The Zanthodon MEGAPACK #1-5

Eric Carstairs of Zanthodon #1-5

by Lin Carter

Beneath the trackless sands and shifting wastelands of the Sahara lies a world unknown to modern the underground world of Zanthodon. In its vast unmapped terrain are great jungles, strange seas, and forbidding mountains...and here can be found many of beings long since vanished from the surface of the dinosaurs, flying monsters, and primitive cavemen. Join Eric Carstairs as he explores the strange world beneath the Earth's crust, discovering monsters and marvels of eras past! "If you have an appetite for weird and curious marvels -- a thirst for swashbuckling derring-do; if you enjoy a story that pits a long adventurer against uncanny dangers -- a princess in peril, and a hero to battle ruthless foes to rescue her -- then come, join Eric Carstairs!" -- Lin Carter, from the Foreword.

This volume assembles the complete 5-volume Zanthodon series, by Lin

JOURNEY TO THE UNDERGROUND WORLD
ZANTHODON
HUROK OF THE STONE AGE
DARYA OF THE BRONZE AGE
ERIC OF ZANTHODON

If you enjoy this book, search your favorite ebook store for "Wildside Press Megapack" to see the 170+ entries in the MEGAPACK series, covering science fiction, fantasy, horror, mysteries, westerns, classics, adventure stories, and much, much more!"

Genres: Fantasy, Ebooks, Science Fiction

922 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 17, 2014

About the author

Lin Carter was an American author, editor, and critic best known for his influential role in fantasy literature during the mid-20th century. Born in St. Petersburg, Florida, he developed an early passion for myth, adventure stories, and imaginative fiction, drawing inspiration from authors such as Edgar Rice Burroughs, Robert E. Howard, H. P. Lovecraft, and J. R. R. Tolkien. After serving in the U.S. Army, Carter attended Columbia University, where he honed his literary skills and deepened his knowledge of classical and medieval literature, myth, and folklore — elements that would become central to his work.
Carter authored numerous novels, short stories, and critical studies, often working within the sword-and-sorcery and high fantasy traditions. His own creations, such as the “Thongor of Lemuria” series, paid homage to pulp-era adventure fiction while adding his distinctive voice and world-building style. His nonfiction book Tolkien: A Look Behind The Lord of the Rings was one of the first major studies of Tolkien’s work and its mythological roots, and it helped establish Carter as a knowledgeable commentator on fantasy literature.
Beyond his own writing, Carter was a central figure in bringing classic and forgotten works of fantasy back into print. As editor of the Ballantine Adult Fantasy series from 1969 to 1974, he curated and introduced dozens of volumes, reintroducing readers to authors such as William Morris, Lord Dunsany, E. R. Eddison, and James Branch Cabell. His introductions not only contextualized these works historically and literarily but also encouraged a new generation to explore the breadth of the fantasy tradition.
Carter was also active in the shared literary universe of the “Cthulhu Mythos,” expanding upon the creations of H. P. Lovecraft and other members of the “Lovecraft Circle.” His collaborations and solo contributions in this genre further cemented his reputation as both a creative writer and a literary preservationist.
In addition to fiction and criticism, Carter was an active member of several science fiction and fantasy organizations, including the Science Fiction Writers of America. He frequently appeared at conventions, where he was known for his enthusiasm, deep knowledge of the genre, and willingness to mentor aspiring writers.
Though sometimes critiqued for the derivative nature of some of his work, Carter’s influence on the fantasy revival of the late 20th century remains significant. His combination of creative output, editorial vision, and scholarly enthusiasm helped bridge the gap between the pulp traditions of the early 1900s and the expansive fantasy publishing boom that followed.
Lin Carter’s legacy endures through his own imaginative tales, his critical studies, and the many classic works he rescued from obscurity, ensuring their place in the canon of fantasy literature for generations to come.

Reviews

[Britt Halliburton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I cannot say this was a masterpiece of writing, but I will admit it was very memorable.

If you're happy with silly, then this will be a fine time for you. Any attempt at a realistic 'what if', like with The Lost World, is considered unnecessary here. The completely implausible setup simply exists and expects to go unquestioned and, to be fair, that's fine and it's fun.

For me, my biggest gripe was definitely the sexism. Even with women who hunt and fight, they're still hypersexualised objects for the men to run after and repeatedly save. At one point, the primary love interest is captured by a pterodactyl (or some other flying dinosaur) and, later on, in an entirely unrelated incident, another cavewoman is similarly captured by a flying dinosaur. Like he ran out of ideas on the number of ways that the female characters could be put into danger. There is also a degree of racism at work, especially with regards to the "Moors", who are the evil pirate nation (descended from real world pirates) and the protagonists are the white, blonde and physically perfect specimens.

If you can get round these questionable factors, then the story itself is fun (if daft) and you'll be entertained to see where it goes. It is very much a work of pulp fiction, designed to be a bit of fun for a while and then discarded.

[RD Francis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not quite as good as I remembered

I last read this quintet when I was in Junior high or high school, in the late 1970s or early 1980s. Given how it sped the work of Edgar Rice Burroughs, I’d expected it would have aged fairly well.

However, read again some 40 years later, it’s a bit more misogynistic than I recalled. It’s not particularly pervasive, and it generally tries to portray the women as relative equals of the men. But there are a few scenes that that are (to use a technical term) “icky”. The one that jumps out (spoiler alert) is the consummation of the relationship Zarys and Kairuddine (sp? The pirates’ leader), which is certainly not described graphically, but comes off to the modern sensibility as “he raped her, and she liked it.” Not saying anything of the intent of the author, just that the scene can be read that way.

[Dannan Tavona · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mostly rousing adventure

Alternate universe, adventure styled after ERB's Pellucidar, multiple quests

Five novels in one, it was mostly a fun read, though the author wasn't always consistent with whether some of the dinosaurs were herbivores or carnivores. No follow up with the former Gorpak city to see how they were surviving... or not? No aerial reconnaissance of Zar or of the the Corsair city? Some of the gender attitudes reflect the author's upbringing, as several of the women were as plucky as the men.

A few scanning errors in the text, so one criticism is the stories are scanned and formatted, but receive no further attention, though to be honest, I have not attempted to see if their publisher email for corrections is active. A great value, especially for the money and helps kept previous adventure writers in print.

[Mira A. Wilson · Rating 3 out of 5]

My favorite Edgar Rice Burroughs pastiche. This one is almost an homage to Pellucidar, which is my favorite Burroughs series. For the unitiated, Pellucidar is a world at the Earth's core populated by prehistoric people and beasts. Zanthodon is similar, but it's more of a gigantic cavern. That's the basic concept. Burroughs and Carter take it a lot farther. It's an entertaining read it you're in the mood for something light.

[Jose C. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good adventure books. Not self-contained though, each book ends in a cliffhanger and you must read the next one. It's not until the last one, that it truly ends.

[Derek]

As of this writing, this MEGAPACK (the capitalization is obligatory, apparently) is out of order, with _Hurok of the Stone Age_ and _Darya of the Bronze Age_ reversed.