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The Sword of Lankor
The Sword of Lankor
Take one alien planet somewhere in the heart of the Milky Way, and very much like Earth.
Take one brawny barbarian adrift in the capital city of that world's largest Bronze Age empire.
Take one "miracle" in the form of a golden globe descending from outer space to announce a contest and a quest in the name of the country's chief idol.
Mix them up and what you get is a terrific science-fiction adventure of the Burroughs type. That's THE SWORD OF LANKOR.
Take one alien planet somewhere in the heart of the Milky Way, and very much like Earth.
Take one brawny barbarian adrift in the capital city of that world's largest Bronze Age empire.
Take one "miracle" in the form of a golden globe descending from outer space to announce a contest and a quest in the name of the country's chief idol.
Mix them up and what you get is a terrific science-fiction adventure of the Burroughs type. That's THE SWORD OF LANKOR.
- GenresFantasyScience Fiction
158 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1966
1 person is currently reading
25 people want to read
About the author
Howard L. Cory
5 books1 followerHoward L. Cory was the collaborative writing name of Jack Owen Jardine (1931-2009) and Julie Ann Jardine (1926-2012), who were married from 1958 to 1968; the name was taken from her stage name, Corrie Howard.
They wrote Sword of Lankor (1966), in which natives of a high-Gravity planet unknowingly extract valuable crystals for genially manipulative spacefarers. In "The Mind Monsters" (1966) a crash-landed Terran takes over a peculiar Alien planet.
They wrote Sword of Lankor (1966), in which natives of a high-Gravity planet unknowingly extract valuable crystals for genially manipulative spacefarers. In "The Mind Monsters" (1966) a crash-landed Terran takes over a peculiar Alien planet.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
January 30, 2019
A Heroic Fantasy tale with a Science Fiction twist.
"Mix them all up and what you get is a terrific science-fiction adventure of the Burroughs type." This is marketing clap-trap. Similarly this same stunt is pulled with George RR Martin's name in todays market. The Sword of Lankor isn't like any Burroughs I've read.
Our barbarian hero is all action and very little thought. His chance companion misses very little. Together they embark on a journey discovering demi-godhood, singing stones, crystal spiders, pirates, and space aliens.
I never put it together that Gaar was a feline-humanoid creature until the end. I thought hairy, whiskered human...
Biggest problem with the book was a continuity error. Thuron gets attacked by pirates. Thuron relinquishes his sword and is cast adrift. When Thuron and his companions make landfall they encounter an army of warrior-women. Thuron then uses his sword, that he shouldn't have, to convince the warrior-women that he is the son of the Battle God. Only to recover his sword much later from the Temple of the Battle God.
Light entertaining read. Recommended!
"Mix them all up and what you get is a terrific science-fiction adventure of the Burroughs type." This is marketing clap-trap. Similarly this same stunt is pulled with George RR Martin's name in todays market. The Sword of Lankor isn't like any Burroughs I've read.
Our barbarian hero is all action and very little thought. His chance companion misses very little. Together they embark on a journey discovering demi-godhood, singing stones, crystal spiders, pirates, and space aliens.
I never put it together that Gaar was a feline-humanoid creature until the end. I thought hairy, whiskered human...
Biggest problem with the book was a continuity error. Thuron gets attacked by pirates. Thuron relinquishes his sword and is cast adrift. When Thuron and his companions make landfall they encounter an army of warrior-women. Thuron then uses his sword, that he shouldn't have, to convince the warrior-women that he is the son of the Battle God. Only to recover his sword much later from the Temple of the Battle God.
Light entertaining read. Recommended!
June 3, 2017
While the book does have aliens in it, it's really a straight Barbarian tale... though the sci fi trappings that come into play at the end do give it a bit more depth than the typical Conan patstiche.
The main story could easily BE a Conan patstiche, though the main character, Thuron, doesn't like money nearly as much as Conan does. The story calls out much more to REH than Burroughs (who gets the advertisement in the back.. probably more due to the fact that it's an ACE book than it's similarities)... it's a pretty good read if you're in the mood for a 60s teen wish fufillment type story, complete with magic sword, pirates, amazons, and evil priests.
The best part, though, is the epilogue, which gives an awesome explanation of the gods in the book and lets the sidekick of the story be the real winner, which is rare.
The main story could easily BE a Conan patstiche, though the main character, Thuron, doesn't like money nearly as much as Conan does. The story calls out much more to REH than Burroughs (who gets the advertisement in the back.. probably more due to the fact that it's an ACE book than it's similarities)... it's a pretty good read if you're in the mood for a 60s teen wish fufillment type story, complete with magic sword, pirates, amazons, and evil priests.
The best part, though, is the epilogue, which gives an awesome explanation of the gods in the book and lets the sidekick of the story be the real winner, which is rare.
June 21, 2014
This is a weird little book. It reminds of Lin Carter's work, but with better prose. It has a plot that could have been lifted from Burroughs, but without as much reliance on coincidence. It reads like sword and sorcery, but without the savagery. The genre tropes are all there, including a damsel in distress, and yet the REAL plot involves intrigue and some thumbing-the-nose at superstition and religion.
I also liked the fact that the real hero of the book is NOT the guy with the quick and ready sword.
I wanted to rate this higher, actually, but one gigantic plot screw-up late in the book really just kind of messed it all up. It is kind of fun to read, but it sure could have used a better editor.
I also liked the fact that the real hero of the book is NOT the guy with the quick and ready sword.
I wanted to rate this higher, actually, but one gigantic plot screw-up late in the book really just kind of messed it all up. It is kind of fun to read, but it sure could have used a better editor.
March 9, 2009
The premise melds golden-era Science Fiction with something akin to a Conan pastiche (the cover misleads by name-dropping Burroughs, inappropriately in my mind). Conceptually it sort of works and even the execution has some diamonds in the rough, in the form of navigating intrigue between king and priesthood, and communication with a demanding god who doesn't act very godly.
Unfortunately, despite a promising start involving an arena battle with giant lobster/scorpion/hydra things, the story calms down and executes on an expected list of plot points. (Betrayal? Check. Castaway on a distant shore? Check. Epic climactic battle? Check. Denouement? Done!)
I would have liked the mystery of the strangely opportunistic and not-so-omniscent diety to have been more pronounced. Unfortunately its nature is given away on the cover copy, the first page, and sprinkled liberally through the book. If just trimmed to its interactions with the main characters, it would have still been a cliche, but a more effectively used one.
Unfortunately, despite a promising start involving an arena battle with giant lobster/scorpion/hydra things, the story calms down and executes on an expected list of plot points. (Betrayal? Check. Castaway on a distant shore? Check. Epic climactic battle? Check. Denouement? Done!)
I would have liked the mystery of the strangely opportunistic and not-so-omniscent diety to have been more pronounced. Unfortunately its nature is given away on the cover copy, the first page, and sprinkled liberally through the book. If just trimmed to its interactions with the main characters, it would have still been a cliche, but a more effectively used one.
October 24, 2022
A jacked warrior going on adventures with a little cat man gets the favor of a God, aka a solid swords and sorcery quick-read
January 9, 2024
It was fine, but what’s up with the pirates taking his sword but later he has it back and then it’s at the temple. Sloppy
June 4, 2011
The Story...
The Sword of Lankor is the story about Thuron of Ulmekoor, an adventuring warrior (I wont go so far as call him barbarian, as he doesn't act like one) and Gaar, a Kend oracle and conjurer. The Kend, by the way, are furry beings from a land called Kendsahr. These two meet up one fateful night at an inn, when Thuron decides to help Gaar in a battle against a group of blue-skinned guards from the city of Taveeshe. That same day, a strange Golden Sphere also appears out of nowhere.
The Golden Sphere speaks and is apparently seeking a champion, the True Son of Waabis Ka'arbu, to undertake a Quest. Yes, you can surely see where this is going. Gaar convinces Thuron that he must compete in the arena, to become the True Son, and that is exactly what happens.
Now, Thuron must undertake the quest for the Golden Sphere, a quest that will take him far from Mount Thona, to the Forbidden Sea and the Crystal Isles. This is a classic sword and sorcery tale... with a small twist.
I wont go into more detail, as it would surely contain severe spoilers!
My Judgement...
Well, I knew what I was going into; a classic sword and sorcery tale in the tradition of Conan and Brak the Barbarian. I also knew (from the cover and backcover) that there would be a twist... a twist from Outer Space.
However, when that is said, I really enjoyed reading about Thuron and Gaar (especially Gaar) and their journey across the surface of Lankor. The story is humorous, fast-paced and easy to read. It knows its genre well and offers plenty of fights, strange monsters, evil priests, amazon warriors and even a group of shrewd pirates.
Don't expect more... or you will only be disappointed.
[Ah, I almost forgot to tell you that there is a (fun) mistake by the end of the tale... concerning the sword No'ondo'or, the Blade of Truth!]
The Sword of Lankor is the story about Thuron of Ulmekoor, an adventuring warrior (I wont go so far as call him barbarian, as he doesn't act like one) and Gaar, a Kend oracle and conjurer. The Kend, by the way, are furry beings from a land called Kendsahr. These two meet up one fateful night at an inn, when Thuron decides to help Gaar in a battle against a group of blue-skinned guards from the city of Taveeshe. That same day, a strange Golden Sphere also appears out of nowhere.
The Golden Sphere speaks and is apparently seeking a champion, the True Son of Waabis Ka'arbu, to undertake a Quest. Yes, you can surely see where this is going. Gaar convinces Thuron that he must compete in the arena, to become the True Son, and that is exactly what happens.
Now, Thuron must undertake the quest for the Golden Sphere, a quest that will take him far from Mount Thona, to the Forbidden Sea and the Crystal Isles. This is a classic sword and sorcery tale... with a small twist.
I wont go into more detail, as it would surely contain severe spoilers!
My Judgement...
Well, I knew what I was going into; a classic sword and sorcery tale in the tradition of Conan and Brak the Barbarian. I also knew (from the cover and backcover) that there would be a twist... a twist from Outer Space.
However, when that is said, I really enjoyed reading about Thuron and Gaar (especially Gaar) and their journey across the surface of Lankor. The story is humorous, fast-paced and easy to read. It knows its genre well and offers plenty of fights, strange monsters, evil priests, amazon warriors and even a group of shrewd pirates.
Don't expect more... or you will only be disappointed.
[Ah, I almost forgot to tell you that there is a (fun) mistake by the end of the tale... concerning the sword No'ondo'or, the Blade of Truth!]
June 2, 2010
A fine read in the Sword and Planet genre. You have an imposingly bulky hero with a named sword, the beautiful Princess, the slightly con man sidekick, a fat, oily Priest/enemy, a quest, battles with Pirates and Amazons.
A golden globe descends from the heavens and claims to be the Battle-God they all worship, saying he sent his son down many years ago in human form and didn't realize his identity. A tournament was to be held by all claimants.
And there were many. Blueskins, greys, Thuron our hero is the only golden hued participant.
The winner must go a quest to the Isle of Crystals and harvest a boatload of the valuables.
Gaar, the fat, furry sidekick, with whiskers and a tail, is suspicious. Who controls the floating globe and why do they want the crystals?
A golden globe descends from the heavens and claims to be the Battle-God they all worship, saying he sent his son down many years ago in human form and didn't realize his identity. A tournament was to be held by all claimants.
And there were many. Blueskins, greys, Thuron our hero is the only golden hued participant.
The winner must go a quest to the Isle of Crystals and harvest a boatload of the valuables.
Gaar, the fat, furry sidekick, with whiskers and a tail, is suspicious. Who controls the floating globe and why do they want the crystals?
July 21, 2016
A thrilling Sword and Sorcery adventure story, with great characters and an inventive world. I loved the sprinkling of alien words that were mixed in. There was one part, near the end, that the editor did not catch that broke continuity. It made me laugh and I was able to work it out myself, but it was a little jarring. Just changing part of one sentence would have fixed it.
August 9, 2008
It was a good attempt to do something different with the Sword and Planet genre but I didn't think it worked all that well.
August 9, 2011
What started as a halfway decent Sword & Sorcery story was ruined on page122 by a glaring inconsistency. I have no Idea how old Donald (Ace's editor at the time) missed that one.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews