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Tales of the Primal Land #2
Tarra Khash: Hrossak!: Tales of the Primal Land
Classic Lovecraftian horror from one of the masters of the form, British Fantasy Award-winner Brian Lumley.
Tarra Khash is a Hrossak, a barbarian from the steppes beyond the River Luhr. A fearless adventurer, Tarra roves Theem-hdra in search of his next fortune, his next drink, and warm, willing females to share his bed. The Hrossak is a most fortunate man, for he has faced more than one god during his travels, and so far escaped unscathed . . . .
Seeking to avenge the murder of a beautiful young woman of the half-mystical Suhm-yi, Tarra joins forces with her husband, now the last of his kind. Each worships a moon-god, and together, their faith and Tarra's weapons wreak a terrible vengeance on those who stole the treasure of the Suhm-yi and destroyed that noble race.
Eager for wealth, Tarra is trapped by a wily old man who has lured him into plumbing the depths of a treasure-filled cavern guarded by golden statues of the Great God Cthulhu. Cthulhu's treasure is not easily plundered, and Tarra nearly loses his life to the monstrous forces of the Elder God.
Many men have met the lamia Orbiquita, but none have lived to tell of her extraordinary powers of love-making--until Tarra Khash, who treats her as a woman wants to be treated and so earns her forgiveness and his life. Alas, others who assume her to be weakened by love for Tarra Khash are not so lucky!
Tarra Khash is a Hrossak, a barbarian from the steppes beyond the River Luhr. A fearless adventurer, Tarra roves Theem-hdra in search of his next fortune, his next drink, and warm, willing females to share his bed. The Hrossak is a most fortunate man, for he has faced more than one god during his travels, and so far escaped unscathed . . . .
Seeking to avenge the murder of a beautiful young woman of the half-mystical Suhm-yi, Tarra joins forces with her husband, now the last of his kind. Each worships a moon-god, and together, their faith and Tarra's weapons wreak a terrible vengeance on those who stole the treasure of the Suhm-yi and destroyed that noble race.
Eager for wealth, Tarra is trapped by a wily old man who has lured him into plumbing the depths of a treasure-filled cavern guarded by golden statues of the Great God Cthulhu. Cthulhu's treasure is not easily plundered, and Tarra nearly loses his life to the monstrous forces of the Elder God.
Many men have met the lamia Orbiquita, but none have lived to tell of her extraordinary powers of love-making--until Tarra Khash, who treats her as a woman wants to be treated and so earns her forgiveness and his life. Alas, others who assume her to be weakened by love for Tarra Khash are not so lucky!
256 pages, Hardcover
First published March 21, 1991
4 people are currently reading
248 people want to read
About the author
Brian Lumley
444 books1,359 followersBrian Lumley was born near Newcastle. In 22 years as a Military Policeman he served in many of the Cold War hotspots, including Berlin, as well as Cyprus in partition days. He reached the rank of Sergeant-Major before retiring to Devon to write full-time, and his work was first published in 1970. The vampire series, 'Necroscope', has been translated into ten languages and sold over a million copies worldwide.
He was awarded the World Fantasy Life Achievement Award in 2010.
He was awarded the World Fantasy Life Achievement Award in 2010.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
May 27, 2020
To begin with: This is kind of a wretched title -- just three (apparently) nonsense words strung together, with some odd punctuation.
But if that doesn't put you off, you'll find here a book telling the adventures of a barbarian from Hrossa (hence: Hrossak) named Tarra Khash.
The first Primal Land collection, House of Cthulhu, had a bit of a Clark Ashton Smith feel to it, at least structurally, in that it was a collection of largely unrelated tales from a primordial supercontinent, most of which did not end ... pleasantly ... for their protagonists.
This book has a bit more of a, well, not Conan but maybe Thongor or Kothar feel to it -- it's a series of linked longish sword & sorcery stories following the adventures of the eponymous Tarra Khash from his initial imprisonment by, & escape from, an odious jewel merchant through various alarums and excursions that culminate in a fight with Forces of Ultimate (or near-ultimate) Darkness.
Nothing ground-breaking, necessarily, but not an unpleasant way to spend an afternoon's reading.
But if that doesn't put you off, you'll find here a book telling the adventures of a barbarian from Hrossa (hence: Hrossak) named Tarra Khash.
The first Primal Land collection, House of Cthulhu, had a bit of a Clark Ashton Smith feel to it, at least structurally, in that it was a collection of largely unrelated tales from a primordial supercontinent, most of which did not end ... pleasantly ... for their protagonists.
This book has a bit more of a, well, not Conan but maybe Thongor or Kothar feel to it -- it's a series of linked longish sword & sorcery stories following the adventures of the eponymous Tarra Khash from his initial imprisonment by, & escape from, an odious jewel merchant through various alarums and excursions that culminate in a fight with Forces of Ultimate (or near-ultimate) Darkness.
Nothing ground-breaking, necessarily, but not an unpleasant way to spend an afternoon's reading.
April 6, 2025
Moderately entertaining sword and sorcery tales that are lighter than I expected on the horror and heavier on the adventuring. Tarra Khash does not make for a particularly rousing or memorable character, and the stories always seem to come back to the same two themes - revenge and his acquiring and then shortly being relieved of various treasures.
April 7, 2013
Sword and Mythos fiction - too Entertaining to be Horrific: Vintage dark fantasy spawned in the early 1900’s from the work of pen-pals R.E.Howard and H.P.Lovecraft; though it seems rare to find quality Conan-Mythos mash-ups. If they exist, they are usually in singular short stories, not represented by a series of books or a continuing character. That’s where this book comes into play. A group-read on “Sword and Mythos” themes sponsored by the Sword and Sorcery group on Goodreads.com led me to Brian Lumley’s take on this weird fantasy niche.
Lumley dumps a barbarian (Tarra Khash) into mythos milieu (world of Theem’hdra) in a set of three books (~28 tales total). The series has been printed at least twice, most recently under the brand “Tales of the Primal Land” from TOR books. The first in the series is a prequel that sets the stage for Tarra Khash’s adventures (the last two volumes). The second, the subject of this review, is the first about Khash (aka “The Compleat Khash: Volume One: Never a Backward Glance” …or “Tarra Khash: Hrossak!: Tales of the Primal Land” by TOR in Kindle and paperback…more on book versions below).
Tarra Khash has a go-with-the-flow attitude; generally has conflict with evil sorcerers and is indirectly aided by a third party god. Lumely's World of Theem'hdra is full of gods (celestial entities, collosal insects, vampyric shapeshifters). Most of these tend to like Tarra, and aid him on his quests. His goal is often to regain possession over his sword. He also finds himself constantly incarcerated (in caves, gibbets, pits). It has all the hallmarks of good fantasy: weird creatures, bloody battles, divine intervention, and tales worthy for bards to sing about. My favorite chapter was “Ch 4: Curse of the Golden Guardians” when Tarra Khash ventures into a subterranean shrine of Cthulthu, and the eldritch god is not just mentioned in passing…but assumes an integral part of the adventure. Contrived coincidences keep these stories very entertaining, but reduces the horror element expected of Lovecraftian Mythos fiction (keeps this from a 5 star rating). This is highly recommended for fans of Michael Shea's Nifft character: Nifft the Lean.
Availability: Unlike most Sword & Sorcery this yarn of short stories continue developing linearly (one tale directly flows to the next). They could be read out of order, but work well as chapters. This volume was good enough for me to track down the other two.
The TOR books (~2006) “Tales of the Primal Land” series all have maps, which are nice; also available in Kindle format. Die-hard bibliophiles will want to consider tracking down the earlier editions (~1994) illustrated by Jim Pitts and published by Ganley (Ganley ebay storefront..or try Abebooks.com). The Jim Pitt illustrations are nice and reminscient of 1990 Olde World Warhammer-Trademark of Games Workshop, but strangely the Ganley Books (at least the Compleat Khash Vols 1 a& 2) do not include a map (I even had a "Deluxe" version #214/300 signed but author and illustrator… but this awesome edition still was mapless).
The Series
#0 (Prequel): House of Cthulhu ; The House of Cthulhu and Other Tales from the Primal Land
#1 (Tarra Khash Adventures-1): The Compleat Khash: Volume One: Never a Backward Glance…or …Tarra Khash: Hrossak!: Tales of the Primal Land
#2 (Tarra Khash Adventures-2): The Compleat Khash: Volume Two: Sorcery In Shad… or …Sorcery in Shad: Tales of the Primal Land
Lumley dumps a barbarian (Tarra Khash) into mythos milieu (world of Theem’hdra) in a set of three books (~28 tales total). The series has been printed at least twice, most recently under the brand “Tales of the Primal Land” from TOR books. The first in the series is a prequel that sets the stage for Tarra Khash’s adventures (the last two volumes). The second, the subject of this review, is the first about Khash (aka “The Compleat Khash: Volume One: Never a Backward Glance” …or “Tarra Khash: Hrossak!: Tales of the Primal Land” by TOR in Kindle and paperback…more on book versions below).
Tarra Khash has a go-with-the-flow attitude; generally has conflict with evil sorcerers and is indirectly aided by a third party god. Lumely's World of Theem'hdra is full of gods (celestial entities, collosal insects, vampyric shapeshifters). Most of these tend to like Tarra, and aid him on his quests. His goal is often to regain possession over his sword. He also finds himself constantly incarcerated (in caves, gibbets, pits). It has all the hallmarks of good fantasy: weird creatures, bloody battles, divine intervention, and tales worthy for bards to sing about. My favorite chapter was “Ch 4: Curse of the Golden Guardians” when Tarra Khash ventures into a subterranean shrine of Cthulthu, and the eldritch god is not just mentioned in passing…but assumes an integral part of the adventure. Contrived coincidences keep these stories very entertaining, but reduces the horror element expected of Lovecraftian Mythos fiction (keeps this from a 5 star rating). This is highly recommended for fans of Michael Shea's Nifft character: Nifft the Lean.
Availability: Unlike most Sword & Sorcery this yarn of short stories continue developing linearly (one tale directly flows to the next). They could be read out of order, but work well as chapters. This volume was good enough for me to track down the other two.
The TOR books (~2006) “Tales of the Primal Land” series all have maps, which are nice; also available in Kindle format. Die-hard bibliophiles will want to consider tracking down the earlier editions (~1994) illustrated by Jim Pitts and published by Ganley (Ganley ebay storefront..or try Abebooks.com). The Jim Pitt illustrations are nice and reminscient of 1990 Olde World Warhammer-Trademark of Games Workshop, but strangely the Ganley Books (at least the Compleat Khash Vols 1 a& 2) do not include a map (I even had a "Deluxe" version #214/300 signed but author and illustrator… but this awesome edition still was mapless).
The Series
#0 (Prequel): House of Cthulhu ; The House of Cthulhu and Other Tales from the Primal Land
#1 (Tarra Khash Adventures-1): The Compleat Khash: Volume One: Never a Backward Glance…or …Tarra Khash: Hrossak!: Tales of the Primal Land
#2 (Tarra Khash Adventures-2): The Compleat Khash: Volume Two: Sorcery In Shad… or …Sorcery in Shad: Tales of the Primal Land
January 17, 2018
My earl 2018 "Pulp-revisited-athon" continues!
Vol 1 of Lumley's Tales of the Primal Land was a clear homage (although definitely its own thing) to Clark Asgton Smith's Hyperborea and Zothique. Vol 2 is set in the same land, but is has more of an Arabian Nights meets Howard's Kull (definitely Kull, with its dreamy quality, not Conan). It is a novel
of interlinked short-stories following the titular character on a journey across the continent. Unlike the aforementioned Kull, Tarra Khash is not particularly introspective, and frankly a titch dense, which is played to comedic affect.
Overall, this was a really fun read, and as the Mythos doesn't intrude quite so heavily, the dreamy, heroic (as opposed to horrific) quality to the stories works far better here than it did in Lumley's other Cthuluhoid adventures, IMO.
Vol 1 of Lumley's Tales of the Primal Land was a clear homage (although definitely its own thing) to Clark Asgton Smith's Hyperborea and Zothique. Vol 2 is set in the same land, but is has more of an Arabian Nights meets Howard's Kull (definitely Kull, with its dreamy quality, not Conan). It is a novel
of interlinked short-stories following the titular character on a journey across the continent. Unlike the aforementioned Kull, Tarra Khash is not particularly introspective, and frankly a titch dense, which is played to comedic affect.
Overall, this was a really fun read, and as the Mythos doesn't intrude quite so heavily, the dreamy, heroic (as opposed to horrific) quality to the stories works far better here than it did in Lumley's other Cthuluhoid adventures, IMO.
August 25, 2018
A couple of chapters into the first volume, and Lumley isn't disappointing. Lumley is a "new" author to the Mythos, (over a couple of decades, but to me, still new). This edition is darn difficult to acquire, and follows Tarra Khash, a Hrossak (Cossack?) Steppe warrior in an alternate hyperborean Earth (?) through tombs and boneyards on roads of red revenge as he dodges the whims of deaf, barely-sympathetic gods. Has very Jack Vance and Fritz Leiber moments...I wish a newer edition would be released.
All righty-o! Finished this AND the second volume, Sorcery in Shad. Lumley satisfyingly ties up a great many of the loose ends from the first volume, without feeling either too obvious or on the nose. The novels are rather more swords and sorcery than Mythos in flavor, but the Primal Earth is full of competing deities with their particular agendas, and I must say the finish elicited a grand hurrah from yours truly as the powers of Earth, well...but that would be to say rather too much...Cheers!
All righty-o! Finished this AND the second volume, Sorcery in Shad. Lumley satisfyingly ties up a great many of the loose ends from the first volume, without feeling either too obvious or on the nose. The novels are rather more swords and sorcery than Mythos in flavor, but the Primal Earth is full of competing deities with their particular agendas, and I must say the finish elicited a grand hurrah from yours truly as the powers of Earth, well...but that would be to say rather too much...Cheers!
August 7, 2022
Another short story collection set in the ancient continent predating Pangea where human and inhuman races lived among Mythosian creatures and deities. Though some characters from the previous collection pop up here and there, this time the story cycle does have a main protagonist, the titular Tarra Khash the Hrossak (so, the title does make sense after all), a barbarian from the steppes and an adventurer very much in the classic mold of Robert E. Howard's Conan the Barbarian, albeit probably a bit nicer and more heroic instead of just motivated by his pursuit of wealth and power, though both sure love revenge.
The lack of a main protagonist to link the stories together was my main gripe with the previous volume, so this was a welcome surprise that elevated this one in comparison to its predecessor. This volume also does away with the framing story of a modern man translating ancient writings and it's just a normal short story collection, which makes sense because last time the tales were supposed to be originally written by an ancient sorcerer who either appeared on the story or had found out about it from someone else and was recording the events, and since good old Tarra Khash may be somewhat smarter than his spiritual father Conan, he's still hardly the literary sort and it would've been strange for a modern scholar to be translating his journals or something like that. On to the last volume in the series. I liked this one quite a bit, too.
The lack of a main protagonist to link the stories together was my main gripe with the previous volume, so this was a welcome surprise that elevated this one in comparison to its predecessor. This volume also does away with the framing story of a modern man translating ancient writings and it's just a normal short story collection, which makes sense because last time the tales were supposed to be originally written by an ancient sorcerer who either appeared on the story or had found out about it from someone else and was recording the events, and since good old Tarra Khash may be somewhat smarter than his spiritual father Conan, he's still hardly the literary sort and it would've been strange for a modern scholar to be translating his journals or something like that. On to the last volume in the series. I liked this one quite a bit, too.
October 7, 2021
Another fantastic collection of tales of the Primal Land by Lumley. Follow Tarra Khash, a Hrossak, as he battles enemies both human and not.
July 6, 2023
A very well-done example of a "fix-up," where previously published stories are combined to form a novel. One might even assume the author planned for this when writing the stories, they come together so neatly, and even lead to a satisfying conclusion.
I feel especially strongly about this because I have recently read Hughe's fix-up The Commons which I thought didn't work, and Vance's The Eyes of the Overworld, which while not a fix-up nonetheless read like a series of incidents, and again didn't quite work.
For some reason I was not able to appreciate Lumley's other works which I attempted, but these tales of a far-flung past suit me fine.
(Note: I'm a writer, so I suffer when I offer fewer than five stars. But these aren't ratings of quality, they're a subjective account of how much I liked the book: 5* = an unalloyed pleasure from start to finish, 4* = really enjoyed it, 3* = readable but not thrilling, 2* = disappointing, and 1* = hated it.)
I feel especially strongly about this because I have recently read Hughe's fix-up The Commons which I thought didn't work, and Vance's The Eyes of the Overworld, which while not a fix-up nonetheless read like a series of incidents, and again didn't quite work.
For some reason I was not able to appreciate Lumley's other works which I attempted, but these tales of a far-flung past suit me fine.
(Note: I'm a writer, so I suffer when I offer fewer than five stars. But these aren't ratings of quality, they're a subjective account of how much I liked the book: 5* = an unalloyed pleasure from start to finish, 4* = really enjoyed it, 3* = readable but not thrilling, 2* = disappointing, and 1* = hated it.)
February 8, 2025
Enjoyed this more than House of Cthulhu. It's a collection of loosely connected short tales but unlike HoC this at least follows the exploits of one character namely Tarra Khash (Much like Iced on Aran which follows David Hero and Eldin). This allows the reader to get to know the character unlike HoC which no sooner reveals a character than kills them off eg Kank.
Well written as always the stories move on at a brisk pace and combine horror and comedy in equal parts. Tarra isn't as good as reading about Hero and Eldin ( the tales would have suited that pair of rogues and would have been better for it) but it's definitely better than reading about Titus Crow who's a bit of a bore.
Onto Sorcery in Shad next to see what that brings.
Well written as always the stories move on at a brisk pace and combine horror and comedy in equal parts. Tarra isn't as good as reading about Hero and Eldin ( the tales would have suited that pair of rogues and would have been better for it) but it's definitely better than reading about Titus Crow who's a bit of a bore.
Onto Sorcery in Shad next to see what that brings.
November 6, 2018
Need a vacation?
A mental one, that is? This tale will take you on a one-way you won't soon forget. I know I've enjoyed a book as much as humanly possible when I feel a sense of loss when the tale is over and the last page turned. Beyond engaging!
A mental one, that is? This tale will take you on a one-way you won't soon forget. I know I've enjoyed a book as much as humanly possible when I feel a sense of loss when the tale is over and the last page turned. Beyond engaging!
September 1, 2022
Pure pulp goodness in the vein of Lovecraft and especially Robert E. Howard, specifically Conan and Solomon Kane stories. Fun reading of characters and locations of Brian Lumley’s Primal Lands.
February 27, 2024
Another gripping collection of Primal Land tales. I think Brian Lumley really shines in his short fiction. These were all fantastic.
October 28, 2023
I think I actually enjoyed this one more than The House of Cthulhu because, although it’s an anthology of sorts, all the stories revolve around the same character and are interconnected.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews