Where My Head Has Been Lately
Otis Adelbert Kline is considered the only Edgar Rice Burroughs imitator to ever give old ERB a run for his money. In 1930 Kline, who worked on the editorial staff of Wierd Tales, pissed off Burroughs, who had a successful Mars franchise going with his "Barsoom" or "John Carter of Mars" series by setting his "Peril" series on Venus, and using a very similar means by which to send his Earthman to a distant planet. In retaliation, Burroughs created the "Carson of Venus" stories. Kline responded by writing a bunch of novels set on Mars itself. Sort of the 1930s version of a flame war. This cover is from a 1961 Ace Paperback edition on loan from my friend and colleague Pierce Watters. Artwork by Roy Krenkel, Jr.
Kothar and the Wizard Slayer, by Flash, Justice Society, Justice League, and Adam Strange creator Gardner F. Fox, is the final volume in a series that includes Kothar - Barbarian Swordsman, Kothar and the Demon Queen, Kothar of the Magic Sword!, and Kothar and the Conjurer's Curse. Cover image from the 1970 first (and only) printing from Modern Promotions. Artwork by J. Jokes (?).
Thongor, the warrior hero of Lemuria, was a... well, let's just call it an "homage" to Robert E. Howard's Conan the Barbarian by Lin Carter. As an editor, Carter coordinated Ballantine's "Adult Fantasy" imprint, which greatly inspired Dungeons & Dragons. Though his is mostly forgotten today, in 1973 Thongor ranked enough to score his own Marvel character. Artwork for 1969's Thongor and the Wizard of Lemuria is uncredited, but head-exploding awesome. Art on the original 1965 Ace edition by Gray Morrow.
posted by Erik | 11:57 PM
3 Comments:
Hell of a flame war! I'm wondering if D&D has ever had its own version of the ERB-Kline rivalry?
Good stuff, Erik :D I recently read ERB's initial five Mars novels for the first time, and enjoyed them. I took a break after realizing that #6 didn't seem to have JC in it. I'll have to check out Kline. Do you know of any good bibliographies of his works?
I haven't read any Fox yet, though I have read Carter (ick, for the most part), so thanks for the pointers. FWIW, the Fox cover looks like Jeff Jones' work to me.
I recently read Margaret St. Clair's The Shadow People and Sign of the Labrys, which were very 60s but had several inspired scenes throughout. Definite fodder for Metamorphosis Alpha games!
Artwork for 1969's Thongor and the Wizard of Lemuria is uncredited, but head-exploding awesome.
It's Jeffrey Jones. I only know this because TLG bought the art to use on Castle Zagyg Vol. V.
Post a Comment
<< Home