I just finished Black God's Kiss, and all together it was pretty good, I had a few problems getting into her landscape in the first story but by the time I got to "Hellsgarde" I was really impressed.
Anyone else?
I don't know why, but to me, reading those stories is exactly like talking to someone who was so impressed with their acid trips that they assume you, too, must be equally fascinated hearing about them. And that's almost never the case.
I prefer a bit of dialogue, interaction with people other than to kill/rescue them, a backstory for characters (or some sense that they existed before the story starts); maybe a bit of anything other than "Woah! She felt like she was tripping again! Isn't this cool!"
That's an apt way of putting it, Kirth.
To put it plainly, the moment she steps into these other worlds the landscape becomes effusive. I found that she belabored the emotional textures of the world around her to the point that it really slowed everything down. I was wondering if this is what Erik means by the 'lyric' quality of her writing. That and her pining for some villain that she cast into the abyss kind of put the smack on my esteem for her as a soldier.
Thankfully this lets up by the time you get to Hellsgarde, and if anyone is looking for some characterization inspiration for some undead hunters here it is--the details went the whole mile illustrating their taint and without excessiveness dragging the story down as seen in the earlier stories. Sadly, it ended just after it finally became beautiful storytelling.
I think “belabored” is exactly the word for which I was searching. I’ve only read the first two stories because I keep having to ask my son, “Eat any good books lately?” I really do like to writing style, but cripes, at times it is a slog, much like reading a novel from another age or in another language can be. Fun, but not relaxing because your brain is constantly translating.
It’s visual, that’s certain. It’s almost like reading a screenplay with stage directions.
Flip ahead, my friend. The value of this book comes near the end.
I really do like to writing style, but cripes, at times it is a slog, much like reading a novel from another age or in another language can be.
Her use of language is certainly extraordinary, but it's kind of like some dude going off on a really intense solo during a gig, and everyone digs it for a few minutes but then when he just goes on and on it really starts to bring everything down.
If talented people don't have any control over what they've got it loses its beauty.
Black God's Kiss = Magic Carpet Ride?
Black God's Kiss = Magic Carpet Ride?
Totally, man.
That was awesome.
Again, man.
How many tabs did we drop?
In a Gadda da Vida next, man.
So what, nobody else read this book?
What did you guys think of "Hellsgarde"? I really truly feel that it outshone all the other stories.
Chief Creative Officer, Publisher
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I thought you might like that one, and almost asked you about it yesterday. I thought it was great, of course. My favorite story is probably "Jirel Meets Magic," which is a bit like an acid trip as you describe, but it's a really awesome acid trip.
Really the only story in the collection that I don't think lives up to the standard of the others is "Black God's Shadow." I strongly suspect the editors at Weird Tales asked for something very much like "Black God's Kiss," which is of course exactly what they got.
Thanks for reading the book and taking the time to post your thoughts here. I am very curious to hear what you think of the other books in the line, and I look forward to reading similar threads on other books in the future.
I have it, just haven't had a chance to read it yet. I'd say probably within a month or so. How you describe it makes me think of some Moorcock stories, so I am really looking forward to it!
My favorite story is probably "Jirel Meets Magic," which is a bit like an acid trip as you describe, but it's a really awesome acid trip.
Yes, now that you mention it that was a well told tale and the psychotropic atmosphere didn't detract, for me, as I felt it did in the first two. I think I'll read it again.
Really the only story in the collection that I don't think lives up to the standard of the others is "Black God's Shadow." I strongly suspect the editors at Weird Tales asked for something very much like "Black God's Kiss," which is of course exactly what they got.
That would explain a lot.
The fact that it takes a while for someone who is also reading Howard (namely moi) to get into her literary style would probably be solved if she could give us an introductory story, which could ease us into Jirel's world instead of just tossing us in with the acid. But alas, this is what it means to read history in the making.
Thanks for reading the book and taking the time to post your thoughts here. I am very curious to hear what you think of the other books in the line, and I look forward to reading similar threads on other books in the future.
No problem, I love this. It's great to have the publisher reply, and thanks for all the work you do to dig this stuff up and slither through it.
Don't let our harsh remarks discourage you, we're cranky, grizzled old grodogs who cast a craggy eye at anything in our backyard.
I have it, just haven't had a chance to read it yet. I'd say probably within a month or so. How you describe it makes me think of some Moorcock stories, so I am really looking forward to it!
I loved Moorcock when I was a kid, but the style of Moore has more emotional tenor and more often edges into the surreal, and there is a kind of softness to it. Erik, and a few others have called it lyric, but that term doesn't really denote enough for me as a description of style.
Personally, the other thing about Moorcock and I is that when I tried to come back to him as an adult, after six years of literature studies, I really hated it. Maybe it was because it was some of his more unworthy work--I can't even remember the title. I'll give Erik the benefit of the doubt though, and look at the next Moorcock that comes down the pike.
I really liked it, particuarly the very evocative imagery and atmosphere. There was something cool about the protagonist being a woman, as well, a geniune "tough chick." :)
"That and her pining for some villain that she cast into the abyss kind of put the smack on my esteem for her as a soldier."
This was the only part of the book that bugged me, too. It just did not ring true to the character, and I never could reconcile how she could regret killing off the guy who mauled her. Every time she had pangs of regret it irritated me. Meh.
"That and her pining for some villain that she cast into the abyss kind of put the smack on my esteem for her as a soldier."This was the only part of the book that bugged me, too. It just did not ring true to the character, and I never could reconcile how she could regret killing off the guy who mauled her. Every time she had pangs of regret it irritated me. Meh.
And that comes from the rather forced "Black God's Shadow" which Erik has now got me thinking of as an editor's request.
[Personally, the other thing about Moorcock and I is that when I tried to come back to him as an adult, after six years of literature studies, I really hated it. Maybe it was because it was some of his more unworthy work--I can't even remember the title.
Some of his stuff is terrible--the Mars stories and the 2nd set of Hawkmoon books in particular. But I still love the first set of Hawkmoon books, even after 20+ years from when I first read them.
No, no, no! The Mars stories are thrilling romps! Heartfelt homages!
(Oops! They're in your line, aren't they.) Sorry, Erik! Everyone, ignore my post. I was obviously confusing them with another set of books, possibly the collected works of Charles Dickens.
And that comes from the rather forced "Black God's Shadow" which Erik has now got me thinking of as an editor's request.
"That and her pining for some villain that she cast into the abyss kind of put the smack on my esteem for her as a soldier."This was the only part of the book that bugged me, too. It just did not ring true to the character, and I never could reconcile how she could regret killing off the guy who mauled her. Every time she had pangs of regret it irritated me. Meh.
Try approaching it from a more feminine angle: You are the toughest girl on the block, and you aren’t going to settle for a girly man as your mate. Sure, you might play with the toys for a while until you get bored, but none of them is really your equal and you certainly aren’t going to split any of your stuff with them. Along comes a person who seems like kind of a jerk, but is really the mirror image of you. Offended by the fact they got the drop on you, you resort to despicable means and off them, only realizing afterwards this was probably your one shot at finding someone else on Earth who could really relate to you. Enter angst.
I didn't really like Black God's Kiss because I saw Jirel as a one-dimensional character. She is described as a flame-haired, yellow-eyed permanently pissed-off, heavily armored furie. The stories also had a bit too much purple prose for my liking.
I really liked the Quest of the Starstone though, the Northwest Smith character was fun. I have pre-ordered the Northwest Smith antology and look forward to reading it.
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Chief Creative Officer, Publisher
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I think folks will really like Northwest Smith. For starters, he's got a drunken little Venusian buddy that hangs around with him almost all the time, which means the stories have more character and dialogue to them. And at 380 pages it's by far the largest Planet Stories book yet!
I think folks will really like Northwest Smith. For starters, he's got a drunken little Venusian buddy that hangs around with him almost all the time, which means the stories have more character and dialogue to them.
That's a little closer to my level of maturity.
I actually liked the "trippy" parts, they characterize in strong manner the gnawing effects of magic and planar travel, and at a time when horse was still a common mode of transpotation some of the things that we take for granted are actually extrordinary to find in a work of fiction from that time such a "multiverse". It's pretty much the same kind of stuff I like about Lovecraft or Howard. I could definately draw a line from "Black God's Kiss" to later works by Moorcock, but that being said, the popularity of hallucinogens didn't really occur till the late fifties and hit stride in the late 60's, way after these stories were published. (unless she was hitting up an opium den) I definately see hallucinogens as part of Moorcock's (later)style. It didn't move at a blistering pace but it was worth the effort.
Hmmm...my last post disappeared.
I just finished the book last night, and "Hellsgarde" was definitely my favorite. Great atmosphere, nice ending. :)
"Jirel Meets Magic" was probably my second favorite, and I "Black God's Kiss" was great as well. "Quest for the Starstone" was fun, but it felt a bit disconnected from the rest. I'll agree with the others who felt that "Black God's Shadow" felt a bit too much like rehash.
I found it very refreshing that Ms. Moore's writing style barely felt dated, despite being from a much earlier era. She was definitely ahead of her time.
Erik, thanks for bringing these great stories back. I'll add a review to the products section as well. I'm off to gather up the ISBN numbers for "Elak of Atlantis" and "City of the Beast" and see if my local Barnes & Noble will stock them. To date, the only Planet Stories book I've found there is "The Anubis Murders".
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Chief Creative Officer, Publisher
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For some reason Barnes and Noble did not place a big order for City of the Beast and Black God's Kiss. It's pretty frustrating, actually. They _have_ jumped in on the other titles between then and now, though, so it should be easier to find stuff like Elak, Northwest Smith, and Lord of the Spiders.
Thanks for all the feedback on C. L. Moore's book. I think most of you will like Northwest Smith (there's more surrealism ahead) and Elak is very much in the Conan tradition.
Thanks again to everyone for picking up these volumes. There is so much great fiction waiting to be rediscovered and your support right now is a huge boon to the journey we're all taking together!
I just finished the first story, and I am really enjoying the writing. It has a feel that I find missing from a lot of newer fantasy books - a sort of grand "fantasticalness" with a hard edge.
I find the "trippy stuff" to be right for the story. I get the sense of the alien nature of the places she describes in this fashion from these parts.
Best.
E
I mislaid my copy for about a week (ish), but the cats found it for me yesterday by knocking over the old flatbed scanner, so I'll let you know what I think of the other story, Kruelaid.
Finished the book after today’s testing. The final story was a little cornball for my liking, but I guess I enjoyed the book overall. Certainly worth the purchase price, especially after reading Hellgarde (my favorite in the book).
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Chief Creative Officer, Publisher
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My favorite anachronism that comes up in more stories than you might expect is the ubiquitous "radio-visiphone".
I remember being blown away recently reading Henry Kuttner's "Robots Have no Tails" when I realized that the gizmo he was basically discussing was essentially the Internet. He called it, I believe, "the screen" or some-such, but it was basically a personal computer/video telephone/research device. Sometimes seeing how close (or how far away) these authors got to modern technology is a good bit of the fun.
You will not be disappointed by the Northwest Smith collection. It is by far the largest Planet Stories book to date, and it is absolutely stuffed to the gills with incredible action and evocative writing.
Northwest Smith is one of the greatest science fiction characters ever, period. He was clearly an inspiration for Han Solo _and_ Indiana Jones, which ain't half bad.
Also, his fat little drunken Venusian buddy Yarol is great fun.
Just finished this yesterday and I must admit I was worried after the second story but things picked up from there and I am glad I stuck with it. (I pretty much skimmed Black God's Shadow.)
Just received the Northwest Smith in the mail so I will start that next!
My grandfather had a huge collection of old pulp dime novels that I grabbed after he passed away so it's cool to see some of this stuff in print again.
Just finished the other day and I enjoyed the book. I agree with the general observations concerning the specific stories. My favorites were the Black God's Kiss and Hellsgarde, but really they were all good reads.
Jirel may not have received and explicit characterization, but in another way I have a solid idea of who she is.
Looking forward to the Northwest books, and in the interim I'm going to read Elak of Atlantis.
Best.