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Professor Khan #1
Khan of Mars
When erudite ape Professor Khan and rough-and-tumble cowboy Bulls-Eye Gutierrez are zapped away on a one way trip to Mars they are thrown into a world in chaos.
Under the malevolent gaze of the Weather Witch, Princess Cyclone, our heroes face the intrigue and war raging across an alien world.
Will they survive long enough for the other Centurions to build a way back home, or will they perish upon the shifting sands of the Red Planet, never to be seen again?
Under the malevolent gaze of the Weather Witch, Princess Cyclone, our heroes face the intrigue and war raging across an alien world.
Will they survive long enough for the other Centurions to build a way back home, or will they perish upon the shifting sands of the Red Planet, never to be seen again?
219 pages, ebook
First published August 19, 2013
About the author
Stephen Blackmoore
27 books808 followersStephen Blackmoore is the author of the noir / urban fantasy Eric Carter series (DEAD THINGS, BROKEN SOULS, HUNGRY GHOSTS, and FIRE SEASON), about a necromancer in modern-day Los Angeles.
You can find him online at stephenblackmoore.com, or follow him on Twitter at @sblackmoore.
You can find him online at stephenblackmoore.com, or follow him on Twitter at @sblackmoore.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
October 6, 2013
When an invention of Edison Thomas' malfunctions, Century Club members Professor Khan and Bulls-Eye Guitierrez are whisked away to Mars and dropped into world gripped by the tyranny of the Weather Witch! Can Khan and Guitierrez find their way back to earth? And what about the prophecy of the blue apes fortelling a black-furred champion that will lead them to victory?
This book had several things going for it before I even opened it. It was an homage to Edgar Rice Burroughs, it was another book in Evil Hat's Spirit of the Century series, and it was written by Stephen Blackmoore, author of City of the Lost, the best zombie noir out there.
Khan of Mars takes my favorite character from the Dinocalypse series and thrusts him into the forefront in this homage to the planetary romance/sword and planet genre. On their quest, Khan and Bulls-Eye encounter centaurs, frogmen, Martians, and the Inkido, blue furred intelligent apes.
Fun is the word of the day. Blackmoore delivers a tale worthy of a pulp magazines of old. Better than worthy, actually, since Blackmoore is a very capable author. He injects a good amount of humor into with the pulpy prose. Khan and Bulls-Eye went from the frying pan and into the fire pretty much continuously.
Benjamin Hu and Amelia Stone of the Century Club make appearances trying to reopen the portal but make no mistake about it, it's the Professor Khan show.
Three point five out of five. I'm hooked on the Spirit of the Century. When's the next one coming out?
Khaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan!
This book had several things going for it before I even opened it. It was an homage to Edgar Rice Burroughs, it was another book in Evil Hat's Spirit of the Century series, and it was written by Stephen Blackmoore, author of City of the Lost, the best zombie noir out there.
Khan of Mars takes my favorite character from the Dinocalypse series and thrusts him into the forefront in this homage to the planetary romance/sword and planet genre. On their quest, Khan and Bulls-Eye encounter centaurs, frogmen, Martians, and the Inkido, blue furred intelligent apes.
Fun is the word of the day. Blackmoore delivers a tale worthy of a pulp magazines of old. Better than worthy, actually, since Blackmoore is a very capable author. He injects a good amount of humor into with the pulpy prose. Khan and Bulls-Eye went from the frying pan and into the fire pretty much continuously.
Benjamin Hu and Amelia Stone of the Century Club make appearances trying to reopen the portal but make no mistake about it, it's the Professor Khan show.
Three point five out of five. I'm hooked on the Spirit of the Century. When's the next one coming out?
Khaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan!
September 12, 2013
I cannot tell you how much I needed this book.
I'd been looking for something purely fun to read, after reading several very serious books (one of which I picked up thinking it would be a lighthearted, quirky story - it wasn't). Oh, man, for something purely fun to read, this is PERFECT!
It's pulp fiction science fantasy adventure gone mad, complete with parallel universes, time travel, green-blooded Martians, blue apes, cowboys, ancient magical relics, and so much more. It helps that the main protagonist is a highly respected Oxford professor who is also a 400 lb. gorilla.
The reader jumps right in - there is no time for an introduction, as our hero runs off to battle a giant praying mantis. The action never stops, but there's time for romance along the way. I could not love the book more, and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for brain candy, especially those who grew up on Conan the Barbarian, Tarzan of the Apes, Buck Rogers, Flash Gordon, and the like!
I'd been looking for something purely fun to read, after reading several very serious books (one of which I picked up thinking it would be a lighthearted, quirky story - it wasn't). Oh, man, for something purely fun to read, this is PERFECT!
It's pulp fiction science fantasy adventure gone mad, complete with parallel universes, time travel, green-blooded Martians, blue apes, cowboys, ancient magical relics, and so much more. It helps that the main protagonist is a highly respected Oxford professor who is also a 400 lb. gorilla.
The reader jumps right in - there is no time for an introduction, as our hero runs off to battle a giant praying mantis. The action never stops, but there's time for romance along the way. I could not love the book more, and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for brain candy, especially those who grew up on Conan the Barbarian, Tarzan of the Apes, Buck Rogers, Flash Gordon, and the like!
April 2, 2013
For a planet that's never had a human being step foot on it, Mars is an incredibly well-trod planet.
Khan of Mars acknowledges that history, especially the ERB, John Carter side of it, as you would expect a pulp novel set in the early part of the 20th century to. It goes beyond that, though, to tell an interesting and fairly original story that remains thrilling and enjoyable throughout. Professor Khan's evolution from a bookishly intellectual giant talking ape into a swashbuckling adventurer is a fun one, and Blackmoore elevates the story out of being just a John Carter pastiche, or a DInocalypse spinoff, and turns it into something that stands on its own
Note: I got to read this book early as a reward for a Kickstarter project I backed; the book won't be out until August or later of this year.
Khan of Mars acknowledges that history, especially the ERB, John Carter side of it, as you would expect a pulp novel set in the early part of the 20th century to. It goes beyond that, though, to tell an interesting and fairly original story that remains thrilling and enjoyable throughout. Professor Khan's evolution from a bookishly intellectual giant talking ape into a swashbuckling adventurer is a fun one, and Blackmoore elevates the story out of being just a John Carter pastiche, or a DInocalypse spinoff, and turns it into something that stands on its own
Note: I got to read this book early as a reward for a Kickstarter project I backed; the book won't be out until August or later of this year.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 18, 2017
This book is based in the world of Evil Hat Games' Spirit of the Century, which is pulp superhero roleplaying. The characters aren't Superman or even close to that power level. They are unique. Professor Khan is an intelligent Gorilla who is articulate, well spoken and very knowledgeable about a great many things. "Bulls Eye" Guitterez is a gunslinger who almost never misses. These two go on a great adventure, accidently transported to Mars. They are captured by the evil Weather Witch of Mars, who is in the middle of subjugating and reducing her fellow races to nothing but servants. There are some factions that are willing to rise up against her, but they must be lead by the prophetic Champion, in which there is a long legend foretelling of his arrival.
Enter Professor Khan.
The two unlikely heroes enter a series of accidents, mishaps and overall just blind luck to get to where the good Professor can be recognized as this Champion of legend and lore. He finally gets to this position and leads the rebellion against the Weather Witch.
This is just good, pulpy fun! I loved the characters and the story. Mr. Blackmoore has a great way of detailing these larger than life characters and yet making sure they have failings and flaws and interesting mannerisms and methods of speech. This is just a great book and I will soon order the next one, King Khan.
Danny
Enter Professor Khan.
The two unlikely heroes enter a series of accidents, mishaps and overall just blind luck to get to where the good Professor can be recognized as this Champion of legend and lore. He finally gets to this position and leads the rebellion against the Weather Witch.
This is just good, pulpy fun! I loved the characters and the story. Mr. Blackmoore has a great way of detailing these larger than life characters and yet making sure they have failings and flaws and interesting mannerisms and methods of speech. This is just a great book and I will soon order the next one, King Khan.
Danny
June 17, 2018
It tried to be an homage to the Flash Gordon serials of the 40's (50's?). I was hoping for more...it just never really captured me. No real surprises and no real plot twists. More a "Hero's walk-around-the-block" than Hero's Journey.
October 6, 2020
A wonderful adventure, with funny characters but also some serious moments. Really liked to read it. If you're into fantasy/sci-fi adventure this publisher is definitely your style.
March 27, 2021
Very John Carter of Mars, only with Professor Khan. Very pulpy and very quick read.
November 10, 2013
I have always had a soft spot in my heart for the Pulp Genera. As strange as it is to say I think it started with Disney's Tailspin. For those of you who have never heard of it (and lets face it, at the time of me writing this it was 23 years ago when it aired) Tailspin was a crazy animated show that starred the animals from the Jungle Book and was set in a world of airplanes and zeppelins. I hated most of the characters and plots but I fell in love with the pulp style of the world. By time I saw the Rocketeer, the Shadow, and of course Indiana Jones I was hopelessly hooked into the world of the pulps. So when Evil Hat Games put the call out for people to read their new novels set in the Pulp world of their Spirit of the Century Role Playing Game I jumped on the opportunity. Let me start off by saying that a free book doesn't mean a free pass from me and my love of the Pulp Genera only means my expectations of the book are higher. This book was everything I hoped it would be and I loved every page of reading it. It captures the pulp feel right from the cover image of Gorillas, a cowboy, and a green skinned alien woman fighting silver bodysuit clad bad guys over a martian landscape. Clocking in at just over 200 pages it packs a lot of action into a small package and it never lets the story get bogged down with lengthy science or excessive side plot. One of the things I liked most about this book is that it is just as easily enjoyed by a younger audience. I would think nothing of handing this book off to my twelve year old niece or nephew and not have to worry about naughty language, graphic violence, or gratuitous sex. Khan of Mars is a great book that took me back to being a young kid and just loving the wonder of the pulp genera.
January 2, 2014
This book was a fun read, and I'd give it 3.5 stars if I were able to, but it's not quite four (just a caveat: Spirit of the Century sent me the book to review). I think I may have enjoyed the book even more if I had been more familiar with the Dinocalypse series, from which this is a spin-off. Even so, I've always loved pulp stories, and I've been a fan of the John Carter of Mars series since I was young, so I was ready to like this from the beginning. It took me a little bit to figure out what was going on and who the characters were, and I think I may go back and read the Dinocalypse trilogy to find out more about the Centurions now. Professor Khan is a great character, and I can't wait to read King Khan, the sequel by Harry Connolly.
October 10, 2013
The story of an ape who goes to Mars and what he finds there.
I found the start of this novel a little slow, as Khan and his companion make a picaresque excursion to a planetary romance version of the red planet. However it grew on me, as things started to come together in the second half of the novel. Part of this was the characters and setting, which are both strong; it made me want to read about Khan's further adventures on Mars.
I'd still say it's a somewhat shallow book, but ultimately an enjoyable one that fits well in its genre.
I found the start of this novel a little slow, as Khan and his companion make a picaresque excursion to a planetary romance version of the red planet. However it grew on me, as things started to come together in the second half of the novel. Part of this was the characters and setting, which are both strong; it made me want to read about Khan's further adventures on Mars.
I'd still say it's a somewhat shallow book, but ultimately an enjoyable one that fits well in its genre.
March 11, 2013
A fun little romp. Blackmoore has a lot of fun taking us along on an adventure with a very non-adventurous, somewhat obtuse professor as our hero and guide. It fills its purpose of being an enjoyable read.
August 24, 2013
An exciting adventure on the red planet to rival those of John Carter.
April 11, 2017
A fun little book. Nothing too thought provoking or anything like that, but sometimes that is all you need out of a book. Would recommend if you need a light, action-packed read.
March 30, 2013
A nice pulp/gaming novel. Don't expect Gaiman, Shakespeare, Burroughs or even Salvatore, but it was a fun read that hit most of the heroic pulp high spots.
May 31, 2013
This is a ripping yarn for people who like the world of Dinocalypse now
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews