The Lizard Lords

by Stanton A. Coblentz

When four humans are captured by the reptilian Drumgradians, they learn they are to be sent back to the aliens' home world, some 900 light-years distant. Can they escape in time?

196 pages, Hardcover

First published February 1, 2008

About the author

Stanton Arthur Coblentz was an American author and poet. He received a Master's Degree in English literature and then began publishing poetry during the early 1920s. His first published science fiction was "The Sunken World," a satire about Atlantis, in Amazing Stories Quarterly for July, 1928. The next year, he published his first novel, The Wonder Stick. But poetry and history were his greatest strengths. Coblentz tended to write satirically. He also wrote books of literary criticism and nonfiction concerning historical subjects. Adventures of a Freelancer: The Literary Exploits and Autobiography of Stanton A. Coblentz was published the year after his death.

Reviews

[Apocryphal Chris · Rating 2 out of 5]

Coblentz was a poet and pulp author, mostly writing from the 20’s to the 60’s. This book was pure pulp - no sign of any poetry in the prose. Let me know if you’ve read this story:

Bunch of Americans get transported to another place. They discover the society in the new place is oppressive and basically nonsensical. They are captured/declared criminal. Luckily, they manage to break free an convince some of the locals that their government is NOT GOOD. Tea is thrown in the harbour, and soon a whole rebellion is underway. Once the government is overthrown, one of the Americans is offered the kingship because naturally he’s the only logical choice. But home beckons, and the Americans leave this world in a better state than which they found it. Back home, few noticed they were missing.

So yeah, I think you’ve probably read this - or something like it. Move along, folks. Nothing to see here. The prose itself was fine, but the story and characters - like a second or third rate Doctor Who or Star Trek knockoff. I'd rather read those any day.