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World's End #6
The Pirate of World's End
Ganelon Silvermane is surely one of the greatest of Lin Carter's sword & sorcery creations. A massive warrior created by a forgotten genetic science for an unknown purpose, the epic of his wanderings along with a mixed group of friends among the weird and marvelous lands of the farthest future is one of Lin Carter's most memorable creations.
Of this series, reviewers have said:
"Entertaining fantasy adventure set 700 million years in the future written in a flowing style that makes it a pleasure to read." (Kliatt)
"Take a pinch of Flash Gordon, add some Barbarella, a little John Carter, a touch of the Dying Earth, and you have Lin Carter...." (Science Fiction Review)
And the author himself adds about this latest:
"Come - join me now at World's End in the Twilight of Time, as Ganelon Silvermane begins a new cycle of adventures on Gondwane the Great, Old Earth's last and mightiest continent."
"Rollicking" - Publishers Weekly
Of this series, reviewers have said:
"Entertaining fantasy adventure set 700 million years in the future written in a flowing style that makes it a pleasure to read." (Kliatt)
"Take a pinch of Flash Gordon, add some Barbarella, a little John Carter, a touch of the Dying Earth, and you have Lin Carter...." (Science Fiction Review)
And the author himself adds about this latest:
"Come - join me now at World's End in the Twilight of Time, as Ganelon Silvermane begins a new cycle of adventures on Gondwane the Great, Old Earth's last and mightiest continent."
"Rollicking" - Publishers Weekly
173 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published October 3, 1978
3 people are currently reading
118 people want to read
About the author
Lin Carter
426 books171 followersLin 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
August 24, 2019
“The sun sank below the western horizon of Gondwane, and the stars came forth in regal splendor. As the travelers rolled themselves into their cloaks for the night, the dark landscape was flooded by an uncanny silver brilliance. Above the horizon floated a titanic orb which filled a very sizable portion of the sky. A tremendous disk of pinkish silver it was, with features common to the moon of our own day, but of proportions stupendously larger.
It was the Falling Moon.”
Thus begins “The Pirate of World’s End,” author Lin Carter’s fifth installment of “The Gondwane Epic,” otherwise known as the “World’s End” saga. Set some 700 million years into the future when Earth’s continents have once again merged into one colossal landmass, and where the arts of magic and science have more or less merged into one, the main story follows the path of one Ganelon Silvermane. Ganelon is a Construct of the long extinct Time Gods, built for an unknown purpose and released from his storage vault prematurely by an asteroid collision. Obviously new readers don’t need to start their journey into this series here. You can catch my reviews of the previous installments of the “Gondwane Epic” here:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
THE STORY THUS FAR: When we last left Ganelon Silvermane, he and his companions had left behind the remnants of the scattered Ximchak Barbarians and begun a journey back to the Hegemony where Ganelon more or less grew up, considering that he was already fully physically developed by the time his adoptive parents took him under their care. Stopping on top of a mesa for an overnight rest, the group wakes up to the fact that little Kurdi is missing. They quickly locate the kidnappers and find them to be clerics of a realm known as Soorm, worshippers of a group of sentient monoliths known collectively as the Stone Heads. They manage to rescue Kurdi and then find themselves in charge of another captive, a member of the ruling Oligarchy of the land known as Urgoph. Introducing herself as Dalassa, she convinces Ganelon to take her back to her father, Borgo Methrix, the current head of the Oligarchy. But it seems that the Priesthood of the Stone Heads has made political inroads into the land of Urgoph, and they clearly object to Ganelon’s presence in their midst.
Ganelon and his companions are captured while trying to leave Urgoph and are then set to become ritual sacrifices to the Stone Heads. But the clerics have severely underestimated the sheer physical strength and fortitude of Ganelon and his Tigerman sidekick Grrff. Escaping their bonds and deciding to take the situation head on, as it were, the dangerous duo attack the monolithic presences directly. Heads roll, and the main action is over before you know it. Expecting a hero’s welcome in Urgoph proper, Ganelon and his group then manage to find themselves in the midst of an invasion by pirates. They manage to beat the main force back but then once again finding themselves captive, they are spirited away to Arjis Isle, the stronghold of the Bloody Brotherhood. Held for ransom, they are given a fair amount of liberty by their good-natured captor, Zarcas the Zirian. Zarcas himself holds a dark secret, as well as a set of eyes for the lissome Dalassa. My sorry attempt at exposition stops here. If you want to know the rest of the story then you will have to read the book, which is kind of the whole point of this review business.
“The Pirate of World’s End” concludes all of the volumes in the “Epic” that DAW Publishing released in the 1970s. I own a kind of beat-up copy from 1978, but it is a first printing. Richard Hescox did the cover and splash page art, and for the first time I am disappointed in the artwork for this series. It’s obvious that the artist knew of one of the main plot points of the book, since he draws Ganelon astride one of the fallen Stone Heads on the cover, but he draws him with BLACK HAIR. C’mon, man. The character is named Ganelon SILVERMANE! Such an important detail should never have made it past the final editing, and I’m disappointed enough with that to dock this installment a full star for such sloppiness.
Other than that faux pas, this is a worthy enough addition to the Gondwane canon. Carter is STILL having fun with his world building, and the action moves seamlessly from chapter to chapter. The book is a bit odd in that Ganelon seems to take a back seat during the second half of the book. It’s almost like he becomes a background factor as the main plot action revolves around the intrigue involving Zarcas and his budding romance with Dalassa. It’s not like Silvermane disappears, but he is definitely not the focal point of the plot as it races towards its conclusion. The book ends on an understated note, as a sleepy Grrff and a tired Ganelon warm their feet at a seaside inn on Arjis Isle. I will state that I thought that the ending of this book was rather contrived. It’s as if Carter himself was tired of the series as whole and was ready to put an end to the proceedings. Perhaps it was that and not his failing health that led him to make this the concluding volume in the “prequel” series.
And that’s where the story would end, if not for the odd concluding volume to the series, “The Giant of World’s End.” Released some five years before Carter once again took up the story, “Giant…..” promises to once and for all reveal Ganelon’s true purpose and provide for a final conclusion to the series. Carter had originally envisioned the “Gondwane Epic” to be a 10-volume set, but that was obviously not to be the case.
“The Gondwane Epic” has been a mostly enjoyable diversion. It hits all the right notes as far as pulp sword & sorcery is concerned. Although it is certainly derivative, it is also apparent that Lin Carter took careful pains to try and come up with a concept that he could truly call his own, something beyond the pastiches that he was more well known for during his career as a writer. It’s a solid enough series if you enjoy the thought of strapping swordsmen with massive thews doing battle with barbarians and sorcerers. And there are plenty of scantily-clad princesses to be found between these pages as well, although to be fair, Carter gives his female characters a lot more depth and purpose than a lot of other writers in the field have over the decades. Rereading the “Epic” was a fun trip down Nostalgia Lane for me, as I first read these back in the 1970s when they first appeared on the racks at my favorite dime store. I can definitely recommend these books to anyone else who has an interest an classic pulp fantasy fiction.
It was the Falling Moon.”
Thus begins “The Pirate of World’s End,” author Lin Carter’s fifth installment of “The Gondwane Epic,” otherwise known as the “World’s End” saga. Set some 700 million years into the future when Earth’s continents have once again merged into one colossal landmass, and where the arts of magic and science have more or less merged into one, the main story follows the path of one Ganelon Silvermane. Ganelon is a Construct of the long extinct Time Gods, built for an unknown purpose and released from his storage vault prematurely by an asteroid collision. Obviously new readers don’t need to start their journey into this series here. You can catch my reviews of the previous installments of the “Gondwane Epic” here:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
THE STORY THUS FAR: When we last left Ganelon Silvermane, he and his companions had left behind the remnants of the scattered Ximchak Barbarians and begun a journey back to the Hegemony where Ganelon more or less grew up, considering that he was already fully physically developed by the time his adoptive parents took him under their care. Stopping on top of a mesa for an overnight rest, the group wakes up to the fact that little Kurdi is missing. They quickly locate the kidnappers and find them to be clerics of a realm known as Soorm, worshippers of a group of sentient monoliths known collectively as the Stone Heads. They manage to rescue Kurdi and then find themselves in charge of another captive, a member of the ruling Oligarchy of the land known as Urgoph. Introducing herself as Dalassa, she convinces Ganelon to take her back to her father, Borgo Methrix, the current head of the Oligarchy. But it seems that the Priesthood of the Stone Heads has made political inroads into the land of Urgoph, and they clearly object to Ganelon’s presence in their midst.
Ganelon and his companions are captured while trying to leave Urgoph and are then set to become ritual sacrifices to the Stone Heads. But the clerics have severely underestimated the sheer physical strength and fortitude of Ganelon and his Tigerman sidekick Grrff. Escaping their bonds and deciding to take the situation head on, as it were, the dangerous duo attack the monolithic presences directly. Heads roll, and the main action is over before you know it. Expecting a hero’s welcome in Urgoph proper, Ganelon and his group then manage to find themselves in the midst of an invasion by pirates. They manage to beat the main force back but then once again finding themselves captive, they are spirited away to Arjis Isle, the stronghold of the Bloody Brotherhood. Held for ransom, they are given a fair amount of liberty by their good-natured captor, Zarcas the Zirian. Zarcas himself holds a dark secret, as well as a set of eyes for the lissome Dalassa. My sorry attempt at exposition stops here. If you want to know the rest of the story then you will have to read the book, which is kind of the whole point of this review business.
“The Pirate of World’s End” concludes all of the volumes in the “Epic” that DAW Publishing released in the 1970s. I own a kind of beat-up copy from 1978, but it is a first printing. Richard Hescox did the cover and splash page art, and for the first time I am disappointed in the artwork for this series. It’s obvious that the artist knew of one of the main plot points of the book, since he draws Ganelon astride one of the fallen Stone Heads on the cover, but he draws him with BLACK HAIR. C’mon, man. The character is named Ganelon SILVERMANE! Such an important detail should never have made it past the final editing, and I’m disappointed enough with that to dock this installment a full star for such sloppiness.
Other than that faux pas, this is a worthy enough addition to the Gondwane canon. Carter is STILL having fun with his world building, and the action moves seamlessly from chapter to chapter. The book is a bit odd in that Ganelon seems to take a back seat during the second half of the book. It’s almost like he becomes a background factor as the main plot action revolves around the intrigue involving Zarcas and his budding romance with Dalassa. It’s not like Silvermane disappears, but he is definitely not the focal point of the plot as it races towards its conclusion. The book ends on an understated note, as a sleepy Grrff and a tired Ganelon warm their feet at a seaside inn on Arjis Isle. I will state that I thought that the ending of this book was rather contrived. It’s as if Carter himself was tired of the series as whole and was ready to put an end to the proceedings. Perhaps it was that and not his failing health that led him to make this the concluding volume in the “prequel” series.
And that’s where the story would end, if not for the odd concluding volume to the series, “The Giant of World’s End.” Released some five years before Carter once again took up the story, “Giant…..” promises to once and for all reveal Ganelon’s true purpose and provide for a final conclusion to the series. Carter had originally envisioned the “Gondwane Epic” to be a 10-volume set, but that was obviously not to be the case.
“The Gondwane Epic” has been a mostly enjoyable diversion. It hits all the right notes as far as pulp sword & sorcery is concerned. Although it is certainly derivative, it is also apparent that Lin Carter took careful pains to try and come up with a concept that he could truly call his own, something beyond the pastiches that he was more well known for during his career as a writer. It’s a solid enough series if you enjoy the thought of strapping swordsmen with massive thews doing battle with barbarians and sorcerers. And there are plenty of scantily-clad princesses to be found between these pages as well, although to be fair, Carter gives his female characters a lot more depth and purpose than a lot of other writers in the field have over the decades. Rereading the “Epic” was a fun trip down Nostalgia Lane for me, as I first read these back in the 1970s when they first appeared on the racks at my favorite dime store. I can definitely recommend these books to anyone else who has an interest an classic pulp fantasy fiction.
June 23, 2024
Look, you don't come to this series for good writing. You come to it to turn your brain off and enjoy the kind of ideas you had for stories when you were an excitable eleven year old.
May 8, 2023
Having left the Ximchak horde behind Ganelon and his friends soon find themselves facing off against the fabled Talking Heads of Shoom (not sure if I have that part spelled correctly). After dealing with the heads the city of Urgoph is attacked by pirates. While defending the city Ganelon and friends eventually are outnumbered and captured by Zarcas the Zirian, pirate captain of the Bucket o' Blood. Zarcas, a prince in exile, is quite the kind and dapper pirate captain and take our heroes to Arjis Isle. Arjis Isle is the nation of the pirates and there Ganelon and crew are held for ransom. Hijinks ensue and lead to a battle against the Zirian fleet who've been dispatched to capture Zarcas. An old friend or three return in a bit of Deus Ex Machina at the end of the novel to help save the day.
These novels by Lin Carter are light hearted dying earth science-fantasy novels that are quick reads, generally quite fun and totally thought provoking for fans of Appendix N who might want to bring some of these ideas to their own RPG campaigns.
These novels by Lin Carter are light hearted dying earth science-fantasy novels that are quick reads, generally quite fun and totally thought provoking for fans of Appendix N who might want to bring some of these ideas to their own RPG campaigns.
July 20, 2010
Carter definitely should have quit before he got to five in this series. In fact, this whole series could have been scrapped as far as I'm concerned.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews