Tarzan books in order

Philip Jose Farmer's Tarzan works include biographical studies and an authorized novel set in the Tarzan universe.

Reading order

# Title Published Author Buy on Amazon
1 Tarzan Alive 1972 Philip José Farmer Buy
2 Doc Savage 1973 Philip José Farmer Buy
3 Tarzan and the Dark Heart of Time 1999 Philip José Farmer Buy

Philip Jose Farmer’s Tarzan works reflect his lifelong fascination with Edgar Rice Burroughs’ creation. Tarzan Alive (1972) is a mock-biography that treats Tarzan as a real historical figure, tracing his life through the Burroughs novels and connecting him to the Wold Newton family tree. The companion volume Doc Savage (1973) does the same for that character.

Tarzan and the Dark Heart of Time (1999) is an authorized novel set in the Tarzan universe, written late in Farmer’s career. It represents a full-circle moment for an author who had spent decades writing about and around Burroughs’ most famous character.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many books are in the Tarzan series?

There are three books in the Tarzan series, published between 1972 and 1999.

What is the first book in the Tarzan series?

The first book in the Tarzan series is Tarzan Alive, published in 1972.

Is Tarzan Alive a novel or a biography?

Tarzan Alive (1972) is written as a mock-biography, treating Tarzan as a real person and attempting to construct his ’true’ life story from the Burroughs novels and historical records. It is a key text in Farmer’s Wold Newton family concept.

Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. We may receive commissions for purchases made through links on this site.

Privacy Policy