What do you think?
Rate this book
Dumarest of Terra #20
Web of Sand
1st Daw 348 1979 edition paperback vg+ book In stock shipped from our UK warehouse
156 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published July 3, 1979
About the author
E.C. Tubb
406 books88 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.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
May 13, 2024
This was solid, and the setting clearly inspired by Dune. The treacherous desert world and some of Dumarest's battles with the native beasties were particularly compelling.
At the outset, quite unintentionally, Dumarest finds himself on Harge, a harsh desert world with large burrowing snake like monstrosities, deadly sandstorms and immensely valuable natural "treasures" (left behind by said monstrosities) available for those willing to risk life and limb outside the protection of the walled city. The world is similar to many others Dumarest has encountered, an oligarchy ruled by a small group of industrial elite known as the Cinque, with the majority of the populace trapped in an endless cycle of indentured servitude.
The bulk of the narrative follows Dumarest on a quest through this perilous landscape in search of enough of a stake to get him away from this godforsaken place. Little is dedicated to the usual recurring series plot pieces, i.e. developing his usual romantic entanglement, a brief arena battle, and some intrigue with a cyber who is close on his heels as always. Nor does the world apparently hold much in the way of useful clues in his ongoing quest to find his way back to Earth. As happens only rarely, Earl seems to fully realize the extent that luck plays in keeping him alive.
At the outset, quite unintentionally, Dumarest finds himself on Harge, a harsh desert world with large burrowing snake like monstrosities, deadly sandstorms and immensely valuable natural "treasures" (left behind by said monstrosities) available for those willing to risk life and limb outside the protection of the walled city. The world is similar to many others Dumarest has encountered, an oligarchy ruled by a small group of industrial elite known as the Cinque, with the majority of the populace trapped in an endless cycle of indentured servitude.
The bulk of the narrative follows Dumarest on a quest through this perilous landscape in search of enough of a stake to get him away from this godforsaken place. Little is dedicated to the usual recurring series plot pieces, i.e. developing his usual romantic entanglement, a brief arena battle, and some intrigue with a cyber who is close on his heels as always. Nor does the world apparently hold much in the way of useful clues in his ongoing quest to find his way back to Earth. As happens only rarely, Earl seems to fully realize the extent that luck plays in keeping him alive.
January 6, 2025
Ours is not to reason why, ours is but to do and die. but it is not duty to empire that fuels Earl Dumarest, shuttling him from planet to planet as he searches for Earth. it is nostalgia. and such a strange nostalgia! for a place he barely recalls, no doubt barren and impoverished, a place he once fled from. why does the longing for return so control him, forcing him to leave welcoming places and loving companions behind? (besides the author's need to write a 31-volume series, of course.) in Web of Sand, Earl muses that this quest is the entirety of his identity. without it, he would be nothing. it is his religion, his ultimate goal, his entire reason for being.
In the valley of Death rode Earl of Dumarest. the valley this time is the world Harque, desert planet of sand storms and giant armored reptiles, an oligarchy and a kleptocracy and a plutocracy, all at once. a typically dire planet in this universe of dire humans and their excruciatingly finite ambitions. stasis is what this planet's rulers have achieved and what they plan to keep. fortunately for Earl, his time in this place will only last 156 pages (the length of this book).
Web of Sand includes an especially compelling scene: while listening to a "singing jewel" whose dirge transports its listeners to a place of despair, a jealous singer responds with her own terrible song, her vibrating notes shattering glass and rupturing eardrums, destroying the jewel, killing its owner. you don't hear those kinds of songs every day!
In the valley of Death rode Earl of Dumarest. the valley this time is the world Harque, desert planet of sand storms and giant armored reptiles, an oligarchy and a kleptocracy and a plutocracy, all at once. a typically dire planet in this universe of dire humans and their excruciatingly finite ambitions. stasis is what this planet's rulers have achieved and what they plan to keep. fortunately for Earl, his time in this place will only last 156 pages (the length of this book).
Web of Sand includes an especially compelling scene: while listening to a "singing jewel" whose dirge transports its listeners to a place of despair, a jealous singer responds with her own terrible song, her vibrating notes shattering glass and rupturing eardrums, destroying the jewel, killing its owner. you don't hear those kinds of songs every day!
November 18, 2025
Web of Sand was the twentieth novel in Tubb's Dumarest saga. It has many of the elements that are common in the series (a tedious space voyage, a beautiful woman or two in distress, a fight in the arena, the threat of the Cyclan closing in, etc.), yet none of them dominate the narrative, and neither does Earl's search for lost Terra take over the story. Earl leads his team in a dangerous search for the jewels produced by the native worm-monsters (clearly influenced by Dune), and we follow the fate of that expedition for the majority of the novel. Concurrently, the major rich bad guy torments the poor lady, and you can't wait for him to get his comeuppance. It's an interesting change of focus, and much of Earl's backstory is only mentioned in passing rather than being summarized. Tubb's writing is very descriptive, though when new scenes open it takes a paragraph or two for the reader to become re-oriented. The cover of the first edition from DAW is by Don Maitz and also seems a little off kilter; the neck seems to come out of the head in two sections, one coiled underneath and the one on top leading back into the cave mouth.
March 8, 2017
For a start, if you are thinking about reading this book, do not believe the goodreads blurb, they got a few things wrong: "There was one way to gather the cost of escape. The was through the singing jewels.
The singing jewels could be found in the burrows of the most vicious monsters on that world of sand dunes. Find a good one and it would pay your passage out."
No, no no, they are mixing up two different story-lines.
And this is one of the Dumarest saga that actually does have a number of story-lines. In one there is indeed a singing jewel, in another totally separate is Dumarest's need to escape the planet, which leads him to risking a chancy trip out to the desert to collect valuable trannek, they are not jewels and they do not sing.
The planet is designed along the lines of a small elite who keep the population under rigid control through debt, the boundary of their world is set by the sand storms which restrict the areas people can live and the social structure is on a theme that Tubb used a lot.
I really enjoyed this one, I felt that the number of plots worked well together and there was a larger cast of characters than in some books. The Cyclan make a very brief appearance but are not a dominant feature, nor are they a major plot element. All the expected Dumarest features are there, there is arena fighting a beautiful woman, a space voyage and a hazardous trip into the wilderness. All thoroughly enjoyable within its format and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
The singing jewels could be found in the burrows of the most vicious monsters on that world of sand dunes. Find a good one and it would pay your passage out."
No, no no, they are mixing up two different story-lines.
And this is one of the Dumarest saga that actually does have a number of story-lines. In one there is indeed a singing jewel, in another totally separate is Dumarest's need to escape the planet, which leads him to risking a chancy trip out to the desert to collect valuable trannek, they are not jewels and they do not sing.
The planet is designed along the lines of a small elite who keep the population under rigid control through debt, the boundary of their world is set by the sand storms which restrict the areas people can live and the social structure is on a theme that Tubb used a lot.
I really enjoyed this one, I felt that the number of plots worked well together and there was a larger cast of characters than in some books. The Cyclan make a very brief appearance but are not a dominant feature, nor are they a major plot element. All the expected Dumarest features are there, there is arena fighting a beautiful woman, a space voyage and a hazardous trip into the wilderness. All thoroughly enjoyable within its format and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
April 27, 2022
In which Dumarest travels to Arrakis and fights sandworms to get enough spice to pay off the debts of those who help him survive. I'm sorry, I mean "travels to Harge and fights sannaks to get enough tranneks".
Sure, the inspiration for this volume is clear and, once again, Dumarest out-experts (and out-survives) the local expert, but that doesn't stop me enjoying it.
Sure, the inspiration for this volume is clear and, once again, Dumarest out-experts (and out-survives) the local expert, but that doesn't stop me enjoying it.
June 11, 2026
review of
E. C. Tubb's Web of Sand
by tENTATIVELY, a cONVENIENCE - June 11, 2026
So much to read, I have thousands of interesting bks in piles & on shelves in my house that I hope to read before I die. There's no way I'm even likely to read 5% of them & what am I doing? Reading Dumarest of Terra novels. Why? Well, I like Science Fiction & I'm always reading at least one small paperback b/c they're easy to carry w/ me when I go on walks. These stories are engaging & easy to read. I'm reading other more challenging work at the same time, Ron Silliman's Alphabet, e.g.. Still, considering that I'm not going to live much longer, that I'm surprised that I've even made it this far, it's important that I pick bks of great intellectual value to read & write about. What about something by John C. Lilly? I still haven't read anything of his yet.
Let's say I barely have the energy to get out of bed. Oh, well, having already read over half of the Dumarest novels I have I've commented again & again about the annoyingness of the series-sustaining repetitions & the impressiveness of Tubb's imagination as he provides new challenges for his hero. 1st, a repetition:
""A warp," said Frome after a moment. "We hit one and it created strain in the generator. To proceed to Fendrix would be to take too big a risk. That's why I headed for Harge." He added, "We'd have landed by now if it hadn't been for the storm."" - p 11
The reader familiar w/ the series will detect those naughty Cyclan at work.
""He dumped us," said the trader. "All of us. He'd been paid. That lie about repairs was obvious." He looked baffled. "But why? What was behind it? What do the people here hope to gain?"
"The money they carried and the labor they could provide—the normal reason for isolated communities bribing captains to dump their passengers. Once landed and in debt they would be helpless to leave, forced to work as contract labor to clear a steadily accumulating mountain of debt. Slaves in all but name and far more economical to keep." - p 18
Tubb seems to be into music & that always goes a long way for me.
"Hezekiah had worked on it for half his life and had died still unsatisfied but few would admit that he'd achieved less than perfection. This time there were words all could follow, each syllable chosen for semantic and emotive impact, the music accentuating the message as her own skill modulated it, tone and key changing, pure melody providing contrast, long ululations stretching and distorting time. A tapestry of sound and music, words and tone, cadences weaving as threads, glissades, apparent cacophonies, the final, triumphant cadenza." - p 24
There's a jewel that sings, one cd say it ENCHANTS. But it can be killed by human song.
"And still Ellain, mouth wide, throat corded with effort, sent the magic of her voice to challenge that of the jewel.
"She had broken glass as a girl, won bets on her ability to do so, even ruined a crystal chandelier in the auditorium on Weem—an accident and one never repeated but she still had the power. And now, more than ever before, she used it. Seeking, altering her tone a fraction at a time, the harmonics, building resonance until the blood thundered in her veins and she felt the capillaries begin to yield in throat and mouth, in lips and tongue. Singing, aping the jewel, mastering it.
"Killing it.
"And killing Marta Caine.
"Dumarest saw her stagger as the jewel exploded in her hands." - p 77
""A syllogism! Earl, you are a man after my own heart. Have you heard the one about the woman?" Smiling, he told it. "No woman has three heads. A woman has one head more than no woman. A woman, therefore, has four heads. Ridiculous, isn't it?["]"
[..]
""The term 'no woman' is being used in a double-sense," said Dumarest. "So, while each of the two premises is correct when regarded apart they can only give a false conclusion when taken as equal."" - p 80
Of course, it's a False Syllogism. These are often used to point out fallacies in what superficially appears to be logic.
"He saw her frown, the genuine puzzlement as to his meaning written plain on her face and explained, "My treatment. Didn't you pay the hospital?"
""No darling. How could I? Yunus was with me and, in any case, I couldn't afford the expense." She added, as if in justification "I'd only just seen you. You meant nothing to me then. Not as you do now." Her hand rose to caress his torso. "You must have an unknown benefactor."" - p 88
The unknown benefactor is the society of 3 & 4-headed woman. (JK)
E. C. Tubb's Web of Sand
by tENTATIVELY, a cONVENIENCE - June 11, 2026
So much to read, I have thousands of interesting bks in piles & on shelves in my house that I hope to read before I die. There's no way I'm even likely to read 5% of them & what am I doing? Reading Dumarest of Terra novels. Why? Well, I like Science Fiction & I'm always reading at least one small paperback b/c they're easy to carry w/ me when I go on walks. These stories are engaging & easy to read. I'm reading other more challenging work at the same time, Ron Silliman's Alphabet, e.g.. Still, considering that I'm not going to live much longer, that I'm surprised that I've even made it this far, it's important that I pick bks of great intellectual value to read & write about. What about something by John C. Lilly? I still haven't read anything of his yet.
Let's say I barely have the energy to get out of bed. Oh, well, having already read over half of the Dumarest novels I have I've commented again & again about the annoyingness of the series-sustaining repetitions & the impressiveness of Tubb's imagination as he provides new challenges for his hero. 1st, a repetition:
""A warp," said Frome after a moment. "We hit one and it created strain in the generator. To proceed to Fendrix would be to take too big a risk. That's why I headed for Harge." He added, "We'd have landed by now if it hadn't been for the storm."" - p 11
The reader familiar w/ the series will detect those naughty Cyclan at work.
""He dumped us," said the trader. "All of us. He'd been paid. That lie about repairs was obvious." He looked baffled. "But why? What was behind it? What do the people here hope to gain?"
"The money they carried and the labor they could provide—the normal reason for isolated communities bribing captains to dump their passengers. Once landed and in debt they would be helpless to leave, forced to work as contract labor to clear a steadily accumulating mountain of debt. Slaves in all but name and far more economical to keep." - p 18
Tubb seems to be into music & that always goes a long way for me.
"Hezekiah had worked on it for half his life and had died still unsatisfied but few would admit that he'd achieved less than perfection. This time there were words all could follow, each syllable chosen for semantic and emotive impact, the music accentuating the message as her own skill modulated it, tone and key changing, pure melody providing contrast, long ululations stretching and distorting time. A tapestry of sound and music, words and tone, cadences weaving as threads, glissades, apparent cacophonies, the final, triumphant cadenza." - p 24
There's a jewel that sings, one cd say it ENCHANTS. But it can be killed by human song.
"And still Ellain, mouth wide, throat corded with effort, sent the magic of her voice to challenge that of the jewel.
"She had broken glass as a girl, won bets on her ability to do so, even ruined a crystal chandelier in the auditorium on Weem—an accident and one never repeated but she still had the power. And now, more than ever before, she used it. Seeking, altering her tone a fraction at a time, the harmonics, building resonance until the blood thundered in her veins and she felt the capillaries begin to yield in throat and mouth, in lips and tongue. Singing, aping the jewel, mastering it.
"Killing it.
"And killing Marta Caine.
"Dumarest saw her stagger as the jewel exploded in her hands." - p 77
""A syllogism! Earl, you are a man after my own heart. Have you heard the one about the woman?" Smiling, he told it. "No woman has three heads. A woman has one head more than no woman. A woman, therefore, has four heads. Ridiculous, isn't it?["]"
[..]
""The term 'no woman' is being used in a double-sense," said Dumarest. "So, while each of the two premises is correct when regarded apart they can only give a false conclusion when taken as equal."" - p 80
Of course, it's a False Syllogism. These are often used to point out fallacies in what superficially appears to be logic.
"He saw her frown, the genuine puzzlement as to his meaning written plain on her face and explained, "My treatment. Didn't you pay the hospital?"
""No darling. How could I? Yunus was with me and, in any case, I couldn't afford the expense." She added, as if in justification "I'd only just seen you. You meant nothing to me then. Not as you do now." Her hand rose to caress his torso. "You must have an unknown benefactor."" - p 88
The unknown benefactor is the society of 3 & 4-headed woman. (JK)
August 2, 2020
Film review of the series in the last volume (#32).
December 30, 2010
Dumarest and the Shifting Sands of Fate
Web of Sand is another strong entry in E.C. Tubb's long Dumarest saga. Earl Dumarest, the hard-bitten wanderer searching the galaxy for a lost Earth, finds himself on yet another unforgiving world, tangled up in the plans of the rich and powerful, and once again having to rely on his speed, his knife and his wits to survive. As always, the Cyclan are never far away.
Tubb's skill lies in creating a convincing alien world in a few pages and populating it with people who have their own desperate motives. There's a satisfying mix of intrigue and action here, and the sense of danger is constant. Dumarest remains a compelling hero precisely because he gives so little away; he's watchful, patient, and very dangerous when cornered.
The formula is familiar by now and the progress towards Earth is modest. But the atmosphere is strong and the storytelling lean and gripping. If you've enjoyed the series this far, you'll enjoy this. Four stars.
Web of Sand is another strong entry in E.C. Tubb's long Dumarest saga. Earl Dumarest, the hard-bitten wanderer searching the galaxy for a lost Earth, finds himself on yet another unforgiving world, tangled up in the plans of the rich and powerful, and once again having to rely on his speed, his knife and his wits to survive. As always, the Cyclan are never far away.
Tubb's skill lies in creating a convincing alien world in a few pages and populating it with people who have their own desperate motives. There's a satisfying mix of intrigue and action here, and the sense of danger is constant. Dumarest remains a compelling hero precisely because he gives so little away; he's watchful, patient, and very dangerous when cornered.
The formula is familiar by now and the progress towards Earth is modest. But the atmosphere is strong and the storytelling lean and gripping. If you've enjoyed the series this far, you'll enjoy this. Four stars.
April 30, 2014
Join the main character in his search.
A bit like Kung Fu, but in space.
Slow to start but once it gets going, you feel like you are out there with the group and you feel the danger and claustrophobia of being deep under the desert in tunnels trying to avoid the giant worms.
Edge of the seat sometimes.
A bit like Kung Fu, but in space.
Slow to start but once it gets going, you feel like you are out there with the group and you feel the danger and claustrophobia of being deep under the desert in tunnels trying to avoid the giant worms.
Edge of the seat sometimes.
August 21, 2009
Enjoyable. I'm not a huge fan of the Dumarest series but I like to read one on occassion.
October 26, 2014
Blueprint Dumarest.
May 25, 2015
1987 grade C-
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews