlessly enough so as to not feel out of place.

[Glen Held · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book. Action! Adventure! Drama! This book had it all. I don’t want to say too much about the plot and it’s various twists and turns, but I will say it used many of ERB’s characters and places Long time fans of ERB - of which I’m one - will definitely not be disappointed as this is an exemplary addition to the Edgar Rice Burroughs cannon.

[Mac · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a young pulp fan, I’ve found myself both really enjoying and keeping a watchful eye on the development of the Swords of Eternity Super-Arc. The series represents more than just a continuance in the ERB narrative and more distinctly the Tarzan narrative. To me, it has also been a litmus test for future developments in the pulp world going forward. As many avid pulp readers know, the genre continues to struggle in finding new ground amongst the modern world, despite being the arena of literature that has arguably influenced American culture and narrative formation the most- goodness knows pulp set the bar for tropes and archetypes in western media. As such, the Swords of Eternity Super-Arc is not merely just a sequel in a long line of Tarzan/ERB books- it’s the dusky beginnings of a new era in pulp, ushered forth through the estate of one of the genre’s forefathers. I for one am quite excited to witness this revival.

The novel starts off strong, continuing ERB’s narrative trend of convincing the reader that these characters do indeed exist. Personally, I love this trend- not only is it immersive, but it is quite authentic to the pulp genre in totality as well. I enjoyed watching Victory’s backstory get woven into the plot of the novel, as we learn more about who she is and the world/family she is coming from. No, Victory is no token female character created only for the purpose of diversity as some reviewers continue to argue- she’s a fully flushed out independent protagonist who continues to become an active heroine in her own right. While I enjoyed the story’s plotline on its own, I appreciated learning more about Victory and watching her character develop canonically before her main novel’s later debut.

Eckert, like Bett’s earlier novel, is effortlessly true to the style of ERB. The story’s imagery and ambiance seems to come alive around the reader. Notably, Eckert adds dashes of commentary and witty self-awareness within the plotline and characters- and element of classic pulp I’m living to see carried on in the Swords of Eternity arc. Too many pulp novels forget the importance of banter and comedy- but Eckert shines in his character’s dynamics.

On that note, I was pleasantly happy to see Tarzan developing as more of a ‘family man’. On the contrary to prior criticisms, the development makes complete sense. Not only has Tarzan grown with his family for many decades now, but he’s also come face to face with extensive wars and damage of the 1900s canonically- of course he would hold on tight to his family while dutifully protecting the ones he loves. Is that not one of the heroic aspects of Tarzan that readers have loved the most throughout history? In this vein of thought, I loved watching the Clayton family develop, and even as a reader I felt at home amongst their world. I adored seeing Korak and Meriem in the plotline (I will consistently go on rants about how I’d love to see more Meriem) as well as Jana and Jane. I alas would have loved to see more of our Lady Greystoke/Clayton in the plotline, but I deeply appreciate the Jane-authored letter sent out with limited addition copies of the book- quite immersive as an experience! I loved watching Eric von Harben and Gretchen von Harben re-enter the narrative (and help contextualize Victory’s story more in doing so) and the expertly named Frederich Wilhelm Eric von Mendeldorf und von Horst (got to love ERB getting paid by the word to originate that name!). Finally, I was ecstatic to see some Murivro mentions as well! I’m glad the cannon has not forgotten about our dutiful Waziri warrior.

A standout character in the novel for me was Suzanne, and I loved watching her generally kick major Mahar butt and conduct some well-deserved antagonizing of Nazis. Suzanne taking on a Nazi discussing the insanity of Aryan racism was a personal favorite scene of mine, and I think it added a breath of needed antiracism to the Tarzan cannon. This continued to be a thoughtfully carried out and appreciated theme throughout the novel as well.

I loved learning more about Opar’s relations to Interius Thule, especially the connections between Queen Yarla and La. I was excited to see some mention of La at the end of the novel- as a fan of the Tarzan originals, I do hope we’ll be seeing her in the arc at some point beyond just the Khokarsa series. I was excited to hear more development on Atlantis and the cannon’s theories about Opar’s (and now Pellucidar’s!) relations to the lost city. The cultural and anthropological thought put into the narrative was noticeable and appreciated.

In totality, Eckert’s novel is a welcomed contribution to the new ERB arc and shows great promise for the future of the Tarzan cannon, debuting some miraculous modernization. It is well developed and has an uncanny ability to cater to both the traditional fans of the series as well as new readers. With a younger generation that craves modernization, representation, and diversification of literary media, Eckert shows that there is a future for the Tarzan literary cannon that meets the desires of today’s young readers.

[Matthew Moran · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tarzan: Battle for Pellucidar
(Swords of Eternity 2)
By Win Scott Eckert

Tarzan; Battle for Pellucidar published by Edgar Rice Burroughs Inc. is the second book of the New ERB Universe and part of a four story arc called the Swords of Eternity. All in all not a bad reintroduction of Tarzan to the modern reader.
The setting of the story is World War II with Nazi’s having discovered the world of Pellucidar which resides in the hollow earth. Viewers of Godzilla vs. Kone got to see a visualization of this concept since that section of the movie relied heavily on Burroughs' vision of a hollow earth. Part of the esoteric beliefs of the Nazi hierarchy espicailly Himmler also believed in a possibility of a hollow earth and ordered expeditions to discover the openings.
Pellucidar is a prehistoric land created by ERB in 1913 and published in 1914 as At the Earth’s Core, long before Himmler considered the notion. Although many of Burrough’s books had subtle crossovers, the thirteenth book in the Tarzan series was a direct crossover- Taran at the Earth’s Core.
Which brings us to Tarzan: Battle for Pellucidar and to Tarzan returning to the land of always day. Eckert does a good job referencing earlier material while not making the reader reliant on knowledge of the earlier books. Walking a fine line between alienating long time fans and confusing new readers, Eckert does a good job of giving enough information for each character including Tarzan. Also the audience doesn’t have to be familiar with the first book in the story arc, Carson of Venus: The Edge of All Worlds to enjoy the story. A reader of the first book is rewarded by plot lines that tie directly into the overall story arc and provide deeper insight.
The story is fast paced with characterization being superficial. The main action focuses on Tarzan, his granddaughter Suzanne and Victory Von Harben. The latter two being introduced in the story arc. There are some comics telling the story of Victory Harben so I should say this is their prose introduction. The author captures the feel of an ERB book while nodding to modern sensibilities.
Criticism of the books has been that Win Scott Eckert relies too heavily on the Wode Newton Concepts created by Philip Jose Farmer. While that is true to an extent, a casual reader would not even notice that some of those ideas are present.
My verdict is that it is a good action story hitting upon the elements of a good ERB book. While some critics will argue the merits of canon or not canon, they seem to miss the point that it is a good jumping on point for a new reader. If the new reader is intrigued by the worlds of Edgar Rice Burroughs, Tarzan and Pellucidar, Eckert gives enough reference for the reader to explore more this great author’s work

Victory Harben: Clash on Caspak
By Mike Wolfer

This short story in the back of the book is a direct part of the super arc- Swords of Eternity. The story continues the tale of Victory Harben and Jason Gridley’s travels through unknown and uncontrollable means through the ERB Universe. In this tale Victory and the reader are introduced to the land of Caspak, introduced originally in Edgar Rice Burroughs The Land that Time Forgot. Wolfer’s main task here is to acquaint the reader with Caspak and it’s similarities to Pellucidar while furthering the mystery of Victory’s travels. Wolfer does a good job although a new reader will be a little lost not having read the first Swords of Eternity book and the seasoned reader is purposefully left with questions to keep them reading.

[Derek McCaw · Rating 4 out of 5]

The myth of the jungle lord of “deepest, darkest Africa” doesn’t quite have a place in 2020, and even he knows it. Win Scott Eckert, working with the blessing of Edgar Rice Burroughs, Inc., may not lean heavily on that point, but he does the best thing he can do to make Tarzan work for modern audiences. Battle for Pellucidar references Africa, but places Lord Greystoke firmly working for the Allies in World War II. He battles a Nazi scheme that takes him from the wilds of Europe to California and, inevitably, Pellucidar, the lost world at the center of the Earth (maybe).

Even then, Eckert has Tarzan share the focus with his granddaughter, almost his equal, and possibly a more interesting character for new readers. Since Tarzan is one of those characters most people recognize in broad strokes, reminding and focusing on his extended family is an important touch. There’s more to the mythos than Disney or Johnny Weissmuller gave him. There’s plenty of Tarzan being that Tarzan here, but also plenty of the calculating, heroic intellect that most people don’t know the character has.

But this is also part of the Edgar Rice Burroughs “super-arc,” Swords of Eternity. The key character tying it all together is the one created for this series, Victory Harben, who gets much more to do here than in the previous book, Carson of Venus: The Edge of All Worlds. Here we get a younger Victory, still a child but already with the spirit that Matt Betts and Christopher Paul Carey showed her to have as a young woman.

Here Eckert lays out what makes this super-arc so fun, even if you aren’t familiar with the Burroughs characters. Reading the series, we’re not encountering Victory in chronological order as she explores the ERB Universe. And Eckert provides footnotes and references to other adventures, hopefully spurring new readers to check out more of it. The novel takes readers to Pellucidar, a place Tarzan had gone when Burroughs wrote him. But it also has a separate series, beginning with the best-known title, At the Earth’s Core. Eckert sows the seeds for readers to jump around this universe as much as Victory does. All the while, Battle for Pellucidar is exactly what it should be: a non-stop adventure, encountering bizarre creatures, clear morality, and new worlds.

The more mature Victory takes center stage in the back-up novella (really, a nice touch from Burroughs’ pulpy origins, though on much finer stock), Clash on Caspak. That’s better known as The Land That Time Forgot, and writer Mike Wolfer gets to reveal clues as to who or what is messing with Victory and her mentor Jason Gridley. It’s a fun story, too, with further notice served that this project also intends to evolve characters’ attitudes and understandings to better reflect modern tastes — though Victory was ripped from Pellucidar in 1950.

On a personal note, Tarzan: Battle for Pellucidar was just what I needed to read during a difficult time — Tarzan fighting Nazis is uncomplicated and necessary.

Note: I was given an ARC, but due to that above difficult time, I was only able to finish it this morning.

[Atom Bezecny · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's hard for me to pick my favorite aspect of Win Scott Eckert's Tarzan: Battle for Pellucidar. The most important detail, surely, is the precision with which the character of Tarzan *as Burroughs intended him* is captured, as this is no easy feat. Though this fact is more commonly known than it once was, the literary Tarzan is not the same as the often-clumsy brute of the Johnny Weissmuller films. Instead, his greatest weapon is arguably his brain, which is soulful, educated, and self-aware. With this in mind, Battle for Pellucidar initially sees the Jungle Lord placed in a situation befitting James Bond, and not a hair of this early sequence is out of place. This book finds Tarzan fitting seamlessly into the "civilized" world of the 1940s, and yet it is still plain to see that he is and always be the Lord of the Trees. The character functions well in such diverse climes because of the humanity imbued in him by Burroughs and the authors who followed him--though I have to say Eckert's handling of the character deserves special attention for how well it's all realized. It's not just Tarzan who ends up feeling like a real person: the entire cast each has a distinct voice and personality, which really brings the world to life. This book is a lot of things--an action-adventure extravaganza, a crossover of cosmic proportions, a love letter to the entirety of Edgar Rice Burroughs' works--but perhaps most importantly, it proves once and for all that Tarzan is alive and well.

Of course, the backup short story, Mike Wolfer's "Clash on Caspak," is extremely entertaining as well. This segment of the ERB Universe's overarching plotline sees the new hero Victory Harben (a critical part of the main novel) land on Burroughs' dinosaur-infested island of Caspak. The inner earth of Pellucidar is full of dinosaurs, so there are quite a few dinosaurs in this book. However, this is, to me, the opposite of a bad thing--indeed, if every piece of fiction had dinosaurs in them in some way, the world would be a better place to live. Victory is extremely cool and I look forward to her own book at the end of this series. A great novel plus a great short story makes for a stupendous volume. Take a look.

[Anthony Kapolka · Rating 5 out of 5]

Battle for Pellucidar is an ensemble novel of epic scope and doesn't limit itself to focusing on a single character - even if the title might suggest otherwise. While some might prefer a longer engagement with each individual, this breadth is necessary for the story being told, and telegraphed, given its ERB Universe branding. No better author than Win Scott Eckert (who wrote the book on Crossovers) could have been chosen to pull this off. As a novel, the plot is engaging and the presentation is sometimes surprising - Eckert's use of flash-forward caught me off-guard.

Eckert etches reverent lines here between subtle elements of Burroughs' novels, something attentive fans will appreciate, but no extensive Burroughs knowledge is needed - the book is still a great read (even if you've skipped the first volume in this 'super-arc'). New readers are oriented to the obvious canon by footnote references. And I like the strong female characters: Suzanne Clayton, Victory Harben. This need not startle. Burroughs wrote of few weak women, rather, if anything, they only seemed secondary because he positioned overwhelming odds against them. Now, we're just being given a fuller picture. This is the sort of book I'll recommend to both my nephews and my nieces.

[Norman Cook · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eckert captures the style of Burroughs very well, while also modernizing it. This is a fun romp with several established characters plus a couple of excellent new characters, namely Tarzan's granddaughter Suzanne and the young Victory Harben (Burroughs's books are deficient in female protagonists, so it's good to see more of them). Pellucidar is my favorite Burroughs setting, and this book expands this world in exciting ways. Of course, you can't go wrong with making Nazis the villains. Although this is the second book of the Edgar Rice Burroughs Universe series, it takes place before the events of the first book, Carson of Venus: The Edge of All Worlds. Even though it is part of a series, this book is self-contained, although with clues and easter eggs for future stories. The narrator, John McLain, does a very good job, especially with different accents and intonations to depict each character--and it helps to play on 1.5x speed. The bonus novelette by Mike Wolfer continues to expand Victory Harben's role in the grander scheme of things, but is not long enough to really do much more than tease future books.

[Mick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent continuation of the Tarzan legacy. Highly recommend!!!

[Kenneth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was better than most of the Burroughs pastiches that ERB inc has been putting out, and much better than the first of this crossover series. Unlike the first book, that revolved around Carson of Venus, and had all the weaknesses of the original series, this book centers around Tarzan and his further adventures in Pellucidar.

The book wastes a lot of time throwing old characters at us and setting up Tarzan's journey via Airship, to Pellucidar. We see Tarzan as a WWII op, bringing in a completely unnecessary Nazi character. We get to see the Airship facility and meet a ton of unnecessary characters from the old days. Tarzan has some perfunctory adventures in the Inner World, that while not riveting, aren't half bad.

There are bits with new character Victory Harben which, while a little tacked on, aren't bad. The bit that carries the book is the arc with Suzanne, Tarzan's granddaughter. As a rule, the new characters seem much more interesting than the old ones. The plot dealing with Victory and her involuntary jumps around the ERBverse are more interesting than the other stuff. But generally, even the unnecessary bits that feel like wasting time aren't bad.

Is it nostalgia that bumps it from three to four stars, or just that it is so much better than the Carson book that came before? It's one of those. Still, it kept me going and I'll finish this series out. I trust Carey with the fourth book, and Victory is the most interesting thing going here, and that will get me past the Mars book no matter how bad.

I really do hope they find their feet and pull off this shared universe idea. It has always had potential.

[Jeff J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent mashup of the Tarzan & Pellucidar series by Burroughs.

[Paul McNamee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Win Scott Eckert's TARZAN: BATTLE FOR PELLUCIDAR is everything you could want. A new tale with an old friend. New characters. Dinosaurs, hollow Earth, monsters, and mysteries. The best way I can describe it is that the tale is true to the ERB characters but with a new tone. That makes sense--only ERB wrote like ERB. I felt like this was akin to reading, say, a John Gardner 1980s James Bond novel after reading the original Ian Fleming novels. (that is *not* a negative criticism. I've enjoyed the few Gardner 007 stories I've read.)

I am looking forward to more ERB Universe stories.

[Chuck Loridans · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Tarzan novel I've been waiting for!!!

This is the Tarzan novel I've been waiting for since I was a young kid.

Tarzan has been my favorite adventure hero as far back as I can remember. Something is just so cool about guy who can win against an army of soldiers with guns, using only his hunting knife, bow and arrow, cunning and the help of his animal friends.

Having read through all of Edgar Rice Burroughs books, I'm always craving more. I loved Philip Jose Farmer, Joe Lansdale and Fritz Leiber's Tarzan Novels, but it's been decades since those came out.

Recent authors have written Tarzan books in the last five years or so, but none of them satisfied that itch. With the exception of Will Murray, I didn't feel the authors actually understood both the character and the huge fantasy universe (Created by Burroughs) that Tarzan existed in.

Win Scott Eckert perfectly understands both!

Tarzan and the Battle for Pellucidar, is written very cinematically. As I read, I felt like I was in the story. I could hear the sounds, feel the trees and experience it in total immersion.

The story is a grand adventure.
The battle and fight scenes are epic, and easily visualised as you read. The characters are deep and fully fleshed.

It's all great fun. There were no parts where I was looking ahead, wondering how many pages were left, because of boredom. There WAS no boredom.

When Eckert gets into a scene where people are discussing things, it never lags, and always shoes keen insight into the human condition.

Eckert is also very careful to never go against the continuity of anything Burroughs has established, which is quite a task, considering it a literary universe spanning hundreds of books, which began over a hundred years ago.

This has not seemed to put up roadblocks in his ability to tell the story he wants to tell.

Eckert has added fascinating new characters into the Edgar Rice Burroughs Universe canon with this novel that feel like they've always belonged there. I sincerely hope to see them in future stories.

One complaint I see among young readers, concerning characters like Tarzan, is there is a lot of uncomfortable, racist aspects to them. Especially concerning Africa and it's history.
Eckert wisely chose to place this adventure in a fantasy, "Weird World" setting that avoids all those racist tropes. My favorite books in the Tarzan series were always about him voyaging to a lost city, filled with the descendants of a lost legion of Romans or something similar, usually getting thrown into a dungeon and emerging victorious, after beating up and humiliating a bunch of aristocratic white people!

In this book he fights NAZIS.... RIDING DINOSAURS!!!

I could not be happier with this book. It satisfies ten year old me and Fifty Five year old me.

Seriously!!!.. Tarzan fighting dinosaur riding Nazis?!!!!! How could you NOT want to read it.

An added bonus in the book is the short story "Victory Harbin: Clash in Casbak" by Mike Wolfer.

This story takes place in the land of Casbak from Edgar Rice Burrough's "Land that Time Forgot" series.

It's a rip roaring adventure featuring two women.
One a woman of color, in the Indiana Jones/Lara Croft genre, teaming with a bow and arrow wielding cavewoman in a battle with strange creatures in a pre-historic world.

Very well written, never boring.

This story, along with the main take, are connected to a larger story arc that is running through the new ERB Universe novels being published.

They are all great stand alone stories, but you can tell they are leading up to something huge and epic!

If you are a fan of high adventure.... Especially Tarzan and other Edgar Rice Burroughs stories... I highly recommend this book!!!!

[Chris Adams · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Tarzan: Battle for Pellucidar," by Win Scott Eckert, is the second release in the "Edgar Rice Burroughs Universe" series and part of what ERB Inc calls "the Swords of Eternity super-arc."

Each novel focuses on one of Edgar Rice Burroughs's (ERB's) main characters, with Battle for Pellucidar featuring Tarzan of the Apes. The story is set in Pellucidar, ERB's version of the hollow Earth.

Battle for Pellucidar resonated with me as a fan of Tarzan at the Earth's Core, which I consider to be one of ERB's strongest Tarzan novels, taking Tarzan out of his beloved Africa and dropping him into ERB's hollow Earth where cave men and dinosaurs and other things you might not know about roar and roam.

In Battle for Pellucidar, Tarzan and his team, carried into the inner Earth on the airship O-220, attempt to stop a team of Nazis from discovering and leveraging a super weapon, rumored to exist there in a mythical outpost city of lost Atlantis. In smooth prose, Win expertly carries us through his rapidly advancing plot towards a savage throw down, with one adventurous, nail-biting encounter after another.

Everything I love about Pellucidar is in here, but that isn't all. Win also develops a new character in the form of Suzanne Clayton, Tarzan’s grand-daughter, who is an absolute delight to read. She's adventurous, and witty, and gutsy.

Knitting the story to the ERBU series is Victory Harben (daughter of Gretchen von Harben from Tarzan and the Tarzan Twins), and her god-father, Jason Gridley.

Further cementing the novel in the super-arc is the short story Victory Harben: Clash on Caspak, by Mike Wolfer. Mike's version of Caspak is riveting and his Wieroos are flat out creepy. Mike does such a great job I found myself wishing Clash on Caspak was a full length novel. No worries, Mike has a full length Caspak novel coming shortly.

In summary, Tarzan: Battle for Pellucidar is a killer novel, as is the short story, Victory Harben: Clash on Caspak. Great job Win and Mike!

[Dale · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tarzan Battle for Pellucidar by Win Scott Eckert

Group Captain John Clayton, Tarzan of the Apes, has been on a secret mission to bring a Nazi deserter, one Dr. Erhard Drescher, to Pellucidar. There, it is said, Henrich Himmler has sent an expedition seeking Ultima Thule, a supposed Ayran city built by the last of the people of Atlantis, the people the Germans believed were the true master race they were seeking.

Meanwhile in Pellucidar, a golden city has surfaced where men with Nazi symbols seem allied with the dread Mahars. And Tarzan’s granddaughter Suzanne has been taken prisoner by a group of savages called Gorbuses, albino cannibals who seem by their talk to have once been serial killers…
This story is a wild ride, to say the least. The new characters that are introduced are well-written and fit into the worlds of Edgar Rice Burroughs well. There were some minor things I didn’t really care for, such as the reincarnation thing, but I can see where the idea came from. I just felt it didn’t add to the worlds that were already there so much.

The rest of the story is good, action, animals, fighting, cities, Mahars, seascapes, landscapes, etc. The story has always been that Pellucidar is vast and much of it unexplored. Maybe stories should open it up a little.

I will give the book four stars.

Quoth the Raven…