The Fortunes of Brak

Brak the Barbarian #5

by John Jakes, Douglas Beekman (Illustrator)

Contains five tales of Brak written in the 60's and 70s.

Genres: Fantasy, Sword and Sorcery

255 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 1985

About the author

John William Jakes, the author of more than a dozen novels, is regarded as one of today’s most distinguished writers of historical fiction. His work includes the highly acclaimed Kent Family Chronicles series and the North and South Trilogy. Jakes’s commitment to historical accuracy and evocative storytelling earned him the title of “the godfather of historical novelists” from the Los Angeles Times and led to a streak of sixteen consecutive New York Times bestsellers. Jakes has received several awards for his work and is a member of the Authors Guild and the PEN American Center. He and his wife, Rachel, live on the west coast of Florida.

Also writes under pseudonyms Jay Scotland, Alan Payne, Rachel Ann Payne, Robert Hart Davis, Darius John Granger, John Lee Gray. Has ghost written as William Ard.

Reviews

[Benjamin Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

John Jakes is well known as the best-selling author of such grand historical fiction series as the Kent Family Chronicles (The Bicentennial series), the North and South trilogy, the Crown Family Saga, and several others. He was a perineal chart topper of the 1970’s and 80s and most of his works seemed destined to be adapted as TV mini-series. But fewer people know that his writing career began in the science fiction and fantasy arena.

Brak the Barbarian is John Jakes’ tribute to the great Robert E. Howard and specifically to the Conan stories. Jakes wrote these stories in a similar style but perhaps a little more modernized. They are slightly more politically correct than the original Conan stories with the damsels still being in distress but not always quite so dependent on the strong male to rescue them. Evil magicians, swashbuckling sword fights, narrow escapes…you get the idea.

The Brak series includes both novels as well as short stories. This particular title is a collection of 5 stories, all of which were first published in various magazines and anthologies:

"Devils in the Walls" (from Fantastic Stories of Imagination v. 12, no. 5, May 1963)
"Ghoul's Garden" (from Flashing Swords! #2, Sep. 1973)
"The Girl in the Gem" (from Fantastic Stories of Imagination v. 14, no. 1, Jan. 1965)
"Brak in Chains" (originally "Storm in a Bottle," from Flashing Swords! #4: Barbarians and Black Magicians, Spring 1977)
"The Mirror of Wizardry" (from Worlds of Fantasy v. 1, no. 1, Sep. 1968)

These stories are not world-changing, thought-provoking, pieces of art, nor are they meant to be. They are, however, fun stories to read and I recommend them to those who enjoy pulp-era sword and sorcery.

[Aaron Meyer · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a decent set of short stories. Brak, in these tales, is journeying to Khurdisan where he thinks his fortunes will be had. Yet, through sheer luck, or bad fortune one might say, he constantly finds himself in some sort of trouble. There is always women and mages involved in every struggle he has to face, that may be a curse all of its own I think. The stories are fairly fast paced and a couple end almost to abruptly to be honest. I do believe the first story Devils in the walls is the weakest story of the lot, and they progressively got better all the way to the end. A good read for a hot afternoon.

[James T · Rating 3 out of 5]

The final entry of the Brak the Barbarian series contains the B-Side short stories not incorporated into the first novel. The fortunes of Brak is an enjoyable read. At its core the Brak series is a 'clonan' but many of the stories include a christian analogue that gives it a bit of a unique personality, especially when contrasted with the more nietzchean aspects of Conan.
It's well done, even though the analogue is heavy-handed, becuase the stories aren't proselytizing and Brak's mixed feelings towards the Nestorians give it a more nuancededge than say a C.S. Lewis story.

I also really enjoy how indomitable Brak's spirit is. He just doesn't give up no matter how badly beaten, and John Jakes really likes to put him through the wringer.

However, excluding the opening story Devil in the Walls, I found these a bit underwhelming. When the stories lack the Nestorian elements, or allusions to Brak's greater faustian bargain and forces at work, they do feel like kirkland signature Conan. Not bad, but ultimately forgettable.

I think Devil in the Walls had the more unique aspects of the Brak adventures in it, and that story really stood out to me, had the remainder been as strong I might have rated this collection much higher.

As is its a nice bonus for fans of the Brak series, but out of the five I think it's in the middle of the pack. If you enjoyed any of the other Brak books pick it up, but if you haven't read Brak the Barbarian or Brak and the Mark of Demon I would start there instead of here.

[Jase · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great collection of early tales of BRAK THE BARBARIAN. Especially interesting are "THE GIRL IN THE GEM" and "THE DEVILS IN THE WALLS" two of John Jakes' earliest Brak stories published in FANTASTIC STORIES in May 1963 (Devils) and Jan 1965(GEM). A must have collection for the hard core SWORDS & SORCERY fan who enjoys the genre for what it is...eerie, action packed and uproarious.

[Charles · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a collection of short stories about Brak and is actually my favorite in the series. Many of these stories also appeared in other venues as well.

[Anne Patkau · Rating 5 out of 5]

A strong hero is irresistible, despite repetitions. Brak's broadsword wins against mages, monsters, gorgeous sorceresses, fierce bitter weather, protects pretty dimwits.
Typo:c7p8 be leaned is he leaned