Master of the Etrax

by Robert Lory

For Aufcash III, High Hodgepoker of Balik Trovo, the magical Etrax of Overnon is a must-have. Thus, for Hamper, official However to the throne, the legendary jewel becomes a must-get--or become food for three deadly, fanged fliers whose mission is to keep him on a straight path. But the path is less than straight. Testing his wits are home-grown assassins, mountain bandits with marriage ambitions (for him), won’t-hear-no naval recruiters, a ravenous dragon, cannibalistic pirates, a spiteful sorceress and a treacherous genie (lamp included). And that’s all before reaching Overnon, where awaiting him are the Four Perils and, worse, the Hag Who Rules. Wish him luck.

Genres: Science Fiction, Fantasy, Science Fiction Fantasy

131 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1968

About the author

Lory is the son of Edward and Dorothy Lory. He studied history and social sciences at Harpur College, Binghamton, where he graduated in 1961 with a bachelor's degree. In 1964 he completed a Famous Writers Course and in 1973 a course of the Washington School of Art . After completing his studies, he was a temporary folk singer , industrial photographer , advertising and public relations officer for an electricity and gas utility, sales promotion for a supplier and supervised publications of the Reynolds Metals Company . From 1967 he worked for the Exxon Corporation , first as editor of the Esso Manhattan , Exxon Manhattan and Esso Eastern Review magazines, then as a PR consultant for Esso Eastern Inc. Since 1968, Lory is married to Barbara Banner, with whom he has four children. Since 1971 he is a freelance writer.

1963 Lory published his first SF short story Rundown Worlds of If, more stories followed, which appeared in 1970 collected in A Harvest of Hoodwinks . In 1969 appeared a first fantasy novel, The Eyes of Bolsk, followed in 1970 by the sequel Master of the Etrax.

The nine-volume series Return of Dracula is a mixture of action thriller and horror novels tells the adventures of rich Professor Damien Harmon, telekinetic and paralyzed as a victim of a crime, now in the manner of a vigilante a vendetta against the crime, where he is the help served by the immortal Count Dracula , whom he forces to cooperate with an implanted wooden stake. Supported by Cameron Sanchez, an expert in martial arts , and shapeshifter Ktara, several super villains are being routed and their infernal plans thwarted.

Another romance cycle is Horrorscope , in which an overpowering being - demon or embodied fate - brings the zodiac signs to life and brings horrific unhappiness and death over innocent people.

Both series are according to the lexicon of horror literature , "pure Pulphorror for the mass market." Lorry's science fiction is described by John Clute as "mainly light, fantasy-driven adventure stories, unassuming but neat."

Under the publishing pseudonym Paul Edwards Lory wrote several volumes of the novel series John Eagle, Expeditor, a series of secret agent thrillers.

Reviews

[Michael Sorbello · Rating 3 out of 5]

After being caught lying with a nobleman's betrothed, Hamper the However is to atone for his actions by setting out on a dangerous quest to retrieve the miraculous stone of Etrax hidden deep in the fortress of Overnon, a stone that could save his kingdom from the brink of doom. Being a simple oaf with a peg leg and no combat experience, Hamper must rely on nothing but his quick wits to see him safely along his journey.

Judging by the cover, I was expecting a gritty, action-packed sword and sorcery tale, but was surprised to find that it was actually a very comedic quest story about a reckless goofball using his superficial smarts to weasel his way out of all kinds of bizarre situations. From swindling his way out of being married to a fairy worshipping tribe of tree-folk to escaping from the clutches of slave-like military work, I thought the way Hamper got himself out of trouble to be surprisingly funny and entertaining.

None of Hamper's obstacles provided a serious challenge as his opponents were often cartoonishly silly, but I enjoyed his quest overall.

***

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[Derek · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nothing about the book, not its murky and dramatic Jeff Jones-style cover, nor its typically hyperbolic back cover text, prepared me for what was inside. Despite appearances, it is actually a light picaresque in the style of Jack Vance's Cugel the Clever.

Hamper the However--it's a title, don't worry about it--journeys from the kingdom of Balik to obtain the mystic Etrax from the land of Overnon. He is, in fact, under compulsion and has to leave hurriedly and under a cloud, as he has unwisely seduced / been seduced by the Lady Ulla. Lady Ulla is consort to the High Hodgepoker, ruler of Balik and controller of the dorpal hawks, which will trim pieces off of Hamper if he diverges from his journey southward to Overnon. He must rely on guile and ruthlessness to overcome the obstacles in the way.

Although Lory produces a set of weird Vance-like scenarios for Hamper to deal with--avoiding betrothal by refusing obligation to the father-in-law, being drafted into a navy that will never make quota because training is so harsh it kills all the recruits--and on relatively mundane problems, Hamper gets through them because he is always matched against an idiot. Worse, the idiocy increases as the book nears its end.

[Tony · Rating 4 out of 5]

A clever little book. Enjoyable

[Alan Amiel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very enjoyable and clever science fiction novel that doesn’t take itself so seriously. This one led me to read more Robert Lory novels.

[Evan Richter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gives white man in a foreign land pretty hard and I thought the ending to be a bit disappointing but for a quick read it’s alright