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Kalin / The Bane of Kanthos
Ace Double #42800. Cover art by John Schoenherr (Kalin) and Gray Morrow (The Bane of Kanthos).
The Bane of Kanthos: Was he Lansing of the Amazon, or Rocar master of sword & sorcery?
Kalin: Finding needles in haystacks hardly compares with hunting diamonds in dinosaurs!
The Bane of Kanthos: Was he Lansing of the Amazon, or Rocar master of sword & sorcery?
Kalin: Finding needles in haystacks hardly compares with hunting diamonds in dinosaurs!
256 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1969
About the author
E.C. Tubb
407 books88 followersEdwin Charles Tubb was a writer of science fiction, fantasy and western novels. He published over 140 novels and 230 short stories and novellas, and is best known for The Dumarest Saga (US collective title: Dumarest of Terra) an epic science-fiction saga set in the far future.
Much of Tubb's work has been written under pseudonyms including Gregory Kern, Carl Maddox, Alan Guthrie, Eric Storm and George Holt. He has used 58 pen names over five decades of writing although some of these were publishers' house names also used by other writers: Volsted Gridban (along with John Russell Fearn), Gill Hunt (with John Brunner and Dennis Hughes), King Lang (with George Hay and John W Jennison), Roy Sheldon (with H. J. Campbell) and Brian Shaw. Tubb's Charles Grey alias was solely his own and acquired a big following in the early 1950s.
An avid reader of pulp science-fiction and fantasy in his youth, Tubb found that he had a particular talent as a writer of stories in that genre when his short story 'No Short Cuts' was published in New Worlds magazine in 1951. He opted for a full-time career as a writer and soon became renowned for the speed and diversity of his output.
Tubb contributed to many of the science fiction magazines of the 1950s including Futuristic Science Stories, Science Fantasy, Nebula and Galaxy Science Fiction. He contributed heavily to Authentic Science Fiction editing the magazine for nearly two years, from February 1956 until it folded in October 1957. During this time, he found it so difficult to find good writers to contribute to the magazine, that he often wrote most of the stories himself under a variety of pseudonyms: one issue of Authentic was written entirely by Tubb, including the letters column.
His main work in the science fiction genre, the Dumarest series, appeared from 1967 to 1985, with two final volumes in 1997 and 2008. His second major series, the Cap Kennedy series, was written from 1973 to 1983.
In recent years Tubb updated many of his 1950s science fiction novels for 21st century readers.
Tubb was one of the co-founders of the British Science Fiction Association.
Much of Tubb's work has been written under pseudonyms including Gregory Kern, Carl Maddox, Alan Guthrie, Eric Storm and George Holt. He has used 58 pen names over five decades of writing although some of these were publishers' house names also used by other writers: Volsted Gridban (along with John Russell Fearn), Gill Hunt (with John Brunner and Dennis Hughes), King Lang (with George Hay and John W Jennison), Roy Sheldon (with H. J. Campbell) and Brian Shaw. Tubb's Charles Grey alias was solely his own and acquired a big following in the early 1950s.
An avid reader of pulp science-fiction and fantasy in his youth, Tubb found that he had a particular talent as a writer of stories in that genre when his short story 'No Short Cuts' was published in New Worlds magazine in 1951. He opted for a full-time career as a writer and soon became renowned for the speed and diversity of his output.
Tubb contributed to many of the science fiction magazines of the 1950s including Futuristic Science Stories, Science Fantasy, Nebula and Galaxy Science Fiction. He contributed heavily to Authentic Science Fiction editing the magazine for nearly two years, from February 1956 until it folded in October 1957. During this time, he found it so difficult to find good writers to contribute to the magazine, that he often wrote most of the stories himself under a variety of pseudonyms: one issue of Authentic was written entirely by Tubb, including the letters column.
His main work in the science fiction genre, the Dumarest series, appeared from 1967 to 1985, with two final volumes in 1997 and 2008. His second major series, the Cap Kennedy series, was written from 1973 to 1983.
In recent years Tubb updated many of his 1950s science fiction novels for 21st century readers.
Tubb was one of the co-founders of the British Science Fiction Association.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
September 21, 2019
Found this little gem in the discounted SF/F bookcase at the Book Nook in Decatur, Georgia. This title came to my attention from a group I follow on FB. I know it has been revised and reprinted in recent years, but I wanted to read the original first.
I would classify this as a Sword and Planet book. Although, it could also be taken as a Sword and Sorcery tale too. Jake Lansing is running for his life. Taking refuge in some ruins he discovers a portal to another world.
He refers to the sea faring people he encounters as Vikings. That appellation stuck for the rest of the book.
Too much just happens. There is no doubt or even hesitation as to Lansing's identity as their world's savior. Lansing also just rolls with his new found destiny. Events happen but they tumble very easily together like puzzle pieces. It's all too convenient.
I was disappointed that more wasn't done with Quito the parrot. He played such a small role that I am not even sure why he was a part of the story.
This book is open ended. So that might detract from other's enjoyment. The author promises more tales to come, but that was six years ago. Looking like this is going to be a stand alone. I expected the open ending. These type of stories usually leave off with a cliff hanger, unfortunately.
If you read it for the pure enjoyment of it, you'll enjoy the book as much as I did. Although, if you nitpick you won't enjoy this at all.
Recommended!
I would classify this as a Sword and Planet book. Although, it could also be taken as a Sword and Sorcery tale too. Jake Lansing is running for his life. Taking refuge in some ruins he discovers a portal to another world.
He refers to the sea faring people he encounters as Vikings. That appellation stuck for the rest of the book.
Too much just happens. There is no doubt or even hesitation as to Lansing's identity as their world's savior. Lansing also just rolls with his new found destiny. Events happen but they tumble very easily together like puzzle pieces. It's all too convenient.
I was disappointed that more wasn't done with Quito the parrot. He played such a small role that I am not even sure why he was a part of the story.
This book is open ended. So that might detract from other's enjoyment. The author promises more tales to come, but that was six years ago. Looking like this is going to be a stand alone. I expected the open ending. These type of stories usually leave off with a cliff hanger, unfortunately.
If you read it for the pure enjoyment of it, you'll enjoy the book as much as I did. Although, if you nitpick you won't enjoy this at all.
Recommended!
September 30, 2015
Ace Double Novel 441-42800-075
Bane of Kanthos, by Alex Dain,
1978 = grade ?, 2014 = grade B-
If this were a movie I would call it a Fantasy, Period, Adventure. The fantasy is the evil magic. The period is a mix of vikings and medieval and other world SciFi. The adventure is repeated battles and journeys to destroy the evil. Starts out pretty well, but I had to speed read the last 1/6 of the book. Then it has a predictable poor end in the final chapter. I recommend just skipping chapter 26 or at least stopping in the middle after "The Bane has been destroyed and I have helped undo the evil that I caused."
Kalin (Dumarest 4), by EC Tubb,
1978 = grade B, 2015 - grade C+
I skipped the chapters dealing with the monks and cybers in 2015, sticking to the Dumarest thread. I also speed read all the "low town" material and a lot of other places. Reading it this way, the first half is quite good, but them becomes pretty mundane. It also preserves the mystery of Kalin quite well.
Bane of Kanthos, by Alex Dain,
1978 = grade ?, 2014 = grade B-
If this were a movie I would call it a Fantasy, Period, Adventure. The fantasy is the evil magic. The period is a mix of vikings and medieval and other world SciFi. The adventure is repeated battles and journeys to destroy the evil. Starts out pretty well, but I had to speed read the last 1/6 of the book. Then it has a predictable poor end in the final chapter. I recommend just skipping chapter 26 or at least stopping in the middle after "The Bane has been destroyed and I have helped undo the evil that I caused."
Kalin (Dumarest 4), by EC Tubb,
1978 = grade B, 2015 - grade C+
I skipped the chapters dealing with the monks and cybers in 2015, sticking to the Dumarest thread. I also speed read all the "low town" material and a lot of other places. Reading it this way, the first half is quite good, but them becomes pretty mundane. It also preserves the mystery of Kalin quite well.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews