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Raum #1
Raum
From the very pit of hell he came, Earl of the Netherworld, vassal to the prince of evil.....
- GenresFantasy
189 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1977
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
June 4, 2021
Raum is a very good swords & sorcery novel with a solid and intelligent Arthurian foundation. This first edition has lovely illustrations and a great cover from Stephen Fabian. It's a fast read, a nice morality tale, and the perfect thing with which to buckle your swash.
February 3, 2020
Raum, duque demoníaco, ha sido invocado de las profundidades del infierno para cumplir la sucia misión de un hechicero de las negras artes. De esa manera Raum rompe sus primeras ataduras con el plano de los ángeles caídos para iniciar una busqueda que lo lleve hasta el mago Merlín quien se encuentra oculto—hechizado por una dama elfica— en algún lugar desconocido. Pará ello, Raum, siempre seguido por una nube de cuervos, traera desgracia, muerte y sangre por donde pase. Y detrás de él, los caballeros de la mesa redonda y un príncipe - niño que ha jurado regresar al infierno al demonio que acabo con su reino y con su padre.
Última Thule es una de las mejores colecciones de fantástico que podrás encontrar, porque su editor Javier Martín Lalanda es un genio seleccionando sólo lo mejor.
Última Thule es una de las mejores colecciones de fantástico que podrás encontrar, porque su editor Javier Martín Lalanda es un genio seleccionando sólo lo mejor.
April 13, 2025
Raum by Carl Sherrell
Avon Books
1977
Paperback
189 pages
Cover art Stephen Fabian
From the receipt inside the book evidently I found Raum at the Booklegger in Huntsville, Alabama about twenty years ago. The book features chilling cover art by the legendary Stephen Fabian. There are also four more black and white illustrations within—one for each section of the book. Oddly enough, the cover depicts Raum as being red, but the descriptions in the book illustrate him as being black. Perhaps red would show better detail on the cover?
- Upon Entering the World
Raum is one of the Fallen. Cast down from Heaven by his Creator. Summoned to our world by an Islandic sorcerer. He is bound by a geas to retrieve a beautiful woman from across the ocean. In exchange he will gain his freedom on this plane.
This early in the book Raum speaks of going west. This foreshadows the climax and the subsequent sequel.
His abilities are awesome and he uses them as easily as breathing. When his crew is devastated, he simply raises the dead from the surrounding waters to crew his ship. This is depicted on the cover.
- Among the Vikings
Numerous setbacks have left Raum without aid, and a body of water separates him from his goal. He forcefully takes up with some Vikings on their spring raiding to cross the sea. Seeking out Arthur to discover the whereabouts of Merlin both garners aid to his allies and creates enemies that will cause him strife later on.
Raum has no qualms about killing. It means nothing to him. Although, he is driven by a force unseen and he often makes decisions that go against his demonic nature leaving him perplexed.
- Three Elven Ladies
Having not found Merlin he seeks out Morgana—sister to Arthur. He uncovers the elves plot against Arthur and they seek to enlist Raum’s aid. Finding Merlin, Raum discovers his overall goal is unattainable for an infernal such as him. Rudderless and unsure how to proceed he discovers a new emotion and possibly a new path.
- Retribution
The loose ends and strife he has sown earlier in the book is now bearing a bitter harvest. Raum journeys to right the wrongs he can. New bonds are forged. While away Raum’s most prized possession is spirited away into the unknown west. God help those men.
I feel like the book started strong. I was intrigued by the character and his motivations. His penchant for violence certainly helped. Even still, by the third act I was becoming bored. The final act, while short, merely sets up a sequel.
Avon Books
1977
Paperback
189 pages
Cover art Stephen Fabian
From the receipt inside the book evidently I found Raum at the Booklegger in Huntsville, Alabama about twenty years ago. The book features chilling cover art by the legendary Stephen Fabian. There are also four more black and white illustrations within—one for each section of the book. Oddly enough, the cover depicts Raum as being red, but the descriptions in the book illustrate him as being black. Perhaps red would show better detail on the cover?
- Upon Entering the World
Raum is one of the Fallen. Cast down from Heaven by his Creator. Summoned to our world by an Islandic sorcerer. He is bound by a geas to retrieve a beautiful woman from across the ocean. In exchange he will gain his freedom on this plane.
This early in the book Raum speaks of going west. This foreshadows the climax and the subsequent sequel.
His abilities are awesome and he uses them as easily as breathing. When his crew is devastated, he simply raises the dead from the surrounding waters to crew his ship. This is depicted on the cover.
- Among the Vikings
Numerous setbacks have left Raum without aid, and a body of water separates him from his goal. He forcefully takes up with some Vikings on their spring raiding to cross the sea. Seeking out Arthur to discover the whereabouts of Merlin both garners aid to his allies and creates enemies that will cause him strife later on.
Raum has no qualms about killing. It means nothing to him. Although, he is driven by a force unseen and he often makes decisions that go against his demonic nature leaving him perplexed.
- Three Elven Ladies
Having not found Merlin he seeks out Morgana—sister to Arthur. He uncovers the elves plot against Arthur and they seek to enlist Raum’s aid. Finding Merlin, Raum discovers his overall goal is unattainable for an infernal such as him. Rudderless and unsure how to proceed he discovers a new emotion and possibly a new path.
- Retribution
The loose ends and strife he has sown earlier in the book is now bearing a bitter harvest. Raum journeys to right the wrongs he can. New bonds are forged. While away Raum’s most prized possession is spirited away into the unknown west. God help those men.
I feel like the book started strong. I was intrigued by the character and his motivations. His penchant for violence certainly helped. Even still, by the third act I was becoming bored. The final act, while short, merely sets up a sequel.
February 8, 2018
1st fantasy book i read as a teen hence the high rating. it opened the world of reading to me.....now i am hooked
January 14, 2025
1 of my favorite books i read it over and over its a great book for a drizzly night
August 5, 2015
I first read this in 1981, so it was a nice bit of nostalgia to read it again. The tale has lost none of its magic. A swords & sorcery adventure set in a Arthurian Dark Ages, the story comes down to an interesting morality play on the nature of good and evil. Highly recommended light reading for fans of the genre.
January 14, 2018
It's a good take on the Arthurian mythos and the characters therein.
The paperback edition also had some good interior artwork.
It's worth reading twice.
The paperback edition also had some good interior artwork.
It's worth reading twice.
March 11, 2025
3.5 stars rounded up.
I really enjoyed this short little sword and sorcery epic. Centralizing a demon who is driven by a mysterious impulse to change his ways was a nice flip on a classic formula. I thought Camelot and the Arthurian characters were used well and to great effect when combined with the threat of Norsemen and the Fins. It was nice to get a full picture of a world, some fun battle scenes, and a hefty dose of fantasy in a compact paperback (with pretty amazing illustrations). I look forward to reading the sequel and lament the fact that the third in the series remains locked away in a library collection--though maybe there is something we can do about that. Hmmm....
Read on a crusty old paperback and archive.org.
I really enjoyed this short little sword and sorcery epic. Centralizing a demon who is driven by a mysterious impulse to change his ways was a nice flip on a classic formula. I thought Camelot and the Arthurian characters were used well and to great effect when combined with the threat of Norsemen and the Fins. It was nice to get a full picture of a world, some fun battle scenes, and a hefty dose of fantasy in a compact paperback (with pretty amazing illustrations). I look forward to reading the sequel and lament the fact that the third in the series remains locked away in a library collection--though maybe there is something we can do about that. Hmmm....
Read on a crusty old paperback and archive.org.
February 14, 2022
This was fairly deep for a pulp fantasy novel. It explored a question of redemption for even the most evil creatures imaginable. The story ends with an opening for further adventures of the titular demon anti-hero.
August 18, 2021
One of the best books ive red.i had it when i was little and it held up 25 years later.
November 13, 2021
Style trop vieillot pour moi. Le "héros" est trop caricatural au départ.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews