[ { SWORDS OF THE STEPPES (COMPLETE COSSACK ADVENTURES #04) } ] by Lamb, Harold (AUTHOR) Jun-01-2007 [ Paperback ]

The Complete Cossack Adventures #4

by Harold Lamb

A master of driving pace, exotic setting, and complex plotting, Harold Lamb was one of Robert E. Howard's favorite writers. Here at last is every pulse-pounding, action-packed story of Lamb's greatest hero, Khlit the Cossack, the “wolf of the steppes.” Journey with the unsung grandfather of sword and sorcery in search of ancient tombs, gleaming treasure, and thrilling landscapes. Match wits with deadly swordsmen, scheming priests, and evil cults. Rescue lovely damsels, ride with bold comrades, and hazard everything on your brains, skill, and a little luck. This four-volume set collects for the first time the complete Cossack stories of Harold every adventure of Khlit the Cossack and those of his friends, allies, and fellow Cossacks, many of which have never appeared between book covers. Compiled and edited by the Harold Lamb scholar Howard Andrew Jones, each volume features essays Lamb wrote about his stories, an informative introduction by a popular author, and a wealth of rare, exciting swashbuckling fiction. In the concluding volume, gallop into adventure with Khlit and Kirdy for their final challenge in The Wolf Master , out of print since 1933. Then, delve into a treasure trove of stories gleaned from rare an account of a desperate mission for Khlit’s old friend Ayub; three tales of the valorous Koum and the champion swordsman Gurka; two daring ventures by Stenka Razin, the Robin Hood of the steppes; five short stories of Uncle Yarak, a Cossack fighting in World War II; and more than a half dozen other swashbuckling tales from the steppes.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Fantasy

Paperback

First published January 6, 2007

About the author

Harold Albert Lamb was an American historian, screenwriter, short story writer, and novelist.

Born in Alpine, New Jersey, he attended Columbia University, where his interest in the peoples and history of Asia began. Lamb built a career with his writing from an early age. He got his start in the pulp magazines, quickly moving to the prestigious Adventure magazine, his primary fiction outlet for nineteen years. In 1927 he wrote a biography of Genghis Khan, and following on its success turned more and more to the writing of non-fiction, penning numerous biographies and popular history books until his death in 1962. The success of Lamb's two volume history of the Crusades led to his discovery by Cecil B. DeMille, who employed Lamb as a technical advisor on a related movie, The Crusades, and used him as a screenwriter on many other DeMille movies thereafter. Lamb spoke French, Latin, Persian, and Arabic, and, by his own account, a smattering of Manchu-Tartar.

From Wikipedia

Reviews

[Joseph · Rating 4 out of 5]

The last couple Kirdy stories (one of which does have an appearance by Khlit the Cossack) and what I'd probably describe as a miscellany -- a number of other Cossack stories set in various times from the 17th Century onwards (including a handful that would have been contemporary fiction when they were published in the 1940s -- Cossacks dealing with Nazi incursions and the like). As with all of Lamb's work, carefully written, deftly plotted and well worth your attention (even if I'd recommend starting with the earlier Cossack collections to see him at his peak).