Tarzan Alive
The only detailed, publicly circulated, chronology that I know of is by Philip Jose Farmer. It can be found in Addendum five in Tarzan Alive. I do not recommend it to anyone who wants to remain consistent with Burroughs' Tarzan series. Phil Farmer, who is an originalist, is not writing about Burroughs' Tarzan, but instead about the true-life man that Burroughs based the series on.
Tarzan Alive
The only other published chronologies are by Burroughs' researchers and fans, which have been printed throughout the various fanzines. Unfortunately, space is limited in fanzines, so therefore, the articles are limited as to how much can be covered in one sitting. Many of the short articles deal with the chronological sequence of the novels themselves. Others deal with the actual barriers that confront a Tarzan chronology. All are quite good and stimulating, but often the researchers have slightly different opinions. Most of the fanzines have also grown quite scarce and are near impossible to obtain by the general reader.
Tarzan Alive
It has been the belief of many Burroughs fans that a broadly excepted detailed chronology of the Tarzan series is impossible. Because of numerous conflicting statements, I can understand why it would be very difficult, but I can not agree with the impossible. I do agree that any serious Tarzan chronology should be presented to a group of Burroughs researchers in step-by-step articles for testing before any attempts are made to mass publish.
A Chrono-log Of ERB's Tarzan Series
If an individual, or a secluded group, writes a Tarzan chronology there are bound to be personal errors and debatable subject matter in some areas. Once mass published and the mistakes are pointed out by other researchers the chronology then loses its main objective. That is being a truthful chronology based upon the information provided by Burroughs.
1872 Greystoke Chronology
If a chronology is presented to a group of researchers for testing before mass publication, there is time for the author to debate the main issues and make corrections. In this manner when the chronology is published, it is bound to be excepted by the majority of Burroughs fans.
The Burroughs Bulletin #10 |
Tarzine #25 |
ERB-dom #18 |
I would like to make a friendly challenge to these three gentlemen, as well as all ERB-APA members. In issue #10 I would like for each of you to provide the date you believe Tarzan was born. Then in issue #11, any who cares can explain why they believe it is that date. I would almost bet anything that John F. Roy and Alan Hanson do not offer the same date provided by Phillip Jose Farmer.
ERB-APA #99
About The Author
James Michael Moody is a lifelong fan and collector of Edger Rice Burroughs. Moody has contributed over two hundred articles to various ERB-related fanzines, over a span of forty-five years. He also manages an unauthorized Tarzan blog titled, Greystoke Chronologist: James Michael Moody. There the researcher chronologies the Tarzan books starting in May 1872 (known as the pushback theory) instead of the more excepted date May 1888.
James Michael Moody is also the author of the action-packed Sci-Fi fantasy adventure Unium series. Pioneers On Unium, published December 31, 2019, and Exiled On Unium, published August 25, 2022. Swordsman On Unium is going through the publishing process.
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