Kandar

by Kenneth Bulmer

Two rival sorcerers cast their spells as the flames rise above Dreaming Ferranoz, capital of the bright empire of Akkar. Half-human wolflings devour its citizens. The conflicting spells meet - and paralyze the city. No one moves, even to breathe. Time stands still. The pall of smoke hangs motionless over unflickering fires.

Outside the city walls, Kandar, prince of Ferranoz, learns that he might save his people - if he can uncover the infamous Trilogy of the Damned, the books of sorcery in whose pages is locked the secret incantaion that can free Ferranoz.

Genres: Fantasy, Sword and Sorcery, Science Fiction

128 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1969

About the author

Henry Kenneth Bulmer
aka:
Alan Burt Akers
Ken Blake
Ernest Corley
Arthur Frazier
Adam Hardy
Philip Kent
Bruno Krauss
Neil Langholm
Karl Maras
Manning Norvil
Charles R. Pike
Andrew Quiller
Richard Silver
Tully Zetford

Reviews

[Craig · Rating 3 out of 5]

This volume is graced with a lovely Jeff Jones painting of a man (presumably Kandar) wearing what appears to be Dr. Henry Pym's original Ant-Man helmet holding a ginormous broadsword with a young lady who happens to be naked clutching him from behind while they're both sitting on what appears to be a giant ostrich. Or maybe it's an emu. Anyway, there's nothing remotely like this in the story (although Kandar himself does ride a flying dragon while naked (both he and the dragon) while sitting behind the goddess Vashtilulu the Buxom), but it does make for an interesting illustration. It's an easy story to make fun of, but it's not a bad sword-and-sorcery adventure for it's pre-D & D time. Bulmer was obviously working with his tongue firmly in his cheek (for example, one of the beasts of burden are called Dumarests…. the name of the long-running space opera hero whose adventures were chronicled by Bulmer's peer E.C. Tubb.) There used to be a specific S. & S. fantasy sub-genre, and Bulmer here tells a fun story while poking a bit of fun at Moorcock, Carter, Jakes, deCamp, and company. It's probably more a niche appeal than anything anymore, but I enjoyed it.

[Charles · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heroic fantasy. Good.

[Derek · Rating 4 out of 5]

Monkey Ghouls.

If there is anything to take away from this review, it is these two words. They taunted me from the chapter summaries in the table of contents, and as soon as I saw them it raised all sorts of entertaining questions: "Are these undead monkeys? Do they hunger for human flesh? Will they fling poo?" No on the last, but you can't have them all, I suppose.

This book is practically the reference case for old-school heroic sword-and-sorcery, written in a bombastic, grand style that occasionally gets away from the author and dips into the awkward: "He had fallen in with a small caravan laden with the furs of the south that fetched high prices in the northern lands where along the uplands the heat was tempered too keenly by altitude." Between the passive voice and the complex structure, it occasionally reads like a tumorous sentence combining exercise.

Still, it was more entertaining than it had any right to be. Brisk and not particularly substantial and without ambitions to be otherwise. Old-school enthusiasts of a certain fantasy role-playing game could do far worse than look this one up. Between its handling of the magic arts--memorization from complex grimoires--and a well-timed delve into a treasure-laden tomb, it had Appendix N written all over it.

And the cover, oh the cover. A font gone fugitive from Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In, a buttcrack-tastic cover image where the principals unaccountably face away, except for the riding ostrich, who musters an angry stare, possibly indignant over being omitted from the book itself. Jeffrey Jones must have had an off day.

Monkey Ghouls!

[Leothefox · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fairly run-of-the-mill sword and sorcery yarn, from a time when a lot of run-of-the-mill sword and sorcery book were coming out. I'll say this, it's better than some and it's way waaaay better than the godawful fantasy (more like anti-fantasy) book I finished before this.

Kenneth Bulmer's "Kandar" has it's unique points, one of which being that the hero is sword-swinging prince who longs to learn science, but must turn to sorcery in order to save his kingdom. There are a few other inventive tidbits, including using necromancy to keep retain the personalities of the slain.

The problem is that the book feels a bit rushed. A lot of the adventure is glossed over, like it was compressed into a montage. It seems a bit like Bulmer wanted to write a bigger story, but this is the one he had time for. But then, this might just be how Bulmer writes, since I got a similar feeling from "Transit to Scorpio" (the only other Bulmer book I've read).

Kandar also sure seems to get laid quite a bit! I guess that was part of the appeal for some readers. At least it's not all sick and "philosophical" about it, like "Gor". The book also aimed for humor a lot, which I'm sure scored high with other readers.

All things considered, this wasn't bad and I'm not hugely disappointed. There were fun touches, including Krak, a parody of Conan. Bulmer's heart is pretty much in the right place, and that counts for something.

[Richard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! Great short fantasy story. If you were looking for something new, nothing really sets this one apart from any other in the genre. Everything was typical and by the book. The one thing I did not like though was the character gives up on his companions almost completely just to save his city. Other than that I really enjoyed this one, hope you do too.

[Tom · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a nice, slender read, filled with great ideas and better than mediocre execution. It could have been a bit more fleshed out (which is odd for me to say since I hate literary "fluff" in fantasy). The ending was pretty cool, and I was left wondering if there was a sequel. I could see a series of adventures about this character. Anyways, not a bad read.

[Eric N. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Came across this short fantasy adventure in a Salvation Army. No bogged down politics or family tree info,fantasic!

[Deep Driven · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't think what was the content of this book few chapters are going off my head while reading because I don't imagine what is this?
hard content not able to find easily

but a great combination of magic faith and sword.

I think this is not good for Indian readers but ahead of this will be magnificent
writer was tough his thought was incredible can't assume an ordinary man easily

[James · Rating 3 out of 5]

3⭐️ A Good Book/Unexceptional

This book felt like it was the top bullet points of a much larger book that the author was getting ready to write. Essentially, it was missing the inbetween drama/depth and sub plots needed to elevate the story. Overall it has(had) the potential of being a great book.

Favorite Quote: I did not find one I liked in this book.

[KHLOARIS · Rating 2 out of 5]

Young Prince Kandar fleas his homeland after its been besieged by a magical army of ravenous wolfling entities. Having lost everything except his family name, Prince Kandar encounters evil sorcery & wayward women at every turn. There is much magic within these pages... and a lot more sex than is typical for YA fantasy. Kandar’s swordsmanship is not enough to win back his homeland and so he must cultivate his booksmarts to unlock the secrets of the fabled books of the damned. All in all, Kandar’s story was a quick read because its short. The prose style is awkwardly forced to sound old-fashioned and the author often rushes through the action almost like a bard recounting a montage impression of what has happened.

[Toby · Rating 1 out of 5]

The worst fantasy book I've ever read. This is the epitome of why I normally don't read fantasy.