What do you think?
Rate this book
Green Star #4
As the Green Star Rises
As the Green Star Rises is the fourth novel in the Green Star saga.
176 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1975
2 people are currently reading
127 people want to read
About the author
Lin Carter
422 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.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
June 22, 2020
DAW Collectors #138
Cover Artist: Roy Krenkel
Name: Carter, Linwood Vrooman, Birthplace: St. Petersburg, Florida, USA, (09 June 1930 - 07 February 1988)
Alternate Names: Corporal Lin Carter, L. Carter, Lin(wood) Carter, H. P. Lowcraft, Grail Undwin.
Has there ever been a situation such as befell the Earthling who found his way to the world under the Green Star? For while his read body lay crippled and silent under the sun of old Earth, his mind occupied the vigorous body of a young primitive on that alien planet of mighty trees, floating cities, and unmapped limits. And in that guise he had found incredible friends, a royal love, and inhuman and superhuman enemies. But no matter what predicament he was in-and as this book starts he is alone, abandoned on an uncharted sea- his courage never flagged though the greatest of risks would confront him as the Green Star rises.
Green Star series:
1. Under the Green Star (1972)
2. When the Green Star Calls (1973)
3. By the Light of the Green Star (1974)
4. As the Green Star Rises (1975)
5. In the Green Star's Glow (1975)
5. In the Green Star's Glow (1975)
The steam is escaping this series, not much new. For fans of of Edgar Rice Burroughs, Otis Adelbert Kline, and John Norman.
Cover Artist: Roy Krenkel
Name: Carter, Linwood Vrooman, Birthplace: St. Petersburg, Florida, USA, (09 June 1930 - 07 February 1988)
Alternate Names: Corporal Lin Carter, L. Carter, Lin(wood) Carter, H. P. Lowcraft, Grail Undwin.
Has there ever been a situation such as befell the Earthling who found his way to the world under the Green Star? For while his read body lay crippled and silent under the sun of old Earth, his mind occupied the vigorous body of a young primitive on that alien planet of mighty trees, floating cities, and unmapped limits. And in that guise he had found incredible friends, a royal love, and inhuman and superhuman enemies. But no matter what predicament he was in-and as this book starts he is alone, abandoned on an uncharted sea- his courage never flagged though the greatest of risks would confront him as the Green Star rises.
Green Star series:
1. Under the Green Star (1972)
2. When the Green Star Calls (1973)
3. By the Light of the Green Star (1974)
4. As the Green Star Rises (1975)
5. In the Green Star's Glow (1975)
5. In the Green Star's Glow (1975)
The steam is escaping this series, not much new. For fans of of Edgar Rice Burroughs, Otis Adelbert Kline, and John Norman.
April 17, 2019
“As The Green Star Rises” is the fourth and penultimate volume of Lin Carter’s aptly named “Green Star” series. My standard disclaimer is to steer you away from this as a starting point for the books. You can’t come in at this point in the tale without extensive knowledge of what has come before. You can catch up on my reviews of the previous volumes here:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
And here:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
And finally here:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
If you’ve been with me this far then you already know the basics of what author Lin Carter was trying to accomplish with this series. For the most part he was pretty successful in dredging up the ghost of Edgar Rice Burroughs in a tribute to the classic “Barsoom” stories. Carter was smart by choosing not to mimic the classic Burroughs style, and the “Green Star” books always seem at once familiar and yet strangely original.
Lin Carter’s biggest strength was as an editor and anthologist. It was here that his talents and contributions to the field of speculative fiction really stood out. He also wrote some excellent critiques of other authors which provided depth and historical significance to their respective works. I recommend “Tolkien: A Look Behind ‘The Lord of the Rings,’” and “Lovecraft: A Look Behind the Cthulhu Mythos” as standouts among his contributions to literary criticism. Carter may not have been a particularly original writer of fiction, but he had an immaculate understanding of the intricate mechanics of how great fantasy and science-fiction should be constructed from a classical point of view.
“As The Green Star Rises” takes place in sequence with the events of the last volume. The cliffhanger ending is resolved nicely and the adventure continues on! Karn and his sidekick Klygon the Assassin are rescued by ship from their barren strip of sand only to be thrown into slavery at the hands of the “Blue Barbarians,” a warlike assemblage of tribes that has become a power under the command of a mysterious “Warlord” who seems to have an intelligence greater than that of the average barbarian. But Karn and Klygon manage to turn the tide of their predicament around, as they discover hidden allies aboard the vessel that saved them. The standing Prince of Komar and his retinue take back their stolen ship, though Karn is washed away during the battle. He finds himself adrift in the sea, but as fate would have it he is not alone as a castaway. Karn, still blinded after the events of the previous book, is marooned on an island with a young female. Feelings are aroused, but this is family-friendly fare so the narrative is justly chaste…...and you get no more spoilers from me at this juncture. You can hit the Wiki article if you want the CliffsNotes version of the plot, but it’s better to just read the damn book.
Carter takes the action in this installment from the treetops to the land below, as Karn and his friends discover that the world of the Green Star possesses an immense inland sea. Trees and other flora and fauna are more human-sized in this region of the planet, and it turns out that there are kingdoms and other societies scattered about on the islands of the massive waterway. This is a refreshing break from the treetops and allows Carter to bring some of his more Lovecraftian influences to the forefront. As such, this volume plays more along the lines of traditional swords & sorcery when compared to the other books in the series. Carter even manages to bring a genuine Wizard to the party, so you KNOW you are in familiar S&S territory by the time that the book wraps. There is still another cliffhanger ending to contend with, though…..
I’ll state for the record that I believe Carter got a bit sloppy by this time in the narrative. He makes a couple of continuity mistakes and just generally seems like he’s getting tired of the whole thing at this point. He repeats himself a LOT and pulls a couple of plot stunts that are just TOO coincidental, even for a series that requires a high suspension of disbelief in the first place. As such, it’s probably my least favorite of the books thus far.
On the plus side, you still get the great cover and interior art by Roy Krenkel and Michael Kaluta. Yes, THAT Michael Kaluta. Oh, man…..I was GEEKING OUT when I saw that Kaluta had contributed some of the interior line art in this volume. You can check out the man’s work on his website, but be prepared to spend some time there looking at his excellent artistic vision.
http://www.kaluta.com/
Bottom line? Not the best book in the series, but not too shabby when all is said and done. I liked the creepy Lovecraft elements and the battle scenes are written with Carter’s typical enthusiasm and flair for descriptive passages. “As The Green Star Rises” is still a good example of pulp fantasy written by an author who knew the form inside and out and thoroughly respected the art form.
Now it’s on the final volume of the series: “In The Green Star’s Glow.”
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
And here:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
And finally here:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
If you’ve been with me this far then you already know the basics of what author Lin Carter was trying to accomplish with this series. For the most part he was pretty successful in dredging up the ghost of Edgar Rice Burroughs in a tribute to the classic “Barsoom” stories. Carter was smart by choosing not to mimic the classic Burroughs style, and the “Green Star” books always seem at once familiar and yet strangely original.
Lin Carter’s biggest strength was as an editor and anthologist. It was here that his talents and contributions to the field of speculative fiction really stood out. He also wrote some excellent critiques of other authors which provided depth and historical significance to their respective works. I recommend “Tolkien: A Look Behind ‘The Lord of the Rings,’” and “Lovecraft: A Look Behind the Cthulhu Mythos” as standouts among his contributions to literary criticism. Carter may not have been a particularly original writer of fiction, but he had an immaculate understanding of the intricate mechanics of how great fantasy and science-fiction should be constructed from a classical point of view.
“As The Green Star Rises” takes place in sequence with the events of the last volume. The cliffhanger ending is resolved nicely and the adventure continues on! Karn and his sidekick Klygon the Assassin are rescued by ship from their barren strip of sand only to be thrown into slavery at the hands of the “Blue Barbarians,” a warlike assemblage of tribes that has become a power under the command of a mysterious “Warlord” who seems to have an intelligence greater than that of the average barbarian. But Karn and Klygon manage to turn the tide of their predicament around, as they discover hidden allies aboard the vessel that saved them. The standing Prince of Komar and his retinue take back their stolen ship, though Karn is washed away during the battle. He finds himself adrift in the sea, but as fate would have it he is not alone as a castaway. Karn, still blinded after the events of the previous book, is marooned on an island with a young female. Feelings are aroused, but this is family-friendly fare so the narrative is justly chaste…...and you get no more spoilers from me at this juncture. You can hit the Wiki article if you want the CliffsNotes version of the plot, but it’s better to just read the damn book.
Carter takes the action in this installment from the treetops to the land below, as Karn and his friends discover that the world of the Green Star possesses an immense inland sea. Trees and other flora and fauna are more human-sized in this region of the planet, and it turns out that there are kingdoms and other societies scattered about on the islands of the massive waterway. This is a refreshing break from the treetops and allows Carter to bring some of his more Lovecraftian influences to the forefront. As such, this volume plays more along the lines of traditional swords & sorcery when compared to the other books in the series. Carter even manages to bring a genuine Wizard to the party, so you KNOW you are in familiar S&S territory by the time that the book wraps. There is still another cliffhanger ending to contend with, though…..
I’ll state for the record that I believe Carter got a bit sloppy by this time in the narrative. He makes a couple of continuity mistakes and just generally seems like he’s getting tired of the whole thing at this point. He repeats himself a LOT and pulls a couple of plot stunts that are just TOO coincidental, even for a series that requires a high suspension of disbelief in the first place. As such, it’s probably my least favorite of the books thus far.
On the plus side, you still get the great cover and interior art by Roy Krenkel and Michael Kaluta. Yes, THAT Michael Kaluta. Oh, man…..I was GEEKING OUT when I saw that Kaluta had contributed some of the interior line art in this volume. You can check out the man’s work on his website, but be prepared to spend some time there looking at his excellent artistic vision.
http://www.kaluta.com/
Bottom line? Not the best book in the series, but not too shabby when all is said and done. I liked the creepy Lovecraft elements and the battle scenes are written with Carter’s typical enthusiasm and flair for descriptive passages. “As The Green Star Rises” is still a good example of pulp fantasy written by an author who knew the form inside and out and thoroughly respected the art form.
Now it’s on the final volume of the series: “In The Green Star’s Glow.”
October 29, 2012
2.5 Originally posted at FanLit.
http://www.fantasyliterature.com/revi...
I picked up As the Green Star Rises, fourth in the five-book GREEN STAR series by Lin Carter, only because it was cheap at Audible. The last book, By the Light of the Green Star, was mildly entertaining but I didn’t feel compelled to go on. (At this point, probably nobody is reading further in this review, but for the sake of a sense of closure, I’ll go on just a bit. After all, it is possible that readers looking for a mindless audio adventure series might be enjoying GREEN STAR.)
In As the Green Star Rises, our hero (gosh, I forgot his name), who has been blinded and separated from his friends and the princess he loves, is pulled out of the sea by pirates and turned into a galley slave. He makes new friends and enemies and pines for his lost princess. A string of various adventures occurs: daring escapes, near drownings, unexpected rescues, encounters with frightening animal life and weird pseudo-human races, etc. Some of it we’ve seen before.
This installment simply feels like a stepping stone from book three to book five. I feel like Lin Carter is dragging us around, making up little side-adventures, just to prolong the romantic tension: Will our hero ever find the princess, will she know him, and will she love him? I’m sure. Because nothing seriously bad ever happens to our hero. Every other page he is sure he’s going to die, but then some amazing miraculous event occurs which saves him. I see how it is.
Some of Lin Carter’s plot, when not repetitive, is actually creative and slightly exciting, though I never felt the urgency and danger of it. Some of it is just silly, such as the tiny knife called “The Avenger of Chastity” which noblewomen have sewn into their intimate undergarments. If a woman is forced to suffer “the ultimate indignity” she “unsheathes this hidden blade with a ritual gesture and sheaths it again in her own heart.” I snickered at this and wondered how long she practiced the “ritual gesture.”
Lin Carter’s writing style is also a bit silly. This tale is so low-brow, yet if there’s a big word that can do half the job of a more perfect small word, Lin Carter will choose it. For me, this added to the entertainment, though I’m sure that wasn’t Carter’s intention.
There’s another cliffhanger at the end of As the Green Star Rises. I actually have book five, the final GREEN STAR book, because it was also cheap when I bought book four. It’s been a month or two and I haven’t started it, but I will eventually simply because I bought it, it’s short, and it’ll be nice to be able to review the entire series. I feel like I already know what’s going to happen, though.
I’m listening to GREEN STAR in audio format, narrated by Joel Richards. He’s doing a fine job with what he has to work with.
http://www.fantasyliterature.com/revi...
I picked up As the Green Star Rises, fourth in the five-book GREEN STAR series by Lin Carter, only because it was cheap at Audible. The last book, By the Light of the Green Star, was mildly entertaining but I didn’t feel compelled to go on. (At this point, probably nobody is reading further in this review, but for the sake of a sense of closure, I’ll go on just a bit. After all, it is possible that readers looking for a mindless audio adventure series might be enjoying GREEN STAR.)
In As the Green Star Rises, our hero (gosh, I forgot his name), who has been blinded and separated from his friends and the princess he loves, is pulled out of the sea by pirates and turned into a galley slave. He makes new friends and enemies and pines for his lost princess. A string of various adventures occurs: daring escapes, near drownings, unexpected rescues, encounters with frightening animal life and weird pseudo-human races, etc. Some of it we’ve seen before.
This installment simply feels like a stepping stone from book three to book five. I feel like Lin Carter is dragging us around, making up little side-adventures, just to prolong the romantic tension: Will our hero ever find the princess, will she know him, and will she love him? I’m sure. Because nothing seriously bad ever happens to our hero. Every other page he is sure he’s going to die, but then some amazing miraculous event occurs which saves him. I see how it is.
Some of Lin Carter’s plot, when not repetitive, is actually creative and slightly exciting, though I never felt the urgency and danger of it. Some of it is just silly, such as the tiny knife called “The Avenger of Chastity” which noblewomen have sewn into their intimate undergarments. If a woman is forced to suffer “the ultimate indignity” she “unsheathes this hidden blade with a ritual gesture and sheaths it again in her own heart.” I snickered at this and wondered how long she practiced the “ritual gesture.”
Lin Carter’s writing style is also a bit silly. This tale is so low-brow, yet if there’s a big word that can do half the job of a more perfect small word, Lin Carter will choose it. For me, this added to the entertainment, though I’m sure that wasn’t Carter’s intention.
There’s another cliffhanger at the end of As the Green Star Rises. I actually have book five, the final GREEN STAR book, because it was also cheap when I bought book four. It’s been a month or two and I haven’t started it, but I will eventually simply because I bought it, it’s short, and it’ll be nice to be able to review the entire series. I feel like I already know what’s going to happen, though.
I’m listening to GREEN STAR in audio format, narrated by Joel Richards. He’s doing a fine job with what he has to work with.
December 26, 2017
Nice SiFi series. If you are a fan of the John Carter Planetary Romance (or Swords and Planets if you prefer that category title) style stories then you will enjoy this one as well. Good enjoyable quick read. Recommended
October 29, 2011
At best, Lin Carter was an uneven writer, and even having read an unreasonably large quantity of it, I can't say if this is because of a short attention span or because the minimum level of diligence was sufficient to fulfill the task at hand. This series is evidence that he was capable of producing better than his usual. Faint praise, perhaps, but there it is.
Unfortunately this book felt like it was batting cleanup after the more interesting events of the previous one. Where book three had a flying technological city of racist supermen and worm-riding subterranean troglodytes, this one was tasked with the elimination of a surplus villain and the regrouping of the heroes, only introducing as a new complication a port city conquered by piratical barbarians.
Which, after flying cities, troglodytes, science magicians, assassin's guilds, and robot armies, is a radical shift to the mundane for the series, honestly.
Though, equally honestly, with the port city, Carter is playing in some interesting material: a city conquered by a barbarian horde without the ability or inclination for rulership, where the infrastructure and people are slowly being pillaged and destroyed by the malice and indifference of the occupiers. I've seen this situation variously--its grandpappy is likely Hour of the Dragon--but never developed to my satisfaction.
Unfortunately this book felt like it was batting cleanup after the more interesting events of the previous one. Where book three had a flying technological city of racist supermen and worm-riding subterranean troglodytes, this one was tasked with the elimination of a surplus villain and the regrouping of the heroes, only introducing as a new complication a port city conquered by piratical barbarians.
Which, after flying cities, troglodytes, science magicians, assassin's guilds, and robot armies, is a radical shift to the mundane for the series, honestly.
Though, equally honestly, with the port city, Carter is playing in some interesting material: a city conquered by a barbarian horde without the ability or inclination for rulership, where the infrastructure and people are slowly being pillaged and destroyed by the malice and indifference of the occupiers. I've seen this situation variously--its grandpappy is likely Hour of the Dragon--but never developed to my satisfaction.
December 7, 2022
As the Green Star Rises 🪐
While I still enjoyed the fourth book in Lin Carter's Green Star series, this was definitely my least favourite so far. I'll start with what I liked, then move onto my criticisms...
The change of scenery, with the vast sea and the exotic jungle isles, was a cool way to expand the world. Ancient crumbling island temples, giant snakes, underground caverns... what's not to love? I also really enjoyed the return of a giant albino spider, which was my favourite part of the first book! These are the kinds of things I read these wacky novels for, and I can almost always trust Carter to deliver pulpy and energetic escapism.
But unfortunately, As the Green Star Rises suffers from a lot of missteps too. There are just too many characters and storylines at this point, making it feel scattered and less focused, and there are too many flaws for me to ignore in the name of good pulpy fun this time. These include...
SPOILERS COMING!
- The blue barbarians are supposed to suffer from bouts of racial madness and violence. These rampages are supposed to make them pillage cities, go on mass murdering sprees, and so on... and yet, we never actually see one of these bouts, and they're always a violent and warlike race anyway. So basically, the "madness" is a pointless feature that doesn't serve anything, because they always behave like evil barbarians regardless.
- The main character (who is meant to be telling us this story) spends the book temporarily blind, yet he still seems to "see" things throughout. I understand that he's recapped on certain events by other characters, allowing him to relay these events to the reader in turn... but there were times when he mentioned things such as seeing another character smile like he'd never seen them smile before, even though he was still blind in such moments.
- Events happen which the main character (again, who is telling the story) could never know about to tell us. For example, Ralidux surviving the giant snake attack all alone and finding a cavern with an air craft inside. Ralidux is a villain who spends this book maddened and purely evil, and a character who also doesn't make it beyond the end of the book. There's no way Karn could know about his solo pursuits, unless Ralidux gave his captive (Niamh) a very, very detailed account for Niamh to later pass onto Karn - which MIGHT explain it, but would still be very silly considering Ralidux's mental state in this book.
- Ralidux was also a wasted character in general. He showed growth as a character in the previous book, one of many highlights in the fantastic By the Light of the Green Star... only to be purely mad, evil, and lust-driven in this one before being anticlimactically discarded. It was a waste of a potentially interesting character arc.
- Prince Parimus delays his force from joining a VERY time sensitive battle just to save the main character - a single barbarian teenager he's only known for mere moments. This was just silly. It almost cost them the entire battle, and there's no way on earth a wise wizard prince would do something so foolish.
- Zarqa is the last of his legendary and ancient race... but in this book, people show NO surprise on meeting him as they do in previous books. It's like Lin forgot just how mystical and alien he's supposed to be compared to the other inhabitants of the world - he literally has giant wings, golden skin, purple eyes, and communicates telepathically. In book two, people thought Zarqa was a literal angel, but in this book nobody bats an eyelid upon seeing him for the first time OR upon hearing him speak telepathically for the first time either.
- The climax revolves around a brand new conflict and character that we aren't invested in yet, with the main character serving no purpose except being a blind hindrance to other characters. This shows that A) it was a mistake to have the character be blind for the entire book, as this was more of a storytelling obstacle than anything else, and B) it just made me lose interest in the whole final act. I want to see Karn bravely battling the alien perils of the world of the Green Star - not being helpless and needing to be rescued, all while some brand new character and his army fight brand new villains that were both only really introduced in this book in a completely separate location.
- Also, this book ends in a VERY contrived manner to keep the story going. Why did Ralidux, a madman who has lustfully captured a woman, lower his aircraft directly over a victorious battlefield in which all the main characters were present? And once again, Niamh is captured and taken prisoner JUST as she was about to escape. This all just felt kind of forced and silly, even by pulpy standards.
- Oh, and finally... look, I know Carter has some overly-lengthy technical descriptions sometimes. I can usually breeze through these fairly easily without them taking away too much momentum. However, this book was especially guilty of this flaw. Seriously, at one point a character spends an entire page and a half dryly explaining the process of condensation. This is hardly riveting stuff, and it really takes the reader out of the immersion. I cannot imagine, for the life of me, why Carter would include something like this other than pointless padding.
Now, with all that being said, I DID generally enjoy this book. It started strongly, there were some great heroic moments and chapters, there were a couple of really cool twists that brought a smile to my face, and it provided enough perilous adventuring on an alien world to keep me entertained. It was just a step down from previous instalments due to its glaring faults - faults which were simply too numerous to be forgiven, unlike previous instalments.
I'll generously give As the Green Star Rises three (green) stars. It wasn't a dud by any means, and I remain thoroughly invested in seeing how this interplanetary saga wraps up... but I do hope this is the lowest point of the series, and that the final book is more of a return to form.
While I still enjoyed the fourth book in Lin Carter's Green Star series, this was definitely my least favourite so far. I'll start with what I liked, then move onto my criticisms...
The change of scenery, with the vast sea and the exotic jungle isles, was a cool way to expand the world. Ancient crumbling island temples, giant snakes, underground caverns... what's not to love? I also really enjoyed the return of a giant albino spider, which was my favourite part of the first book! These are the kinds of things I read these wacky novels for, and I can almost always trust Carter to deliver pulpy and energetic escapism.
But unfortunately, As the Green Star Rises suffers from a lot of missteps too. There are just too many characters and storylines at this point, making it feel scattered and less focused, and there are too many flaws for me to ignore in the name of good pulpy fun this time. These include...
SPOILERS COMING!
- The blue barbarians are supposed to suffer from bouts of racial madness and violence. These rampages are supposed to make them pillage cities, go on mass murdering sprees, and so on... and yet, we never actually see one of these bouts, and they're always a violent and warlike race anyway. So basically, the "madness" is a pointless feature that doesn't serve anything, because they always behave like evil barbarians regardless.
- The main character (who is meant to be telling us this story) spends the book temporarily blind, yet he still seems to "see" things throughout. I understand that he's recapped on certain events by other characters, allowing him to relay these events to the reader in turn... but there were times when he mentioned things such as seeing another character smile like he'd never seen them smile before, even though he was still blind in such moments.
- Events happen which the main character (again, who is telling the story) could never know about to tell us. For example, Ralidux surviving the giant snake attack all alone and finding a cavern with an air craft inside. Ralidux is a villain who spends this book maddened and purely evil, and a character who also doesn't make it beyond the end of the book. There's no way Karn could know about his solo pursuits, unless Ralidux gave his captive (Niamh) a very, very detailed account for Niamh to later pass onto Karn - which MIGHT explain it, but would still be very silly considering Ralidux's mental state in this book.
- Ralidux was also a wasted character in general. He showed growth as a character in the previous book, one of many highlights in the fantastic By the Light of the Green Star... only to be purely mad, evil, and lust-driven in this one before being anticlimactically discarded. It was a waste of a potentially interesting character arc.
- Prince Parimus delays his force from joining a VERY time sensitive battle just to save the main character - a single barbarian teenager he's only known for mere moments. This was just silly. It almost cost them the entire battle, and there's no way on earth a wise wizard prince would do something so foolish.
- Zarqa is the last of his legendary and ancient race... but in this book, people show NO surprise on meeting him as they do in previous books. It's like Lin forgot just how mystical and alien he's supposed to be compared to the other inhabitants of the world - he literally has giant wings, golden skin, purple eyes, and communicates telepathically. In book two, people thought Zarqa was a literal angel, but in this book nobody bats an eyelid upon seeing him for the first time OR upon hearing him speak telepathically for the first time either.
- The climax revolves around a brand new conflict and character that we aren't invested in yet, with the main character serving no purpose except being a blind hindrance to other characters. This shows that A) it was a mistake to have the character be blind for the entire book, as this was more of a storytelling obstacle than anything else, and B) it just made me lose interest in the whole final act. I want to see Karn bravely battling the alien perils of the world of the Green Star - not being helpless and needing to be rescued, all while some brand new character and his army fight brand new villains that were both only really introduced in this book in a completely separate location.
- Also, this book ends in a VERY contrived manner to keep the story going. Why did Ralidux, a madman who has lustfully captured a woman, lower his aircraft directly over a victorious battlefield in which all the main characters were present? And once again, Niamh is captured and taken prisoner JUST as she was about to escape. This all just felt kind of forced and silly, even by pulpy standards.
- Oh, and finally... look, I know Carter has some overly-lengthy technical descriptions sometimes. I can usually breeze through these fairly easily without them taking away too much momentum. However, this book was especially guilty of this flaw. Seriously, at one point a character spends an entire page and a half dryly explaining the process of condensation. This is hardly riveting stuff, and it really takes the reader out of the immersion. I cannot imagine, for the life of me, why Carter would include something like this other than pointless padding.
Now, with all that being said, I DID generally enjoy this book. It started strongly, there were some great heroic moments and chapters, there were a couple of really cool twists that brought a smile to my face, and it provided enough perilous adventuring on an alien world to keep me entertained. It was just a step down from previous instalments due to its glaring faults - faults which were simply too numerous to be forgiven, unlike previous instalments.
I'll generously give As the Green Star Rises three (green) stars. It wasn't a dud by any means, and I remain thoroughly invested in seeing how this interplanetary saga wraps up... but I do hope this is the lowest point of the series, and that the final book is more of a return to form.
July 28, 2010
Number 4 in the series: The Green Star books was Lin Carter's best series in my opinion. Good action and, although there are a lot of similarities to ERB's work, I thought Carter achieved some pretty good originality here.
January 6, 2012
Fun fluff
July 5, 2022
Immediately resolves the cliffhangers in the previous entry in the series, then everything unravels, and all of the principal characters become separated and get into further cliffhangers. Most bizarre is when hero Karn (who is in his late teens or early 20s), blinded by an explosion, spends most of the book unable to see anything yet manages to tell the story in full detail (he regains his sight at the end). He is rescued by a young boy in the open ocean, and they make it to a desert island where Karn strips naked to dry himself. He senses that the boy is uneasy but dismisses it. Later it is revealed that the boy is really a pre-teenage girl (the exact quote from page 84 of the book: "And I felt - not the smooth chest of a young boy - but the firm, pointed, shallow breasts of an adolescent girl."), and he later falls in love with her. All of this was edgy (giving me an uneasy feeling) with the hints of pedophilia; however, the target audience for this genre is teenage males so the author probably had to cater to them. There are myriad loopholes and missing pieces, but the author has an epilogue where he tries to explain things and resolve the plotlines. But all in all, this is a below-average story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 21, 2018
Light reading is my favorite thing to do over the summer, and I have enjoyed Lin Carter's homage to Edgar Rice Burroughs known as The Green Star Saga. This is the 4th book in the series and it certainly delivers, continuing the story in ERB's style. Not like a rip off, but like an actual homage, which is nice. This book does pick up where #3 left off, so it really helps to have read the preceding novels, but there is a nice overview at the beginning which really helped me out after a year off, being that I only read these on vacation during The Pennsic War.
Lin Carter generally has utilized better writing skill here than he did in Conan of the Isles, but in the part of the story about the Snake God the one line about ravenous, bloodthirsty, snaky hungers greatly amused my camp mates, and now I frequently use the term "snaky hungers" to describe when I am very hungry. I wonder how it is that such a decent writer as Carter would allow such cheese into his prose. Perhaps he found the term as amusing as I. I highly recommend this series for summertime reading.
Lin Carter generally has utilized better writing skill here than he did in Conan of the Isles, but in the part of the story about the Snake God the one line about ravenous, bloodthirsty, snaky hungers greatly amused my camp mates, and now I frequently use the term "snaky hungers" to describe when I am very hungry. I wonder how it is that such a decent writer as Carter would allow such cheese into his prose. Perhaps he found the term as amusing as I. I highly recommend this series for summertime reading.
November 11, 2020
The story of a young man who has transported himself, in a non-physical sense, into another world, and a presumably untenated body. he makes friends and enemies, has adventures, and falls in love. This was written in the early 70's so some parts are a bit sexist by today's American standards (if there still are such things), but it's an entertaining little read none the less.
June 7, 2018
It’s the weakest one yet. Everything is very shoe horned together. It almost gets fun at a few points but it’s a disappointment overall.
March 16, 2025
One word = blinding
January 17, 2017
Fourth entry into Lin Carter's Green Star series, which is a fun planetary romance. Lots of interesting adventures to be found, as our band of heroes, led by Karn, battles various menaces and has lots of exciting escapes and scrapes.
Lots of this one take place on what is apparently the only ocean on the Green Star world, so naturally there are pirates and galley slaves and uprisings and princesses in peril and brave men forced to battle terrible odds and worse men. It reminded me a lot of some of James Fenimore Cooper's later novels, where someone's always rescuing someone else, who later needs rescuing himself (though with a whole lot less description than Cooper, to be sure).
You kind of get to missing the giant tree-world of the Green Star when this turns into a nautical novel, though it's still fun. Carter does a good job of world-building, and everything makes about as much sense as it can in such a book. Naturally it ends in a cliffhanger that sets things up for the fifth book. But because these are all about 170 pages, reading one more isn't much of a demand on your time.
Lots of this one take place on what is apparently the only ocean on the Green Star world, so naturally there are pirates and galley slaves and uprisings and princesses in peril and brave men forced to battle terrible odds and worse men. It reminded me a lot of some of James Fenimore Cooper's later novels, where someone's always rescuing someone else, who later needs rescuing himself (though with a whole lot less description than Cooper, to be sure).
You kind of get to missing the giant tree-world of the Green Star when this turns into a nautical novel, though it's still fun. Carter does a good job of world-building, and everything makes about as much sense as it can in such a book. Naturally it ends in a cliffhanger that sets things up for the fifth book. But because these are all about 170 pages, reading one more isn't much of a demand on your time.
February 25, 2015
Best of the series though having the protagonist blind for almost all the book was annoying
August 10, 2016
This one pushed even my limits of pulp fiction silliness. It wasn't horrible, but it was unnecessary.
May 10, 2016
Interesting world-building. Liked the multiple story lines that intersected at the end.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews