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Viagens Interplanetarias #4.2
Tower of Zanid
It is the Year 2168--and men have become starrovers
The agreed-upon code is that sciences and gadgets beyond the cultural level of the peoples inhabiting the other planets will not be introduced by Earthmen, or other visitors.
Such is the situation on the planet of Krishna, most Earthlike in physical attributes, climate, and inhabitants, when adventurer Anthony Fallon decides to take the risk of winning a kingdom. With enough money, perhaps he can raise a private army...
But there is one risk that Anthony Fallon hesitates to take. Only under pain of death will he explore the mysteries of the dreaded TOWER OF ZANID!
The agreed-upon code is that sciences and gadgets beyond the cultural level of the peoples inhabiting the other planets will not be introduced by Earthmen, or other visitors.
Such is the situation on the planet of Krishna, most Earthlike in physical attributes, climate, and inhabitants, when adventurer Anthony Fallon decides to take the risk of winning a kingdom. With enough money, perhaps he can raise a private army...
But there is one risk that Anthony Fallon hesitates to take. Only under pain of death will he explore the mysteries of the dreaded TOWER OF ZANID!
128 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published September 1, 1958
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79 people want to read
About the author
L. Sprague de Camp
759 books312 followersLyon Sprague de Camp was an American author of science fiction, fantasy and non-fiction literature. In a career spanning 60 years, he wrote over 100 books, both novels and works of non-fiction, including biographies of other fantasy authors. He was a major figure in science fiction in the 1930s and 1940s.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
April 1, 2021
This one is a fun, short science/fantasy story that would, perhaps, have been right at home in Planet Stories magazine. De Camp's descriptions of aliens and their societies is colorful and imaginative, and though the plot is rather implausible, it's a fun adventure.
Apropos of nothing, a bit of history trivia: I remember this as one of the books that -everybody- had back in the 1970s and '80s. For some reason, back in the mid-1970s or thereabouts, every five-and-ten-cent store had a bin near the front filled with paperbacks for a quarter a piece or five for a dollar. There were thousands of copies of the same books across the country in Woolworth's, Kresge's, Murphy's, etc., most of them published by the defunct Airmont Books. A handful of the titles were science fiction: Lords of Atlantis by Wallace West, Hidden World by Stanton Coblentz, Invaders From Rigel by Fletcher Pratt, Day of the Giants by Lester del Rey, and this one by de Camp were the five I got for my dollar, and I'll bet all sf fans back in the day had the same five. They were ubiquitous! I'm still sure The Tower of Zanid had to be de Camp's best-circulated title.
Apropos of nothing, a bit of history trivia: I remember this as one of the books that -everybody- had back in the 1970s and '80s. For some reason, back in the mid-1970s or thereabouts, every five-and-ten-cent store had a bin near the front filled with paperbacks for a quarter a piece or five for a dollar. There were thousands of copies of the same books across the country in Woolworth's, Kresge's, Murphy's, etc., most of them published by the defunct Airmont Books. A handful of the titles were science fiction: Lords of Atlantis by Wallace West, Hidden World by Stanton Coblentz, Invaders From Rigel by Fletcher Pratt, Day of the Giants by Lester del Rey, and this one by de Camp were the five I got for my dollar, and I'll bet all sf fans back in the day had the same five. They were ubiquitous! I'm still sure The Tower of Zanid had to be de Camp's best-circulated title.
December 15, 2011
I'm on the fence on whether this is a keeper or not: on one hand, I noticed that this is a vintage printing from The Colonial Press of Clinton, Massachusetts, where I live, and given that I found it at the neighboring town's library book sale, I'm intrigued by what travels it took in coming back to its place of origin.
On the other, it's not a very good book. There's no reason for this; in theory the components are sound. The Planet Krishna is a petri dish of history and conflict--like any sword-and-planet setting--and is under technological embargo, so the Krishnans typically squabble using primitive weapons unless the author decides to throw a curve ball at the reader. And this also sets up some interesting ideas about cultural diffusion and the disruptive effects of imported technology.
But frankly in this book the pieces don't come together. The story is clogged with the names of invented locations, peoples, nations, animals, and so forth. It promises a heist adventure at its core--infiltration of the Tower of Zanid--but the story meanders through the details of Anthony Fallon's life before a brief section inside the Tower. It concludes with a sequence that completely neutralizes the revelations made inside the Tower, and, I think, squanders the story opportunity.
On the other, it's not a very good book. There's no reason for this; in theory the components are sound. The Planet Krishna is a petri dish of history and conflict--like any sword-and-planet setting--and is under technological embargo, so the Krishnans typically squabble using primitive weapons unless the author decides to throw a curve ball at the reader. And this also sets up some interesting ideas about cultural diffusion and the disruptive effects of imported technology.
But frankly in this book the pieces don't come together. The story is clogged with the names of invented locations, peoples, nations, animals, and so forth. It promises a heist adventure at its core--infiltration of the Tower of Zanid--but the story meanders through the details of Anthony Fallon's life before a brief section inside the Tower. It concludes with a sequence that completely neutralizes the revelations made inside the Tower, and, I think, squanders the story opportunity.
January 17, 2024
Anthony Fallon from Earth lives on a planet where primitives live. According to the law, no advanced technology may be made available to them. Fallon earns his living as a spy.
When I started, I checked out the reviews here on Goodreads and saw the bad ratings.
Now having finished, I ask myself why are they so bad?
I thought this was a nifty littel SF-fantasy-novel.
The style was very much like that of Jack Vance. Lots of colorful despriptions of the planet and its inhabitants. A somewhat shady protagonist. An ironic tone throughout the book. Nice.
When I started, I checked out the reviews here on Goodreads and saw the bad ratings.
Now having finished, I ask myself why are they so bad?
I thought this was a nifty littel SF-fantasy-novel.
The style was very much like that of Jack Vance. Lots of colorful despriptions of the planet and its inhabitants. A somewhat shady protagonist. An ironic tone throughout the book. Nice.
December 28, 2024
A fun, quick and sometimes pretty funny little sci fi / adventure novel from 1958. The year is 2168 and on the plant Krishna, "gone native" Earth adventurer Anthony Fallon ruled a small kingdom and then lost it and is now trying to raise money to raise an army and reconquer his throne. He has a pulpy private eye vibe to him, which brings a lot of the humor to the story. The powers that be on Earth have outlawed bringing any technology to Krishna, especially any kind of guns or weaponry -- going so far as to hypnotize any visitors to the planet so they are unable to divulge any technological secrets. The people of Krishna are human-like, but with green skin and antennas and (sometimes) tails. They have kind of a middle ages / feudal society and many of their customs and theologies are given an Indian / Southeast Asian flavor. Sprague de Camp fits in many not-very-subtle digs at imperialism that (mostly) manage not to be overly racist or sexist. The battle scene at the climax is really well written and there are a bunch of entertaining set pieces. Definitely bought this one for the cover, and it was an entertaining read!
November 21, 2015
I was interested to see what Sprague de Camp would do with a Space Sci-Fi story, but it turns out this is really a re-write of 'Tower of the Elephant' with a small bit of Sci-Fi trappings over it.
There is a Trek-like Prime Directive, which is enforced by Hypnosis, so we get alien world with Epic Fantasy-level tech (mostly, they mention Typewriters and photographs, but they don't effect the story)
de Camp is a pretty good writer, and there are definitely some fun moments, but really you might as well just read Conan.
Apparently, this is a series, with a good 12 or so novels, that de Camp meant to be his Barsoom. I see the connection, but none of his aliens are actually alien (the Krishnas are just green skinned people, and the animals just have two extra legs and funny names)... I don't find it works well as that... really, just a pseudo-Conan pastische, IMO.
There is a Trek-like Prime Directive, which is enforced by Hypnosis, so we get alien world with Epic Fantasy-level tech (mostly, they mention Typewriters and photographs, but they don't effect the story)
de Camp is a pretty good writer, and there are definitely some fun moments, but really you might as well just read Conan.
Apparently, this is a series, with a good 12 or so novels, that de Camp meant to be his Barsoom. I see the connection, but none of his aliens are actually alien (the Krishnas are just green skinned people, and the animals just have two extra legs and funny names)... I don't find it works well as that... really, just a pseudo-Conan pastische, IMO.
December 29, 2018
As always, deCamp painted a rich and very detailed alien landscape with complex social, political and religious systems.
The story follows a Terran who had been king of an alien land, now down on his luck and living in another alien land, who is given the opportunity to obtain wealth enough to buy a mercenary army to retake his throne.
But first he must undertake an extremely dangerous mission...
The story follows a Terran who had been king of an alien land, now down on his luck and living in another alien land, who is given the opportunity to obtain wealth enough to buy a mercenary army to retake his throne.
But first he must undertake an extremely dangerous mission...
October 7, 2024
The setting is an interesting milieu and the setup was solid. Unfortunately, I never found the meandering directions the story went entirely satisfying and the humor was pretty hit or miss. I think fans of Sword and Planet will find this mildly enjoyable.
April 18, 2024
Throughly OK. I was sold on the cover art but found the story a bit disjointed with a disappointing and abrupt end.
June 2, 2024
Meh.
April 19, 2025
Not a very satisfying story. To make matters worse, the 1958 edition was age yellowed, and the print was miniscule.
November 1, 2024
What's going on in the Tower of Zanid? Only deposed king and earthman Anthony Fallon can find out. A bit too silly at times, some of the customs on planet Krishna were interesting.
July 2, 2009
Yeah it was shlocky pulp crap, forgetable, except that it hurt.
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April 7, 2012Ne abbiamo parlato sul blog nell'articolo sul planetary romance:
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January 24, 2016
An OK SiFi story, really more of an adventure novel. Quick read. Recommended
June 9, 2016
More of L. Sprague de Camp's Krishna series. This book wasn't one of the better books in the series. It really didn't have the same spark of adventure as the others.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews