Invisible Death

Zarkon - Lord of the Unknown #2

by Lin Carter

Zarkon and his Omega Crew zoom into death-defying action!

Dead men. One after another. Rich. Famous. Powerful. And all defenseless against the invisible occult force that struck them down and left no trace of its satanic identity and devilish design.

The police were powerless. The governments of the world were struck with fear and trembling. And only Prince Zarkon, the Ultimate Man, and his devoted Omega Crew, could hope to stem the bloody flood of terror about to engulf all mankind.

But even the great Zarkon and his miracle men might have met their match, as the defenders of Good moved into shattering showdown with an eerie Empire of awesome Evil.

Genres: Science Fiction, Fantasy, Adventure

192 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1975

About the author

Lin Carter was an American author, editor, and critic best known for his influential role in fantasy literature during the mid-20th century. Born in St. Petersburg, Florida, he developed an early passion for myth, adventure stories, and imaginative fiction, drawing inspiration from authors such as Edgar Rice Burroughs, Robert E. Howard, H. P. Lovecraft, and J. R. R. Tolkien. After serving in the U.S. Army, Carter attended Columbia University, where he honed his literary skills and deepened his knowledge of classical and medieval literature, myth, and folklore — elements that would become central to his work.
Carter authored numerous novels, short stories, and critical studies, often working within the sword-and-sorcery and high fantasy traditions. His own creations, such as the “Thongor of Lemuria” series, paid homage to pulp-era adventure fiction while adding his distinctive voice and world-building style. His nonfiction book Tolkien: A Look Behind The Lord of the Rings was one of the first major studies of Tolkien’s work and its mythological roots, and it helped establish Carter as a knowledgeable commentator on fantasy literature.
Beyond his own writing, Carter was a central figure in bringing classic and forgotten works of fantasy back into print. As editor of the Ballantine Adult Fantasy series from 1969 to 1974, he curated and introduced dozens of volumes, reintroducing readers to authors such as William Morris, Lord Dunsany, E. R. Eddison, and James Branch Cabell. His introductions not only contextualized these works historically and literarily but also encouraged a new generation to explore the breadth of the fantasy tradition.
Carter was also active in the shared literary universe of the “Cthulhu Mythos,” expanding upon the creations of H. P. Lovecraft and other members of the “Lovecraft Circle.” His collaborations and solo contributions in this genre further cemented his reputation as both a creative writer and a literary preservationist.
In addition to fiction and criticism, Carter was an active member of several science fiction and fantasy organizations, including the Science Fiction Writers of America. He frequently appeared at conventions, where he was known for his enthusiasm, deep knowledge of the genre, and willingness to mentor aspiring writers.
Though sometimes critiqued for the derivative nature of some of his work, Carter’s influence on the fantasy revival of the late 20th century remains significant. His combination of creative output, editorial vision, and scholarly enthusiasm helped bridge the gap between the pulp traditions of the early 1900s and the expansive fantasy publishing boom that followed.
Lin Carter’s legacy endures through his own imaginative tales, his critical studies, and the many classic works he rescued from obscurity, ensuring their place in the canon of fantasy literature for generations to come.

Reviews

[Craig · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was the second novel in Carter's Zarkon series, a pastiche of the Doc Savage pulp magazine hero. I didn't particularly care for it because it seemed to wander from homage to parody to pastiche and lacked interior consistency. There were some amusing bits, such as the Easter eggs strewn throughout referencing other pulp stories (which I thought Carter kind of spoiled by announcing that they were there in his introduction), and while his Omega Crew wasn't as entertaining as Doc's five aides they did have some good moments. Overall, it just struck me as a more juvenile take on the themes. I think I read one or two of the other books in the series but didn't like them any better.

[Shawn Bramanti · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well as an homage or pastiche or maybe even a parody of the Pulp heroes like Doc Savage or the Phantom I guess it was okay. The five helpers were maybe not as likeable as Doc Savage's men. The scientific gadgets were just as goofy and cool as Doc Savage ever had, I suppose. These stories appear to be set in the 70's based on things in the book. I have always really liked Doc Savage and so I will search out more of the Zarkon stories as they are entertaining. I have seen other people say the way Carter drops things into his stories is a little heavy handed in the way of references to other great pulp heroes. I did not feel that way when I read this book. I kind of liked seeing the Cobalt Club where some of the surviving heroes hang out. I liked how the group of Zarkon characters seemed to be more real than some of Doc Savage's characters as they drink and fuss alot but in this, the second Zarkon story, the writing seems to also display a certain 30's and 40's racism that always felt jarringly incorrect in Doc Savage stories, even though I knew they were written in the 30's and 40's so they truly reflect some of the thinking of that time, whereas if one is writing like that now then it borders on being racist to write like that, instead of being an homage to pulp writing. Just an opinion, and many of the bad guy's gang were Orientals and were described in somewhat racist ways. That aside it was not heavy handed nor was it jarringly distracting from the story but it was there nonetheless.

[Dhiyan · Rating 1 out of 5]

Did not finish. I got to a part where the woman doctor was referred to as a girl at least four times on one page, as well as female, while two men were vying for her attention, and constantly describing how attractive she was. No thanks.

[Jon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fun mystery in the vein of Doc Savage.

[Derek · Rating 2 out of 5]

Carter immediately spoils all his pulp-reference Easter Eggs by announcing their presence in his introduction as part of framing the series as events reported to him by the Omega Crew. I can see his need to make call-outs to a genre he obviously loved so much, but calling attention to his own cleverness is a bit much, even when he says that these were the names he had chosen to use in protecting the actual places and people.

More than anything else, this is a pastiche of Doc Savage, with a genius scientific superman fighting crime with an assortment of specialist cohorts, each easily characterized with a specific handle or personality tic. He takes the parallel to the very conclusion: like Savage, no threat or obstacle really seems particularly taxing to the Ultimate Man, and he is always a step ahead of everyone else, even his own minions.

But in creating Prince Zarkon--a synthetic being sent back in time, to prevent the events leading up to his distant crapsack future--Carter somehow manages to out-preposterous the original, even if that backstory doesn't seem to figure into the series as a whole.

[Little Timmy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lin Carter writes a very good modern version of a pulp style character and story. If you like the pulps, this series will interest you. These stories are similar to the Doc Savage and The Avenger pulps. If you enjoy the pulps you will love the tons of pulp references in this volume. The main character meets many of the old pulp characters, now retired; Batman, The Shadow, The Green Hornet and The Spider to name a few. Pulp fans will also recognize many of the locations scattered in the book; Woo Fang's Tea Shop, The Cobalt Club and others. A nice quick and entertaining mystery/adventure read whether you liked the Pulps or not. Recommended

[SciFiOne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Grade C-. Book A2.

[Brent · Rating 2 out of 5]

Admittedly this doesn't hold the same charms as it did to my 12 year old self, but still kinda fun.