''The Dark Heart of Time: A Tarzan novel'' is a novel by American writer

Philip José Farmer Philip José Farmer (January 26, 1918 – February 25, 2009) was an American author known for his science fiction and fantasy novels and short stories. Obituary. Farmer is best known for his sequences of novels, especially the ''World of Tiers ...

, authorized by

Edgar Rice Burroughs, Inc. Edgar Rice Burroughs, Inc. is an American holding company founded in 1923 by author Edgar Rice Burroughs. It is based in Tarzana, California. The company holds the rights to the literary works of Burroughs that are still protected by copyright (a ...

Published in 1999, the book was first announced under the title ''Tarzan's Greatest Secret'' in 1997. A 2018 reissue of the novel marked the book's first hardcover edition, and was retitled ''Tarzan and the Dark Heart of Time''.

Plot

Set in October 1918—during Tarzan's search for Jane—the novel takes place between ''

Tarzan the Untamed ''Tarzan the Untamed'' is a book by American writer Edgar Rice Burroughs, the seventh in his series of twenty-four books about the title character Tarzan. It was originally published as two separate stories serialized in different pulp magazines; ...

'' and ''

Tarzan the Terrible ''Tarzan the Terrible'' is a novel by American writer Edgar Rice Burroughs, the eighth in his series of twenty-four books about the title character Tarzan. It was first published as a serial in the pulp magazine '' Argosy All-Story Weekly'' in ...

''. The novel's antagonist is James D. Stonecraft, an American oil magnate who believes that Tarzan knows the secret of immortality. Stonecraft hires hunters to track and capture Tarzan for the secret, leading to conflicts at the "City Built by God" and the "Crystal Tree of Time". Through all of the adventure Tarzan is focused on escaping his pursuers so that he may return to his search for his wife.

Other Tarzan stories by Farmer

Before ''The Dark Heart of Time'', Philip José Farmer wrote a number of books based to some extent on Tarzan. * '' Time's Last Gift'' (1972) being a time travel story, the novel is both an unauthorized sequel to the entire Tarzan series, and a prequel to the authorized Khokarsa series. * '' Tarzan Alive: A Definitive Biography of Lord Greystoke'' (1972/2006) * ''

The Adventure of the Peerless Peer ''The Adventure of the Peerless Peer'' is a 1974 adventure pastiche novel written by Philip Jose Farmer, writing as Dr. John H. Watson, about the meeting of Sherlock Holmes and Tarzan Tarzan (John Clayton II, Viscount Greystoke) is a fictiona ...

'' (1974) an unauthorized work in which Tarzan meets Sherlock Holmes. * Khokarsa series, novels authorized by ERB, Inc. set in Tarzan's Africa 10,000 years ago. ** ''

Hadon of Ancient Opar ''Hadon of Ancient Opar'' is a fantasy novel by American writer Philip José Farmer, first published in paperback by DAW Books in April 1974, and reprinted three times through 1983. The first British edition was published by Magnum in 1977; it wa ...

'' (1974) ** ''

Flight to Opar ''Flight to Opar'' is a fantasy novel by American writer Philip José Farmer, first published in paperback by DAW Books in June 1976, and reprinted twice through 1983. The first British edition was published by Magnum in 1977; it was reprinted b ...

'' (1976) * The ''Secrets of the Nine'' series, an alternative interpretation of Tarzan and

Doc Savage Doc Savage is a fictional character of the competent man hero type, who first appeared in American pulp magazines during the 1930s and 1940s. Real name Clark Savage Jr., he is a doctor, scientist, adventurer, detective, and polymath who "rights w ...

as half-brothers battling a world-wide conspiracy headed by a group known as The Nine. ** '' A Feast Unknown'' (1969) ** '' Lord of the Trees'' / '' The Mad Goblin'' (dos-a-dos Ace Double, 1970) ** '' The Empire of the Nine'' (Sphere, 1988) Omnibus reprint of the Ace Double with ''The Mad Goblin'' retitled as ''Keepers of the Secrets''.

References

1999 novels 1999 fantasy novels Novels by Philip José Farmer Works based on Tarzan Fiction set in 1918 Del Rey books {{1990s-novel-stub