The Magic of Atlantis

by Lin Carter (Editor), Clark Ashton Smith, Robert E. Howard

Atlantis the magic land that existed somewhere beyond the pillars of Hercules, and where civilization is said to have reached its highest flowering, has been the stuff of dreams and legends for more than two thousand years. Now science seems on the verge of stripping away the veil of time and legend, and revealing Atlantis for what it actually was. Before the dreams are forever shattered, Lin Carter takes us on seven journeys of marvel and wonders into that Atlantis of myth...and hope...


Beyond the Pillars of Hercules (1970) essay by Lin Carter
The Mirrors of Tuzun Thune (1929) shortstory by Robert E. Howard
The Spawn of Dagon (1938) shortstory by Henry Kuttner
The Eye of Tandyla [Pusadian] (1951) novelette by L. Sprague de Camp
The Seal of Zaon Sathla (1970) shortstory by Lin Carter
The Vengeance of Ulios (1935) novelette by Edmond Hamilton
The Death of Malygris (1934) shortstory by Clark Ashton Smith
The Heart of Atlantan (1940) novelette by Nictzin Dyalhis

Genres: Fantasy

191 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 1970

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

[Derek · Rating 3 out of 5]

No, it's not his Ballantine Adult Fantasy series. There's less sense of curation of material and consideration of how the theme fits historically into the genre. I'd like to think that a Ballantine version would include a dollop of Theosophy or Greek translations, either of which would add weight to the selection. Instead, Carter traipses through the usual sources and appears to grab what is relatively available.

[Elizabeth Castro · Rating 1 out of 5]

As an avid reader, The Magic of Atlantis was a hard collection of short stories for me to "get through." Most of the stories were similar with different unpronounceable character names. Sometimes I had read into the next story without knowing it. I was also distracted by words wondering is this a made up word or should I look it up?
When I came to the story The Vengeance of Ulios, I thought here is a better written story than the previous ones. After about ten pages I came into such blatant racism and cruelty that I was disgusted and gave up reading The Magic of Atlantis.

[Kirk Udvardi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful anthology of stories from the old Weird Tales pulp. The best story was The Death of Malygris by Clark Ashton Smith. Beautiful imagery and prose. Very proud to have these lovely stories in my collection.

[Garick Cooke · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was lucky to find a copy in good condition for about $ 2.00, as the old Lancer paperbacks are notorious for coming unglued. Edited and with introductory material by Lin Carter, and dedicated to Andre Norton.

"The Mirrors of Tuzun Thun" by Robert E. Howard. 2/5 stars. A Kull story, and not one of his best.

"The Spawn of Dagon" by Henry Kuttner. 3/5 stars. I'm not a fan of Kuttner, but this one was entertaining. Featuring Elak of Atlantis.

"The Eye of Tandyla" by L. Sprague DeCamp. 3/5 stars. Again, not a fan. DeCamp's irreverent style is perhaps a welcome contrast to the mostly dark sword-and-sorcery collected in this anthology.

"The Seal of Zaon Sathla" by Lin Carter. 2/5 stars. A brief tale with the right style, but not much substance.

"The Vengeance of Ulios" by Edmond Hamilton. 4/5 stars. Not so much a hidden treasure as a guilty pleasure, this story of revenge spanning prehistoric times to the present day (in 1935) is compulsively readable.

"The Death of Malygris" by Clark Ashton Smith. 3/5 stars. One of his most famous tales.

"The Heart of Atlantan" by Nictzin Dyalhis. 2/5 stars. Here is what Wikipedia has to say: Dyalhis "established a reputation in Weird Tales out of proportion to either the quality or quantity of his contributions." Unfortunately, I cannot but agree, based on this one story; perhaps this wasn't his best work.

[Fraser Sherman · Rating 3 out of 5]

This anthology of Atlantis themed stories include Howard's King Kull, a never-before collected story by Edmond Hamilton (a bodysnatching avenger spends centuries hunting the bodysnatching villains who sunk Atlantis), Clark Ashton Smith and Nictzin Dyalhis (a regrettably obscure pulp author) and stories by Lin Carter and L. Sprague de Camp.
Fun stories and this would get another star except the only roles for women are Bad Girl and Hot Babe (the Dyalhis is an exception). Pulp adventures sometimes did better than that, but you wouldn't know it from this set.

[Daniel]

I was looking for the beautiful myths of Atlantis but saw more sword and sorcery. Not my style of book.