From the Bookshelf of Sword & Sorcery: "An earthier sort of fantasy"…
Find A Copy At
Group Discussions About This Book
No group discussions for this book yet.
What Members Thought
I consider this a minor classic of S&S and one of de Camp's more accomplished solo works (most of his well-known stuff was written in collaboration with Fletcher Pratt).
Unlike his Conan pastiches, which while readable could hardly be considered much more than vaguely inspired hackwork, The Tritonian Ring is a far more original and personal work. De Camp was irritated by what he saw as historical inaccuracies, or rather implausibilities, in the works of Howard and co, who despite working in the ...more
Unlike his Conan pastiches, which while readable could hardly be considered much more than vaguely inspired hackwork, The Tritonian Ring is a far more original and personal work. De Camp was irritated by what he saw as historical inaccuracies, or rather implausibilities, in the works of Howard and co, who despite working in the ...more
Based upon the entertainment value de Camp’s short story “The Rug and the Bull”, in Flashing Swords #2, edited by Lin Carter, I decided to give this book a chance.
I admit, I have bias against de Camp, purely for his taking over of the Robert E Howard franchise, particularly the Conan stories. My only encounters with de Camp have been through those.
However, I did enjoy the afore mentioned short story in FS2, and the man was called out on Appendix N, a list of literary influences upon the Dungeo ...more
I admit, I have bias against de Camp, purely for his taking over of the Robert E Howard franchise, particularly the Conan stories. My only encounters with de Camp have been through those.
However, I did enjoy the afore mentioned short story in FS2, and the man was called out on Appendix N, a list of literary influences upon the Dungeo ...more
Disappointing early S&S novel from Sprague de Camp. While he works out his world and its civilizations with logic and consistency, the story is hampered by terrible attempts at humor. De Camp preferred the clever hero to the strong one, but too often his protagonist, Vakar, reads like little more than a puppet for authorial insights/opinions instead of actual intelligence or, well, cleverness.
2.5 (if I could). Vakar, the protagonist, is interesting, a bundle of tensions: he is non-magical in a magical world; he is a philosophical person forced to play brute warrior; he wants to just 'settle' down and is forced to roam. These conflicts, often inner ones, make for an intriguing character. The fantasy setting is enjoyagle, a bizarre mythological, pre-recorded history (pre-Atlantis sinking) past. Some negatives now. The dialog seemed flawed. Much of it was stilted and affected, and not i
...more
Probably my favorite book by de Camp. I'm not a big fan. His stories often seem a bit short on adventure, although the settings are well done. The prose is certainly adequate but doesn't sing to me.
...more
Sep 13, 2011
Matthew Pridham
marked it as to-read
Jan 07, 2013
Garham
marked it as to-read
Jan 22, 2015
John Adkins
marked it as to-read
May 16, 2016
S.E. Lindberg
marked it as to-read
May 16, 2016
Fatima Zadjali
marked it as to-read
Mar 01, 2021
Ken
marked it as to-read
