Product Description
Lord Dunsany's first novel, "Don Rodriguez: Chronicles of Shadow Valley conveys its young disinherited protagonist through a fantasized Spain, gifting him with a Sancho Panza companion, good luck with magicians, and a castle" [The Encyclopedia of Fantasy]. It is a landmark tale for Dunsany, beginning his move from the otherworldly short stories for which his reputation is justly famous to novels, such as the follow-up The King of Elfland's Daughter and The Charwoman's Shadow.L. Sprague de Camp has said: "Dunsany was the second writer (William Morris in the 1880s being the first) fully to exploit the possibilities of . . . adventurous fantasy laid in imaginary lands, with gods, witches, spirits, and magic, like children? ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

a historic fantasy set in a pastoral Spain that could never exist
Lord Dunsany's first novel, this is a historic fantasy set in a pastoral Spain that could never exist with all the charm and innocence that the author attributes to it. Don Rodrigues sets out on a quest to find a war to fight in so he can win a castle and wealth of his own. Along the way, he finds a loyal servant who wields a mighty fry pan and encounters a magician who shows them how to astral travel and allows them to see the past and the future. Hi finds a lady he loves, wins his castle in a fantastic manner and they "live happily ever after."

The beauty of the story is in Dunsany's prose which is a delight to read and well-suited to the fantastic setting he creates. I totally enjoyed this first novel by one of my favorite authors.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Heroic adventure
This time Carter sets his characters amid crumbling kingdoms in the lattr days of Atlantis. Evil wizardry sweeps the land, brushing aside lawful rule and benevolent dynasties. Barely ahead of the slavering hordes, Niane, a delicate girl of the court, escapes the conquered castle. Mighty Diodric befriends and protects her, when there's nothing left of the abandoned castle to protect. As they make they way toward the emperor in exile, a wizard joins them and aids them on their way. But Niane has a secret, and the wizard has another.

Okay, if sword'n'sandal adventures don't float your boat, this won't do much for you. Instead, it follows the grand tradition of Edgar Rice Burroughs: a hero with rippling sinews, a saveable princess, and slavering bad guys hot on their heels. Throw in a little sorcery and romance of the chaste and somewhat confused sort - well, if this were a movie, it would demand popcorn and a rainy Saturday afternoon. The intellectual depths would barely make a splash pool, but it's a grand adventure anyway.

-- wiredweird

Decent fantasy-adventure
A good fantasy action-adventure novel set in Atlantis, with strong ties to Carter's Thongor series. The warrior Diodric, along with the noble Niane, flee an Atlantean capital under attack, bearing with them an artifact that Atlantis' conqueror needs to take over the world. Some nice action follows, with bits of humor, horror, and romance. The only flaw is that the story ends hurriedly and a bit anti-climactically, mainly due to the fact that it is part one of a proposed trilogy (the next book being "The White Throne"). ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

A hip pocket version of the movie
So, your enjoyment will depend on if you're a Howard fan or not...the book bears no more semblance to Howard's original short stories (other than the occasional scene taken from Hoawrd's works) than does the movie, but that's the point.

The book is actually very, very close to the movie...a few little differences thrown in here and there that literally could have been in the movie, for that matter.The plot, theme, characters, locations are the same.

Overall, an enjoyable book if you like the barbarian hack-n-slash.If you're looking for in-depth character and plot development, you'll be disappointed.

Super Reader
This is the novelisation of the first movie with Ah-Nuld, and stays pretty tightly within those confines, and as such, is reasonably short. Conan's parents are killed, he becomes slave, gladiator and thief, and once free, sets out to treck down Thulsa Doom, the leader that had his parents killed.

He gains and loses allies along the way.

Almost a 4 star rating
This book is a strong 3 star book.I am not giving it a 4 star rating because of the fact that de Camp and Carter swiped a key ingredient from Robert E. Howard's Queen of the Black Coast (as found in Conan of Cimmeria) and placed it at the end of this story.Readers that are unfamiliar with that work will enjoy this book more than I did.

It is not a bad book mind you.It traces Conan's life as a youth in Cimmeria, through his years of bondage, until the point that he gains his freedom and embarks on the book's adventures.The reader will appreciate a fairly authentic Conan.He broods, he berserks, he is reflective, he has wit and sensibility.He is not overly polite.He is not so indomitable that he is inhuman.An intriguing bit of his religious side is revealed as well.

He befriends a thief, Subotai, who provides a hint of comic relief throughout the book without becoming a buffoon.Conan also links up with another thief named Valeria.(A character named Valeria appears in Howard's Red Nails, but they are not the same individual.)She is a very alluring character that infuses the book with an appealing feminine presence.Overall, the characterization of this book is strong.Two of the best characters are Conan's parents, but their presence is brief.

Conan's inevitable clash with the forces of evil is somewhat satisfactory, but the first half of this book is more intriguing than the last half.De Camp and Carter create some moody settings along the way that absorb the reader to some degree.Conan fans who enjoy monstrous creatures will probably not be very satisfied as they are kept to a minimum.The presence of sorcery and sexuality is not overdone.This is actually a well-balanced blend of all of the elements that make Conan stories appealing to his fans.

My main gripe is with the inclusion of elements from other Conan stories that make this book seem like a rerun at times, but I never felt like pitching the book against a wall.This book is based on the screenplay that was used in the Schwarzenegger movie, but I have never seen the movie to know how close it was to this book.If you like other work by de Camp and Carter, you will probably like this. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Buccaneer
Typical of Sprague DeCamp novels, well written, and actually fairly well researched.Very enjoyable.

Super Reader
An interesting introduction about Sword and Sorcery here by Lin Carter.

"If you are one of those unfortunate few who have never before read a novel of Sword & Sorcery, you are in for a treat. A treat, that is, if you crave to escape for an hour or two from the above features of modern life into a gorgeous, impossible world. For Sword & Sorcery is sheer escapist reading, nothing more. It has no hidden meanings. It offers no handy, pre-packaged solution to any of the world's numerous ills. It has no "ism" or "ology" to sell, no message to put over. It is something remarkable and rare these days.

It is entertainment."

He also goes on to detail how De Camp came late to Robert E. Howard and others, and how Fletcher Pratt got him hooked.

This is actually a fun novel they have come up with. Conan has his own privateer crew, complete with letters of marque.

He has a punchup in a tavern with Black Zarono, and hence misses the priest he was to buy a treasure map from.

Zarono gets the map, and in league with the Stygian sorceror Thoth-Amon sets out to get some artifacts from the temple of Tsathoggu, as well as kidnap a Zingaran princess.

Yep, Conan chased by big froggy Cthulhoid monster in this one.

Piratical shenanigans lead them to the Black Coast, and Conan's old friend Juma. Capture by the black amazon queen, as well.

Of course, a final confrontation with the wizard is to come. Good stuff. ... Read more

Product Description
To him, Earth was a prison of the mind and body. Only on the world of the Green Star would he walk -- in the borrowed body of a primitive youth. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Sword, sandal, and science fiction
If you loved Burroughs's Mars, the romantic setting for John Carter and Dejah Thoris, then give the "Green Star" series a shot. It's Lin Carter's open tribute to the illogical excitement and confused affections of those earlier greats.

This meets all the demands of the genre. First, Our Hero launches himself to a distant star using mysterious methods. Instead of a dry and dying Barsoom, however, this turns out to be a vast forest of mile-high trees and a whole menagerie of bugs the size of volkswagens. Carter creates the Kaloods, an ancient and winged race, now down to one near-immortal survivor, an update to the rainbow-hued peoples of Burroughs's fantasy lands. As required, there are plenty of chivalrous swordsmen, saveable princesses, ancient death-cults, evil priest-lords, and wildly fortuitous coincidences to go around. And, just to get things off on the right foot, Our Hero starts his adventure in one of the last surviving towers of an ancient city, the guest and captive of a scientist-mage who mines its ancient technology with the goal of dominating the world of his own time. You know, the usual.

If you don't take it too seriously, it's great swashbuckling fun. The recipe has been around for years: mix bad science with bold adventure, bake it under an alien sun, finish it off with over-heated romance, and serve it up with a squeaky-clean good guy in a white hat. With just a little effort, it always comes out well - and Carter does it very well, right down to the cliff-hanger that gets us ready for the next installment.

-- wiredweird

In the tradition of Conan the Barbarian
"When the Green Star Calls" by Lin Carter, © 1973

In the tradition of Conan the Barbarian or, especially,Tarnsman of Gor, Mr. Carter has written a most interesting story.All identity of the author is absent (supposedly).This is produced by an editor who is very protective of the author's privacy (though there is enough information that, with a bit of searching, someone could find the identity).
The author travels by way of the ether (an out of body trip)to a distant planet.He realizes that given the distance and time required, he does not know (or care) where it is in relation to Earth.It is a good full life he lives there.He was there once before, but his body died, so he had to return to Earth.On Earth he is wheelchair bound and has various ailments, but enough money to take care of all his problems, except make them go away.On this alternative planet, circling a green star, he is capable of anything the body he inhabits is capable of.
The first body was one of a warrior engaged to be married to a princess.They were captured by enemies, and he died, so he came back to Earth.He was not going to go back, but in time, he could not resist the desire to be up and about on this other world, and perhaps rescue his princess, so he went back.This time he found some body of a youngster, who dies of some wounds, but, really, the body is still good and, somehow after this fellow enters it, recovers from its wounds.The rest of the story follows the adventures of this fellow.Wonders of wonders, the time frame is only a bit in the future of when he was there last time, so he picks up where he left off, only he is not who he was the last time.Now he is a youngster, an orphan, who has to bide his time to get to free his lady love.He also has to conceal his identity because it is so crazy that he used to be one person and is now someone else.On and on go the complications, and then the story does not end right. The editor is constrained by the publishing contract.He does explain that the youth and his friends survive, because he has inserted a bit of story that would not be possible if he or they did not survive.
A really cool part, that is glossed over, is that the youth is made immortal in a deception that ultimately frees him from his bondage, as well as others.It never mentioned, yet it is obvious.I will have to look for subsequent stories to find out more. ... Read more

Product Description
As the Green Star Rises is the fourth novel in the Green Star saga. ... Read more

Product Description
"I see Gondwane as it shall be in the untold ages of dim futurity, near the time when the Earth shall be man’s habitation no more, and the great night shall enfold all, and naught but the cold stars shall reign. The first sign of the end ye shall see in the heavens, for Lo! the moon is falling, falling. And there shall come a man into the lands, a man not like other men, but sent from Galendil . . ."

The name of the man is Ganelon Silverman—and this is the first of the classic science fantasy adventure series by Lin Carter! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

A fun romp
This is a fun romp with some inventive creatures. A horde of blue monsters, four-feet wide at the shoulders and wielding iron bars and heavy branches, gives the heroes a good fight. This and the next of the series are some of Lin Carter's best fantasy if you like wild ideas and magician's castles. But the series rapidly loses power after the third one.

Good rousing derivative fun
This sword & sorcery novel is strongly derivative of Vance's The Dying Earth and Howard's Conan stories. On the other hand, it displays a fine sense of humour that is absent from both of its prototypes. One is reminded of Leiber's Fafhrd & Grey Mouser stories or even of Pratchett. For readers who find early Vance's tendencies to earnest prose poetry in the Dunsany - Ashton Smith mode a bit cloying, this book is actually preferable to The Dying Earth. Not one dull moment. ... Read more

Product Description
Les achats comprennent une adhésion à l'essai gratuite au club de livres de l'éditeur, dans lequel vous pouvez choisir parmi plus d'un million d'ouvrages, sans frais. Le livre consiste d'articles Wikipedia sur : Liste Des Histoires de Conan, Lyon Sprague de Camp, Robert E. Howard, Conan L'aventurier, Âge Hyborien, Lin Carter, Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures, Robert Jordan, Myth: History in the Making, Super Conan, Conan le Destructeur, Édition Des Œuvres de Robert E. Howard En France, the Savage Sword of Conan, Conan le Cimmérien, Conan le Flibustier, Conan le Conquérant, Conan le Cimmerien, Kalidor, Conan (Jeu Vidéo, 2007), Conan le Vagabond, Conan : Les Clous Rouges, Conan le Guerrier, Conan L'usurpateur, Conan : L'heure Du Dragon. Non illustré. Mises à jour gratuites en ligne. Extrait : En décembre 1932 paraissait dans la revue Weird Tales la première aventure mettant en scène Conan le Cimmérien : The Phoenix on the Sword (dans Conan le libérateur). Aussitôt l'engouement fut total et appela d'autres récits. Robert E. Howard s'y attela et, au moment de sa mort en 1936, 18 histoires avaient été publiées. Plusieurs auteurs prirent le parti de compléter la saga, y apportant quelques modifications pour la rendre plus homogène. Voici enfin établie la chronologie des voyages de Conan. Cette tâche ardue (car certains volumes n'ont jamais été traduits en français et d'autres sont épuisés) a été réalisée grâce aux études A Conan Chronology de Robert Jordan, Conan the Indestructible de Lyon Sprague de Camp et Gurps Conan USA. ...http://booksllc.net/?l=fr ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A must have!
I would like to recommend "Beyond the Gates of Dream" to anyone who like me prefers epic adventure and non-stop action than rather schizoid modern fantasy writings. Although relatively short (157 pages) the book hasrich plot and original characters. The obstacles the characters face aredifficult to overcome and many times are intangible things, which must bethought around rather than simply, blown up. The end is a little bit abruptfor my taste but in overall the book is a must have for every real Carters'fan. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Super Reader
This is a volume of stories by De Camp and Carter only.

The Witch of the Mists
Black Sphinx of Nebthu
Red Moon of Zembabwei
Shadows in the Skull


Conan is out with Prospero in the Border Kingdoms, along with his son. The latter runs into the Witchmen of Hyperborea, which is not so good. Dad does manage to find both him, and Thoth-Amon after Conn gives him some information.


3 out of 5


King Conan is on the move, looking for the black wizard Thoth-Amon. Chabela also makes a cameo appearance.

Luckily for Conan, when the magic goes down, he has a White Druid who has tapped into the heart of Ahriman by his side. Especially handy when big black monsters appear.


3 out of 5


King Conan, Count Trocero and forces are still pushing on against the Stygians.

A raid by wyverns, though, leads to the capture of Conan and his son by a Zembabweian ally of Thoth-Amon's.

Conan needs help to get out of an enchanted prison cell situation.


2.5 out of 5


The final confrontation between Conan and the sorceror Thoth-Amon.

Some divination in Zembabwei leads Conan and his forces to seek out the Great Stone Skull. He is assisted in this endeavour by Nzinga of the Amazons.

A dragon waylays them, and Prince Conn ends up in the lair of a serpent girl, but realises her seduction in time.

Conan and company, as Kull before him, go down to put an end to the worshippers of the Slithering God.


3.5 out of 5 ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Conan of Cimmeria, Book 2
Robert E. Howard a master story teller. you will find no great prose here but a story that will have you breathing harder and sweating as if you were there ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Swashbuckler in the Burroughs tradition
Carter presents this story as open tribute to Edgar Rice Burroughs, the most popular writer of fantasies set on distant planets. Seen in that way, it follows the formula closely. We start with the Earth-bound hero - in this case, a life-long cripple of brilliant intellect. Proceed with the magical transport to that distant land: here, that comes from Tibetan secrets of meditation that free the soul for astral travel. Then, on to the adventure proper. That includes the usual mighty thews, imperilled princess, swordfights, giant spiders, and general manliness and bravery.

OK, it's been done, as Carter freely admits. But writers keep doing it because it can still be done well, and because it still thrills readers. So, go ahead, enjoy, and don't even think of this as a guilty pleasure. Even if you generally read "better" books, or especially if you do, you can still find a little fun in titles like these.

-- wiredweird

First rate Lin Carter
I thoroughly enjoy Carter's books and stories, but he wasn't a first rank author in the speculative fiction market. He is no Robert Howard, Fritz Leiber, etc. Nonetheless, he is enjoyable, and this first volume in the "Green Star" series is good, one of his best. In his day he had a big impact on the revival of interest in "Sword & Sorcery" fiction as an author, as well as fantasy fiction in general, as an editor.

Anyone interested in the genre definitely should read this.

Carter's best series
This book starts off Carter's best series in my opinion.We all need to understand the tribute Carter has done to Howard, Burroughs, etc. in his other series.I know Lin Carter was a much better editor than an author, but this book, and the following books in the series, are well written and very entertaining.

Woohoo! The rerelease of Under The Green Star!!!!
I cannot BELIEVE this is being re-released!! I've been searching for acopy of this book for every bit of fifteen years. This is the bookresponsible for awakening me to a lifelong appreciation of science fiction.It's on a par with the likes of the Barsoom books...Dune...the works ofIsaac Asimov and Ray Bradbury. Many new science fiction writers flood themarket these days, but virtually none of them can touch the sheerREADABILITY and utter creativity of the Green Star story. It's a must-read.How exciting to see it's going to be available to readers again. I will bein LINE to buy this book. If you haven't read it...GO, GO, GO!! It's awild, wonderful, fascinating read! Thank you so much, Mr. Carter, forgiving such a wonderful world to me as a child....you opened the door ofimagination in my mind and I've never allowed it to close since. Again,thank you! ... Read more

Product Description
As the Red Terror, a bizarre, magical dark force whose victims disappear without a trace, descends upon Aquilonia, King Conan sets out to destroy its source, evil, conquest-hungry sorcerer-priests from across the sea. Reissue. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Conan Columbus
Conan is goes on a Christopher Columbus type adventure, sailing off to Western shores and unknown danger. In that regard, it is a totally unique Conan experience.

L. Sprague de Camp and Lin Carter can be very hit or miss in their stories. Often times they write as though they have no real understanding of the big Cimmerian, his language or gestures. They also lack the ability to make poetry out of the most abhorrent violence, the way Robert E. Howard did in his original works. But in this case, the authors managed keep me interested. Maybe it is solely because Conan is on such a unique adventure, or maybe this is just better writing than some of their other pastiches. In any case, this is worth reading as the final Conan adventure.

Super Reader
The introduction may be the best part of this pastiche novel, to quote one part:

"The purpose of heroic fantasy is neither to solve the problems of the steel industry, nor to expose defects in the foreign-aid program, nor to expound the questions of poverty or intergroup hostility. It is to entertain. It is escape reading in which one escapes clear out of the real universe. But, come to think, these tales are no more 'unreal' than the many whodunnits wherein, after the stupid police have fallen over their own big feet, the brilliant amateur - a private detective, a newspaper reporter., or a little old lady - steps in and solves the crime.
Heroic fantasies combine the color, gore., and lively action of the costume novel with the atavistic terrors and delights of the fairy tale. They furnish the purest fun to be found in fiction today. If you read for fun, this is the genre for you."

However, this book is perhaps a little light on the fun, unfortunately, in the last of the Lance books.

King Conan is getting on, as de Camp introduces the story, and feeling generation gapped from the kids, etc.

What to do?How about a spot of pirate action?

Time for a bit of the Amra persona, with Sigurd Redbeard and the Sea Monsters.

Not one of the better efforts.


2.5 out of 5

It fell apart in my hands
No, not the story. The story was good. I'm talking about the book itself. It was so old that the glue holding it together dried out. I came late to the stories of Conan. That was in the early 1980s. 1982 if I'm not mistaken. It even inspired me to write my own stories about a barbarian of my own.
In this book, Conan's 60. The ghost of his guardian angel,
Epimeterius the Sage, comes to him in his sleep and tells him to abdicate in favor of his son, Prince Conn, who's Conan's heir. Conan writes the letter of abdication and sets
out to fight the Red Terror, a magical plague that's spread across the world by the sorcerer priests of the remnants of
Atlantis. Conan fights them but we don't know if he wins or loses.

An above-average non-Howard Conan novel
When Lancer set out to produce the complete Conan saga in the 1960s, it called upon L. Sprague de Camp, Lin Carter, and Bjorn Nyberg to fill in the gaps and complete the saga. For the most part, they comported themselves well.

This is the final tale in that series, and for a non-REH story, it's pretty good. Carter and de Camp both had been around Conan enough by the time they produced this that they get the general flavor of what makes Conan, well, Conan. I probably should give it more stars, simply because of all the pure pablum that has been produced by would-be REH imitators over the past 20 years or so, but its still not quite anything more than an above average book.

Regardless, its well written and clearly attempting to honor REH's Conan tales. In this book, Conan is in his twilight years and is still looking for one final adventure, or adventures, as the case may be. Clearly, Conan has no intention of dying of old age in a bed surrounded by grandchildren.

The early chapters of the book are probably the best as Conan evenutally sets off sailing and finds himself in a new, unknown world (presumably America). Naturally, this being a Conan tale, he soon finds himself enmeshed in adventures in this new world. And, relying on not only muscle but guile, Conan naturally triumphs.

Given the fact that I am now in my 40s, this tale may resonate more with me. The fact that a 60-ish Conan is still vital and more than willing to fight kind of inspires me.The ending actually leaves the door open for further adventures, even though this was to be the final tale in the Conan saga (of course, others decided there was still money to be made off the poor guy, so all kinds of junk is still being written about Conan today).

Stick to the Lancer series and its reprints and ignore all that other junk.

The Final Adventure
Back in the mid-60's, when Lancer Books reissued the original Conan stories by Robert E. Howard, they enlisted the aid of L. Sprague DeCamp and Lin Carter to polish Howard's grammar, soften his more "politicallyincorrect" statements, and fill out the saga with pastiches.This,the last of the stories, is 100% pastiche, but it still has the flavor ofHoward's barbarian.I first read it as a teenager, but now that I havepassed the half century mark, the story has new resonance.In thisadventure Conan anticipates George Foreman by several millenia.He may beold; he may not be the man he once was; but he can still outmuscle mostfoes, and those he can't outmuscle, he can outfox.At the conclusion ofthe book you might just get a little misty-eyed when Conan ends hisadventure and sails off into the mists of time, never to be heard fromagain. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Adventure in the classic style
Carter continues his open tribute to Burroughs's John Carter of Mars series, with another John Dark of not-Mars. The formula is all there, with the multi-armed hordes of semi-civilized warriors, glorious princesses, flying ships, valiant swordplay, and all the rest. And, for those who haven't read ERB's original stories, Carter reminds us of a few points of story-telling style that the newer series ("No, really, I didn't write it - I'm just passing along what John himself gave me.")

Well, no one criticizes tribute bands for playing familiar tunes in the style of, and I'm not criticizing Carter. These are wonderful sword'n'sandal stories in their own right, filled with the terrible beasts, power-mad foes, improbable coincidences, and frequent capture (four this time, if I counted right) that make these stories fun. Perhaps this doesn't rise to the best of ERB's originals, but it certainly stands ahead of the lesser ones.

-- wiredweird ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Super Reader
The second in the Flashing Swords series. The editor expounds more upon the Robert E. Howard tradition, remarking that not many people are influential enough to invent a tradition.

A book that is just as good as the first volume.

Flashing Swords 2 : The Rug and the Bull - L. Sprague de Camp
Flashing Swords 2 : The Jade Man's Eyes - Michael Moorcock
Flashing Swords 2 : Toads of Grimmerdale - Andre Norton
Flashing Swords 2 : Ghoul's Garden - John W. Jakes


Seeing the arena from the animal's perspective is fun, for awhile.

4 out of 5


Elric and Moonglum travel to a different city in the Young Kingdoms, and with Duke Avan discover that the Jade Man is a being with whom Elric is all too familiar.

3.5 out of 5


A woman hunts for a previous attacker, but has made a serious mistake.

4 out of 5


Brak protects an actress from a strangely stunted wizard.

3 out of 5

Moorcock outclasses the other dull offerings.
Lin Carter's original anthology series of sword & sorcery tales written by his writer pals continues with _Flashing Swords! #2_, featuring novellas by S&S veterans L. Sprague de Camp, Andre Norton, John Jakes, and Michael Moorcock.

Even accounting for the archaic style of 70s prose, this second volume is more of a mixed bag than the first.De Camp's tale opens with pages of awkward dialog as characters dole out backstory in long, unrealistic conversations.He skillfully tightens the point-of-view when the protagonist is magically transferred into the body of an animal, but then the tale ends abruptly with the antagonist vanquished off-screen.

Norton's piece, the longest, features a female protagonist wrestling with the aftereffects of a battlefield rape that has left her pregnant.Norton vividly captures her inner turmoil, but the plot repeatedly grinds to a halt for pages of memories and thoughts.After several encounters with godlike beings, the overdue climax occurs merely from mistaken identity.

Carter's introduction explains that Jakes's protagonist, the hulking barbarian Brak, is deliberately modeled on Robert E. Howard's Conan, yet this Brak tale includes only the crudest aspects of that style.The prose is pedantic, even by 70s or S&S standards.The villain is merely a lecher, and the female character serves only as an object of desire.Brak faces many gratuitous physical obstacles, all of which he conquers in stereotypical fashion.

Only Moorcock saves this anthology from being a total disappointment.Elric of Melnibone, his classic S&S character, is rife with conflict as the sole survivor of a deceased race, dependant on his powerful sword but also a slave to its hunger.In this tale, Elric joins an expedition to the ancient homeland of his race, where he hopes to learn of their peaceful roots before they founded his doomed dynasty.The hazards of this trek combine with Elric's rich inner conflict and his yearning for belonging to produce the most exciting and the deepest tale in this anthology.

Mostly due to the inferior selection of tales compared to the first volume, _Flashing Swords! #2_ offers few engrossing moments outside of Moorcock's Elric novella.

Please reprint this series!
I've had a hard time finding these books in good condition.To the publishers out there please reprint the flashing swords anthologies!Hardcover would be preferred! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Lin Carter delivers another winner!
This puzzle yarn is the devious Lin Carter's most puzzling yet! You will be kept guessing until the last pages in this crafty, twisting caper. But this novel is more than just convoluted mystery solving, Lin Carterdevelops characters with equal brilliance. I confess Scorchy Muldoon is myfavorite - somehow I envision the irreverant antics of Keith Moon (drummerof the Who) when Lin Carter describes the irrepressible Pride of theMuldoons. Why are these Zarkon books out of print? Give me more cases fromthe Omega files! ... Read more

Product Description
A Terran adventurer on the ultimate Martian odyssey to discover the ultimate secret of Mars and the universe.or else be destroyed by the dark forces that rules the valley where time stood still! ... Read more