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A Harvest of Hoodwinks / Masters of the Lamp
ACE double Novel 52180
- GenresScience Fiction
253 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1970
2 people are currently reading
17 people want to read
About the author
Robert Lory
60 books16 followersLory is the son of Edward and Dorothy Lory. He studied history and social sciences at Harpur College, Binghamton, where he graduated in 1961 with a bachelor's degree. In 1964 he completed a Famous Writers Course and in 1973 a course of the Washington School of Art . After completing his studies, he was a temporary folk singer , industrial photographer , advertising and public relations officer for an electricity and gas utility, sales promotion for a supplier and supervised publications of the Reynolds Metals Company . From 1967 he worked for the Exxon Corporation , first as editor of the Esso Manhattan , Exxon Manhattan and Esso Eastern Review magazines, then as a PR consultant for Esso Eastern Inc. Since 1968, Lory is married to Barbara Banner, with whom he has four children. Since 1971 he is a freelance writer.
1963 Lory published his first SF short story Rundown Worlds of If, more stories followed, which appeared in 1970 collected in A Harvest of Hoodwinks . In 1969 appeared a first fantasy novel, The Eyes of Bolsk, followed in 1970 by the sequel Master of the Etrax.
The nine-volume series Return of Dracula is a mixture of action thriller and horror novels tells the adventures of rich Professor Damien Harmon, telekinetic and paralyzed as a victim of a crime, now in the manner of a vigilante a vendetta against the crime, where he is the help served by the immortal Count Dracula , whom he forces to cooperate with an implanted wooden stake. Supported by Cameron Sanchez, an expert in martial arts , and shapeshifter Ktara, several super villains are being routed and their infernal plans thwarted.
Another romance cycle is Horrorscope , in which an overpowering being - demon or embodied fate - brings the zodiac signs to life and brings horrific unhappiness and death over innocent people.
Both series are according to the lexicon of horror literature , "pure Pulphorror for the mass market." Lorry's science fiction is described by John Clute as "mainly light, fantasy-driven adventure stories, unassuming but neat."
Under the publishing pseudonym Paul Edwards Lory wrote several volumes of the novel series John Eagle, Expeditor, a series of secret agent thrillers.
1963 Lory published his first SF short story Rundown Worlds of If, more stories followed, which appeared in 1970 collected in A Harvest of Hoodwinks . In 1969 appeared a first fantasy novel, The Eyes of Bolsk, followed in 1970 by the sequel Master of the Etrax.
The nine-volume series Return of Dracula is a mixture of action thriller and horror novels tells the adventures of rich Professor Damien Harmon, telekinetic and paralyzed as a victim of a crime, now in the manner of a vigilante a vendetta against the crime, where he is the help served by the immortal Count Dracula , whom he forces to cooperate with an implanted wooden stake. Supported by Cameron Sanchez, an expert in martial arts , and shapeshifter Ktara, several super villains are being routed and their infernal plans thwarted.
Another romance cycle is Horrorscope , in which an overpowering being - demon or embodied fate - brings the zodiac signs to life and brings horrific unhappiness and death over innocent people.
Both series are according to the lexicon of horror literature , "pure Pulphorror for the mass market." Lorry's science fiction is described by John Clute as "mainly light, fantasy-driven adventure stories, unassuming but neat."
Under the publishing pseudonym Paul Edwards Lory wrote several volumes of the novel series John Eagle, Expeditor, a series of secret agent thrillers.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
July 3, 2013
This is another Ace Double, two small books combined into one upside-down from each other so they make a fair-sized paperback. In this case, a short novel and several short stories by former ad executive Robert Lory.
Masters of the Lamp is a spy novel set in the far future. Two agents of the Federation’s Intelligence Arm have gone missing, and the Head, an organic supercomputer, suspects a connection. It’s up to Shamryke Odell (named after a long-extinct plant), top agent, to discover what’s up. Though he prefers to work alone, Sham is teamed up with Aleya Nine of the Merchants’ Guild. He’s reminded that she’s an expendable partner.
Soon enough, the agents find themselves bound to Marquette, the planet of religious fanatics. And not just one denomination, but all sorts of religious fanatics. Disguised as pilgrims, Sham and Aleya must discover what’s really going on behind the scenes, who’s responsible and what their ultimate goal is.
The story is James Bond-ish, with gadgets, double agents and people being killed just as they’re about to spill the secret. Sham is alleged to be a ladies’ man, but doesn’t get any until after the story ends. Religious belief is generally treated as a bit silly, but at least one bit of dogma turns out to be a life-saver for the cult that practices it.
A Harvest of Hoodwinks is an anthology of short tales linked by the theme of deception. The most striking of the stories is “Because of Purple Elephants,” in which two small children discover an alien spaceship, with telepathic invaders aboard. The older of the boys must make a decision that could save Earth or mean death. ”The Star Party” is interesting for following the notion of a genuine astrologer to a painful conclusion. ”Just a God” deals with an abrupt change in theology. And “Debut” is a very short piece that’s almost all twist.
“Snowbird and the Seven Warfs,” about a Cheyenne man mistakenly drafted into an alien game show, demonstrates one of the problems that crops up in Ace Doubles. They were still using rather old-fashioned standards when it came to talking about sex, even in 1970. Thus the last few paragraphs take a very roundabout approach to implying that the man has had his penis enlarged.
This isn’t the best Ace Double I’ve read, but it was bargain priced, and “Debut” really is a gem.
Masters of the Lamp is a spy novel set in the far future. Two agents of the Federation’s Intelligence Arm have gone missing, and the Head, an organic supercomputer, suspects a connection. It’s up to Shamryke Odell (named after a long-extinct plant), top agent, to discover what’s up. Though he prefers to work alone, Sham is teamed up with Aleya Nine of the Merchants’ Guild. He’s reminded that she’s an expendable partner.
Soon enough, the agents find themselves bound to Marquette, the planet of religious fanatics. And not just one denomination, but all sorts of religious fanatics. Disguised as pilgrims, Sham and Aleya must discover what’s really going on behind the scenes, who’s responsible and what their ultimate goal is.
The story is James Bond-ish, with gadgets, double agents and people being killed just as they’re about to spill the secret. Sham is alleged to be a ladies’ man, but doesn’t get any until after the story ends. Religious belief is generally treated as a bit silly, but at least one bit of dogma turns out to be a life-saver for the cult that practices it.
A Harvest of Hoodwinks is an anthology of short tales linked by the theme of deception. The most striking of the stories is “Because of Purple Elephants,” in which two small children discover an alien spaceship, with telepathic invaders aboard. The older of the boys must make a decision that could save Earth or mean death. ”The Star Party” is interesting for following the notion of a genuine astrologer to a painful conclusion. ”Just a God” deals with an abrupt change in theology. And “Debut” is a very short piece that’s almost all twist.
“Snowbird and the Seven Warfs,” about a Cheyenne man mistakenly drafted into an alien game show, demonstrates one of the problems that crops up in Ace Doubles. They were still using rather old-fashioned standards when it came to talking about sex, even in 1970. Thus the last few paragraphs take a very roundabout approach to implying that the man has had his penis enlarged.
This isn’t the best Ace Double I’ve read, but it was bargain priced, and “Debut” really is a gem.
December 17, 2012
Ace Double Novel 444-52180-075
Harvest of Hoodwinks, grade B+
Master of the Lamp, grade C+
Harvest of Hoodwinks, grade B+
Master of the Lamp, grade C+
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews