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Dumarest of Terra #14
Jack of Swords
Dumarest, coming closer to the trail of the mythical Earth , is forced to divert his attention to hunt 6r a nebulous ghost world. That planet was said to hold on its surface a castle of heart's desire--where every wish would be fulfilled, including, perhaps, the return to Earth itself!
154 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published June 15, 1976
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82 people want to read
About the author
E.C. Tubb
382 books85 followersEdwin Charles Tubb was a writer of science fiction, fantasy and western novels. He published over 140 novels and 230 short stories and novellas, and is best known for The Dumarest Saga (US collective title: Dumarest of Terra) an epic science-fiction saga set in the far future.
Much of Tubb's work has been written under pseudonyms including Gregory Kern, Carl Maddox, Alan Guthrie, Eric Storm and George Holt. He has used 58 pen names over five decades of writing although some of these were publishers' house names also used by other writers: Volsted Gridban (along with John Russell Fearn), Gill Hunt (with John Brunner and Dennis Hughes), King Lang (with George Hay and John W Jennison), Roy Sheldon (with H. J. Campbell) and Brian Shaw. Tubb's Charles Grey alias was solely his own and acquired a big following in the early 1950s.
An avid reader of pulp science-fiction and fantasy in his youth, Tubb found that he had a particular talent as a writer of stories in that genre when his short story 'No Short Cuts' was published in New Worlds magazine in 1951. He opted for a full-time career as a writer and soon became renowned for the speed and diversity of his output.
Tubb contributed to many of the science fiction magazines of the 1950s including Futuristic Science Stories, Science Fantasy, Nebula and Galaxy Science Fiction. He contributed heavily to Authentic Science Fiction editing the magazine for nearly two years, from February 1956 until it folded in October 1957. During this time, he found it so difficult to find good writers to contribute to the magazine, that he often wrote most of the stories himself under a variety of pseudonyms: one issue of Authentic was written entirely by Tubb, including the letters column.
His main work in the science fiction genre, the Dumarest series, appeared from 1967 to 1985, with two final volumes in 1997 and 2008. His second major series, the Cap Kennedy series, was written from 1973 to 1983.
In recent years Tubb updated many of his 1950s science fiction novels for 21st century readers.
Tubb was one of the co-founders of the British Science Fiction Association.
Much of Tubb's work has been written under pseudonyms including Gregory Kern, Carl Maddox, Alan Guthrie, Eric Storm and George Holt. He has used 58 pen names over five decades of writing although some of these were publishers' house names also used by other writers: Volsted Gridban (along with John Russell Fearn), Gill Hunt (with John Brunner and Dennis Hughes), King Lang (with George Hay and John W Jennison), Roy Sheldon (with H. J. Campbell) and Brian Shaw. Tubb's Charles Grey alias was solely his own and acquired a big following in the early 1950s.
An avid reader of pulp science-fiction and fantasy in his youth, Tubb found that he had a particular talent as a writer of stories in that genre when his short story 'No Short Cuts' was published in New Worlds magazine in 1951. He opted for a full-time career as a writer and soon became renowned for the speed and diversity of his output.
Tubb contributed to many of the science fiction magazines of the 1950s including Futuristic Science Stories, Science Fantasy, Nebula and Galaxy Science Fiction. He contributed heavily to Authentic Science Fiction editing the magazine for nearly two years, from February 1956 until it folded in October 1957. During this time, he found it so difficult to find good writers to contribute to the magazine, that he often wrote most of the stories himself under a variety of pseudonyms: one issue of Authentic was written entirely by Tubb, including the letters column.
His main work in the science fiction genre, the Dumarest series, appeared from 1967 to 1985, with two final volumes in 1997 and 2008. His second major series, the Cap Kennedy series, was written from 1973 to 1983.
In recent years Tubb updated many of his 1950s science fiction novels for 21st century readers.
Tubb was one of the co-founders of the British Science Fiction Association.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
November 15, 2023
The first half of this story is fairly standard Dumarest stuff, i.e. Earl is stuck on a planet where the nobility/landowners ruthlessly exploit the citizenry and resorts to desperate measures in an attempt to obtain the resources needed to move on to the next planet. However, due to some unfortunate turn of events he's conscripted to join an expedition deep into the heart of a treacherous nebula in search of a fabled "ghost" planet long rumored to be the source of immense treasures. This is where things get interesting, as the seemingly lifeless, foreboding planet and it's ancient secrets evolve into a deadly mystery that Dumarest must use all his wits, as well as the ESP capabilities of a vulnerable young woman similarly conscripted, to unravel in order to escape with this life. He picks up some interesting crewmates, especially a self styled puzzle solver/detective with a bit of a death wish and a penchant for stirring the pot and stoking tensions. Like all theses stories there are a few too many swooning females and a criminal abuse of the word "darling".
February 17, 2023
You've been here before. This is a different adventure, a different set of travelers; no journey and no individual are exactly the same. But you see the patterns, don't you? There are those with whom you sympathize: usually women and sometimes men, anyone who struggles against Fate and does their best to avoid cruelty. And there are those to whom you can never give your sympathy: the avaricious and the vicious. Regardless of the make-up of your group, no matter the destination, the goal of the group always remains the same: find something of value; it will be used to to make a life whole, to give a life purpose, to justify a life's struggles. The pot of gold at the end of a rainbow will look different to each searcher. "One man's meat was another man's poison. One man's cross was another man's treasure," you think. Will it be money? Will it be a lost child? Will it be hidden knowledge? What will be found, this time? What will be found by you and your fellow travelers, in your search for the Ghost World and its buried treasure? You have little hope for reward, but still you must keep searching. The path will change, the people with you on that path will change as well, but the search remains the same. Your search has become your identity. Without this search, what are you?
December 4, 2025
This is the 14th volume in Tubb's Dumarest series of space operas in which the titular protagonist is on a quest to locate his home planet, Earth, and has many adventures in strange situations and has lots of girlfriends and is opposed by the evil red-robe-wearing members of the Cyclan sect along the way. It's a kind of formulaic recipe, but most of the books are quite well-written and very entertaining. This one is one of the best I've read so far, full of exotic settings and interesting characters and plenty of action. The story covers three worlds, and the concluding one is especially interesting, a Ghost World that can only be breached with the help of a blind telepathic girl. It was first published by DAW in 1976 with a kind of lackluster cover, and it does have a few typo-problems (such as "power of pursuasion" on page 49), and I'm not sure about the title... but, hey, it's good fun! (Spoiler: it's book 14 of 33, so Earl neither dies nor gets home.)
July 10, 2021
Dumarest of Terra is a 33-volume series of science fiction novels by Edwin Charles Tubb. Each story is a self-contained adventure. Throughout the series, Earl Dumarest, the protagonist, searches for clues to the location of his home world, Earth.
The stories are set in a future fragmented galactic culture without any central government. Born on Earth Dumarest stowed away on a spaceship when he was young. The saga begins with The Winds of Gath. Dumarest has traveled so long and so far that he does not know how to return to his native planet. Nor has anyone ever heard of it, other than as a myth or legend.
In this entry to the series Dumarest continues his desperate search for his birthplace. And seems to be coming close to the mythical planet Earth. But his attention is diverted. He is involved in a hunt for a vague ghost world in another galaxy. The rumour is that in this fabulous land lies the mysterious Castle of Heart's Desire. A place which fulfils every wish. If Dumarest can discover it, then maybe he will be able to return to the planet of his birth.
By this point (the 14th novel in the 'Dumarest of Terra' series) the plots become relatively predictable. Yet it’s still a fun pulp space-opera style adventure that provides a light read. The books possess elements of narrative progression. But are largely stand alone. In each there is enough explanation to bring new readers up to speed.
Another great entry in an entertaining series.
The stories are set in a future fragmented galactic culture without any central government. Born on Earth Dumarest stowed away on a spaceship when he was young. The saga begins with The Winds of Gath. Dumarest has traveled so long and so far that he does not know how to return to his native planet. Nor has anyone ever heard of it, other than as a myth or legend.
In this entry to the series Dumarest continues his desperate search for his birthplace. And seems to be coming close to the mythical planet Earth. But his attention is diverted. He is involved in a hunt for a vague ghost world in another galaxy. The rumour is that in this fabulous land lies the mysterious Castle of Heart's Desire. A place which fulfils every wish. If Dumarest can discover it, then maybe he will be able to return to the planet of his birth.
By this point (the 14th novel in the 'Dumarest of Terra' series) the plots become relatively predictable. Yet it’s still a fun pulp space-opera style adventure that provides a light read. The books possess elements of narrative progression. But are largely stand alone. In each there is enough explanation to bring new readers up to speed.
Another great entry in an entertaining series.
December 18, 2022
Science Fiction Noir
Jack of Swords (Dumarest 14) by E.C. Tubb
Things are bleak for Earl Dumarest. He has against found himself stranded on a planet where there is not enough work to earn enough money to get off planet. The local oligarchy keep their poor in another warren of shacks as they get rich raising "Beasts" - which I imagine to be super-bulls made tougher, bigger and meaner by genetic engineering.
He's on this planet because it is named "Terralde" which sounds something like "Terra," another name for the lost Earth that he is searching for.
When Earl realizes his situation, he leads a group of losers in a raid of a Beast farm, resulting in one dead Beast, some men that will not starve, and an irate owner. The owner gets a break when one of the losers is caught trying to sell Beast meat. A net is thrown over Dumarest. An emissary of Earl's enemy, the Cyclan arrives and...
...Earl is taken off-planet by an owner who wants to locate a fabled treasure world hidden in a vast space nebula.
Never underestimate the role of luck in undermining Cyclan plans.
On the ship, we are introduced to the usual cast of greedy captains, cynical gamblers, and pampered princesses. In this version, though, Earl's unfailing eye for spotting the true among the false leads him to empathize with the Woman Who Has Lost Her Daughter, the Wealthy Old Woman, and the Blind Girl Navigator. Even the cynical gambler seems to have some redeeming qualities.
This story counts as one of the rare happy endings of a Dumarest story, apart from the fact that most of the ship dies and the treasure is absolutely useless. Nonetheless, Earl stays away from the Cyclan, although he does not seem to get any closer to Earth. [In one vision, he does seem to see Earth before it became a nearly dead world, so that may be something.]
That's not surprising. There are still another fourteen books in the series.
Jack of Swords (Dumarest 14) by E.C. Tubb
Things are bleak for Earl Dumarest. He has against found himself stranded on a planet where there is not enough work to earn enough money to get off planet. The local oligarchy keep their poor in another warren of shacks as they get rich raising "Beasts" - which I imagine to be super-bulls made tougher, bigger and meaner by genetic engineering.
He's on this planet because it is named "Terralde" which sounds something like "Terra," another name for the lost Earth that he is searching for.
When Earl realizes his situation, he leads a group of losers in a raid of a Beast farm, resulting in one dead Beast, some men that will not starve, and an irate owner. The owner gets a break when one of the losers is caught trying to sell Beast meat. A net is thrown over Dumarest. An emissary of Earl's enemy, the Cyclan arrives and...
...Earl is taken off-planet by an owner who wants to locate a fabled treasure world hidden in a vast space nebula.
Never underestimate the role of luck in undermining Cyclan plans.
On the ship, we are introduced to the usual cast of greedy captains, cynical gamblers, and pampered princesses. In this version, though, Earl's unfailing eye for spotting the true among the false leads him to empathize with the Woman Who Has Lost Her Daughter, the Wealthy Old Woman, and the Blind Girl Navigator. Even the cynical gambler seems to have some redeeming qualities.
This story counts as one of the rare happy endings of a Dumarest story, apart from the fact that most of the ship dies and the treasure is absolutely useless. Nonetheless, Earl stays away from the Cyclan, although he does not seem to get any closer to Earth. [In one vision, he does seem to see Earth before it became a nearly dead world, so that may be something.]
That's not surprising. There are still another fourteen books in the series.
June 7, 2020
Classic science fiction peppered with ingredients of a mystery novel. One of the better in this series. Full review of the series as a total in the last volume.
November 23, 2019
A good plot, but maybe a bit too many twists. On top of that, I didn't really like the different characters... On to the next...
December 25, 2014
I really, really enjoyed this book. It is what I think of as 'classic sci-fi' because this is the style of sci-fi that I first encountered and read as a teen (I am pretty old).
Tubb is up there with Asimov, Heinlein, Zelazny and Vance as writers of sci-fi containing concepts that helped shape my personality and world view. However, not all of them have weathered time and social change that well. For example,
A story I adored at twelve years old, makes me wince when I try and re-read it.
I recently rediscovered a couple of books from The Dumarest saga in an old carton, I read them expecting the stories to have aged badly but I quickly found myself sucked into them as thoroughly as I ever was. Yes there is nostalgia to the enjoyment of reading, but the reading experience is in no way diminished.
Many of my friends would argue it is not sci-fi at all: There is, by today's standards not a lot of science, the plot could progress without the science and so, in a way it is more space opera, or even fantasy.
You could also argue, with perfect reason, that they are not great literature, the writing is standard, the plots standardised with similar formats, similar goals, voyages and secondary characters, the differences are pretty much locations and names.
The repetitive plots and endless wandering through space make the Saga feel a little like what my dad (also an author) called a 'pot boiler', a quick easy formatted story that you sell to put food on the table.
The main character, Earl, can come across as a very wooden character; he is incredibly handsome, an awesome fighter, very fast and all women fall in love with him, all men like or envy him. Wish fulfilment or the classic style of heroic writing? It works either way.
It is funny that when I first read these books as a teenager, Dumarest sounded like an old man, way too old to be a romantic figure! Now I read them and he seems so young!
Having criticised the hell out of the books, plots and main character, it is time to say that I enjoyed every second of reading this book! Space opera or sci-fi I loved every page and wished it lasted longer. My new personal goal is to trawl the second hand book shops until I own every single one of this Saga and have read them all.
Tubb is up there with Asimov, Heinlein, Zelazny and Vance as writers of sci-fi containing concepts that helped shape my personality and world view. However, not all of them have weathered time and social change that well. For example,
A story I adored at twelve years old, makes me wince when I try and re-read it.
I recently rediscovered a couple of books from The Dumarest saga in an old carton, I read them expecting the stories to have aged badly but I quickly found myself sucked into them as thoroughly as I ever was. Yes there is nostalgia to the enjoyment of reading, but the reading experience is in no way diminished.
Many of my friends would argue it is not sci-fi at all: There is, by today's standards not a lot of science, the plot could progress without the science and so, in a way it is more space opera, or even fantasy.
You could also argue, with perfect reason, that they are not great literature, the writing is standard, the plots standardised with similar formats, similar goals, voyages and secondary characters, the differences are pretty much locations and names.
The repetitive plots and endless wandering through space make the Saga feel a little like what my dad (also an author) called a 'pot boiler', a quick easy formatted story that you sell to put food on the table.
The main character, Earl, can come across as a very wooden character; he is incredibly handsome, an awesome fighter, very fast and all women fall in love with him, all men like or envy him. Wish fulfilment or the classic style of heroic writing? It works either way.
It is funny that when I first read these books as a teenager, Dumarest sounded like an old man, way too old to be a romantic figure! Now I read them and he seems so young!
Having criticised the hell out of the books, plots and main character, it is time to say that I enjoyed every second of reading this book! Space opera or sci-fi I loved every page and wished it lasted longer. My new personal goal is to trawl the second hand book shops until I own every single one of this Saga and have read them all.
April 3, 2016
The formula is beginning to get to me. It is not boredom exactly but it is possible after all these years that reading a series one right after another for 31 books is not as gripping as the first few times when there were fewer. He still finds new twists and characters but the groundwork of a friend who dies, a friend who betrays, a woman who is gorgeous who falls in love with him and either betrays him or begs him to stay but he moves on. The cybers and the monks and the description of Earth. I know these things must be placed because each book must be a stand alone but reading them one after another it can be annoying.
October 10, 2021
Look, I know all the books in this series are short. That was the way of things back in the 60s and 70s, before books became huge. But this one, while following the Dumarest Saga formula, somehow felt rushed. Maybe it was the large cast. Perhaps the three-planet setting. Or, maybe, the twist. I don't know, I just felt it needed fleshing out, particularly at the end.
Also, "krang" for Embira's talent?
Also, "krang" for Embira's talent?
October 21, 2020
Interesting twist in our heroes journey to find his home world as he is temporarily diverted away from his quest to help someone else find another world. A fabled ‘Ghost World’.
Our hero has little option but to help, as be faces serious charges and imprisonment for killing a beast, for food, on a world that doesn’t tolerate such actions.
He is aided off world aboard a ship in search of the ‘Ghost World’. He plans to jump ship at the earliest opportunity, but that plan is foiled when he has no choice but to help break a woman out of a cryo freeze facility and in so doing has no choice but to return to the ship in order to flee again... the next stop, the fabled mystery world and potential untold wealth!
But not everything, or everybody, is as it or they appear and this journey takes many twists and turns.
An interesting read, with similarities to Arthur C Clarke’s Rendezvous With Rama, it made for an interesting diversion in the quest.
Our hero has little option but to help, as be faces serious charges and imprisonment for killing a beast, for food, on a world that doesn’t tolerate such actions.
He is aided off world aboard a ship in search of the ‘Ghost World’. He plans to jump ship at the earliest opportunity, but that plan is foiled when he has no choice but to help break a woman out of a cryo freeze facility and in so doing has no choice but to return to the ship in order to flee again... the next stop, the fabled mystery world and potential untold wealth!
But not everything, or everybody, is as it or they appear and this journey takes many twists and turns.
An interesting read, with similarities to Arthur C Clarke’s Rendezvous With Rama, it made for an interesting diversion in the quest.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 15, 2020
Seeking a lost treasure
Average entry in the series. As usual the women fall for Dumarest easily. Interesting concept with a lost enigmatic city.
Average entry in the series. As usual the women fall for Dumarest easily. Interesting concept with a lost enigmatic city.
June 15, 2020
Holds up well!
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews