Of all the Tarzan imitators of the 1930s-1940s, the absolute best one was the blonde Ki-Gor. A son o

Of all the Tarzan imitators of the 1930s-1940s, the absolute best one was the blonde Ki-Gor. A son of a missionary to Africa raised by a black tribe, his girlfriend was an American aviator who was basically based on Amelia Earhart. He had two black allies, one was a huge Masaai warrior who was given tremendous dignity and heroism by the standards of the era, and the other was a pygmy. The two have a Spock/McCoy teasing friendship. Ki-Gor lasted for 17 years and 59 novels. The later books are better than the earlier ones, though the absolute best is “Stalkers of the Dawn World,” where Ki-Gor saves an expedition from dinosaurs. 

It would be a mistake to describe this series as progressive or enlightened, but it certainly is more in line with modern standards than even Tarzan was. The black ally is cool and dignified, and aviatrix Helene is an active part of the stories instead of a victim.  

I could read a list of Ki-Gor book titles all day. The titles are out of this world. Here’s a few: 

• Cobra Queen of the Congo Legions
• The Monkey-Men of Loba-Gola  
  
• Safari of the Serpent Slaves
  
• Slave Brides for the Dawn-Men
  
• Tigress of T’Wanbi
  
• Blood Priestess of Vig N’Ga
  
• Flame Priestess of Carthage
  
• The Silver Witch
  
• The Beast-Gods of Atlantis
  
• The Sword of Sheba
  
• Lost Priestess of the Nile
• Huntress of the Hell-Pack
  
• The Monsters of Voodoo Isle
  
• The Golden Claws of Raa 
  
• Warrior-Queen of Attila’s Lost Legion
  
• Death Seeks for Congo Treasure
  
• Stalkers of the Dawn-World
  
• White Cannibal
  
• The Golden Beast of Zuli Maen
  
• Mad Monster of Mu-Ungu
  
• Slave-Caverns of Molundu