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Thongor #1
Thongor and the Wizard of Lemuria
Book by Carter, Lin
143 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1965
41 people are currently reading
559 people want to read
About the author
Lin Carter
416 books171 followersLin 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
May 26, 2015
Carter’s Thongor of Valkarth, a True Floater
Lin Carter’s Thongor is a clonan, a “clone” of REH’s 1930’s barbarian “Conan.” Thongor has all the expected traits: a broadsword, hails from northern cold climates, disdains civilization, and wears a loincloth. In addition to Thongor, other notable clonans emerging ~1970 include John Jakes‘s Brak the Barbarian and Gardner F. Fox’s Kothar of the Magic Sword.
Lemuria, and Weird Fiction History Let us highlight the titular location: Lemuria is akin to Atlantis, being a lost continent mired in myth and history. It is not entirely fictional. In fact, many scientists in the 1800’s including Ernst Haeckel (famous Darwin supporter) claimed the Lemuria was a sunken continent off of Africa/India and hypothesized it was the origin of man’s evolution (rather than Africa). In short, Carter chose a land that was rich in history, but did not capitalize on this much. There are a few call outs to Hyperborea (ancient northern Europe essentially, another mystical land with “real” history ….Hyperborea being the key one that inspired weird fiction originals: Robert E. Howard and Clark Ashton Smith). H.P. Lovecraft was a pen pal with Howard and Smith, and championed his own flavor of horror which influenced REH’s adventures—Lin Carter had several Lovecraft call-outs as well. However, Carter fails to tap the potential of Lemuria’s rich history.
Editions, Covers, and Expectations: This reviews the 1969 second edition (Thongor and the Wizard of Lemuria), which expands the original 1965 (The Wizard of Lemuria) with an author’s foreword in which he reveals that the 2nd edition has a few thousand extra words—this is interesting since the novel is near novella length and still seems short. Paying tribute to a master (REH) is an honorable gesture; and this is admittedly Lin Carter’s first published work, so we do not expect his best. What should we expect? Let’s start with the covers. The original 1965 cover by Gray Morrow was more representative, featuring a dragon-like pterodactyl eating a spaceship. The 1969 edition has an arguably more attractive cover by Jeff Jones, which looks more Frazetta-like and promises more serious, dark fantasy than it does cheezy, sci-fi. Thongor is arguably a mix of sci-fi and fantasy, so either approach could work; upon reading, it is obvious we have been duped.
Floaters and ADHD Style: Moments of decent storytelling are interrupted by ambiguous self-parody: an air ship is quickly introduced and is unfortunately called a "floater", which brings to mind a type of low-density, egested waste. Since our uncivilized barbarian chances upon said floater, a unique prototype among all Lemuria, it is outright amazing that he can master the controls and fly away. But he does, and this nonsense is ever present and consistent. Our naked, loin-clothed hero is called “Thong”-or... I assume he is wearing a thong (he is characterized as being naked), but half way through, we suddenly learn Thongor is actually wearing “high boots” to protect himself from vile serpents. Wild disconnects are characteristic of the book.
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a real disorder aptly named; it also suits the style of this book. One could easily argue Lin Carter had ADHD, and got a thrill of introducing, then instantly discarding, random goals/enemies. To wit: random wizard needs randomly found warrior and his randomly high-jacked floater to... guess what? …save the world in two weeks. Without this random confluence of events, the wizard would have not prepared to save it. WTH? Fortunate coincidence on every page attempts to mop up plot holes too big too fix; unlikely encounters bring shallow danger and instant reprieves. The faux drama is so over-the-top that each encounter deflates the previous. Hopelessly lost characters and magical weapons somehow always resurface…like low-density/high-fat poop (a.k.a. floaters).
Cinematic Clonans: Carter’s Thongor reads like poor fan fiction more than it does a unique tribute to the Sword & Sorcery genre. There are parallels between the written Conan-Clonan development and the cinematic evolution. Those of us who lived through the 1980’s were generally (a) impressed with the cinematic adaption of Conan The Barbarian (1982, with Arnold Schwarzenegger), and less impressed with the movie-clonans that followed that were shallow rip-offs. The worst of the worst of these was Deathstalker There is a stunningly hilarious and through review of the Deathstalker series on cinemassacre.com from 2010. It dissects the absurdity of the series, even going as far as to quantify the ratio of fight scenes to women's breasts shown per movie. These movies are terrible, like most clones. What is sad is that many of these had great covers by artist Boris Vallejo, which promised to deliver serious Sword & Sorcery. Great marketing I suppose, but reminiscent of this Thongor book disappointing delivery wrapped in a great oil painting.
Lin Carter’s Thongor is a clonan, a “clone” of REH’s 1930’s barbarian “Conan.” Thongor has all the expected traits: a broadsword, hails from northern cold climates, disdains civilization, and wears a loincloth. In addition to Thongor, other notable clonans emerging ~1970 include John Jakes‘s Brak the Barbarian and Gardner F. Fox’s Kothar of the Magic Sword.
Lemuria, and Weird Fiction History Let us highlight the titular location: Lemuria is akin to Atlantis, being a lost continent mired in myth and history. It is not entirely fictional. In fact, many scientists in the 1800’s including Ernst Haeckel (famous Darwin supporter) claimed the Lemuria was a sunken continent off of Africa/India and hypothesized it was the origin of man’s evolution (rather than Africa). In short, Carter chose a land that was rich in history, but did not capitalize on this much. There are a few call outs to Hyperborea (ancient northern Europe essentially, another mystical land with “real” history ….Hyperborea being the key one that inspired weird fiction originals: Robert E. Howard and Clark Ashton Smith). H.P. Lovecraft was a pen pal with Howard and Smith, and championed his own flavor of horror which influenced REH’s adventures—Lin Carter had several Lovecraft call-outs as well. However, Carter fails to tap the potential of Lemuria’s rich history.
Editions, Covers, and Expectations: This reviews the 1969 second edition (Thongor and the Wizard of Lemuria), which expands the original 1965 (The Wizard of Lemuria) with an author’s foreword in which he reveals that the 2nd edition has a few thousand extra words—this is interesting since the novel is near novella length and still seems short. Paying tribute to a master (REH) is an honorable gesture; and this is admittedly Lin Carter’s first published work, so we do not expect his best. What should we expect? Let’s start with the covers. The original 1965 cover by Gray Morrow was more representative, featuring a dragon-like pterodactyl eating a spaceship. The 1969 edition has an arguably more attractive cover by Jeff Jones, which looks more Frazetta-like and promises more serious, dark fantasy than it does cheezy, sci-fi. Thongor is arguably a mix of sci-fi and fantasy, so either approach could work; upon reading, it is obvious we have been duped.
Floaters and ADHD Style: Moments of decent storytelling are interrupted by ambiguous self-parody: an air ship is quickly introduced and is unfortunately called a "floater", which brings to mind a type of low-density, egested waste. Since our uncivilized barbarian chances upon said floater, a unique prototype among all Lemuria, it is outright amazing that he can master the controls and fly away. But he does, and this nonsense is ever present and consistent. Our naked, loin-clothed hero is called “Thong”-or... I assume he is wearing a thong (he is characterized as being naked), but half way through, we suddenly learn Thongor is actually wearing “high boots” to protect himself from vile serpents. Wild disconnects are characteristic of the book.
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a real disorder aptly named; it also suits the style of this book. One could easily argue Lin Carter had ADHD, and got a thrill of introducing, then instantly discarding, random goals/enemies. To wit: random wizard needs randomly found warrior and his randomly high-jacked floater to... guess what? …save the world in two weeks. Without this random confluence of events, the wizard would have not prepared to save it. WTH? Fortunate coincidence on every page attempts to mop up plot holes too big too fix; unlikely encounters bring shallow danger and instant reprieves. The faux drama is so over-the-top that each encounter deflates the previous. Hopelessly lost characters and magical weapons somehow always resurface…like low-density/high-fat poop (a.k.a. floaters).
Cinematic Clonans: Carter’s Thongor reads like poor fan fiction more than it does a unique tribute to the Sword & Sorcery genre. There are parallels between the written Conan-Clonan development and the cinematic evolution. Those of us who lived through the 1980’s were generally (a) impressed with the cinematic adaption of Conan The Barbarian (1982, with Arnold Schwarzenegger), and less impressed with the movie-clonans that followed that were shallow rip-offs. The worst of the worst of these was Deathstalker There is a stunningly hilarious and through review of the Deathstalker series on cinemassacre.com from 2010. It dissects the absurdity of the series, even going as far as to quantify the ratio of fight scenes to women's breasts shown per movie. These movies are terrible, like most clones. What is sad is that many of these had great covers by artist Boris Vallejo, which promised to deliver serious Sword & Sorcery. Great marketing I suppose, but reminiscent of this Thongor book disappointing delivery wrapped in a great oil painting.
November 21, 2023
Thongor’s first experience with a stolen airship, The Nemedis, leads him on an adventure meeting the powerful Wizard of Lemuria named Sharajsha. He joins Thongor on a journey to create the magic sword destined to destroy the evil dragon kings.
Along the way he befriends Karm Karvus, a former guard and falls for Sumia, princess of Patanga.
In between there are encounters with gigantic bird-like lizards, arch-druids and all sorts of scum and villainy culminating in the dragon kings human sacrifices.
Thongor has been compared to Conan, but Carter throws in more sci-fi and a pair of golden eyes.
Along the way he befriends Karm Karvus, a former guard and falls for Sumia, princess of Patanga.
In between there are encounters with gigantic bird-like lizards, arch-druids and all sorts of scum and villainy culminating in the dragon kings human sacrifices.
Thongor has been compared to Conan, but Carter throws in more sci-fi and a pair of golden eyes.
June 1, 2015
Nominally a sword-and-sorcery adventure set in prehistoric Lemuria of legend, Carter draws in sword-and-planet influences (more visible later in the series) and a save-the-world plot from high fantasy. The resulting amalgam has the worst excesses of each. The story is rife with unlikely coincidences, plot immunities, last-minute rescues and reversals, and also seems to be driven on rails by an extended fetch-the-foozle quest that reads like the world's worst grocery list. They have two weeks. They did have seven thousand years, but Sharajsha the Wizard is a busy man, and it's so difficult to get to the shops--much less hire reliable help--from his mountain fortress.
Carter strings together every hoary set piece ever posited for either/all genres, as though he suspected he'd never have another opportunity to sit with the Big Kids. As a result, he dumps out his entire toolbox: the midnight raid on a tower-fortress, protagonists slated for sacrifice to elder gods, a prison break, an arena battle, and various encounters with large and dangerous wildlife. It's a style that gets the job done--or at least A job--but contains nothing remarkable or memorable. If an eleven year old described this as the best he/she has ever read, I would pat him/her on the head and hand over a copy of Jack Vance's Planet of Adventure series.
At one point, Carter describes a scene (p 117): "...under which the Dragon Kings of a bygone age disported in peculiar garments too complex to be noted merely in passing." It's a weird sentence, both self-referential and lazy, that seems to encapsulate the whole of Carter's writing, especially his later works.
Carter strings together every hoary set piece ever posited for either/all genres, as though he suspected he'd never have another opportunity to sit with the Big Kids. As a result, he dumps out his entire toolbox: the midnight raid on a tower-fortress, protagonists slated for sacrifice to elder gods, a prison break, an arena battle, and various encounters with large and dangerous wildlife. It's a style that gets the job done--or at least A job--but contains nothing remarkable or memorable. If an eleven year old described this as the best he/she has ever read, I would pat him/her on the head and hand over a copy of Jack Vance's Planet of Adventure series.
At one point, Carter describes a scene (p 117): "...under which the Dragon Kings of a bygone age disported in peculiar garments too complex to be noted merely in passing." It's a weird sentence, both self-referential and lazy, that seems to encapsulate the whole of Carter's writing, especially his later works.
August 26, 2011
This book stunk. Lol. No, actually my used copy of it smells like stale mint gum. It really bothered my sense of smell. If it wasn't good enough I was going to give it up. And then I had to finish it in a blackout with a booklight. Okay, but enough about me. This book is from an era when fantasy was simply told to be entertaining. No messages. No political agendas. And sometimes it's nice to get away from the seriousness of it. It wasn't earthshattering great, no surprises, no twists, but I enjoyed it. If you like Joe Abercrombie give these books a chance. If you're a fan of fantasy give any of the oldies a chance. They're the roots of fantasy today afterall.
October 15, 2013
Do not read this book looking for a fine pastiche of Conan. Do not read this book hoping for a fine pastiche of Edgar Rice Burroughs's Mars novels. But if you love Conan and ERB, this is Conan as ERB would have written him! Highly recommended! [In my opinion, while Carter deserves some of the criticism against him--he was definitely "derivative" (is that truly a bad thing?!)--he has been unfairly maligned as an author. He is really quite good when in ERB or Clark Ashton Smith mode.]
October 21, 2025
Thongor and the Wizard of Lemuria is the first book in Carter's best-known sword & sorcery/fantasy series. (Or sword & planet if you prefer.) The book is a kind of mash-up of Howard's Conan and Burroughs' John Carter, with science and magic mixing equally for the sake of adventure. It's not as well written as either of the inspirations, but it's an okay entertainment. (Think Otis Adelbart Kline.) The Wizard of Lemuria was Carter's first published novel; it came out from Ace in 1965 with a nifty Gray Morrow cover that shows a dragon eating a spaceship. Carter added a few thousand words to the text and "Thongor and" to the title and Berkeley reissued it in 1969 with a Jeff Jones trying-to-do-Frazetta cover. Carter continued the series over the course of his career for another five or seven volumes, and I think I read one or two more of them, but they don't stick out in my memory.
June 15, 2014
Having read all of the Thongor's novels I must say that they are a cross over between Conan and John Carter of Mars. In a bizarre kind of way, Thongor's saga works and works well. In this prediluvian continent, while evidently prehistoric and were dinosaurs still roam, conjures up regular comparisons with ERB Barsoom series, which seems to be more its blueprint than the world of Conan. This series are a combination of two bigger than life heroes, and a must have for every sword and sorcery and science fan. The battle with the Dragon Kings was a blast. Good read.
September 8, 2019
A Conan derivative with a carbon copy of the character, some impressive scenery and setpieces, the occasional good fight scene, and honestly pretty terrible prose with poor word choices and narration. Probably not worth your while unless you're really insistent on reading everything Sword & Sorcery has to offer, but not the worst of the lot either - the setting, all the flying ships and dinosaurs, carries some of it.
January 23, 2014
This is highly derivative sword-and-sorcery, with a penchant for coincidence that would embarrass Edgar Rice Burroughs, and yet it is kind of fun if you remember to drink some alcohol while reading. I liked this better than the same author's first two "World's End" books featuring the bland Ganelon.
January 22, 2016
Another Conan knock off form the 1970s. Not a bad fantasy story and a quick read. I guess in my mind most of these books will always get compared to Robert E. Howard's Conan and fall short. Recommended
July 26, 2010
Probably my favorite in the Thongor series. Maybe just because it was the first.
February 10, 2023
As many others have said this is a Conan clone. That being said can we not point to other works and say similar things? Is all fantasy a rip off of Tolkien? Or name your way of saying just that.
With that out of the way. The story was ok at best and funny at times. I wasn't looking for anything mind shattering when I picked this up. I think if you want to waste a couple hours and be entertained and you like "Sword and Sorcery" you could do worse. It was a solid 3 star for me. Nothing I would read again. Not sure I will add it to my rotation. All in all it was ok.
With that out of the way. The story was ok at best and funny at times. I wasn't looking for anything mind shattering when I picked this up. I think if you want to waste a couple hours and be entertained and you like "Sword and Sorcery" you could do worse. It was a solid 3 star for me. Nothing I would read again. Not sure I will add it to my rotation. All in all it was ok.
November 29, 2013
I don't know whether to give this 1/5 or 5/5 its soooooooooo bad it's hilarious! Simply cannot believe this is not a parody. The story is a cross between Edgar Rice Burroughs and Conan with a dash of Lovecraft thrown in for good measure. The Hero Thongor is a dumb, lusty barbarian often most often denoted by his "iron thewed legs" or naked "bronze chest" - he's supposed to be brainless and yet actually comes up with some pretty intelligent plans of escape - he wants to be John Carter or equivalent, but is drawn with the architype of Conan it just doesn't gel for me.
His main companion is Sharajsha of Zaar a wizard of overcomplicated and stupid-sounding name (as are the majority of names and characters in this book - but thank the gods its spares us overuse of the apostrophe - it does every other cliche you care to name!) who has no secret agenda whasoever. what you see is what you get. how dull. this guy is a good and noble wizard who's sole plan is to save the world from the dragon lords led by a villain called Sssaaa (I kid you not) opening a portal to let in the elder gods.
The writing is apalling and full of archaisms (thus/thence etc) and malapropisms and hell simply made up mumbo-jumbo - we have Thongor nervous of the wizard's "alchemystical warlockery" he's read about ghosts in "shuddery accounts", the snake people are "loathly undulent" and we have the clanger "the druid's eyeballs crawled to the left" - not to mention the actual misuse of words like his quest to "impregnate" the magic sword and some badguy's "transcendtal wrath"
The pace is so fast you don't have time to think - this happens then this happens then this... the only breaks are when the characters fall into blissful unconsciousness which they do practically at the end of every chapter. Usually hit on the head by a villain only to wake up in some kind of cell and proceed to escape to find more villains to fight and be rendered unconscious again. There's one point where Thongor's on the run from some soldiers (enemy 1) lizard-hawks (enemy 2) appear in the sky. Dwarks (jungle dragons) burst from the under growth (enemy 3) - he runs away into the clutches of slith - vampire flowers (enemy 4) that not only drink blood but have a vapour that reneders you unconscious - before he finally gets rescued by the wizard. All this takes about 5 pages. I was shattered just reading that adventure.
The book uses fantastical and often unpronouncable place, character and animal names none of which are explained at all and seem really silly.
The Wizard of Lemuria is a perfect textbook of how not to write fantasy fiction. So bad its hillarious and I couldn't put it down, but sadly, not for the right reasons!
His main companion is Sharajsha of Zaar a wizard of overcomplicated and stupid-sounding name (as are the majority of names and characters in this book - but thank the gods its spares us overuse of the apostrophe - it does every other cliche you care to name!) who has no secret agenda whasoever. what you see is what you get. how dull. this guy is a good and noble wizard who's sole plan is to save the world from the dragon lords led by a villain called Sssaaa (I kid you not) opening a portal to let in the elder gods.
The writing is apalling and full of archaisms (thus/thence etc) and malapropisms and hell simply made up mumbo-jumbo - we have Thongor nervous of the wizard's "alchemystical warlockery" he's read about ghosts in "shuddery accounts", the snake people are "loathly undulent" and we have the clanger "the druid's eyeballs crawled to the left" - not to mention the actual misuse of words like his quest to "impregnate" the magic sword and some badguy's "transcendtal wrath"
The pace is so fast you don't have time to think - this happens then this happens then this... the only breaks are when the characters fall into blissful unconsciousness which they do practically at the end of every chapter. Usually hit on the head by a villain only to wake up in some kind of cell and proceed to escape to find more villains to fight and be rendered unconscious again. There's one point where Thongor's on the run from some soldiers (enemy 1) lizard-hawks (enemy 2) appear in the sky. Dwarks (jungle dragons) burst from the under growth (enemy 3) - he runs away into the clutches of slith - vampire flowers (enemy 4) that not only drink blood but have a vapour that reneders you unconscious - before he finally gets rescued by the wizard. All this takes about 5 pages. I was shattered just reading that adventure.
The book uses fantastical and often unpronouncable place, character and animal names none of which are explained at all and seem really silly.
The Wizard of Lemuria is a perfect textbook of how not to write fantasy fiction. So bad its hillarious and I couldn't put it down, but sadly, not for the right reasons!
April 8, 2017
Over-the-top swords-and-sorcery adventure!
So, I first encountered Lin Carter because he wrote introductions to some H.P. Lovecraft collections. It wasn't until later that I realized that Carter was an author in his own right. His work is listed in Gary Gygax's famous Appendix N (the list of the original inspirations for the Dungeons & Dragons game), and so I felt motivated to check out his work. Thongor is classic swords-and-sorcery adventure stuff - Thongor himself seems like a sort of clone of Robert E. Howard's more famous Conan - and the writing is really over-the-top pulp adventure style. If you enjoy that sort of thing (which I do), it's pretty enjoyable stuff. But the over-the-top writing will certainly not be to everyone's taste, so be aware that Thongor might be a bit of an acquired taste, if you like it at all. I am looking forward to reading other books in this series as well . . .
So, I first encountered Lin Carter because he wrote introductions to some H.P. Lovecraft collections. It wasn't until later that I realized that Carter was an author in his own right. His work is listed in Gary Gygax's famous Appendix N (the list of the original inspirations for the Dungeons & Dragons game), and so I felt motivated to check out his work. Thongor is classic swords-and-sorcery adventure stuff - Thongor himself seems like a sort of clone of Robert E. Howard's more famous Conan - and the writing is really over-the-top pulp adventure style. If you enjoy that sort of thing (which I do), it's pretty enjoyable stuff. But the over-the-top writing will certainly not be to everyone's taste, so be aware that Thongor might be a bit of an acquired taste, if you like it at all. I am looking forward to reading other books in this series as well . . .
February 12, 2016
This was just fun campy pulp. You could tell Lin Carter went and wrote a Conan story but just ctl+replace all with the names (the most egregious being "grom" instead of "crom".)
It would have gotten a better rating if not for the annoying fantasy names. The dragon king is named Sssaaa. He makes up his own unit of distance which he uses only twice and still uses regular miles interchangeably. That stuff really annoys me and doesn't add to the world building rather takes me out of the story trying to figure out how to pronounce these silly names.
It would have gotten a better rating if not for the annoying fantasy names. The dragon king is named Sssaaa. He makes up his own unit of distance which he uses only twice and still uses regular miles interchangeably. That stuff really annoys me and doesn't add to the world building rather takes me out of the story trying to figure out how to pronounce these silly names.
February 13, 2019
Cheesy, Conan-esque goodness with rich descriptions, corny dialogue and loads of adrenaline. Don't go in looking for a cohesive and emotional plot or complex characters, just some mindless fun that can easily be read in one sitting. Not on the same level as Robert E. Howard or Edgar Rice Burroughs as it's lacking in terms of plot and direction, but still fairly enjoyable for what it is.
August 11, 2015
Thongor and The Wizard of Lemuria was the first fantasy novel by Lin Carter written in 1965. It should be read as such and appreciated as a good first effort by a man who loved the sword and sorcery genre, at a time when it was barely in vogue. Carter loved the earlier pulp works of Edgar Rice Burroughs, H P Lovecraft, and Robert E Howard (among other) and this is glowing tribute to those early masters of fantasy adventure.
Detailed in plot, it is not, nor is it a long labyrinthine read of political intrigue and arcane sorceries like "Game of Thrones". Thongor is simply good old fashioned adventure fiction - action leaps out at every page and Thongor faces infinite myriad of dangers and horrors from Giant reptilians to blood mad death cults; meeting all with fervent gusto and incredible fighting skills.
Carter went on to write four more Thongor novels, and at least two other sword and planet series- 'Jandar of Callisto" and 'Under the Green Star"; and he also became editor of the "Flashing Swords!" fantasy anthologies published by Dell books in the 1970s. Carter was then chosen by Lancer books to write a Conan novel in their projected original set of 12 Conan novels, named "Conan the Buccaneer". He must have been proud to be chosen to write a novel of the beloved Robert E Howard character. In those days only a few were chosen to elucidate the gaps in Conan's career by writing tribute novels, and Lin Carter was one of those chosen few.
I will continue looking in old bookstores for the rest of the Thongor series and put them proudly on my bookshelp next to other 70s fantasy heros such as the 'Tarl Cabot of the Gor' series, the 'Richard Blade' novels and "Brak the Barbarian" by John Jakes. These books are just a shelf under all my Robert E Howard Conan books and my ER Burroughs Tarzan books- all beloved stories- not quite A+ class fantasy literature- but entertaining nonetheless.
Detailed in plot, it is not, nor is it a long labyrinthine read of political intrigue and arcane sorceries like "Game of Thrones". Thongor is simply good old fashioned adventure fiction - action leaps out at every page and Thongor faces infinite myriad of dangers and horrors from Giant reptilians to blood mad death cults; meeting all with fervent gusto and incredible fighting skills.
Carter went on to write four more Thongor novels, and at least two other sword and planet series- 'Jandar of Callisto" and 'Under the Green Star"; and he also became editor of the "Flashing Swords!" fantasy anthologies published by Dell books in the 1970s. Carter was then chosen by Lancer books to write a Conan novel in their projected original set of 12 Conan novels, named "Conan the Buccaneer". He must have been proud to be chosen to write a novel of the beloved Robert E Howard character. In those days only a few were chosen to elucidate the gaps in Conan's career by writing tribute novels, and Lin Carter was one of those chosen few.
I will continue looking in old bookstores for the rest of the Thongor series and put them proudly on my bookshelp next to other 70s fantasy heros such as the 'Tarl Cabot of the Gor' series, the 'Richard Blade' novels and "Brak the Barbarian" by John Jakes. These books are just a shelf under all my Robert E Howard Conan books and my ER Burroughs Tarzan books- all beloved stories- not quite A+ class fantasy literature- but entertaining nonetheless.
May 29, 2018
Look man, either you want to read a Conan rip-off where a convenient flying ship pulls our hero out of trouble at Just. The. Right. Time. or you don't. Nothing I say here will change that.
What brought me to this was my discovery of the infamous Appendix N fantasy reading list (http://www.digital-eel.com/blog/ADnD_...).
What brought me to this was my discovery of the infamous Appendix N fantasy reading list (http://www.digital-eel.com/blog/ADnD_...).
August 8, 2013
Not much longer than a Conan short story. Wizards, Dragon Kings and the end of the world - cool stuff.
July 2, 2022
Der prähistorische Kontinent Lemuria wird bevölkert von Menschen und allerlei heute längst ausgestorbenen Echsenwesen und Vögeln. Thongor, der Barbar aus dem Norden, schlägt sich als Söldner durch. Doch von den Göttern ist er ausersehen, das Schicksal der Menschheit im Kampf gegen die erstarkenden Kräfte des Chaos zum Guten zu wenden!
Ja was soll ich sagen. Das Cover wird dem Buch tatsächlich nicht gerecht, denn es handelt sich hier um solide, wenn auch etwas vorhersehbare Sword&Sorcery und nicht um einen Softporno. Wer Bock auf Barbarenaction hat, krieg hier Barbarenaction. Wer nach feingeistiger und tiefsinniger Literatur sucht, ihr ahnt es schon, ist hier falsch. :D Alles in allem etwas seicht, aber ganz unterhaltsam.
Ja was soll ich sagen. Das Cover wird dem Buch tatsächlich nicht gerecht, denn es handelt sich hier um solide, wenn auch etwas vorhersehbare Sword&Sorcery und nicht um einen Softporno. Wer Bock auf Barbarenaction hat, krieg hier Barbarenaction. Wer nach feingeistiger und tiefsinniger Literatur sucht, ihr ahnt es schon, ist hier falsch. :D Alles in allem etwas seicht, aber ganz unterhaltsam.
July 28, 2012
* The first Thongor book.
* Lin Carter's first published novel.
* Makes me hesitate to say anything about it, for, on the one hand, it reads like juvenilia that ought to be classified as Young Adult, while on the other, it is marketed as adult fantasy. I hesitate because it lends such strong support to the opinion that fantasy has no real literary value.
* No one under the age of, say, fifteen should pay any attention to this. I first read it when very young and I guess I liked it all right; it wasn't the only Thongor book I bought.
* For everyone else: The book is derivative, superficial, and repetitive. Fight, capture, rescue: the pattern repeats itself over and over as Thongor and friends pursue their quest to save the ancient world of Lemuria from destruction. All sorts of bad guys seek to sacrifice Thongor to their pet deities. But, as the wizard eventually points out, Thongor leads a charmed life. Meaning: the only thing that gets sacrificed here is suspense. Plausibility survives because when the gods are willing to lend a hand, anything is possible, no matter how unlikely it might be in a world we're meant to take seriously. (During one edge-of-your-seat sequence, Thongor battles scores of evil swordsmen in a dark temple ringed with archers. Really, really stupid archers who never take a shot, who are, in fact, forgotten the moment after Carter mentions them.)
* Thongor is Thongor the Barbarian and more than that the reader does not need to know nor the author care to tell. The other characters are equally shallow, of course. This is one of those stories in which the worst of the bad guys are far more interesting than the heroes--or would be, if they were given their due. They are reptile men, descendants of some strange species of dinosaur that acquired intelligence, an intelligence, we are told, higher than man's. But books like this (and that includes a lot of science fiction) give with one hand and take away with the other. Ultimately, man is superior, if not for his smarts, then his heart; if not for his heart, then his gods. A small point, perhaps, in a more mature work. When the theme is stripped bare, though, it's nothing but the stuff of daydreams and schoolboy fantasies. David and Goliath, it ain't. It's the dream of the 90-pound weakling who gets sand kicked in his face by the local bully on the beach.
* In his introduction, Carter tells us that this, his first published book, was the seventh he had written. My oh my, but what those earlier novels must have been like!
* Lin Carter's first published novel.
* Makes me hesitate to say anything about it, for, on the one hand, it reads like juvenilia that ought to be classified as Young Adult, while on the other, it is marketed as adult fantasy. I hesitate because it lends such strong support to the opinion that fantasy has no real literary value.
* No one under the age of, say, fifteen should pay any attention to this. I first read it when very young and I guess I liked it all right; it wasn't the only Thongor book I bought.
* For everyone else: The book is derivative, superficial, and repetitive. Fight, capture, rescue: the pattern repeats itself over and over as Thongor and friends pursue their quest to save the ancient world of Lemuria from destruction. All sorts of bad guys seek to sacrifice Thongor to their pet deities. But, as the wizard eventually points out, Thongor leads a charmed life. Meaning: the only thing that gets sacrificed here is suspense. Plausibility survives because when the gods are willing to lend a hand, anything is possible, no matter how unlikely it might be in a world we're meant to take seriously. (During one edge-of-your-seat sequence, Thongor battles scores of evil swordsmen in a dark temple ringed with archers. Really, really stupid archers who never take a shot, who are, in fact, forgotten the moment after Carter mentions them.)
* Thongor is Thongor the Barbarian and more than that the reader does not need to know nor the author care to tell. The other characters are equally shallow, of course. This is one of those stories in which the worst of the bad guys are far more interesting than the heroes--or would be, if they were given their due. They are reptile men, descendants of some strange species of dinosaur that acquired intelligence, an intelligence, we are told, higher than man's. But books like this (and that includes a lot of science fiction) give with one hand and take away with the other. Ultimately, man is superior, if not for his smarts, then his heart; if not for his heart, then his gods. A small point, perhaps, in a more mature work. When the theme is stripped bare, though, it's nothing but the stuff of daydreams and schoolboy fantasies. David and Goliath, it ain't. It's the dream of the 90-pound weakling who gets sand kicked in his face by the local bully on the beach.
* In his introduction, Carter tells us that this, his first published book, was the seventh he had written. My oh my, but what those earlier novels must have been like!
June 11, 2016
This is yet another Thongor book, and indeed the first novel, and Lin Carter's first published book if I am not mistaken. It is straight up sword and Sorcery and warms the cockles of my heart in a reread. These are not long books, but they tell a great story with little spare parts or garbage. It's just the facts, and the delivery is always great. Just fun to sit on the porch with a cold one and mow through for a couple of hours. Great stuff.
Danny
Danny
September 11, 2019
A good, old school take of sword-and-sorcery
Sure, by now all of these are a bit cliched and the writing could be a little bit more in-depth. But if you are looking for a rollicking good adventure where magic is strange and dangerous, foul creatures wait in the shadows to drag you into the nine hells, and brave men hold fast to their blades to protect beautiful women from the horrors, then this book is right up your alley
Sure, by now all of these are a bit cliched and the writing could be a little bit more in-depth. But if you are looking for a rollicking good adventure where magic is strange and dangerous, foul creatures wait in the shadows to drag you into the nine hells, and brave men hold fast to their blades to protect beautiful women from the horrors, then this book is right up your alley
June 2, 2018
Is this utterly derivative of REH while also coming across as barely disguised fan fiction, as well as over-the-top, and utterly contrived? Yes.
But the set pieces are evocative and the action fun and well written.
But the set pieces are evocative and the action fun and well written.
November 29, 2014
This Conan ripoff has a very sword-and-planet "feel"
July 6, 2015
More Burroughs goodness
September 3, 2016
A pleasant read.
September 7, 2023
Lemuria: the ancient, mysterious antediluvian continent of legend. Home to magic, wizards, druids, powerful despotic rulers, monsters, demons, and fantastic creatures. Into this prehistoric, savage land of danger enters the barbarian adventurer Thongor of the ice wastes of the North known as Valkarth. When Thongor defies his superior officer as a mercenary, and sets off on his own, stealing an airship, he soon learns of a threat to all known humanity from an evil pre-human race once believed to be defeated, who plan on conjuring their dark masters from beyond space and time to enslave humanity….
I bought the Thongor Series by Lin Carter a long time ago, but didn’t start reading it until now. I always have seen it recommended among sword and sorcery series. I have heard many things about it, both good and bad, but decided to see for myself whether I would like it or not. One thing to remember when reading this series is to not expect anything overwhelmingly original, mind-shattering, or cerebral. It’s just all good fun. Remember that, and you’ll enjoy it. However, if you’re expecting something deep like Michael Moorcock’s Elric or Karl Edward Wagner’s Kane, you’ll probably be sorely disappointed. This series is like watching a Saturday morning cartoon in the ’80s, or reading an older-style comic book, only somewhat bloodier and more adult-oriented of course.
Thongor and the Wizard of Lemuria, the first book in the series, reads like Robert E. Howard’s Conan if Edgar Rice Burroughs had written it. Now Lin Carter’s style may not be as opulent as ERB, but the similarities are certainly there. While I wouldn’t be so harsh as to call Thongor a “Conan clone” or a “Clonan” as some harsh critics have, there are a lot of similarities in his character. Only Conan is more deeper and complex than Thongor, of course. Thongor is a scaled-down Conan, yet stands on his own as an enjoyable sword and sorcery character. I really enjoyed the world of time-lost Lemuria and Thongor’s adventures in this book, which is, in my opinion, short, sweet, and satisfying. There is plenty of action, adventure, swashbuckling, magic, menace, monsters, and foul, black sorcery in these pages to please a sword and sorcery/fantasy fan. Just keep your expectations set on low-to-moderate and you should enjoy reading it.
I give “Thongor and the Wizard of Lemuria” by Lin Carter a 4 out of 5.
I bought the Thongor Series by Lin Carter a long time ago, but didn’t start reading it until now. I always have seen it recommended among sword and sorcery series. I have heard many things about it, both good and bad, but decided to see for myself whether I would like it or not. One thing to remember when reading this series is to not expect anything overwhelmingly original, mind-shattering, or cerebral. It’s just all good fun. Remember that, and you’ll enjoy it. However, if you’re expecting something deep like Michael Moorcock’s Elric or Karl Edward Wagner’s Kane, you’ll probably be sorely disappointed. This series is like watching a Saturday morning cartoon in the ’80s, or reading an older-style comic book, only somewhat bloodier and more adult-oriented of course.
Thongor and the Wizard of Lemuria, the first book in the series, reads like Robert E. Howard’s Conan if Edgar Rice Burroughs had written it. Now Lin Carter’s style may not be as opulent as ERB, but the similarities are certainly there. While I wouldn’t be so harsh as to call Thongor a “Conan clone” or a “Clonan” as some harsh critics have, there are a lot of similarities in his character. Only Conan is more deeper and complex than Thongor, of course. Thongor is a scaled-down Conan, yet stands on his own as an enjoyable sword and sorcery character. I really enjoyed the world of time-lost Lemuria and Thongor’s adventures in this book, which is, in my opinion, short, sweet, and satisfying. There is plenty of action, adventure, swashbuckling, magic, menace, monsters, and foul, black sorcery in these pages to please a sword and sorcery/fantasy fan. Just keep your expectations set on low-to-moderate and you should enjoy reading it.
I give “Thongor and the Wizard of Lemuria” by Lin Carter a 4 out of 5.
July 8, 2024
Ahhh Thongor.
This has all the hallmarks of a bad book. Not because it's a blatant rip-off mash-up of Conan and Edgar Rice Burroughs - I actually admire it for those things, coming as it did in a world where science fiction dominated and Fantasy fiction was still the bastard stepchild - but because Carter seems uniquely unable to create an intriguing world, peopled with interesting characters with motivations that extend even just a teeny tiny little bit beyond "let's go here" "let's go there" "let's ... save the world from this overarching threat I've just told you about which involves the most random fetch-quest ever created". Carter's writing overall isn't great either and it's tough not to compare him unfavourably with his influences, although I do feel harsh for making a point of doing that when I'd ignore it from other writers in other settings ... I think the problem is that he wants to b Robert E Howard, but doesn't yet know how and his instinct is to write colloquially, and it's odd, very odd. I'm intrigued as to whether he improves in later tomes.
On the other hand, though, this is short, silly and oddly enjoyable. Thongor fights a lot of things over the course of 100 pages, most of them some variation on the "lizard-thing" but there's also the odd "killer-plant-thing" or two. Thongor gets into a lot of trouble and is rescued more than a few times by the airship swooping in and getting him out of it. there's a running joke about Thongor always being hungry even when he's about to die. "Gorm!" "Crom" If you like Sword and Sorcery this book won't hurt you and it did get there mostly first in the age of Conansploitation - (the influential Conan re-releases hadn't happened yet)
This has all the hallmarks of a bad book. Not because it's a blatant rip-off mash-up of Conan and Edgar Rice Burroughs - I actually admire it for those things, coming as it did in a world where science fiction dominated and Fantasy fiction was still the bastard stepchild - but because Carter seems uniquely unable to create an intriguing world, peopled with interesting characters with motivations that extend even just a teeny tiny little bit beyond "let's go here" "let's go there" "let's ... save the world from this overarching threat I've just told you about which involves the most random fetch-quest ever created". Carter's writing overall isn't great either and it's tough not to compare him unfavourably with his influences, although I do feel harsh for making a point of doing that when I'd ignore it from other writers in other settings ... I think the problem is that he wants to b Robert E Howard, but doesn't yet know how and his instinct is to write colloquially, and it's odd, very odd. I'm intrigued as to whether he improves in later tomes.
On the other hand, though, this is short, silly and oddly enjoyable. Thongor fights a lot of things over the course of 100 pages, most of them some variation on the "lizard-thing" but there's also the odd "killer-plant-thing" or two. Thongor gets into a lot of trouble and is rescued more than a few times by the airship swooping in and getting him out of it. there's a running joke about Thongor always being hungry even when he's about to die. "Gorm!" "Crom" If you like Sword and Sorcery this book won't hurt you and it did get there mostly first in the age of Conansploitation - (the influential Conan re-releases hadn't happened yet)
May 28, 2018
This barbarian myth captured my interest in the initial third, which had some fun if corny action pieces, unexpected technology, and battles. The last two thirds, however, proved to be more and more of a drag, in part because the plot became increasingly repetitive (there are more than a handful of monster battles and evil magicians), in part because Carter is not interested in character development, instead using the most basic of stereotypes without any surprises at all. There is almost an almost complete lack of humour or sparkling dialogue (except for the opening scene). Much of the text consists of a description of fights and quest tasks.
Interestingly, there is a pen-and-paper role-playing system based on the world of Carter's Thongor series: "Barbarians of Lemuria". One can see why: Carter's Lemuria is a world that embraces sword-and-sorcery stereotypes with just the occasional spark of originality in minor details, such as the inclusion of technology, some interesting exotic creatures, and the Lovecraft-inspired concept of Chaotic deities threatening to invade the world from outer space. (Lin Carter, by the way, wrote his own book of Lovecraftian poetry!) As such, it creates a highly relatable and to a large part predefined setting that can easily serve as common ground for adventures without any need for lengthy explanations.
It's basically Conan with a little twist.
Interestingly, there is a pen-and-paper role-playing system based on the world of Carter's Thongor series: "Barbarians of Lemuria". One can see why: Carter's Lemuria is a world that embraces sword-and-sorcery stereotypes with just the occasional spark of originality in minor details, such as the inclusion of technology, some interesting exotic creatures, and the Lovecraft-inspired concept of Chaotic deities threatening to invade the world from outer space. (Lin Carter, by the way, wrote his own book of Lovecraftian poetry!) As such, it creates a highly relatable and to a large part predefined setting that can easily serve as common ground for adventures without any need for lengthy explanations.
It's basically Conan with a little twist.
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