Doomsman/The Thief of Thoth

by Harlan Ellison, Lin Carter

Genres: Science Fiction

paper

First published January 1, 1968

About the author

Harlan Jay Ellison (1934-2018) was a prolific American writer of short stories, novellas, teleplays, essays, and criticism.

His literary and television work has received many awards. He wrote for the original series of both The Outer Limits and Star Trek as well as The Alfred Hitchcock Hour; edited the multiple-award-winning short story anthology series Dangerous Visions; and served as creative consultant/writer to the science fiction TV series The New Twilight Zone and Babylon 5.

Several of his short fiction pieces have been made into movies, such as the classic "The Boy and His Dog".

Reviews

[Jay · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Doomsman is, to me, the more enjoyable story. The Thief of Thoth has prettier language and I do really like the idea of a science fiction tale that includes a narrator who addresses the reader directly (such an interesting fusion of the archaic and the… well, it was new when it was written), but the Thief (the story) has a flaw: the Thief (the character) is too powerful, making all his struggles seem insignificant. He is powerful like an adventuring party in an Monty Haul Dungeons and Dragons campaign: carrying so many weapons and having so much skill that no enemy really seems a challenge. The Doomsman, on the other hand, has a powerful character struggling against an even stronger society. I feel like the Doomsman could fail at any minute, and that keeps me turning the pages with suspense. The Thief of Thoth entertains and delights, but I never get a sense that he is about to fail.

I give both stories 4 stars and am very happy I was able to read them, but I did enjoy the darker Doomsman story more than the glittery Thief of Thoth tale.

[Patrik Sahlstrøm · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a "double" book consisting of two stories by two different authors

The first one "Doomsman" by Harlan Ellison is ok. The plot about an assasin trying to unravel his past holds no interest for me whatsoever. But at least it's fairly well written. People who like stories about assasins will likely enjoy this one

The second one "Thief of Thoth" by Lin Carter is likely the worst garbage I've had the misfortune to read. It has the most annoying Marty Stu I've ever encountered as the protagonist. And if the reader for a second forgets about how aweinspiring the protagonist is Carter explicitly reminds you every second paragraph. And to add insult to injury Carter has included some of his utterly inane poetry in this story. For the sake of your sanity stay away from this horrendous story!

[Adrienne Kern McClintock]

Lucky to even have a copy, so I understand...

[Guevara Torres · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought doomsmen was the better story, but thoth had such colorful imagery.