G. W. Thomas
Presents
THE KINGS
OF THE NIGHT
A READER'S GUIDE TO SWORD & SORCERY
D
Avram Davidson (1923 -
)
Avram Davidson has won a reputation in
three different genres: mystery, sf and fantasy, all with equal brilliance.
Davidson’s fiction is typified by a love of erudition and a convoluted
style that takes no prisoners. But once the reader catches his rhythm,
the effort is well rewarded. Though Davidson has written many fantasies,
only Ursus of Ultima Thule can be called S&S, and that single novel,
certainly ranks as one of the most intelligently written S&S novels
ever. Davidson has won the World Fantasy Awards’ Lifetime Achievement Award
.
1. Ursus of Ultima Thule (1977)
L. Sprague de Camp (1907
- )
L. Sprague de Camp, either alone or in
collaboration, has produced numerous fantasy series, all of which have
his special brand of humor and erudition. De Camp spear-headed Conan’s
popularity in paperback by editing and finishing many of Howard’s old manuscripts.
His most popular series is set in the land of Novaria, a quirky Dark Age
world. The Tritonian Ring has the same feel but is a single volume set
in a Greek universe and the Pusadian series takes place in Atlantis. The
Great Fetish is de Camp’s S&S parody. L. Sprague de Camp has won a
World Fantasy Award Lifetime Achievement Winner and a Nebula Grand Master
Award.
The Novaria Series
1. The Goblin Tower (1968)
2. The Clocks of Iraz (1971)
3. The Fallible Fiend (1973)
4. The Best of L. Sprague de Camp (1978)–contains
“The Emperor’s Fan”(1973)
5. The Unbeheaded King (1983)
6. The Reluctant King (1983)–omnibus
7. The Honorable Barbarian (1989)
The Pusadian Series
1. The Hostage of Zir (1972)
2. The Hand of Zei (1981)
3. The Prisoner of Zhamanak (1982)
4. The Virgin of Zesh & The Tower
of Zanid (1983)
The Conan Series
1. Conan: The Flame Knife (1955) a: Tales
of Conan–with Robert E. Howard
2. Conan (1967)–with Robert E. Howard
and Lin Carter
3. Conan of the Isles (1968)–with Lin
Carter
4. Conan the Wanderer (1968)–with Robert
E. Howard and Lin Carter
5. Conan the Avenger (1968)–with Bjorn
Nyberg
6. Conan of Cimmeria (1969)–with Robert
E. Howard and Lin Carter
7. Conan the Buccaneer (1971)–with Lin
Carter
8. Conan of Aquilonia (1977)–with Lin
Carter
9. Conan the Swordsman (1978)–with Lin
Carter and Bjorn Nyberg
10. Conan the Liberator (1979)–with Lin
Carter and Bjorn Nyberg
11. Conan and the Spider God (1980)
12. The Treasure of Tranicos (1980)–with
Robert E. Howard
13. Conan the Barbarian (1982)–movie novelization–with
Lin Carter
Single Volumes
The Tritonian Ring (1977)
The Great Fetish (1978)
Samuel R. Delaney (1942
- )
Delaney’s Neveryona series has been described
as the S&S series that isn’t. Relaying on neither swordplay or wicked
sorceries, Delaney plays with reality. He casts doubt on the stories entire
interpretation in the epilogue. Neveryona is the next step in S&S
evolution, the scope and feel of a Conan epic without the standard props.
The Neveryon Series
1. Tales of Neveryon (1979)
2. Neveryon (1983)
3. Flight from Neveryon (1985)
4. The Bridge of Lost Desire (1987)
5. Return to Neveryon (1989)
Asa Drake–Pseudonym of
C. Dean Andersson (?)
Horror writer C. Dean Andersson wrote
the Hel series alone, but has written horror novels under the name of Asa
Drake along with Nina Romberg.
The Hel Series
1. Warrior Witch of Hel (1985)
2. Death Rider of Hel (1986)
3. Werebeasts of Hel (1986)
David A. Drake (1945 -
)
Best known for his Hammer Slammers sf-military
novels, Drake can also produce fine historical S&S (ala Poul Anderson)
which he does in Vettius and His Friends. The Vettius series is set in
ancient Rome and is as fun as it is accurate. The book is filled out with
other historical S&S tales set in Scandia and Egypt. The Dragon Lord
is another of his S&Snovels strongly influenced by Robert E. Howard.
Most recently Drake has served as editor on the Robert E. Howard Library
Series.
The Vettius Series
1. Vettius and His Friends (1989)
Single Volumes
The Dragon Lord (1979)
F
Gardner F. Fox (1911 -
1986)
Gardner Fox may be best remembered as
a comic book writer, though he was a long-time contributor to pulps like
Planet Stories. He is also a true Howard pasticher, with his series about
Kothar–Barbarian Swordsman. There is not much that we haven’t seen before,
but then Fox never disappoints the reader who is looking for this kind
of book. His Kyrik series shows more individuality, with a sorcerer-swordsman.
The Kothar Series
1. Kothar -- Barbarian Swordsman (1969)
2. Kothar and the Magic Sword! (1969)
3. Kothar and the Demon Queen (1969)
4. Kothar and the Conjurer’s Curse (1970)
5. Kothar and the Wizard Slayer (1970)
The Kyrik Series
1. Kyrik: Warlock Warrior (1975)
2. Kyrik Fights the Demon World (1975)
3. Kyrik and the Wizard’s Sword (1976)
4. Kyrik and the Lost Queen (1976)
Frank Frazetta (1928 -
) & James Silke (?)
Frank Frazetta has had such an impact
on fantasy art that he stands like a legend alone. His work on the Bakshi
film Fire & Ice was promising. A set of novels based on his work should
be exciting news. Based on Frank Frazetta’s Naz-ghul-like character from
Lin Carter’s Flashing Swords covers, these books are painfully bad and
unfortunate because a series based on Frazetta’s art is a dream come true.
Unfortunately the dream has produced nightmares. I can’t honestly recommended
these books even to the light S&S crowd. You’ve been warned!
The Death Dealer Series
1. Prisoner of the Horned Helmet (1988)
2. Lords of Destruction (1989)
3. Tooth & Claw (1989)
4. Plague of Knives (1990)