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C.L. Moore SF Gateway Omnibus: Jirel of Joiry, Northwest of Earth, Judgment Night
From the SF Gateway, the most comprehensive digital library of classic SFF titles ever assembled, comes an ideal sample introduction to the fantastic work of C. L. Moore. One of the first women to rise to prominence in the male-dominated world of pulp science fiction, Moore was a mainstay of SF in the middle of the last century, both as a solo writer and in collaboration with her husband, Henry Kuttner. This omnibus shows her mastery of both Sword and Sorcery and planetary romance, reprinting JIREL OF JOIRY, NORTHWEST OF EARTH, and story collection JUDGEMENT NIGHT.
672 pages, Paperback
First published January 16, 2014
About the author
C.L. Moore
342 books224 followersExcerpted from Wikipedia:
Catherine Lucille Moore was an American science fiction and fantasy writer, as C. L. Moore. She was one of the first women to write in the genre, and paved the way for many other female writers in speculative fiction.
Moore met Henry Kuttner, also a science fiction writer, in 1936 when he wrote her a fan letter (mistakenly thinking that "C. L. Moore" was a man), and they married in 1940.
Afterwards, almost all of their stories were written in collaboration under various pseudonyms, most commonly Lewis Padgett (another pseudonym, one Moore often employed for works that involved little or no collaboration, was Lawrence O'Donnell).
Catherine Lucille Moore was an American science fiction and fantasy writer, as C. L. Moore. She was one of the first women to write in the genre, and paved the way for many other female writers in speculative fiction.
Moore met Henry Kuttner, also a science fiction writer, in 1936 when he wrote her a fan letter (mistakenly thinking that "C. L. Moore" was a man), and they married in 1940.
Afterwards, almost all of their stories were written in collaboration under various pseudonyms, most commonly Lewis Padgett (another pseudonym, one Moore often employed for works that involved little or no collaboration, was Lawrence O'Donnell).
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
July 13, 2022
Excellent collection of Golden Age SF and Fantasy (and often a mixture of both), sometimes with a dusting of Cosmic Horror. Certainly a lot of it is pulp, but it's highly superior pulp that very obviously influenced so many authors who followed in its author's footsteps. Hopelessly romantic, melodramatic, melancholy, full of adventure and atmosphere and wry joy.
I can think of no better way to some up this collection than to quote from its introduction (itself taken from The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction): "They are deeply healthy for the human imagination."
Thoroughly recommended for those with an interest in genre history, and for those who just like a bloody entertaining tale well told.
I can think of no better way to some up this collection than to quote from its introduction (itself taken from The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction): "They are deeply healthy for the human imagination."
Thoroughly recommended for those with an interest in genre history, and for those who just like a bloody entertaining tale well told.
March 24, 2026
I am going to devide my comments by the segments of the book and I have much less to say about the last because I cheery-picked a few stories that have received praise: 'Judgement Night' and Paradise Street. The rest I browsed.
Jirel of Joiry. I have over-inflated visions of writing a book that might have a character like Jirel or a 'Magnificent Seven' of Jirel-like female heroines appearing. So this was a book I have had on the shelf for some time.
Moore's five stories ("Black God's Kiss," "Black God's Shadow," "Jirel Meets Magic," "The Dark Land," and "Hellsgarde") feature the beautiful swordswoman Jirel, lady ruler of a feudal fiefdom in the Dark Ages France, were said to be germinal in the development of 'sword-and-sorcery' fantasy as the work of her contemporary, Robert E. Howard. Jirel of Joiry was the first female sword and sorcery heroine so a good place to start I thought.
She’s tough, brave, proud and hot-tempered. She leads the battle from the front and refuses to be a modest and obedient doormat to the noblemen of her time. So, I was a bit disappointed that Moore features Jirel in these stories, mostly in adventures that see her in 'battle' with dark and evil wizardry, usually in otherworldly, other-dimensional, dream-like realms. There are no extensive battle scenes of medieval armies going at it. Or her, Conan-like, whittling away at armoured opponents with sword and battleaxe. Only snippets to set the scene for the ethereal piece she has developed.
Great writing, apparently with 'Lovecraftian influences' but I haven't read him. But if he's weird and spooky then I get it. Great prose. She also focuses on character and emotions. Probably the first to do so in her era of writing that was mostly masculine, full of action and danger stuff. (I admit to be being a pimply faced. skinny youth devouring Howard's Conan books, Lin Carter and Sprague de Camp).
There were other female heroine to appear in the ‘sword and sorcery’ genre. Notably Robert E. Howard’s ‘Dark Agnes de Chastillon’ and ‘Red Sonja’. Other women like Leigh Brackett. Tanith Lee (Birthgrave 1975) Nathalie Henneberg, Jessica Amanda Salmonson, Andre Norton and perhaps Marion Zimmer Bradley had their own heroines. That said, Jirel was the first so I found this selection of stories very interesting.
Northwest of Earth. Shades of pulp yes. But good pulp if that helps. Well written and again great prose and writing technique. A bit of the weird 'Lovecraftian' influence showing through but still enjoyable even if her character Smith is the atypical, white, strong, action hero favoured in her era. Sill, he does devote some time to Smith's character and emotions so it's not all 'wham, bam, thank you ma'am' action like many of her male peers produced at this time. Well worth a read if you want to look at the evolution of SF and a particularly good author of the earlier years.
Judgement Night. I liked the strong female 'sword and sorcery' character in the story 'Judgement Night' and development of an interesting, nicely structured and well written tale (for me anyway). Same for 'Paradise Street' which seemed like a spin off of a classic western movie. In this case a lone hunter up against rapacious settlers - without the wagon train. The rest I skimmed and my thoughts are that there was a lot of variation between them and all are at least imaginative with great prose the common denominator.
Jirel of Joiry. I have over-inflated visions of writing a book that might have a character like Jirel or a 'Magnificent Seven' of Jirel-like female heroines appearing. So this was a book I have had on the shelf for some time.
Moore's five stories ("Black God's Kiss," "Black God's Shadow," "Jirel Meets Magic," "The Dark Land," and "Hellsgarde") feature the beautiful swordswoman Jirel, lady ruler of a feudal fiefdom in the Dark Ages France, were said to be germinal in the development of 'sword-and-sorcery' fantasy as the work of her contemporary, Robert E. Howard. Jirel of Joiry was the first female sword and sorcery heroine so a good place to start I thought.
She’s tough, brave, proud and hot-tempered. She leads the battle from the front and refuses to be a modest and obedient doormat to the noblemen of her time. So, I was a bit disappointed that Moore features Jirel in these stories, mostly in adventures that see her in 'battle' with dark and evil wizardry, usually in otherworldly, other-dimensional, dream-like realms. There are no extensive battle scenes of medieval armies going at it. Or her, Conan-like, whittling away at armoured opponents with sword and battleaxe. Only snippets to set the scene for the ethereal piece she has developed.
Great writing, apparently with 'Lovecraftian influences' but I haven't read him. But if he's weird and spooky then I get it. Great prose. She also focuses on character and emotions. Probably the first to do so in her era of writing that was mostly masculine, full of action and danger stuff. (I admit to be being a pimply faced. skinny youth devouring Howard's Conan books, Lin Carter and Sprague de Camp).
There were other female heroine to appear in the ‘sword and sorcery’ genre. Notably Robert E. Howard’s ‘Dark Agnes de Chastillon’ and ‘Red Sonja’. Other women like Leigh Brackett. Tanith Lee (Birthgrave 1975) Nathalie Henneberg, Jessica Amanda Salmonson, Andre Norton and perhaps Marion Zimmer Bradley had their own heroines. That said, Jirel was the first so I found this selection of stories very interesting.
Northwest of Earth. Shades of pulp yes. But good pulp if that helps. Well written and again great prose and writing technique. A bit of the weird 'Lovecraftian' influence showing through but still enjoyable even if her character Smith is the atypical, white, strong, action hero favoured in her era. Sill, he does devote some time to Smith's character and emotions so it's not all 'wham, bam, thank you ma'am' action like many of her male peers produced at this time. Well worth a read if you want to look at the evolution of SF and a particularly good author of the earlier years.
Judgement Night. I liked the strong female 'sword and sorcery' character in the story 'Judgement Night' and development of an interesting, nicely structured and well written tale (for me anyway). Same for 'Paradise Street' which seemed like a spin off of a classic western movie. In this case a lone hunter up against rapacious settlers - without the wagon train. The rest I skimmed and my thoughts are that there was a lot of variation between them and all are at least imaginative with great prose the common denominator.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews