What do you think?
Rate this book
The Michael Kane Trilogy #3
The Masters of the Pit
Michael Moorcock's Eternal Champion returns in the form of Michael Kane, a brilliant Earthman stranded on the treacherous deserts of Ancient Mars! In this sweeping, epic sword-and-planet adventure in the tradition of Edgar Rice Burroughs, Kane and his blue giant companion Hool Haji must travel to the far reaches of the Red Planet to halt the hideous Green Death, an unstoppable disease that rots the mind as well as the body. From gorgeous Karnala, City of Green Mists, to the empty streets of tainted Cend-Amrid to the forgotten weird-science laboratories of the lost, highly advanced Yaksha culture, Masters of the Pit promises stunning locales, disgusting Martian creatures, and relentless action from the Nebula and World Fantasy Award-winning creator of Elric of Melniboné!
Cover Illustration and Frontispiece: Richard Hescox
Cover Illustration and Frontispiece: Richard Hescox
158 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1965
4 people are currently reading
285 people want to read
About the author
Michael Moorcock
1,210 books3,752 followersMichael John Moorcock is an English writer primarily of science fiction and fantasy who has also published a number of literary novels.
Moorcock has mentioned The Gods of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs, The Apple Cart by George Bernard Shaw and The Constable of St. Nicholas by Edward Lester Arnold as the first three books which captured his imagination. He became editor of Tarzan Adventures in 1956, at the age of sixteen, and later moved on to edit Sexton Blake Library. As editor of the controversial British science fiction magazine New Worlds, from May 1964 until March 1971 and then again from 1976 to 1996, Moorcock fostered the development of the science fiction "New Wave" in the UK and indirectly in the United States. His serialization of Norman Spinrad's Bug Jack Barron was notorious for causing British MPs to condemn in Parliament the Arts Council's funding of the magazine.
During this time, he occasionally wrote under the pseudonym of "James Colvin," a "house pseudonym" used by other critics on New Worlds. A spoof obituary of Colvin appeared in New Worlds #197 (January 1970), written by "William Barclay" (another Moorcock pseudonym). Moorcock, indeed, makes much use of the initials "JC", and not entirely coincidentally these are also the initials of Jesus Christ, the subject of his 1967 Nebula award-winning novella Behold the Man, which tells the story of Karl Glogauer, a time-traveller who takes on the role of Christ. They are also the initials of various "Eternal Champion" Moorcock characters such as Jerry Cornelius, Jerry Cornell and Jherek Carnelian. In more recent years, Moorcock has taken to using "Warwick Colvin, Jr." as yet another pseudonym, particularly in his Second Ether fiction.
Moorcock has mentioned The Gods of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs, The Apple Cart by George Bernard Shaw and The Constable of St. Nicholas by Edward Lester Arnold as the first three books which captured his imagination. He became editor of Tarzan Adventures in 1956, at the age of sixteen, and later moved on to edit Sexton Blake Library. As editor of the controversial British science fiction magazine New Worlds, from May 1964 until March 1971 and then again from 1976 to 1996, Moorcock fostered the development of the science fiction "New Wave" in the UK and indirectly in the United States. His serialization of Norman Spinrad's Bug Jack Barron was notorious for causing British MPs to condemn in Parliament the Arts Council's funding of the magazine.
During this time, he occasionally wrote under the pseudonym of "James Colvin," a "house pseudonym" used by other critics on New Worlds. A spoof obituary of Colvin appeared in New Worlds #197 (January 1970), written by "William Barclay" (another Moorcock pseudonym). Moorcock, indeed, makes much use of the initials "JC", and not entirely coincidentally these are also the initials of Jesus Christ, the subject of his 1967 Nebula award-winning novella Behold the Man, which tells the story of Karl Glogauer, a time-traveller who takes on the role of Christ. They are also the initials of various "Eternal Champion" Moorcock characters such as Jerry Cornelius, Jerry Cornell and Jherek Carnelian. In more recent years, Moorcock has taken to using "Warwick Colvin, Jr." as yet another pseudonym, particularly in his Second Ether fiction.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
August 28, 2021
This is a fun read but a little terse compared to some of his other work. I picked up one of Moorcock's Corum books directly after this and was struck by the poetic and descriptive language of the first few pages, which was largely lacking in this novel.
July 5, 2020
While I didn't remember most of the details from the first time I read this book (nearly 40 years ago), it was still a wonderful read. Fast-paced and extremely entertaining.
June 13, 2018
This was in a way the weakest and strongest of the three books in this trilogy about old Mars, odd as that may sound. By the midway point I almost wanted to give the book up, it had gotten impossibly convoluted; side-adventure within side-adventure. Plus some somewhat absurd-looking (described?) creatures became a prominent part of the story for a few chapters. I persevered, though, and actually found the ending a bit touching, and a nice, meaningful way to end the final story in the series. So, overall a mixed bag, but if you’ve read the other two books, you might as well finish the series.
April 6, 2021
So this was the third story on this short novels from Michael Moorcock. And that's a wrap.
Michael Kane was another character in the world of sword and sorcery on Mars. Nothing really particular interesting on him besides the idea of peace instead of strength of arms. That's different at least.
All other characters are not that flash out besides Hool Haji. There are some enemies, human-cats; dog-humans, mechanical and some bird things. It remind me of Island of Dr Moreau mixed with Burroughs own story.
There are some complains, identical with the previous one that deals with the fastpace novel. Moorcock says that he wrote this novels in a week, we are talking at 500 pages so, 100 per day more or less. And it shows. The story at times jumps and jumps and we don't know "what the heck is going on?" Then the action scenes are frankly bad. Rushed and not that fluid.
I have to give a discount since Moorcock was around 25 - well I won't give a discount - because Lovecraft, HP Lovecraft already wrote at that time this kind of novels and frankly way better.
Overall, I read and finish because one of my goals for this year is to finish pending trilogies or series...
Should you read it?
- Well, if you want to read everything from Moorcock multiverse - Yes
- You want to read Sword and Sorcery - Then, no. Way better out there. Most are older than this - late 20's, 30's , 40's and 50's.
Some new writers are going around with this again, so the future could be bright. I've read a couple of weeks before - and it's frankly way better. Go read my review.
Michael Kane was another character in the world of sword and sorcery on Mars. Nothing really particular interesting on him besides the idea of peace instead of strength of arms. That's different at least.
All other characters are not that flash out besides Hool Haji. There are some enemies, human-cats; dog-humans, mechanical and some bird things. It remind me of Island of Dr Moreau mixed with Burroughs own story.
There are some complains, identical with the previous one that deals with the fastpace novel. Moorcock says that he wrote this novels in a week, we are talking at 500 pages so, 100 per day more or less. And it shows. The story at times jumps and jumps and we don't know "what the heck is going on?" Then the action scenes are frankly bad. Rushed and not that fluid.
I have to give a discount since Moorcock was around 25 - well I won't give a discount - because Lovecraft, HP Lovecraft already wrote at that time this kind of novels and frankly way better.
Overall, I read and finish because one of my goals for this year is to finish pending trilogies or series...
Should you read it?
- Well, if you want to read everything from Moorcock multiverse - Yes
- You want to read Sword and Sorcery - Then, no. Way better out there. Most are older than this - late 20's, 30's , 40's and 50's.
Some new writers are going around with this again, so the future could be bright. I've read a couple of weeks before - and it's frankly way better. Go read my review.
May 31, 2017
This is the third and final adventure of the legendary Michael Kane (not to be confused with British actor Michael Caine, whose voice people love imitating on late night talk shows). If you've read the previous two novels in the trilogy, you know exactly what to expect. The first half of the book made me think that Moorcock was improving at this type of storytelling, but it turns out he was just saving the really dumb stuff for later.
This series never stops feeling like a rip off of Edgar Rice Burroughs' JOHN CARTER stories, but one can't really complain, since the JOHN CARTER books borrowed so heavily from Edwin Lester Arnold's GULLIVER OF MARS.
There's not much one can say about MASTER'S OF THE PIT. Michael Kane fights the bad guys, gets captured, escapes, fights other bad guys, gets captured, escapes, fights other bad guys, gets captured, escapes...and so on and so forth. It's entertaining enough, but not something you'd go out and recommend. Interestingly, this book attempts to soften Michael Kane's image a bit, as though Moorcock were starting to feel guilty about the level of violence in these tales. At one point in the narrative, Kane insists on abandoning the capital city rather than kill the human zombies that are bent on invading it. Since this is your typical pulp novel, such noble intentions inevitably pay off in the end. Unfortunately, deus ex machinas aren't so common in real life.
This series never stops feeling like a rip off of Edgar Rice Burroughs' JOHN CARTER stories, but one can't really complain, since the JOHN CARTER books borrowed so heavily from Edwin Lester Arnold's GULLIVER OF MARS.
There's not much one can say about MASTER'S OF THE PIT. Michael Kane fights the bad guys, gets captured, escapes, fights other bad guys, gets captured, escapes, fights other bad guys, gets captured, escapes...and so on and so forth. It's entertaining enough, but not something you'd go out and recommend. Interestingly, this book attempts to soften Michael Kane's image a bit, as though Moorcock were starting to feel guilty about the level of violence in these tales. At one point in the narrative, Kane insists on abandoning the capital city rather than kill the human zombies that are bent on invading it. Since this is your typical pulp novel, such noble intentions inevitably pay off in the end. Unfortunately, deus ex machinas aren't so common in real life.
February 15, 2018
Kane and Hool Haji on a journey back to the Yaksha vaults... but before they stop at a city of the dead-faced Eleven; and encounter Bagarad fighters or looters, having to journey by ship with them. Stranded on the western continent, they all find the Masters of the Crystal Pit (the Jihadoos) as well as dog- and cat-folk. kane's original mission is not the same and it changes every time he finds stranger events. More creatures of Vashu are presented to us, this time sea monsters. Finally, Kane and his royal relatives must make a grave decision as to the Green Death.
Excellent series with direct homage to Robert E. Howard and Lovecraft as well.
Good quote: "The Beast in Man leads him to create machines for his well-being..."
And more typos...
Excellent series with direct homage to Robert E. Howard and Lovecraft as well.
Good quote: "The Beast in Man leads him to create machines for his well-being..."
And more typos...
July 7, 2022
My first adventure into Moorcock, and I get the hype.
Arguably the most economic writer I've read, most paragraphs no longer than 2 lines, yet you see the world and keeps you entertained.
But its the little philosophical musings that really elevate his work. Deep beneath, what would usually be pulp-styled work, a layer peaks out and tips its hat.
Whilst there're clichés, there's enough subversion to keep it fresh, and occasionally his economic style could slow down--especially in action sequences.
However, I loved this book. It has a healthy balance of entertainment and thought; far from blowing your mind but it sets it apart--probably why he's renowned.
Arguably the most economic writer I've read, most paragraphs no longer than 2 lines, yet you see the world and keeps you entertained.
But its the little philosophical musings that really elevate his work. Deep beneath, what would usually be pulp-styled work, a layer peaks out and tips its hat.
Whilst there're clichés, there's enough subversion to keep it fresh, and occasionally his economic style could slow down--especially in action sequences.
However, I loved this book. It has a healthy balance of entertainment and thought; far from blowing your mind but it sets it apart--probably why he's renowned.
May 13, 2024
The quality definitely drops off the more you read these pulpy novels.
Your suspension of disbelief goes to breaking point until it shatters and you are struck with the shrapnel.
Moorcock, more-crock more likely.
Kane goes off on another adventure stamping his moral code all over the surface of Mars, killing all in his path if he has to.
A plague of mind and body is spreading across the land and he has decided to find a cure, of course he bloody has, more trekking and more fighting and even uplifted 'pets'
get a look in! (Calling Dr Moreau).
A quick and rather tedious read, especially if you have read the others in this trilogy.
Your suspension of disbelief goes to breaking point until it shatters and you are struck with the shrapnel.
Moorcock, more-crock more likely.
Kane goes off on another adventure stamping his moral code all over the surface of Mars, killing all in his path if he has to.
A plague of mind and body is spreading across the land and he has decided to find a cure, of course he bloody has, more trekking and more fighting and even uplifted 'pets'
get a look in! (Calling Dr Moreau).
A quick and rather tedious read, especially if you have read the others in this trilogy.
November 2, 2019
This was pretty poor. Some random stuff happened. It was poorly described, didn’t hang together or make sense. “There would be even more memories for me soon. Of that I was sure.” Ho ho, no there won’t.
August 10, 2022
Satisfying conclusion to the trilogy. Full review: https://fakegeekboy.wordpress.com/201...
August 30, 2022
This book is awesome for people who like adventures and science fiction.
Read
September 3, 2024okay just the first one i really like after the second one a lost interest
February 27, 2025
Mind devouring plague
strikes Mars; Earth hunk solves problem
with lazy man's aid
strikes Mars; Earth hunk solves problem
with lazy man's aid
January 11, 2012
Edgar Rice Burroughs-style Martian adventure, originally written as a potboiler to help keep New Worlds magazine afloat. While taking part in and helping create the New Wave, Moorcock wrote these Martian novels under a pseudonym, but there are trademark elements. He refers to several of his New Wave peers via the names of various islands - Ssidla, Drallab, Nosirrah and even Kcocroom together with descriptions that convey his own impressions of these writers' worth and character, if you know who they are.
This is more or less John Carter territory, but just as Moorcock worked against Howard's stereotypes in his Elric stories, he works against the unexamined place violent combat plays in novels like Burroughs' imbuing his hero Michael Kane with a philosophy that sees violence as the result of fear and seeks to avoid it in favour of more enlightened solutions when possible. Of course, it rarely becomes possible to do so in this swashbuckling adventure. But there is a pivotal point when Kane and his people choose the peaceful option with salutary results. There are also reflections of Moorcock's recurring themes of order, chaos and the importance of balance.
So this has most of the Moorcockian trademarks and a thrilling breakneck plot, but it's all a bit half-baked, not told with the verve and mastery I associate with the best Moorcock. Not something to be read early in one's exploration of Moorcock's Multiverse, but not a bad little novel either.
This is more or less John Carter territory, but just as Moorcock worked against Howard's stereotypes in his Elric stories, he works against the unexamined place violent combat plays in novels like Burroughs' imbuing his hero Michael Kane with a philosophy that sees violence as the result of fear and seeks to avoid it in favour of more enlightened solutions when possible. Of course, it rarely becomes possible to do so in this swashbuckling adventure. But there is a pivotal point when Kane and his people choose the peaceful option with salutary results. There are also reflections of Moorcock's recurring themes of order, chaos and the importance of balance.
So this has most of the Moorcockian trademarks and a thrilling breakneck plot, but it's all a bit half-baked, not told with the verve and mastery I associate with the best Moorcock. Not something to be read early in one's exploration of Moorcock's Multiverse, but not a bad little novel either.
April 18, 2012
I didn't really get on with the style of this book, it was like a child's story, "this happened and then this happened and then we went there" with the occasional "I felt happy" thrown in. I have read quite a lot of later Moorcock and never encountered this problem before, I wonder if it was deliberate or just because it was written so early in his career?
The best I can say it that it shows a vivid imagination and the main character was quite likeable.
The best I can say it that it shows a vivid imagination and the main character was quite likeable.
November 26, 2014
Moorcock channels his inner ERB for this fun, pulpy story of an earth man on Mars, fighting awful monsters, angry native warriors, meeting his one true love and just being all around noble and manly.
February 4, 2013
A fun book to read. Published in 1965 it takes one back to the early SF serials. Moorcock tells a complete story in 158 pages. That brevity without sacrificing content is a lost art on today's works of SF/Fantasy.
July 21, 2010
3rd in the Michael Kane series of John Carter pastiches from Moorcock. Written when he was a teenager, I believe. Or quite young. Not great stories but entertaining.
March 8, 2013
Though I really don't care for the writing style, the story its self is pretty entertaining. Its a quick read too.
May 25, 2013
Another book that's at best OK. A lot more random than the others in its picaresque journeyings, but at the end it offers some interesting philosophy.
August 11, 2016
Last one and it was good too. A bit of philosophizing at the end but not as overpowering as with Moorcock's other stuff.
March 17, 2015
Book 3 of the martian trilogy
April 8, 2016
This was a rip roaring Swashbuckler!
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews