Books I Read in August 2022

 Five books this month.

Death Angel’s Shadow (1973) by Karl Edward Wagner 

This is a collection of three stories about the immortal swordsman Kane. All three were outstanding. I’ve been reading this series on Kindle, but this is the one edition I have in paperback. 

The Book of Kane (1985) by Karl Edward Wagner 

Five stories about the immortal swordsman Kane. Only two stories were new to me as three of them are from previous collections. The two new stories were excellent though. I’ve read all the Kane books now except Darkness Weaves. I’m kind of sad that I only have one Kane book left to read. 

Ex Libris: Confessions of a Common Reader (1998) by Anne Fadiman 

I learned about this book from The Mookse and the Gripes book podcast. Not long after I found a copy in a used bookstore and snapped it up. 

This is a collection of essays about the author’s love of books and language. Topics I found the most interesting include what she calls her "odd shelf," a shelf of polar exploration books, how some people treat books, things people write in books, fountain pens, growing up in a family of readers, how to organize a collection of books, and her love of used bookstores. It was an enjoyable read.

One of the things the author writes about is how she tried to keep her books in perfect condition in her younger days, but now that she’s older it’s no longer a concern. I went through the same transition. I don’t like damage like split spines, but I no longer mind if a book is not in perfect condition. For example, the used copy of this book has scribbling on the cover, but it didn’t stop me from getting it. 

Heroes of Atlantis and Lemuria (2019) by Manly Wade Wellman, Leigh Brackett, Frederick Arnold Kummer Jr.

This is a collection of sword and sorcery stories and an adventure story about legendary Atlantis and Lemuria. Kummer Jr. is an author new to me, but Wellman and Brackett are two of my favorite authors, so I was really looking forward to this. Sure enough it was a fun read. My favorite stories are the Wellman stories, about Kardios the last survivor of Atlantis. My full review can be found here:

We Learn by Writing: Heroes of Atlantis & Lemuria by Manly Wade Wellman, Leigh Brackett, and Arnold Kummer Jr.

Dickinson: Poems (1993) by Emily Dickinson 

This is a collection of Emily Dickinson poems published by Everyman’s Library. A number of the poems went right over my head, but I really like her word usage. 

Heroes of Atlantis & Lemuria by Manly Wade Wellman, Leigh Brackett, and Arnold Kummer Jr.

This is a collection of sword and sorcery stories and an adventure story about legendary Atlantis and Lemuria. It includes five stories by Manly Wade Wellman, three stories by Frederick Arnold Kummer Jr., and one story by Leigh Bracket. It's edited by D. M. Ritzlin of DMR Books. 

Kummer Jr. is an author new to me, but Wellman and Brackett are two of my favorite authors, so I was really looking forward to this. Sure enough it was a fun read.

The Wellman stories are about Kardios, the last survivor of Atlantis as he wanders the world defeating strange creatures, helping those he meets, and singing with a harp he carries on his back. He’s like a sword and sorcery version of Wellman’s John the Balladeer character. Kardios is likable, he encounters interesting villains, and the stories are creative. I enjoyed these stories a lot.

The Kardios stories first appeared in the Swords Against Darkness anthologies edited by Andrew J. Offut in the 1970s.

The three Kummer Jr. stories are about a hero who has adventures in ancient Mu carrying an axe he calls Heklos and a shield with the image of a lion’s head. In the first story he’s Khor, a warrior from Crete. For the two other stories the character was changed into an American anthropologist named Kirk who travels back in time to Mu somehow.

The stories are exciting and fast paced but I found the changes made to the character a distraction, especially in the second story where it’s set up. Editor D. M. Ritzlin provides an explanation in his introduction with this quote from Ray Palmer, the original editor of the stories:

“We made Khor an American because he is more believable when he is a man we can actually picture in our minds as “real.” Khor was a legendary figure, and rather vague. Also, he “didn’t talk the language.” Now we can give him a modern punch…”

The change was made even though the first story was voted the second most popular story by the readers. As I mentioned, I found it distracting but I wonder what the original readers thought. 

The Khor/Kirk stories first appeared in issues of Fantastic Adventures in 1939 and 1940. 

In the Leigh Brackett story, two adventurers searching the ocean floor for the sunken continent of Mu find themselves and their submarine transported back in time twelve thousand years. Fast paced, pulpy fun, with great writing and characterization.

Brackett’s story first appeared in the June 1941 issue of Science Fiction. 

My story ratings:

Manly Wade Wellman stories: 

“The Straggler from Atlantis” (4/5)

“The Dweller in the Temple” (4/5)

“The Guest of Dzinganji” (4/5)

“The Seeker in the Fortress” (4/5)

“The Edge of the World” (5/5) 

Frederick Arnold Kummer Jr. stories: 

“Adventure in Lemuria” (3.5/5)

“Intrigue in Lemuria” (3/5)

“Volcano Slaves of Mu” (3.5/5)

Leigh Brackett story:

“Lord of the Earthquake” (4/5)

I enjoyed reading all the stories, but the Kardios stories were my favorite. Kardios appeared in one more story, “The Slaughter of the Gods.” It's included in a collection titled Renegade Swords, also from DMR Books.