The Immortal of World's End

World's End #4

by Lin Carter

Ganelon Silvermane, the genetically designed superhero of the Earth's fabulous final age, has rapidly become the most popular of all Lin Carter's creations. Brought to life prematurely, Ganelon's adventures in a world of crumbling empires, ravaging hordes, and marvelous relics of forgotten scientific empires are always edge-of-the-seat wonder novels the best creation of the author of the Thongor, Green Star, and Callisto books, to mention but a few! Now, in this third novel of Gondwane, Ganelon Silvermane encounters a city of illusion, the problem of scientific immortals, and the disastrous collision of a massive horde of the world's ultimate barbarians!

Genres: Fantasy, Science Fiction, Science Fiction Fantasy

160 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published September 21, 1976

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

[Michael Jandrok · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Here is Ganelon Silvermane, the mighty warrior who was intended by his ancient designers to be the world’s last hero. Here is the legendary Flying City, self-contained, self-directed, and seeking only inhabitants to fill its luxurious houses. Here is the world’s oldest man, the discoverer of immortality, who had probably forgotten more science in his thousands of years than any then living being ever knew. Here is an all-star cast of marvelous people from the varied days of the dying sun’s setting on the last continent of a doomed planet.”

So I’ll start with the usual advice: if you’re here on a whim and haven’t yet realized that you are midway through a series, then you need to go back to the beginning and start from there. You can check out my reviews for the first two books in the Gondwane Epic here if you are so inclined:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

It’s important to read these books in order as author Lin Carter spends an enormous time world building, and you would be completely lost if you tried to drop into the story halfway through. The Gondwane Epic is also known in some circles as the World’s End Saga, and it’s one of a handful of more or less original ideas for Linwood Vrooman Carter, who is more well known as a writer of pastiches. Carter was also an accomplished anthologist and literary critic, and these were perhaps his greatest strengths as a contributor to speculative fiction.

THE PLOT THUS FAR: “The Immortal of World’s End” is the third installment of the Gondwane Epic, and the title refers to one of the new characters introduced here, namely one Palensus Choy. Choy is a powerful magician, although he is also absent-minded and seems to have some long-term memory issues, no doubt due to his legendary longevity. Choy is accompanied by a man named Ollub Vetch, a scientist and machinist who argues incessantly with Choy over the virtues of science over magic. Choy and Vetch intercept Ganelon and his cohorts as they ride with the Flying City of Kan Zar Kan, headed for the Kingdom of Valardus which is still under siege by the Ximchak Barbarians. Using the City itself as a weapon, the Ximchaks are routed and Valardus is saved. Palensus Choy then recruits Ganelon and Grrff the Tigerman to assist him in keeping his Castle of Zaradon safe from the marauding Ximchak Horde who have moved further north after the rout at Valardus.

Things are complicated even further as the adventurers are soon visited by a delegation of the Mad City of Trancore, a decrepit civilization that harbors such powers of illusion as to deceive themselves of their own dire state. The Ximchaks have set their sights on Trancore, not knowing that the city itself is lightly populated and has no resources of value to speak of. The Trancorian nobles end up recruiting Ganelon and Choy as protectors of the Realm. The battle is joined and all sorts of intrigues occur.

“The Immortal of World’s End” is the point where I am detecting a bit of plot fatigue with the Gondwane Epic. Carter is still rocking the world building aspects of the story, but he seems to have lost a little bit of steam where the pacing and character development are concerned. Quite a few of the short chapters are devoted to little more than stage setting and the battles themselves have a sense of sameness and a lack of invention. The novelty of a Flying City (or castle) dropping down out of the sky and wreaking havoc on the Ximchaks is a great innovation the first time it’s used, but it’s kind of worn out by the third go-’round. The other big issue I have is with the Ximchaks themselves. They are mostly a one-dimensional gang of thugs, on a rough par with Tolkien’s Orcs in terms of intelligence and skill in battle. The only thing that makes them really dangerous is the sheer size of their invading forces. The Ximchaks can drop a few thousand members of the horde as cannon fodder and still keep on coming like some sort of leather-clad roaches tearing up that bowl of cereal that you left on the counter last night because you were too lazy to wash it out.

This is also the first time that Carter ends one of the books in the series with a cliffhanger of sorts, as Ganelon is borne away in chains by a sneaky Ximchak captain out to restore his lost honor and give Ganelon a chance to rescue Grrff and another side character who have been captured by the greater Horde. Events will pick up there once “The Barbarian of World’s End” takes up the story.

On an interesting side note, Michael Whelan again provided the great cover art for this DAW edition. His cover and inset art for the previous book, “The Enchantress of World’s End,” marked his first appearance as an illustrator for the U.S. market. I have a September 1976 first printing, and I’m always glad to report that these old DAW editions hold up exceptionally well over time. “The Immortal……” is number 210 in the numbered series of DAW editions.

The other big redeeming feature of the World’s End books is the fact that they are pretty fast reads. “The Immortal of World’s End” clocks in at a very economical 155 pages with very short chapters. It’s a fun way to knock off a few hours on a weekend afternoon when the temperatures are high and you really don’t feel much like mowing the lawn when your couch looks so much more inviting.

Lin Carter is still one of my favorite authors, in large part because of his intense dedication to the tropes and nuances of sword & sorcery and fantasy fiction in general. This is pure pulp meant for those readers who enjoy this sort of thing. It’s as tongue in cheek as it can be without moving into the realm of outright satire or comedy. I really do hope that my reviews can turn one or two folks on to the joys of these lost classics. Don’t let “The Immortal of World’s End” become the Immortal Stock That Never Moves at your local used book store. Grab a copy and get reading today!

[Jordan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lin Carter's The Gondwane series is a work of mad genius. But I'm docking it a point for some really egregiously racist depictions of the Ximchak Barbarians.

[Mike Nusbaum · Rating 3 out of 5]

The third book in the series finds the group traveling to the delusional city of Trancore to save it's people from the invasion of the Ximchak horde decending upon it. This continues the lighthearted sword and sorcery story of Ganelon Silvermane and his friends and they move from one problem to the next. While this series isn't going to blow you away with it's wonderful characters (most are paper thin) the imagination of Lin Carter in creating the world of Gondwane is quite inspiring for those reading the Appendix N books. This series will get your mind going and thinking of the interesting and just plain gonzo ideas you could add to your own fantasy/sci-fi/post-apocalyptic campaign.

[Wes · Rating 2 out of 5]

Uff, I had a real hard time with this one, but to be fair, the deck was stacked against it.

First and foremost, I am somewhere in the middle of a series and I have no previous experience with the characters or the world.

I'm fairly burnt out on pulp serials as of late, so that does not bode well for any kind of pulp serial.

In the end, I just couldn't get into it, and I really didn't even try. I know that I'm not going to hunt out the other portions of this series so it was simply a chore and reading exercise in reality. I think I just need to jump into a different type of book for a while before coming back and finishing this stack from my departed friend.

[Nathan Dehoff · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the fourth book of the Gondwane series, the artificially created barbarian hero Ganelon Silvermane and his companions are joined by a Gynosphinx, who has features like a human woman, although Sphinxes are sterile in this world. The Tigerman Grrff becomes good friends with her. They also meet with the absent-minded immortal magician Palensus Choy, who was involved in the evolution of the Tigermen, and his good friend Ollub Vetch, who prefers science over magic. There's a visit to a once-great city that now relies on illusions, and an epic fight against a barbarian tribe. I once again noticed some probable Oz references, most notably when King Vergus of Valardus describes his realm as "a quaint, cozy, old-fashioned sort of kingdom," much like how Ruth Plumly Thompson describes Pumperdink. The following idea, that most of the inhabitants are nobility, is also something that would have fit into the series. It's all pretty light-hearted and fun, but it did seem like very little happened here, and it's more of a travelogue than an adventure.

[Derek · Rating 2 out of 5]

After reading four of the Gondwane novels, what's clear is that the series as a means for Carter to clean out his idea notebook. The first, The Warrior at World's End was crammed full of every sort of notion that the author might think was cute or interesting but couldn't build an entire book out of. It didn't matter if the idea wasn't thought through, wasn't original, or wasn't even particularly good, because it would blow past in short order and you'd be dealing with the next one.

Unfortunately, it feels like Carter either didn't pace himself or plan properly, or the half-life of his attention span was not sufficient to cover the envisioned ten (?) books. By the writing of Immortal, the narrative is taking on water--possibly the notebooks are empty--and he appears to be slipping into bad and lazy habits. The book begins and ends with pitched battles against the same boring barbarian horde, resolved in practically the same way--intervention by a vast floating/flying edifice. The filler-to-action ratio isn't particularly good, and too many pages are wasted with either fireside conferences or with meetings between dignitaries, or with cutesy and overly-clever character embellishments.

The book only picks up when the character arrives at what I consider to be the only interesting idea: a large island city in decay, the outer precincts slipped under water, and whose inhabitants project the illusion of grandeur and lost might. The story wastes entirely too much time before getting there, and once the characters arrive, it seems mismanaged. I would have loved to read a story about having to deal directly with the delusional and scattered citizenry (Convince them to fight? Whip them into a frenzy of even more delusion and hallucination? Trick them into abandoning the city?) or even a pitched battle among the half-submerged buildings, or even, as the story suggests but fails to follow through on, a conspiracy between the protagonists and the horde's envoy to prevent the horde from pointlessly assaulting this valueless place. Something, anything would have been better than what was provided, which was yet another fight scene.

It is the nature of the "good idea wasted" that bugs me.

[Charles · Rating 1 out of 5]

Third in the Gondwane epic by Lin Carter. Definitely the weakest of his many series.

[Steve Goble · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ganelon ain't no Thongor, who ain't no Conan.