Green Star Series
Encyclopedia
The Green Star Series is a set of five science fiction
novels written by Lin Carter
for DAW Books
, published from 1972 to 1976. In this novel, the concept of soul-projection (introduced by Edgar Rice Burroughs
in his John Carter Series
) is central. The series is written from the viewpoint of an anonymous, rich, crippled 30-year-old who seeks adventure—and finds it on a planet revolving around a green star.
an monastery at Qanguptoy, from which he learns the art of soul projection. Longing for an adventure, and restricted by his earthly body, he looks at the sky one night and sees a green star (referred later as The Green Star) and projects his soul to a cloud-covered planet revolving around it. The texts of the five volumes of the series are ostensibly transcripts of first-person narratives by the anonymous author recounting his adventures: the first after he took the (preserved) body of Chong The Mighty, and returned to earth after Chong was killed by a brigand; the rest, in his second incarnation as Karn The Hunter (where the author had taken over Karn's just-dead body). Through a bequest, these come into the hands of Lin Carter, who "edits" them for publication.
The planet is closer to The Green Star than the earth is to the sun; it is protected from being seared by a thick, almost unbroken cloud-cover. However, the cloud-cover does not protect the planet from tidal effects (observable in the Sea Of Komar).
In all of the novels, it is assumed (by the author) that humans retain terrestrial size; he confesses at two points in the series that he does not know if this is the case, or if humans are miniaturised with other creatures retaining terrestrial size (in one of the two places, he believes this may make more sense).
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
novels written by Lin Carter
Lin Carter
Linwood Vrooman Carter was an American author of science fiction and fantasy, as well as an editor and critic. He usually wrote as Lin Carter; known pseudonyms include H. P. Lowcraft and Grail Undwin.-Life:Carter was born in St. Petersburg, Florida...
for DAW Books
DAW Books
DAW Books is an American science fiction and fantasy publisher, founded by Donald A. Wollheim following his departure from Ace Books in 1971. The company therefore claims to be "the first publishing company ever devoted exclusively to science fiction and fantasy." The first DAW Book published was...
, published from 1972 to 1976. In this novel, the concept of soul-projection (introduced by Edgar Rice Burroughs
Edgar Rice Burroughs
Edgar Rice Burroughs was an American author, best known for his creation of the jungle hero Tarzan and the heroic Mars adventurer John Carter, although he produced works in many genres.-Biography:...
in his John Carter Series
Barsoom
Barsoom is a fictional representation of the planet Mars created by American pulp fiction author Edgar Rice Burroughs, who wrote close to 100 action adventure stories in various genres in the first half of the 20th century, and is now best known as the creator of the character Tarzan...
) is central. The series is written from the viewpoint of an anonymous, rich, crippled 30-year-old who seeks adventure—and finds it on a planet revolving around a green star.
Storyline
An anonymous, rich, crippled American gets books from the TibetTibet
Tibet is a plateau region in Asia, north-east of the Himalayas. It is the traditional homeland of the Tibetan people as well as some other ethnic groups such as Monpas, Qiang, and Lhobas, and is now also inhabited by considerable numbers of Han and Hui people...
an monastery at Qanguptoy, from which he learns the art of soul projection. Longing for an adventure, and restricted by his earthly body, he looks at the sky one night and sees a green star (referred later as The Green Star) and projects his soul to a cloud-covered planet revolving around it. The texts of the five volumes of the series are ostensibly transcripts of first-person narratives by the anonymous author recounting his adventures: the first after he took the (preserved) body of Chong The Mighty, and returned to earth after Chong was killed by a brigand; the rest, in his second incarnation as Karn The Hunter (where the author had taken over Karn's just-dead body). Through a bequest, these come into the hands of Lin Carter, who "edits" them for publication.
Setting
The surface of the planet revolving about The Green Star is largely covered by a tropical forest of multi-mile-high trees in whose tops are the main cities including Phaolon, Ardha and Kamadhong. The human inhabitants of these arboreal cities, known as Laonese, use large moths (dhua) to draw carriages, and dragonflies (zaiphs) for individual transport. Other (than Laonese) races of humans include:- the savage albino troglodyte dwellers among the huge trees' roots (near the forest's ground level)
- the Blue Barbarians, a nomadic race who at unpredictable intervals are afflicted by an insanity (the entire race is affected) causing them to destroy and pillage whatever cities are in their vicinity
- the Komarians and Tharkoonians, basically similar to the Laonese, but dwelling on islands in an inland sea (for which the Laonese use the word zand, though they generally think it legendary) known as the Sea Of Komar
- the black humans of Calidar, who think of themselves as the only humans and of the Laonese as mere beasts with human shape; Calidar has many captive Laonese (and their descendants) whom the ebon men use for experiments
- the Kaloodha, an ancient race of winged humanoids who are almost extinct (the one survivor is over a million years old) due to foolish experiments to make them immortal
The planet is closer to The Green Star than the earth is to the sun; it is protected from being seared by a thick, almost unbroken cloud-cover. However, the cloud-cover does not protect the planet from tidal effects (observable in the Sea Of Komar).
In all of the novels, it is assumed (by the author) that humans retain terrestrial size; he confesses at two points in the series that he does not know if this is the case, or if humans are miniaturised with other creatures retaining terrestrial size (in one of the two places, he believes this may make more sense).
Novels
The novels are:- Under the Green StarUnder the Green StarUnder the Green Star, published first by DAW Books in 1972, was the first of Lin Carter's Green Star Series of science-fiction/fantasy novels....
(1972) - When the Green Star CallsWhen the Green Star CallsWhen the Green Star Calls, published in 1973, is the second novel in Lin Carter's Green Star Series, starting after the first novel, Under the Green Star, finished.The unnamed narrator once again thrusts his soul towards the Green Star...
(1973) - By the Light of the Green StarBy the Light of the Green StarBy the Light of the Green Star, published in 1974, is the third novel of Lin Carter's Green Star Series. In this installment, other races of Green Star planet humans are introduced....
(1974) - As the Green Star RisesAs the Green Star RisesAs the Green Star Rises is the fourth, and penultimate, novel of Lin Carter's Green Star series, continuing from By the Light of the Green Star.-Plot summary:...
(1975) - In the Green Star's GlowIn the Green Star's GlowIn the Green Star's Glow is the final novel in Lin Carter's Green Star Series.- Plot summary :Janchan and Arjala are married in Komar, where they also honeymoon...
(1976)