Darya of the Bronze Age

Last updated
Darya of the Bronze Age
Darya of the Bronze Age.jpg
Cover of first edition
Author Lin Carter
Illustrator Josh Kirby
Cover artist Josh Kirby
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
SeriesZanthodon
Genre Science fiction
Publisher DAW Books
Publication date
1981
Media typePrint (Paperback)
Pages173
ISBN 0-87997-655-1
OCLC 08107150
LC Class PS3553.A7823 D3 1981
Preceded by Hurok of the Stone Age  
Followed by Eric of Zanthodon  

Darya of the Bronze Age is a science fiction novel by American writer Lin Carter, the fourth in his series about the fictional "Hollow Earth" land of Zanthodon. It was first published in paperback by DAW Books in September 1981, with an ebook edition following from Gateway/Orion in October 2018. [1] It was also gathered together with the other volumes in the series into the omnibus ebook collection The Zanthodon Megapack (Wildside Press, 2014).

Contents

Plot summary

Zanthodon is envisioned as an immense circular cavern five hundred miles wide, one hundred miles beneath the Sahara Desert, a refugium preserving various prehistoric faunas and antique human cultures that have found their way into it throughout the ages.

The story's events occur at the same time as those of the previous book, but follows the adventures of series heroine Darya, who has been separated from the other main characters. Having been kidnapped again by the corsair Kairadine, Prince of El-Cazar, a fortified island on the Northern Seas. Darya is ultimately saved when her father King Garth of Sothar leads their people in an invasion of El Cazar. Returning to the mainland of Zanthodon, they link up with King Tharn's Thandarians in the wake of their defeat of the combined forces of the corsairs and the Minoans of Zaar. Darya and her lover, explorer Eric Carstairs, are reunited, while the disarmed pirates and Zaarians are dispatched back to their own realms. Kairadine, true to character, abducts the Zaarian empress Zarys on the way.

Reception

Robert M. Price finds the book and series "not without their charming moments," but also sees in them "clear evidence of Lin Carter's increasing carelessness as a writer," exhibiting "an increasing tendency toward self-contradiction and incoherent conception—a greater sloppiness coupled with an exhaustion of imagination." [2]

Steve Servello, writing in Erbzine, is "a bit disappointed" in the book for some "lack of consistency" and "un-Burroughs-like sexuality," and views the climactic battle as "won far too easily in a contrived manner." [3]

The novel was also reviewed by Charles Platt in The Patchin Review no. 3, January 1982. [1]

Related Research Articles

Edgar Rice Burroughs American writer (1875-1950)

Edgar Rice Burroughs was an American author, best known for his prolific output in the adventure, science fiction, and fantasy genres. Most well-known for creating the characters Tarzan and John Carter, he is also known for writing the Pellucidar series, the Amtor series, and the Caspak trilogy.

<i>Pellucidar</i> Fictional Hollow Earth invented by Edgar Rice Burroughs

Pellucidar is a fictional Hollow Earth invented by American writer Edgar Rice Burroughs for a series of action adventure stories. In a crossover event, Tarzan, who was also created by Burroughs, visits Pellucidar.

Lin Carter American fantasy writer, editor, poet and critic

Linwood Vrooman Carter was an American author of science fiction and fantasy, as well as an editor, poet and critic. He usually wrote as Lin Carter; known pseudonyms include H. P. Lowcraft and Grail Undwin. He is best known for his work in the 1970s as editor of the Ballantine Adult Fantasy series, which introduced readers to many overlooked classics of the fantasy genre.

<i>Carson of Venus</i> 1938 science fantasy novel by Edgar Rice Burroughs

Carson of Venus is a science fantasy novel by American writer Edgar Rice Burroughs, the third book in the Venus series. Burroughs wrote the novel in July and August 1937. It was serialized in 1938 in six weekly installments from January 8 to February 12 in Argosy, the same publication where the previous two Venus novels appeared. It was published in book form a year later from Edgar Rice Burroughs, Inc. Burroughs originally submitted the novel to a number of the "slick" magazines: Liberty, The Saturday Evening Post, Collier's, and Ladies' Home Journal. All rejected the story.

<i>At the Earths Core</i> (novel) 1914 book by Edgar Rice Burroughs

At the Earth's Core is a 1914 fantasy novel by American writer Edgar Rice Burroughs, the first in his series about the fictional "hollow earth" land of Pellucidar. It first appeared as a four-part serial in All-Story Weekly from April 4 to 25, 1914. It was first published in book form in hardcover by A. C. McClurg in July, 1922.

<i>Tarzan at the Earths Core</i> 1930 novel by Edgar Rice Burroughs

Tarzan at the Earth's Core is a novel by American writer Edgar Rice Burroughs, serialized in September 1929 to March 1930, the thirteenth in his series of twenty-four books about the title character Tarzan and the fourth in his series set in the interior world of Pellucidar.

David Innes Fictional character

David Innes is a fictional character created by Edgar Rice Burroughs as the protagonist of his Pellucidar novels. He first appeared in the novel At the Earth's Core, serialized in four parts in All-Story Weekly from April 4–25, 1914 and issued in book form in hardcover by A. C. McClurg in July, 1922.

<i>Tanar of Pellucidar</i> 1928 Book by Edgar Rice Burroughs

Tanar of Pellucidar is a novel by American writer Edgar Rice Burroughs, the third in his series set in the interior world of Pellucidar. It first appeared as a six-part serial in The Blue Book Magazine from March–August 1929. It was first published in book form in hardcover by Metropolitan Books in May 1930.

<i>Savage Pellucidar</i> 1963 Book by Edgar Rice Burroughs

Savage Pellucidar is a 1963 fantasy story collection by American writer Edgar Rice Burroughs, the seventh and final book in his series about the fictional "hollow earth" land of Pellucidar. It was published twelve years after Burroughs's death.

<i>Renegade of Callisto</i> 1978 science fantasy novel by Lin Carter

Renegade of Callisto is a science fantasy novel by American writer Lin Carter, the eighth and last in his Callisto series. It was first published in paperback by Dell Books in August 1978, and reprinted once, in November of the same year. A tribute to Edgar Rice Burroughs's The Chessmen of Mars, the book introduces the game of Darza, Carter's equivalent of Jetan. An appendix details the rules.

<i>Ylana of Callisto</i>

Ylana of Callisto is a science fantasy novel by American writer Lin Carter, the seventh in his Callisto series. It was first published in paperback by Dell Books in October 1977. Its working title was evidently Jungle Maid of Callisto, as announced in Locus #198, January 30, 1977; the title used appears to be a nod to that of Edgar Rice Burroughs's Llana of Gathol, a book in the Barsoom series that inspired Carter's Callisto books. The character of Ylana, however, was established in Mind Wizards of Callisto, an earlier volume in the series. The novel includes an appendix collating background information from this and previous volumes.

Ulysses Paxton Fictional character

Ulysses Paxton is a fictional character created by Edgar Rice Burroughs in his novel The Master Mind of Mars. Within the narrative framework of the novel, Captain Paxton, United States Army Infantry, is a fan of Burroughs' Barsoom series, and after having a shell blow off his legs during trench warfare in World War I, he finds himself drawn across the gulfs of space to Mars like John Carter before him. He sends Burroughs a first person manuscript of his adventures on the dying planet, which Burroughs publishes.

<i>The Man Who Loved Mars</i>

The Man Who Loved Mars is a science fantasy novel by American writer Lin Carter, the first in his Edgar Rice Burroughs- and Leigh Brackett-inspired series The Mysteries of Mars. It was first published in paperback by Fawcett Gold Medal in March 1973. The first British edition was published in hardcover by White Lion in August of the same year. It was reissued by Wildside Press in December 1999. The novel has also been translated into German.

<i>The Valley Where Time Stood Still</i>

The Valley Where Time Stood Still is a science fantasy novel by American writer Lin Carter, the second in his Edgar Rice Burroughs- and Leigh Brackett-inspired series The Mysteries of Mars. It was first published in hardcover by Doubleday in December 1974 and in paperback by Popular Library in February 1976. It was reissued by Wildside Press in April 2008.

<i>The City Outside the World</i>

The City Outside the World is a science fantasy novel by American writer Lin Carter, the third in his Edgar Rice Burroughs- and Leigh Brackett-inspired series The Mysteries of Mars. It was first published in paperback by Berkley Medallion in October 1977 and in reissued in trade paperback by Wildside Press in December 1999. The first hardcover edition was published by Wildside Press in February 2011.

<i>Down to a Sunless Sea</i> (Carter novel) 1984 novel by Lin Carter

Down to a Sunless Sea is a science fantasy novel by American writer Lin Carter, the fourth in his Edgar Rice Burroughs- and Leigh Brackett-inspired series The Mysteries of Mars. It was first published in paperback by DAW Books in June 1984 and reissued in hardcover and trade paperback by Wildside Press in February 2008.

<i>Journey to the Underground World</i> 1979 science fantasy novel by Lin Carter

Journey to the Underground World is a science fiction novel by American writer Lin Carter, the first in his series about the fictional "Hollow Earth" land of Zanthodon. It was first published in paperback by DAW Books in November 1979, with an ebook edition following from Gateway/Orion in August 2018. It was also gathered together with the other volumes in the series into the omnibus ebook collection The Zanthodon Megapack.

<i>Zanthodon</i> 1980 novel by Lin Carter

Zanthodon is a science fiction novel by American writer Lin Carter, the second in his series about the fictional "Hollow Earth" land of Zanthodon. It was first published in paperback by DAW Books in June 1980, with an ebook edition following from Gateway/Orion in October 2018. It was also gathered together with the other volumes in the series into the omnibus ebook collection The Zanthodon Megapack.

<i>Hurok of the Stone Age</i> 1981 novel by Lin Carter

Hurok of the Stone Age is a science fiction novel by American writer Lin Carter, the third in his series about the fictional "Hollow Earth" land of Zanthodon. It was first published in paperback by DAW Books in February 1981, with an ebook edition following from Gateway/Orion in October 2018. It was also gathered together with the other volumes in the series into the omnibus ebook collection The Zanthodon Megapack.

<i>Eric of Zanthodon</i> 1982 novel by Lin Carter

Eric of Zanthodon is a science fiction novel by American writer Lin Carter, the fifth and last in his series about the fictional "Hollow Earth" land of Zanthodon. It was first published in paperback by DAW Books in May 1982, with an ebook edition following from Gateway/Orion in October 2018. It was also gathered together with the other volumes in the series into the omnibus ebook collection The Zanthodon Megapack.

References

  1. 1 2 Darya of the Bronze Age title listing at the Internet Speculative Fiction Database
  2. Price, Robert M. Lin Carter: A Look Behind His Imaginary Worlds. Mercer Island, WA, Starmont House, 1991, pages 61-63.
  3. Servello, Steve. "'Zanthodon' Overview," a survey of the series in Erbzine.