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.