tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post6061790213182088711..comments2024-03-18T20:22:06.331-04:00Comments on GROGNARDIA: Pulp Fantasy Gallery: KotharJames Maliszewskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00341941102398271464noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-29474724868033023332010-01-22T03:46:14.680-05:002010-01-22T03:46:14.680-05:00I realize that this post is terribly old, but desp...I realize that this post is terribly old, but despite Fox's involvement with Green Lantern, he isn't responsible for the Green Lantern oath. That honor went to Fox's friend Alfred Bester (author of the greatest science fiction novel of all time: <i>The Stars My Destination</i>).Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00862556389958594140noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-65870625305213056942009-04-17T16:28:00.000-04:002009-04-17T16:28:00.000-04:00"Perhaps I am misremembering them then, as it's be...<I>"Perhaps I am misremembering them then, as it's been some years since I read them. Perhaps it's the Kyrik books?"</I>IIRC, yes. Kyrik, Warlock Warrior, has some sort of strange "device" that's untold ages old locked up in the Big Bad Guy's tower. Kyrik has to sneak in through a sewer, or escape through one - I can't remember - in order to get to it.<br /><br />So yeah, there are hints to "super-science" of some sort here and there in Kyrik, but I can't rightly remember any in Kothar.Jack Badelairehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10932441028544500024noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-56247779706006875252008-09-29T16:15:00.000-04:002008-09-29T16:15:00.000-04:00I disagree, though, with your description of them ...<I>I disagree, though, with your description of them as "science fantasy" since, except for being ostensibly set millions of years in the future, there are no "science" elements to speak of in these books, even less so than in Vance's Dying Earth books.</I><BR/><BR/>Perhaps I am misremembering them then, as it's been some years since I read them. Perhaps it's the Kyrik books?James Maliszewskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00341941102398271464noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-88468049637133747052008-09-29T16:08:00.000-04:002008-09-29T16:08:00.000-04:00The Kothar books are a lot of fun (though the last...The Kothar books are a lot of fun (though the last 2 aren't as good as the first three) and capture the D&D spirit perfectly -- the blatant pastiche of elements, the undercurrent of keeping a straight face without being entirely serious, the fast-moving action, and of course the setting of "Yarth" where every place has a name from earth with a letter or two changed (exactly like Gygax's own AErth (which was originally called Yarth, even) and Lejendary Earth.<BR/><BR/>I disagree, though, with your description of them as "science fantasy" since, except for being ostensibly set millions of years in the future, there are no "science" elements to speak of in these books, even less so than in Vance's Dying Earth books. These stories are straight swords & sorcery and could just have easily been set in the distant past (Hyboria) or another world entirely (Nehwon) as the future.Trenthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01889179660165006042noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-53538231321559405842008-09-29T08:01:00.001-04:002008-09-29T08:01:00.001-04:00I wish Fantasy Masterworks would take a look in hi...<I>I wish Fantasy Masterworks would take a look in his direction, but I don't think they will.</I><BR/><BR/>Maybe if we're lucky, Planet Stories will do a Fox collection at some point.James Maliszewskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00341941102398271464noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-22245616619311236452008-09-29T08:01:00.000-04:002008-09-29T08:01:00.000-04:00Allan,I largely agree with you. I was never a big ...Allan,<BR/><BR/>I largely agree with you. I was never a big fan of Bran Mak Morn myself, even though I think the writing is excellent (some of Howard's best).James Maliszewskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00341941102398271464noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-56001065411344441382008-09-29T03:58:00.000-04:002008-09-29T03:58:00.000-04:00I bought a copy of this via Abebooks a few weeks a...I bought a copy of this via Abebooks a few weeks ago. Gardner F. Fox is sadly very under-rated, but he had a lot of influence on Gary and on D&D generally. I wish Fantasy Masterworks would take a look in his direction, but I don't think they will.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-11385119265459884042008-09-29T01:05:00.000-04:002008-09-29T01:05:00.000-04:00Fox published several short stories in Dragon, whi...Fox published several short stories in Dragon, which are well-worth looking up. I've really enjoyed his fiction, as much as REH's work (though so far, I liked Kothar and Kyric moreso than Bran Mak Morn...).<BR/><BR/>Allan.grodoghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11800184312511280050noreply@blogger.com