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Gandalara Cycle #1-3
The Gandalara Cycle: Volume I by Garrett, Randall(April 1, 1986) Mass Market Paperback
This is an omnibus of 3 novels; THE STEEL OF RAITHSKAR, THE GLASS OF DYSKORNIS, and THE BRONZE OF EDDARTA.One moment he was Ricardo Carillo, an aging language professor from our own world. The next, he found himself in a young, strong body in the exotic desert world of Gandalara.He was now a master swordsman telepathically linked to a giant warcat called Keeshah. And he was a man on the run, accused of murder and the theft of a precious gem with awesome, perhaps magical, powers.With the aid of Tarani, a beautiful illusionist, he sets out on a perilous quest to recover the sacred gem he had supposedly stolen and to clear his newfound name.
Mass Market Paperback
First published April 1, 1986
6 people are currently reading
298 people want to read
About the author
Randall Garrett
438 books85 followersRandall Garrett's full name was Gordon Randall Phillip David Garrett. For more information about him see https://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/ea.cgi?239
He was married to Vicki Ann Heydron
His pseudonyms include: Gordon Randall Garrett, Gordon Aghill, Grandal Barretton, Alexander Blade, Ralph Burke, Gordon Garrett, David Gordon, Richard Greer, Ivar Jorgenson, Darrel T. Langart, Blake MacKenzie, Jonathan Blake MacKenzie, Seaton Mckettrig, Clyde (T.) Mitchell, Mark Phillips (with Laurence Janifer), Robert Randall, Leonard G. Spencer, S.M. Tenneshaw, Gerald Vance.
He was married to Vicki Ann Heydron
His pseudonyms include: Gordon Randall Garrett, Gordon Aghill, Grandal Barretton, Alexander Blade, Ralph Burke, Gordon Garrett, David Gordon, Richard Greer, Ivar Jorgenson, Darrel T. Langart, Blake MacKenzie, Jonathan Blake MacKenzie, Seaton Mckettrig, Clyde (T.) Mitchell, Mark Phillips (with Laurence Janifer), Robert Randall, Leonard G. Spencer, S.M. Tenneshaw, Gerald Vance.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
May 11, 2018
I guess you can call a series obscure when you can't even remember how you heard of it, though that could just be a sign that my memory is going. Fortunately large cats tend to stick in the mind.
What I do remember is a little over eight years ago I must have come across a mention of it in my online browsing and done some further research about the Gandalara Cycle, a series of seven novels written by Randall Garrett and his wife Vicki Ann Heydron. Taking place on a desert world where people could potentially bond with giant cats and presumably lie around in giant sunbeams with them, it sounded intriguing enough that I made a mental note to acquire the books (all out of print) so I could experience Big Cat-o-mania myself.
Unfortunately I didn't bother writing any of the titles or authors down, apparently assuming that my steel trap mind would instantly allow me to call it up when the need arose. The need arose when one day I thought, "Hey, maybe I should go and get those cat books I was thinking about" and subsequently realized that I hadn't the slightest recollection of what I should be looking for beyond knowing that I wanted it once. Thus was the hard line between youth and the rest of my life drawn.
At this point most rational people would have given up or assumed it would one day come back to them, or perhaps told themselves the comfortable fiction that it was all a dream. I, on the other hand, spent a good portion of my evening plugging different terms into an Internet bookseller search engine attempting as if by magic to conjure up a cover image or title that would trigger some recognition. All I could remember was the word "cycle" and that it was out of print, yet somehow by narrowing the genre to SF and scrolling through probably more pages than I'd like to think about . . . lo and behold it was revealed to me.
So with that done I made myself a mental note to go back and purchase them when I had the-don't be silly, of course I bought them right away. Thus endeth that quest and my determination to more vigorously utilize the "Wish List" function that some websites helpfully supply.
If you've read this far down, the question you may be asking is: was all that effort worth it? Having made it about halfway through the cycle so far, I would say it was a good find.
Prior to this series, Randall Garrett was already somewhat well known in the SF world, having been a prolific author during the Golden Age. A contemporary of Asimov and company, his stories were often witty tales that often had puns and references to other works he was fond of (apparently the Lord Darcy series is full of this kind of thing). He worked with a young Robert Silverberg and was also known for being somewhat . . . forward with the ladies that back then was probably treated with an eyeroll and a "Oh, that Randall" but probably wouldn't go over so well today.
With most of his work in the fifties and sixties by the time the late seventies rolled around his career was perhaps winding down. With his wife he came up with the idea for the Gandalara Cycle but unfortunately he contracted encephalitis toward the tailend of 1979 and spent the majority of the last eight years of his life in a coma, which is not probably not the ending he envisioned.
However the plotting and notes he and his wife had come up with were detailed enough that she was able to write the series anyway (though the seventh and last volume is apparently all her because they hadn't worked that one out too well). Not having read any Garrett prior to this I don't know if she's aping his style, if its a blend or totally her throughout keeping to his plotting.
What it's about, though? Its about being reborn in a hot young body. With tusks. Ricardo Carillo is a college professor of languages who's reached the end of his career and the end of his life. While he's going on one last world tour before his ill body gives up the ghost, his cruise ship appears to be struck by a flaming object from the sky (while he's talking to a lovely young lady, which is either bad timing or the perfect way to go) but instead of being incinerated or given superpowers he wakes up in the middle of the desert with a dead body nearby and a new body to house his mind. He's also got a giant cat named Keeshah that's telepathically linked to him, thus ensuring his head is full of nothing but adorable memes. Oh, and that new body? Totally not human? And that desert? Totally not on Earth.
What follows then is good old Ricardo trying to figure out a) what happened to him, b) where is he and what the ground rules are and c) whose body this is. That last one he figures out pretty fast as he meets his very confused father and learns that they're both in trouble as an important gem has been stolen. Unfortunately that means almost everyone wants to try and kill him for one reason or another. Fortunately his new body has the physique of Conan the Barbarian with the mind of someone with a PhD who has combat experience (Ricardo was in the Army and served in World War Two). The downside? Everyone else is pretty good with a sword, too. However, let's not forget: giant cat.
For a series I've never heard of this was surprisingly fun to read. Garrett and Heydron appear to have worked out a lot of physics and cultural elements ahead of time so you get the feel of a world that's been chugging away long before Ricardo and his new hot loins arrive. The writing style is . . . appealing, that's the best way I can describe it. Told in the first person, it strikes a nice balance between moving the plot along and Ricardo musing about the differences between the life he used to lead and what appears to be his new life now. Making him an older man in a young man's body was probably the smartest idea this series has because instead of some uneducated farmboy fumbling his way toward glory Ricardo is generally smart enough not to rush into things and experienced enough to think his way out of situations cleverly and if need be stab people in the throat.
Each book has its own standalone plot but in the manner of the best series its got an overarching plot that's gradually revealed and is poised to eventually take center stage (which means the omnibus editions are probably the way to go, each individual book reads fairly fast so devouring it in large chunks is almost inevitable). The world is gradually expanded as he learns more about why he's linked to a big cat (their relationship is one of the more touching aspects of the book . . . so much so that when during a separation very late in the series Ricardo lashes out and then collapses, saying "Why is it so quiet?" is genuinely affecting), finds out just why his body wound up in the desert and teams up with a young illusionist named Tarani who has a smart pet bird, leaving them just one animal away from an official legion of super-pets.
It all goes down easy and almost everything works. The dialogue is fairly sharp, the characterizations are well thought out, the setting is fascinating and even the plotting is deft (just about every time I wondered "Are they going to address . . ." it wound up getting addressed eventually). They mix the action and the clever stuff well, pace the mysteries and the revelations out nicely, with the end result winding up being an entertaining experience. It doesn't quite have the intellectual depth of "Book of the New Sun" (unless there's a twist coming in the back half of the series . . . stay tuned, I guess) but its more than some sword and sorcery pastiche with delusions of grandeur. Probably unjustly forgotten in an age where people seem to love long series its probably worth rediscovering again, if only for the "I was there first" bragging rights before someone goes and makes it into a TV miniseries.
What I do remember is a little over eight years ago I must have come across a mention of it in my online browsing and done some further research about the Gandalara Cycle, a series of seven novels written by Randall Garrett and his wife Vicki Ann Heydron. Taking place on a desert world where people could potentially bond with giant cats and presumably lie around in giant sunbeams with them, it sounded intriguing enough that I made a mental note to acquire the books (all out of print) so I could experience Big Cat-o-mania myself.
Unfortunately I didn't bother writing any of the titles or authors down, apparently assuming that my steel trap mind would instantly allow me to call it up when the need arose. The need arose when one day I thought, "Hey, maybe I should go and get those cat books I was thinking about" and subsequently realized that I hadn't the slightest recollection of what I should be looking for beyond knowing that I wanted it once. Thus was the hard line between youth and the rest of my life drawn.
At this point most rational people would have given up or assumed it would one day come back to them, or perhaps told themselves the comfortable fiction that it was all a dream. I, on the other hand, spent a good portion of my evening plugging different terms into an Internet bookseller search engine attempting as if by magic to conjure up a cover image or title that would trigger some recognition. All I could remember was the word "cycle" and that it was out of print, yet somehow by narrowing the genre to SF and scrolling through probably more pages than I'd like to think about . . . lo and behold it was revealed to me.
So with that done I made myself a mental note to go back and purchase them when I had the-don't be silly, of course I bought them right away. Thus endeth that quest and my determination to more vigorously utilize the "Wish List" function that some websites helpfully supply.
If you've read this far down, the question you may be asking is: was all that effort worth it? Having made it about halfway through the cycle so far, I would say it was a good find.
Prior to this series, Randall Garrett was already somewhat well known in the SF world, having been a prolific author during the Golden Age. A contemporary of Asimov and company, his stories were often witty tales that often had puns and references to other works he was fond of (apparently the Lord Darcy series is full of this kind of thing). He worked with a young Robert Silverberg and was also known for being somewhat . . . forward with the ladies that back then was probably treated with an eyeroll and a "Oh, that Randall" but probably wouldn't go over so well today.
With most of his work in the fifties and sixties by the time the late seventies rolled around his career was perhaps winding down. With his wife he came up with the idea for the Gandalara Cycle but unfortunately he contracted encephalitis toward the tailend of 1979 and spent the majority of the last eight years of his life in a coma, which is not probably not the ending he envisioned.
However the plotting and notes he and his wife had come up with were detailed enough that she was able to write the series anyway (though the seventh and last volume is apparently all her because they hadn't worked that one out too well). Not having read any Garrett prior to this I don't know if she's aping his style, if its a blend or totally her throughout keeping to his plotting.
What it's about, though? Its about being reborn in a hot young body. With tusks. Ricardo Carillo is a college professor of languages who's reached the end of his career and the end of his life. While he's going on one last world tour before his ill body gives up the ghost, his cruise ship appears to be struck by a flaming object from the sky (while he's talking to a lovely young lady, which is either bad timing or the perfect way to go) but instead of being incinerated or given superpowers he wakes up in the middle of the desert with a dead body nearby and a new body to house his mind. He's also got a giant cat named Keeshah that's telepathically linked to him, thus ensuring his head is full of nothing but adorable memes. Oh, and that new body? Totally not human? And that desert? Totally not on Earth.
What follows then is good old Ricardo trying to figure out a) what happened to him, b) where is he and what the ground rules are and c) whose body this is. That last one he figures out pretty fast as he meets his very confused father and learns that they're both in trouble as an important gem has been stolen. Unfortunately that means almost everyone wants to try and kill him for one reason or another. Fortunately his new body has the physique of Conan the Barbarian with the mind of someone with a PhD who has combat experience (Ricardo was in the Army and served in World War Two). The downside? Everyone else is pretty good with a sword, too. However, let's not forget: giant cat.
For a series I've never heard of this was surprisingly fun to read. Garrett and Heydron appear to have worked out a lot of physics and cultural elements ahead of time so you get the feel of a world that's been chugging away long before Ricardo and his new hot loins arrive. The writing style is . . . appealing, that's the best way I can describe it. Told in the first person, it strikes a nice balance between moving the plot along and Ricardo musing about the differences between the life he used to lead and what appears to be his new life now. Making him an older man in a young man's body was probably the smartest idea this series has because instead of some uneducated farmboy fumbling his way toward glory Ricardo is generally smart enough not to rush into things and experienced enough to think his way out of situations cleverly and if need be stab people in the throat.
Each book has its own standalone plot but in the manner of the best series its got an overarching plot that's gradually revealed and is poised to eventually take center stage (which means the omnibus editions are probably the way to go, each individual book reads fairly fast so devouring it in large chunks is almost inevitable). The world is gradually expanded as he learns more about why he's linked to a big cat (their relationship is one of the more touching aspects of the book . . . so much so that when during a separation very late in the series Ricardo lashes out and then collapses, saying "Why is it so quiet?" is genuinely affecting), finds out just why his body wound up in the desert and teams up with a young illusionist named Tarani who has a smart pet bird, leaving them just one animal away from an official legion of super-pets.
It all goes down easy and almost everything works. The dialogue is fairly sharp, the characterizations are well thought out, the setting is fascinating and even the plotting is deft (just about every time I wondered "Are they going to address . . ." it wound up getting addressed eventually). They mix the action and the clever stuff well, pace the mysteries and the revelations out nicely, with the end result winding up being an entertaining experience. It doesn't quite have the intellectual depth of "Book of the New Sun" (unless there's a twist coming in the back half of the series . . . stay tuned, I guess) but its more than some sword and sorcery pastiche with delusions of grandeur. Probably unjustly forgotten in an age where people seem to love long series its probably worth rediscovering again, if only for the "I was there first" bragging rights before someone goes and makes it into a TV miniseries.
May 22, 2012
Discovered these books in the early 90's, and immediately fell in love. I mean, a large cat that could be ridden like a horse! What a neat idea! I wasn't, at that time, thrilled with 1st person POV, but as I voraciously read each book, I didn't even notice, I was so caught up in Keesha and Rikardon's world. I don't know that there is anything about the series that I don't like. I re-read this series every few years, and get swept up and absorbed into it everytime. So good!
February 22, 2020
How would you feel if you were suddenly asked to live someone else's life? A life where you are being saught by the police, organized-crime and an unwanted prospective bride. In "The Gandalara Cycle," the old and dying Ricardo Carillo finds himself in the body of a young man, in an unfamiliar world, with a large lump on his head and a freakishly large cat stalking him.
There are seven books in this series and each of them is a good read. I particularly like the first novel because Ricardo is seeing everything with fresh eyes. His unique way of dealing with things prompts some interesting reactions from all those who think they know him. In a sense, many believe the problems of other people are minor, in comparison to their own. This story allows us to explore that theory. Can a complete stranger untangle a young man's life?
All seven novels are tied to a logical plot-line but this structure is revealed a small piece at a time. In this way, the narrative is full of enough suspense and action to encourage some very quick reading. There is occasional misdirection so that we have to turn our personal theories upside-down, several times. It's good value, because each time that happens, you are forced to review what has already happened in a new light.
The society depicted is not overly different to reality, although the inclusion of a small minority, , is pivotal. This concept has been well explored elsewhere but the author uses the subtle variations well, drawing the possibilities into new and interesting directions, both political and metaphysical. These books should interest those who enjoy traditional science fiction as well as fantasy buffs. Although often out of print, I recommend you try to find secondhand copies somewhere.
There are seven books in this series and each of them is a good read. I particularly like the first novel because Ricardo is seeing everything with fresh eyes. His unique way of dealing with things prompts some interesting reactions from all those who think they know him. In a sense, many believe the problems of other people are minor, in comparison to their own. This story allows us to explore that theory. Can a complete stranger untangle a young man's life?
All seven novels are tied to a logical plot-line but this structure is revealed a small piece at a time. In this way, the narrative is full of enough suspense and action to encourage some very quick reading. There is occasional misdirection so that we have to turn our personal theories upside-down, several times. It's good value, because each time that happens, you are forced to review what has already happened in a new light.
The society depicted is not overly different to reality, although the inclusion of a small minority, , is pivotal. This concept has been well explored elsewhere but the author uses the subtle variations well, drawing the possibilities into new and interesting directions, both political and metaphysical. These books should interest those who enjoy traditional science fiction as well as fantasy buffs. Although often out of print, I recommend you try to find secondhand copies somewhere.
August 1, 2023
Ill and ageing professor Ricardo Carillo is on what he believes to be his last trip when he is, apparently, killed by a meteorite. But then he wakes up, and finds himself in a new body and a new world. He is now in the desert realm of Gandalara, and has the body of a strong young man, telepathically bonded to a giant cat that he uses as a steed. A new life of adventures and possibilities awaits ...
This book contains the first three novels in the Gandalara series, ‘The Steel of Raithskar’, ‘The Glass of Dyskornis’, and ‘The Bronze of Eddarta’. These follow an over-arching plot begun in the first one – Ricardo’s arrival in Gandalara coincides with the theft of a sacred gem, a crime which he and his companions must attempt to solve. The story does continue beyond these three books, but if you don’t read any further ‘The Bronze of Eddarta’ does wrap things up enough to make it a satisfying trilogy. Neither of the first two, however, have much of a conclusion – I recommend reading this compilation volume rather than the single instalments.
There are a couple of textual errors here and there – for example, the name of the waterfall switches randomly between Skarkel and Sharkel, and in the first book the city of Chizan is always written in italics, for no apparent reason (none of the other place names are italicised). There’s also the odd spelling mistake, like “wups” for “whoops.”
All in all these are very entertaining novels. They’re well-written, with an interesting plot and fascinating world-building. Definitely worth reading for fantasy fans, especially if you also like cats!
This book contains the first three novels in the Gandalara series, ‘The Steel of Raithskar’, ‘The Glass of Dyskornis’, and ‘The Bronze of Eddarta’. These follow an over-arching plot begun in the first one – Ricardo’s arrival in Gandalara coincides with the theft of a sacred gem, a crime which he and his companions must attempt to solve. The story does continue beyond these three books, but if you don’t read any further ‘The Bronze of Eddarta’ does wrap things up enough to make it a satisfying trilogy. Neither of the first two, however, have much of a conclusion – I recommend reading this compilation volume rather than the single instalments.
There are a couple of textual errors here and there – for example, the name of the waterfall switches randomly between Skarkel and Sharkel, and in the first book the city of Chizan is always written in italics, for no apparent reason (none of the other place names are italicised). There’s also the odd spelling mistake, like “wups” for “whoops.”
All in all these are very entertaining novels. They’re well-written, with an interesting plot and fascinating world-building. Definitely worth reading for fantasy fans, especially if you also like cats!
May 11, 2017
I read these books when they first came out. Fortunately when I reached the stage of buying book 4, books 4, 5 & 6 had been amalgamated into one omnibus. So I got all of them at once. This meant continuous reading of three marvellous books without a break. My favourite kind of reading.
I must say all the books were top notch and I have reread them several times but not since the mid 2000s, when they were packed away for our move to Tasmania.
So now I am ready to unpack, yea another reread and the intense excitement is to happen again.
I must say all the books were top notch and I have reread them several times but not since the mid 2000s, when they were packed away for our move to Tasmania.
So now I am ready to unpack, yea another reread and the intense excitement is to happen again.
September 23, 2019
Read this sometime back in 1986 and then forgot all about it. Forgot the authors' names, the title, even the major plot points. Sadly, I gave away hundreds of 1980s fantasy in the 1990s when I moved house a lot. So...I'm going to get me a copy of this and re-read it. Wonder how my 52 year old self will rate the book compared to my 19 year old self
January 10, 2019
This is a really great series! Great Classic Sci-Fi with an unexpected twist.
I read it for the first time as a teenager, then reread it a couple of times since.
I highly recommend it, especially to Sci-Fi/Fantasy readers who are Cat lovers.
I read it for the first time as a teenager, then reread it a couple of times since.
I highly recommend it, especially to Sci-Fi/Fantasy readers who are Cat lovers.
Want to read
July 22, 2021This book was one of the books that made me love reading. I can't stop thinking about it. I want to read it again and again until I lost my book, and I was so devastated. I love this book! And now I can't find a free copy anywhere.
October 14, 2024
Long and a bit repetitive. I felt no urge to continue onto to read the second 'cycle' . Sad as I really like Randall Garrett's Lord Darcy books, but these just didn't have the same interesting characters or plotting. It wasn't really a world I wanted to spend more time visiting.
September 30, 2019
Read this series in high school. Fun to re-read an old favorite. Not as good as I remembered it though.
January 22, 2021
4 stars. Pretty good. Interesting world-building.
August 23, 2021
This isn't series I' ve been re reading since I was in my 20's, that's that's a couple of decade's ago . I really like the idea they have been built around.
November 12, 2016
Simply amazing story set in a beautiful world.
June 16, 2025
You have to see this video. Right on track with book
https://www.facebook.com/share/r/19rU...
https://www.facebook.com/share/r/19rU...
May 2, 2019
Such a delight to discover a rather obscure fantasy—and find it so good. Great world-building and unexpected plot twists as the story of Gandalara and the mystery of the true purpose of the protagonist's quest unfold in each volume. I love Garrett's Lord Darcy series and his short stories; this adds another dimension, through the writing of his wife and co-author Vicki Heydron.
June 22, 2016
I have very rarely re-read books and I've read this series 3 times in 25 years. It's amazing.
The plot line is a basic hero-quest. The twist is that the the "good guys" and "bad guys" are really hard to define. There is also a nice addition of large, lion-like felines that communicate telepathically with their "chosen"; no spoiler, this is revealed in the second chapter of book 1.
What I like best about the books is the writing. It's tightly written, if a bit "testosterone-y" for the first several books (more swashbuckling than you'ld think, the first couple of books are very male driven). But the male half of the writing duo sadly passed away and, in my mind, the books improved, so did the inclusion of a strong female character.
The books were originally published individually and re-printed into omnibus editions as vol 1-3, 4-6, and the series conclusion #7.
The plot line is a basic hero-quest. The twist is that the the "good guys" and "bad guys" are really hard to define. There is also a nice addition of large, lion-like felines that communicate telepathically with their "chosen"; no spoiler, this is revealed in the second chapter of book 1.
What I like best about the books is the writing. It's tightly written, if a bit "testosterone-y" for the first several books (more swashbuckling than you'ld think, the first couple of books are very male driven). But the male half of the writing duo sadly passed away and, in my mind, the books improved, so did the inclusion of a strong female character.
The books were originally published individually and re-printed into omnibus editions as vol 1-3, 4-6, and the series conclusion #7.
February 21, 2015
This is a novel of epic proportions (there are 2 sequels) that you will want to read more than once. (That is my qualifier for the coveted 5 stars) Older folks will love the fantasy of an old person inhabiting a younger body, but that is where the cliche ends. The world is well made and full of depth, immersing you utterly into its daily life of food and survival to espionage and its political turmoils. The main character's back story is also bittersweet, yet not intrusive and utterly works within the realm presented. If you can find an intact copy, READ IT. This novel has to be experienced.
February 19, 2009
I am partial to series of books that sweep you up in the lives of the characters. This scifi series is full of adventure and there's a bit of mystery that kept me interested throughout. I felt like I was watching a long movie with beautiful settings and likable characters. I especially enjoyed reading about the link between that main character and his lion. I couldn't put this series down until the end (mostly because I wanted to know how things wrapped up).
February 25, 2014
Great action, adventure, characters and unique fantasy world. I also appreciated that even though the characters and lands don't have typical naming conventions, they aren't as complicated or so numerous as many sci/fi or fantasy novels tend to be. I was able to fall right into the story without frequent referencing as to who was who or where locations were. Made for a more enjoyable read.
Want to read
July 15, 2022This series of books is a wonderful fantasy about a prehistory with a modern character sort of re-incarnated into this prehistoric story line. the characters are well rounded and the story is unique, it is well worth reading.
February 13, 2013
This book is pretty awesome. There are giant cats to ride on in a mysterious desert world, and people with mind powers, and swordfights.
February 16, 2009
An intriguing and exciting glimpse into an alternate early civilization.
May 8, 2011
I haven't read these in a long time, but I recall really enjoying the big twist/secret.
November 8, 2012
Excellent story. As soon as the story begins, you're sucked right in and don't want to put it down. This is what adventure/fantasy should be!
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews