Lin Carter
Encyclopedia
Linwood Vrooman Carter (June 9, 1930 – February 7, 1988) 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 (for an H. P. Lovecraft
parody) and Grail Undwin.
, Florida. He was an avid reader of science fiction and fantasy in his youth and became broadly knowledgeable in the field. He was also quite active in fandom.
Carter served in the United States Army
(Infantry, Korea
, 1951–53), after which he attended Columbia University
(1953–54). He was a copywriter for some years before writing full-time. He married twice, first to Judith Ellen Hershkovitz (married 1959, divorced 1960) and later to Noel Vreeland (married 1963, while they both worked for Prentice-Hall publishers; divorced 1975). He was an advertising and publishers copywriter (1957–69). From 1969 he was a freelance writer and editorial consultant. During much of his writing career he lived in Hollis
, New York
.
He was a member of the all-male literary banqueting club the Trap Door Spiders
, which served as the basis of Isaac Asimov
's fictional group of mystery solvers the Black Widowers
. Carter himself was the model for the Mario Gonzalo character. He was also a member of the Swordsmen and Sorcerers' Guild of America (SAGA)
, a loose-knit group of Heroic fantasy
authors founded in the 1960s, some of whose work he anthologized in the Flashing Swords!
series. In the 1970s Carter issued his own fantasy fanzine
, titled Kadath after H.P. Lovecraft's fictional setting (see The Dream-Quest of Unknown Kadath
). The number of issues put out is uncertain, however the 1974 issues contained Carter's Cthulhu Mythos
story "The City of Pillars" (pp. 22–25).
In 1985, his quality of life was severely reduced when he developed oral cancer
and had to endure extensive surgery to have it removed. Only his status as a Korea veteran enabled him to receive treatment, which failed to cure his illness and left him disfigured.
In the last year before his death, he had begun to reappear in print with a new book in his Terra Magica series, a long-promised Prince Zarkon pulp hero pastiche, Horror Wears Blue, and a regular column for Crypt of Cthulhu magazine. Despite these successes, Carter had increased his alcohol intake, becoming a borderline alcoholic and further weakening his body, already ravaged by his cancer and therapy. The disease subsequently resurfaced, spreading to his throat and leading to his death in 1988. He resided in East Orange
, New Jersey in his final years, and died in nearby Montclair
, New Jersey.
The editor of Crypt of Cthulhu
, Robert M. Price
, had published a Lin Carter special issue - Vol 5, No 2 (whole number 36; Yuletide 1985). Price, who was appointed Carter's literary executor, was preparing a second all-Carter issue when Carter died; it was turned into a memorial issue - Vol 7, No 4 (whole number 54 Eastertide 1988).
Early in his efforts to establish himself as a writer Carter gained a mentor in fellow author L. Sprague de Camp
, who critiqued his novel The Wizard of Lemuria in manuscript. (Though this was the seventh novel Carter had written, it was the first to find a publisher, appearing from Ace Books in March, 1965). Due in large part to their later collaborations, mutual promotion of each other in print, joint membership in both the Trap Door Spiders and SAGA, and complimentary scholarly efforts to document the history of fantasy, de Camp is the person with whom Carter is most closely associated as a writer. A falling-out in the last decade of Carter's life did not become generally known until after his death.
Carter was a prolific penman. He claimed that after his first book appeared in print (The Wizard of Lemuria) in March 1965, something like twenty-five books appeared bearing his name before The Wizard of Lemuria was revised and reissued in 1969 as Thongor and the Wizard of Lemuria, which means Carter averaged about six books published per year during that four-year period.
Unknown to many of his fans is the fact that Carter was a major scripter for ABC's original Spider-Man
animated TV show
during its moody, fantasy-oriented second season in 1968-69.
Carter had a marked tendency toward self-promotion in his work, frequently citing his own writings in his nonfiction to illustrate points and almost always including at least one of his own pieces in the anthologies he edited. The most extreme instance is his novel Lankar of Callisto
, which features Carter himself as the protagonist.
As a fiction writer most of Carter's work was derivative in the sense that it was consciously imitative of the themes, subjects and styles of other authors he admired. He was quite explicit in regard to his models, usually identifying them in the introductions or afterwords of his novels, and introductory notes to self-anthologized or collected short stories. His best-known works are his sword and planet
and sword and sorcery
novels in the tradition of Edgar Rice Burroughs
and Robert E. Howard
. His first published book, The Wizard of Lemuria (1965), first of the "Thongor the Barbarian" series, combines both influences. Although he wrote only six Thongor novels, the character appeared in Marvel Comics
's Creatures on the Loose for an eight-issue run in 1973-74 and was often optioned for films, although none were produced.
His other major series, the "Callisto
" and "Zanthodon" books, are direct tributes to Burroughs' Barsoom
series and Pellucidar
novels, respectively.
Other works pay homage to the styles of contemporary pulp magazine
authors or their precursors. Some of these, together with Carter's models, include his "Simrana" stories (influenced by Lord Dunsany
), his horror stories (set in the "Cthulhu mythos
" of H. P. Lovecraft
), his "Green Star
" novels (uniting influences from Clark Ashton Smith
and Edgar Rice Burroughs), his "Mysteries of Mars" series (patterned on the works of Leigh Brackett
), and his "Prince Zarkon" books (based on the "Doc Savage
" series of Kenneth Robeson
). Later in his career Carter assimilated influences from mythology
and fairy tales, and even branched out briefly into pornographic
fantasy.
Some of Carter's most prominent works were what he referred to as "posthumous collaborations" with deceased authors, notably Robert E. Howard
and Clark Ashton Smith
. He completed a number of Howard's unfinished tales of Kull and Conan the Barbarian
, the latter often in collaboration with L. Sprague de Camp
. He also collaborated with de Camp on a number of pastiche
novel
s and short stories
featuring Conan.
The posthumous collaborations with Smith were of a different order, usually completely new stories built around title ideas or short fragments found among Smith's notes and jottings. These included:
trilogy was canceled after the first book, and his five-volume "Chronicles of Kylix" ended with three volumes published and parts of another.
The most intriguing of these unfinished projects is Carter's self-proclaimed magnum opus, an epic literary fantasy entitled Khymyrium, or, to give it its full title, Khymyrium: The City of the Hundred Kings, from the Coming of Aviathar the Lion to the Passing of Spheridion the Doomed. It was intended to take the genre in a new direction by resurrecting the fantastic medieval chronicle history of the sort exemplified by Geoffrey of Monmouth
's Historia Regum Britanniae
and Saxo Grammaticus
's Gesta Danorum
. It was also to present a new invented system of magic called "enstarment", which from Carter's description somewhat resembles the system of magical luck investment later devised by Emma Bull
and Will Shetterly
for their "Liavek
" series of shared world anthologies. Carter claimed to have begun the work about 1959, and published at least three excerpts from it as separate short stories during his lifetime – "Azlon" in The Young Magicians
(1969), "The Mantichore" in Beyond the Gates of Dream
(also 1969) and "The Sword of Power" in New Worlds for Old
(1971). A fourth episode was published posthumously in Fungi #17, a 1998 fanzine. His most comprehensive account of the project appeared in Imaginary Worlds: the Art of Fantasy
in 1973. While he continued to make claims for its excellence throughout his lifetime, the complete novel never appeared.
, continuing after that magazine's 1975 demise in The Year's Best Fantasy Stories
. His early studies of the works of J. R. R. Tolkien
(Tolkien: A Look Behind "The Lord of the Rings") and H. P. Lovecraft
(Lovecraft: A Look Behind the Cthulhu Mythos
) were followed up by the wide-ranging Imaginary Worlds: the Art of Fantasy
, a study tracing the emergence and development of modern fantasy from the late nineteenth century novels of William Morris
through the 1970s.
His greatest influence in the field may have been as an editor for Ballantine Books
from 1969–1974, when Carter brought several obscure yet important books of fantasy back into print under the "Adult Fantasy"
line. Authors whose works he revived included Dunsany, Morris
, Smith
, James Branch Cabell
, Hope Mirrlees
, and Evangeline Walton
. He also helped new authors break into the field, such as Katherine Kurtz
, Joy Chant
, and Sanders Anne Laubenthal
.
Carter was a fantasy anthologist of note, editing a number of new anthologies of classic and contemporary fantasy for Ballantine and other publishers. He also edited several anthology series, including the Flashing Swords!
series from 1973–1981, the first six volumes of The Year's Best Fantasy Stories
for DAW Books
from 1975–1980, and an anthology format revival
of the classic fantasy magazine Weird Tales
from 1981-1983.
Together with SAGA
he sponsored the Gandalf Award
, an early fantasy equivalent to science fiction's Hugo Award
, for the recognition of outstanding merit in authors and works of fantasy. It was given annually by the World Science Fiction Society from 1974 to 1981, but went into abeyance with the collapse of Carter’s health in the 1980s. Its primary purpose continues to be fulfilled by the initially rival World Fantasy Award
s, first presented in 1975.
began an extensive program returning much of Carter's fiction to print in 1999. Most of its Carter titles are now themselves out of print.
Note: Carter's literary executor Robert M. Price
has written two Thongor stories, "Witch of Lemuria" http://www.robertmprice.mindvendor.com/fic_witchq.htm and "Mind Lords of Lemuria"
http://www.robertmprice.mindvendor.com/fic_mindlords.htm.
In 1978 a Thongor movie was in production for release in 1979. It was titled Thongor in the Valley of Demons; however the movie was never produced.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
author of science fiction
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...
and fantasy
Fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...
, as well as an editor and critic. He usually wrote as Lin Carter; known pseudonyms include H. P. Lowcraft (for an H. P. Lovecraft
H. P. Lovecraft
Howard Phillips Lovecraft --often credited as H.P. Lovecraft — was an American author of horror, fantasy and science fiction, especially the subgenre known as weird fiction....
parody) and Grail Undwin.
Life
Carter was born in St. PetersburgSt. Petersburg, Florida
St. Petersburg is a city in Pinellas County, Florida, United States. It is known as a vacation destination for both American and foreign tourists. As of 2008, the population estimate by the U.S. Census Bureau is 245,314, making St...
, Florida. He was an avid reader of science fiction and fantasy in his youth and became broadly knowledgeable in the field. He was also quite active in fandom.
Carter served in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
(Infantry, Korea
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
, 1951–53), after which he attended Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
(1953–54). He was a copywriter for some years before writing full-time. He married twice, first to Judith Ellen Hershkovitz (married 1959, divorced 1960) and later to Noel Vreeland (married 1963, while they both worked for Prentice-Hall publishers; divorced 1975). He was an advertising and publishers copywriter (1957–69). From 1969 he was a freelance writer and editorial consultant. During much of his writing career he lived in Hollis
Hollis, Queens
Hollis is a neighborhood within the southeastern section of the New York City borough of Queens. A predominantly African American community, the boundaries are considered to be the Far Rockaway Branch of the Long Island Rail Road to the west, Hillside Avenue to the north, Francis Lewis Boulevard to...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
.
He was a member of the all-male literary banqueting club the Trap Door Spiders
Trap Door Spiders
The Trap Door Spiders are a literary male-only eating, drinking, and arguing society in New York City, with a membership historically composed of notable science fiction personalities...
, which served as the basis of Isaac Asimov
Isaac Asimov
Isaac Asimov was an American author and professor of biochemistry at Boston University, best known for his works of science fiction and for his popular science books. Asimov was one of the most prolific writers of all time, having written or edited more than 500 books and an estimated 90,000...
's fictional group of mystery solvers the Black Widowers
Black Widowers
The Black Widowers is a fictional men-only dining club created by Isaac Asimov for a series of sixty-six mystery stories which he started writing in 1971...
. Carter himself was the model for the Mario Gonzalo character. He was also a member of the Swordsmen and Sorcerers' Guild of America (SAGA)
Swordsmen and Sorcerers' Guild of America (SAGA)
The Swordsmen and Sorcerers' Guild of America is the name of a literary group of American fantasy authors active from the 1960s through the 1980s, noted for their contributions to the fantasy subgenre of heroic fantasy or "Sword and Sorcery."...
, a loose-knit group of Heroic fantasy
Heroic fantasy
Heroic fantasy is a sub-genre of fantasy which chronicles the tales of heroes in imaginary lands. Unlike stories of sword and sorcery, heroic fantasy narratives tend to be intricate in plot, often involving many peoples, nations and lands. Grand battles and the fate of the world are common themes,...
authors founded in the 1960s, some of whose work he anthologized in the Flashing Swords!
Flashing Swords!
Flashing Swords! was a series of fantasy anthologies published by Dell Books from 1973 to 1981 under the editorship of Lin Carter. It showcased the heroic fantasy work of the members of the Swordsmen and Sorcerers' Guild of America , a somewhat informal literary group active from the 1960s to the...
series. In the 1970s Carter issued his own fantasy fanzine
Fanzine
A fanzine is a nonprofessional and nonofficial publication produced by fans of a particular cultural phenomenon for the pleasure of others who share their interest...
, titled Kadath after H.P. Lovecraft's fictional setting (see The Dream-Quest of Unknown Kadath
The Dream-Quest of Unknown Kadath
The Dream-Quest of Unknown Kadath is a novella by H. P. Lovecraft. It was completed in 1927 and was unpublished in his lifetime. It is both the longest of the stories that comprise his Dream Cycle and the longest to feature protagonist Randolph Carter, and can thus be considered a culminating...
). The number of issues put out is uncertain, however the 1974 issues contained Carter's Cthulhu Mythos
Cthulhu Mythos
The Cthulhu Mythos is a shared fictional universe, based on the work of American horror writer H. P. Lovecraft.The term was first coined by August Derleth, a contemporary correspondent of Lovecraft, who used the name of the creature Cthulhu - a central figure in Lovecraft literature and the focus...
story "The City of Pillars" (pp. 22–25).
In 1985, his quality of life was severely reduced when he developed oral cancer
Oral cancer
Oral cancer is a subtype of head and neck cancer, is any cancerous tissue growth located in the oral cavity. It may arise as a primary lesion originating in any of the oral tissues, by metastasis from a distant site of origin, or by extension from a neighboring anatomic structure, such as the...
and had to endure extensive surgery to have it removed. Only his status as a Korea veteran enabled him to receive treatment, which failed to cure his illness and left him disfigured.
In the last year before his death, he had begun to reappear in print with a new book in his Terra Magica series, a long-promised Prince Zarkon pulp hero pastiche, Horror Wears Blue, and a regular column for Crypt of Cthulhu magazine. Despite these successes, Carter had increased his alcohol intake, becoming a borderline alcoholic and further weakening his body, already ravaged by his cancer and therapy. The disease subsequently resurfaced, spreading to his throat and leading to his death in 1988. He resided in East Orange
East Orange, New Jersey
East Orange is a city in Essex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census the city's population 64,270, making it the state's 20th largest municipality, having dropped 5,554 residents from its population of 69,824 in the 2000 Census, when it was the state's 14th most...
, New Jersey in his final years, and died in nearby Montclair
Montclair, New Jersey
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 38,977 people, 15,020 households, and 9,687 families residing in the township. The population density was 6,183.6 people per square mile . There were 15,531 housing units at an average density of 2,464.0 per square mile...
, New Jersey.
The editor of Crypt of Cthulhu
Crypt of Cthulhu
Crypt of Cthulhu was a fanzine devoted to the writings of H. P. Lovecraft and the Cthulhu Mythos. It was published as part of the Esoteric Order of Dagon mailing lists for a short time, and was formally established in 1981 by Robert M...
, Robert M. Price
Robert M. Price
Robert McNair Price is an American theologian and writer. He teaches philosophy and religion at the Johnnie Colemon Theological Seminary, is professor of biblical criticism at the Center for Inquiry Institute, and the author of a number of books on theology and the historicity of Jesus, including...
, had published a Lin Carter special issue - Vol 5, No 2 (whole number 36; Yuletide 1985). Price, who was appointed Carter's literary executor, was preparing a second all-Carter issue when Carter died; it was turned into a memorial issue - Vol 7, No 4 (whole number 54 Eastertide 1988).
Writing career
A longtime science-fiction and fantasy fan, Carter first appeared on the scene with his entertaining letters in Startling Stories in the late 1940s. He did not break into professional print until 1957 with a Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction story, though he had earlier issued two volumes of fantasy verse, Sandalwood and Jade (1951) (technically his first book) and Galleon of Dream (1955). An early collaborative story, The Slitherer from the Slime (with Dave Foley, printed as by 'H.P. Lowcraft') (Inside No 53 (Sept 1958) is a sort of parody of H.P. Lovecraft.Early in his efforts to establish himself as a writer Carter gained a mentor in fellow author L. Sprague de Camp
L. Sprague de Camp
Lyon Sprague de Camp was an American author of science fiction and fantasy books, non-fiction and biography. In a writing career spanning 60 years, he wrote over 100 books, including novels and notable works of non-fiction, including biographies of other important fantasy authors...
, who critiqued his novel The Wizard of Lemuria in manuscript. (Though this was the seventh novel Carter had written, it was the first to find a publisher, appearing from Ace Books in March, 1965). Due in large part to their later collaborations, mutual promotion of each other in print, joint membership in both the Trap Door Spiders and SAGA, and complimentary scholarly efforts to document the history of fantasy, de Camp is the person with whom Carter is most closely associated as a writer. A falling-out in the last decade of Carter's life did not become generally known until after his death.
Carter was a prolific penman. He claimed that after his first book appeared in print (The Wizard of Lemuria) in March 1965, something like twenty-five books appeared bearing his name before The Wizard of Lemuria was revised and reissued in 1969 as Thongor and the Wizard of Lemuria, which means Carter averaged about six books published per year during that four-year period.
Unknown to many of his fans is the fact that Carter was a major scripter for ABC's original Spider-Man
Spider-Man
Spider-Man is a fictional Marvel Comics superhero. The character was created by writer-editor Stan Lee and writer-artist Steve Ditko. He first appeared in Amazing Fantasy #15...
animated TV show
Spider-Man (1967 TV series)
Spider-Man is an animated television series that ran from September 9, 1967 to June 14, 1970. It was jointly produced in Canada and the United States and was the first animated adaptation of the Spider-Man comic book series, created by writer Stan Lee and artist Steve Ditko...
during its moody, fantasy-oriented second season in 1968-69.
Carter had a marked tendency toward self-promotion in his work, frequently citing his own writings in his nonfiction to illustrate points and almost always including at least one of his own pieces in the anthologies he edited. The most extreme instance is his novel Lankar of Callisto
Lankar of Callisto
Lankar of Callisto is a science fiction novel written by Lin Carter, the sixth in his Callisto series. It was first published in paperback by Dell Books in June 1975...
, which features Carter himself as the protagonist.
As a fiction writer most of Carter's work was derivative in the sense that it was consciously imitative of the themes, subjects and styles of other authors he admired. He was quite explicit in regard to his models, usually identifying them in the introductions or afterwords of his novels, and introductory notes to self-anthologized or collected short stories. His best-known works are his sword and planet
Sword and planet
Sword and Planet is a subgenre of science fantasy that features rousing adventure stories set on other planets, and usually featuring Earthmen as protagonists. The name derives from the heroes of the genre engaging their adversaries in hand to hand combat primarily with simple melee weapons such as...
and sword and sorcery
Sword and sorcery
Sword and sorcery is a sub-genre of fantasy and historical fantasy, generally characterized by sword-wielding heroes engaged in exciting and violent conflicts. An element of romance is often present, as is an element of magic and the supernatural...
novels in the tradition of 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:...
and Robert E. Howard
Robert E. Howard
Robert Ervin Howard was an American author who wrote pulp fiction in a diverse range of genres. Best known for his character Conan the Barbarian, he is regarded as the father of the sword and sorcery subgenre....
. His first published book, The Wizard of Lemuria (1965), first of the "Thongor the Barbarian" series, combines both influences. Although he wrote only six Thongor novels, the character appeared in Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
's Creatures on the Loose for an eight-issue run in 1973-74 and was often optioned for films, although none were produced.
His other major series, the "Callisto
Callisto series
The Callisto series is a sequence of eight science fiction novels by Lin Carter, of the sword and planet subgenre, first published by Dell Books from 1972-1978...
" and "Zanthodon" books, are direct tributes to Burroughs' Barsoom
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...
series and Pellucidar
Pellucidar
Pellucidar is a fictional Hollow Earth milieu invented by Tarzan creator Edgar Rice Burroughs for a series of action adventure stories. In a notable crossover event between Burroughs' series, there is a Tarzan story in which the Ape Man travels into Pellucidar.The stories initially involve the...
novels, respectively.
Other works pay homage to the styles of contemporary pulp magazine
Pulp magazine
Pulp magazines , also collectively known as pulp fiction, refers to inexpensive fiction magazines published from 1896 through the 1950s. The typical pulp magazine was seven inches wide by ten inches high, half an inch thick, and 128 pages long...
authors or their precursors. Some of these, together with Carter's models, include his "Simrana" stories (influenced by Lord Dunsany
Edward Plunkett, 18th Baron Dunsany
Edward John Moreton Drax Plunkett, 18th Baron of Dunsany was an Irish writer and dramatist, notable for his work, mostly in fantasy, published under the name Lord Dunsany...
), his horror stories (set in the "Cthulhu mythos
Cthulhu Mythos
The Cthulhu Mythos is a shared fictional universe, based on the work of American horror writer H. P. Lovecraft.The term was first coined by August Derleth, a contemporary correspondent of Lovecraft, who used the name of the creature Cthulhu - a central figure in Lovecraft literature and the focus...
" of H. P. Lovecraft
H. P. Lovecraft
Howard Phillips Lovecraft --often credited as H.P. Lovecraft — was an American author of horror, fantasy and science fiction, especially the subgenre known as weird fiction....
), his "Green Star
Green Star Series
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 is central...
" novels (uniting influences from Clark Ashton Smith
Clark Ashton Smith
Clark Ashton Smith was a self-educated American poet, sculptor, painter and author of fantasy, horror and science fiction short stories. He achieved early local recognition, largely through the enthusiasm of George Sterling, for traditional verse in the vein of Swinburne...
and Edgar Rice Burroughs), his "Mysteries of Mars" series (patterned on the works of Leigh Brackett
Leigh Brackett
Leigh Douglass Brackett was an American author, particularly of science fiction. She was also a screenwriter, known for her work on famous films such as The Big Sleep , Rio Bravo , The Long Goodbye and The Empire Strikes Back .-Life:Leigh Brackett was born and grew up in Los Angeles, California...
), and his "Prince Zarkon" books (based on the "Doc Savage
Doc Savage
Doc Savage is a fictional character originally published in American pulp magazines during the 1930s and 1940s. He was created by publisher Henry W. Ralston and editor John L...
" series of Kenneth Robeson
Kenneth Robeson
Kenneth Robeson was the house name used by Street and Smith Publications as the author of their popular character Doc Savage and later The Avenger. Many authors wrote under this name, though most Doc Savage stories were written by the author Lester Dent:...
). Later in his career Carter assimilated influences from mythology
Mythology
The term mythology can refer either to the study of myths, or to a body or collection of myths. As examples, comparative mythology is the study of connections between myths from different cultures, whereas Greek mythology is the body of myths from ancient Greece...
and fairy tales, and even branched out briefly into pornographic
Pornography
Pornography or porn is the explicit portrayal of sexual subject matter for the purposes of sexual arousal and erotic satisfaction.Pornography may use any of a variety of media, ranging from books, magazines, postcards, photos, sculpture, drawing, painting, animation, sound recording, film, video,...
fantasy.
Some of Carter's most prominent works were what he referred to as "posthumous collaborations" with deceased authors, notably Robert E. Howard
Robert E. Howard
Robert Ervin Howard was an American author who wrote pulp fiction in a diverse range of genres. Best known for his character Conan the Barbarian, he is regarded as the father of the sword and sorcery subgenre....
and Clark Ashton Smith
Clark Ashton Smith
Clark Ashton Smith was a self-educated American poet, sculptor, painter and author of fantasy, horror and science fiction short stories. He achieved early local recognition, largely through the enthusiasm of George Sterling, for traditional verse in the vein of Swinburne...
. He completed a number of Howard's unfinished tales of Kull and Conan the Barbarian
Conan the Barbarian
Conan the Barbarian is a fictional sword and sorcery hero that originated in pulp fiction magazines and has since been adapted to books, comics, several films , television programs, video games, roleplaying games and other media...
, the latter often in collaboration with L. Sprague de Camp
L. Sprague de Camp
Lyon Sprague de Camp was an American author of science fiction and fantasy books, non-fiction and biography. In a writing career spanning 60 years, he wrote over 100 books, including novels and notable works of non-fiction, including biographies of other important fantasy authors...
. He also collaborated with de Camp on a number of pastiche
Pastiche
A pastiche is a literary or other artistic genre or technique that is a "hodge-podge" or imitation. The word is also a linguistic term used to describe an early stage in the development of a pidgin language.-Hodge-podge:...
novel
Novel
A novel is a book of long narrative in literary prose. The genre has historical roots both in the fields of the medieval and early modern romance and in the tradition of the novella. The latter supplied the present generic term in the late 18th century....
s and short stories
Short Stories
Short Stories may refer to:*A plural for Short story*Short Stories , an American pulp magazine published from 1890-1959*Short Stories, a 1954 collection by O. E...
featuring Conan.
The posthumous collaborations with Smith were of a different order, usually completely new stories built around title ideas or short fragments found among Smith's notes and jottings. These included:
- "The Descent into the Abyss" in Carter's anthology Weird Tales #2
- "The Scroll of Morloc". Fantastic (Oct 1975). Also in Carter's anthologies Year's Best Fantasy Stories No 2 (DAW 1976), pp. 143–157 ; and Lost Worlds, pp. 11–17.
- "The Stairs in the Crypt". Fantastic 25, No 4 (Aug 1976), pp. 82–89. Also in Carter's anthologies year's Best Fantasy Stories No 3 (DAW, 1977), pp. 129–40; and Lost Worlds, pp. 18–26.
- "The Utmost Abomination" Weird Tales Autumn or Fall 1973; also in Mike Ashley (ed), Weird Legacies, pp. 81–91.
- "The Vengeance of Yig" in Carter's anthology Weird Tales #4, pp. 275ff.
- "The Winfield Inheritance" in Carter's anthology Weird Tales No 3, pp. 275–311.
- "Zoth-Ommog" in Edward Berglund (ed) The Disciples of Cthulhu, pp. 141–193. Note: a sequel to this tale has been written by Leigh BlackmoreLeigh BlackmoreLeigh David Blackmore is an Australian horror writer, critic, editor, occultist and musician. He served as the second President of the Australian Horror Writers Association . His work has been nominated twice for the Ditmar Award, once for fiction and once for criticism...
.
Unfinished projects
Carter is known to have left a number of projects unfinished. A number of his stand-alone books contained obvious hooks for sequels that were never written. He regularly announced plans for future works that never came to fruition, and several of his series were abandoned due to lack of publisher or reader interest or to his deteriorating health. Among these are his "Thongor" series, to which he intended to add two books dealing with the hero's youth; only a scattering of short stories intended for the volumes appeared. His "Gondwane" epic, which he began with the final book and afterwards added several more covering the beginning of the saga, lacks its middle volumes, his publisher having canceled the series before he managed to fill the gap between. Similarly, his projected AtlantisAtlantis
Atlantis is a legendary island first mentioned in Plato's dialogues Timaeus and Critias, written about 360 BC....
trilogy was canceled after the first book, and his five-volume "Chronicles of Kylix" ended with three volumes published and parts of another.
The most intriguing of these unfinished projects is Carter's self-proclaimed magnum opus, an epic literary fantasy entitled Khymyrium, or, to give it its full title, Khymyrium: The City of the Hundred Kings, from the Coming of Aviathar the Lion to the Passing of Spheridion the Doomed. It was intended to take the genre in a new direction by resurrecting the fantastic medieval chronicle history of the sort exemplified by Geoffrey of Monmouth
Geoffrey of Monmouth
Geoffrey of Monmouth was a cleric and one of the major figures in the development of British historiography and the popularity of tales of King Arthur...
's Historia Regum Britanniae
Historia Regum Britanniae
The Historia Regum Britanniae is a pseudohistorical account of British history, written c. 1136 by Geoffrey of Monmouth. It chronicles the lives of the kings of the Britons in a chronological narrative spanning a time of two thousand years, beginning with the Trojans founding the British nation...
and Saxo Grammaticus
Saxo Grammaticus
Saxo Grammaticus also known as Saxo cognomine Longus was a Danish historian, thought to have been a secular clerk or secretary to Absalon, Archbishop of Lund, foremost advisor to Valdemar I of Denmark. He is the author of the first full history of Denmark.- Life :The Jutland Chronicle gives...
's Gesta Danorum
Gesta Danorum
Gesta Danorum is a patriotic work of Danish history, by the 12th century author Saxo Grammaticus . It is the most ambitious literary undertaking of medieval Denmark and is an essential source for the nation's early history...
. It was also to present a new invented system of magic called "enstarment", which from Carter's description somewhat resembles the system of magical luck investment later devised by Emma Bull
Emma Bull
Emma Bull is a science fiction and fantasy author whose best-known novel is War for the Oaks, one of the pioneering works of urban fantasy. She has participated in Terri Windling's Borderland shared universe, which is the setting of her 1994 novel Finder...
and Will Shetterly
Will Shetterly
Will Shetterly is an American writer of fantasy and science fiction best known for his novel Dogland . The novel is inspired by his childhood at the tourist attraction Dog Land owned by his parents...
for their "Liavek
Liavek
Liavek is a shared world brought to life in a series of five fantasy anthologies edited by Emma Bull and Will Shetterly.-Contributors:Contributors include Bull, Shetterly, Gene Wolfe, Jane Yolen, John M. Ford, Kara Dalkey, Barry B. Longyear, Megan Lindholm, Nancy Kress, Patricia C. Wrede, Steven...
" series of shared world anthologies. Carter claimed to have begun the work about 1959, and published at least three excerpts from it as separate short stories during his lifetime – "Azlon" in The Young Magicians
The Young Magicians
The Young Magicians is an anthology of fantasy short stories, edited by Lin Carter. It was first published in paperback by Ballantine Books in October 1969 as the seventh volume of its celebrated Ballantine Adult Fantasy series...
(1969), "The Mantichore" in Beyond the Gates of Dream
Beyond the Gates of Dream
Beyond the Gates of Dream is a collection of short stories by science fiction and fantasy author Lin Carter. It was first published in paperback by Belmont Books in 1969....
(also 1969) and "The Sword of Power" in New Worlds for Old
New Worlds for Old
New Worlds for Old is an anthology of fantasy short stories, edited by Lin Carter. It was first published in paperback by Ballantine Books in September 1971 as the thirty-fifth volume of its celebrated Ballantine Adult Fantasy series...
(1971). A fourth episode was published posthumously in Fungi #17, a 1998 fanzine. His most comprehensive account of the project appeared in Imaginary Worlds: the Art of Fantasy
Imaginary Worlds: the Art of Fantasy
Imaginary Worlds: the Art of Fantasy is a study of the modern literary fantasy genre written by Lin Carter. It was first published in paperback by Ballantine Books in June, 1973 as the fifty-eighth volume of its celebrated Ballantine Adult Fantasy series; it was the only nonfiction entry in the...
in 1973. While he continued to make claims for its excellence throughout his lifetime, the complete novel never appeared.
Career as editor and critic
While his fiction was often derivative, Carter was influential as a critic of contemporary fantasy and a pioneering historian of the genre. His book reviews and surveys of the year's best fantasy fiction appeared regularly in Castle of FrankensteinCastle of Frankenstein
Castle of Frankenstein was an American horror, science fiction and fantasy film magazine, distributed by Kable News and published in New Jersey from 1962 to 1975 by Calvin Thomas Beck's Gothic Castle Publishing Company. The first three issues were edited by Larry Ivie and Ken Beale. From 1963 and...
, continuing after that magazine's 1975 demise in The Year's Best Fantasy Stories
The Year's Best Fantasy Stories
The Year's Best Fantasy Stories is a 1975 anthology of fantasy stories, edited by Lin Carter. It was first published in paperback by DAW Books...
. His early studies of the works of J. R. R. Tolkien
J. R. R. Tolkien
John Ronald Reuel Tolkien, CBE was an English writer, poet, philologist, and university professor, best known as the author of the classic high fantasy works The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and The Silmarillion.Tolkien was Rawlinson and Bosworth Professor of Anglo-Saxon at Pembroke College,...
(Tolkien: A Look Behind "The Lord of the Rings") and H. P. Lovecraft
H. P. Lovecraft
Howard Phillips Lovecraft --often credited as H.P. Lovecraft — was an American author of horror, fantasy and science fiction, especially the subgenre known as weird fiction....
(Lovecraft: A Look Behind the Cthulhu Mythos
Lovecraft: A Look Behind the Cthulhu Mythos
Lovecraft: A Look Behind the "Cthulhu Mythos" is a 1972 non-fiction book written by Lin Carter, published by Ballantine Books. The introduction notes that the book "does not purport to be a biography of H. P...
) were followed up by the wide-ranging Imaginary Worlds: the Art of Fantasy
Imaginary Worlds: the Art of Fantasy
Imaginary Worlds: the Art of Fantasy is a study of the modern literary fantasy genre written by Lin Carter. It was first published in paperback by Ballantine Books in June, 1973 as the fifty-eighth volume of its celebrated Ballantine Adult Fantasy series; it was the only nonfiction entry in the...
, a study tracing the emergence and development of modern fantasy from the late nineteenth century novels of William Morris
William Morris
William Morris 24 March 18343 October 1896 was an English textile designer, artist, writer, and socialist associated with the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood and the English Arts and Crafts Movement...
through the 1970s.
His greatest influence in the field may have been as an editor for Ballantine Books
Ballantine Books
Ballantine Books is a major book publisher located in the United States, founded in 1952 by Ian Ballantine with his wife, Betty Ballantine. It was acquired by Random House in 1973, which in turn was acquired by Bertelsmann AG in 1998 and remains part of that company today. Ballantine's logo is a...
from 1969–1974, when Carter brought several obscure yet important books of fantasy back into print under the "Adult Fantasy"
Ballantine Adult Fantasy series
The Ballantine Adult Fantasy series was an imprint of Ballantine Books. Launched in 1969 , the series reissued a number of works of fantasy literature, which were out of print or dispersed in back issues of pulp magazines , in cheap paperback form—including works...
line. Authors whose works he revived included Dunsany, Morris
William Morris
William Morris 24 March 18343 October 1896 was an English textile designer, artist, writer, and socialist associated with the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood and the English Arts and Crafts Movement...
, Smith
Clark Ashton Smith
Clark Ashton Smith was a self-educated American poet, sculptor, painter and author of fantasy, horror and science fiction short stories. He achieved early local recognition, largely through the enthusiasm of George Sterling, for traditional verse in the vein of Swinburne...
, James Branch Cabell
James Branch Cabell
James Branch Cabell, ; April 14, 1879 – May 5, 1958) was an American author of fantasy fiction and belles lettres. Cabell was well regarded by his contemporaries, including H. L. Mencken and Sinclair Lewis. His works were considered escapist and fit well in the culture of the 1920s, when his...
, Hope Mirrlees
Hope Mirrlees
Hope Mirrlees was a British translator, poet and novelist. She is best known for the 1926 Lud-in-the-Mist, a fantasy novel and influential classic, and for Paris: A Poem, a modernist poem which critic Julia Briggs deemed "modernism's lost masterpiece, a work of extraordinary energy and intensity,...
, and Evangeline Walton
Evangeline Walton
Evangeline Walton was the pen name of Evangeline Wilna Ensley, an American author of fantasy fiction. She remains popular in North America and Europe because of her “ability to humanize historical and mythological subjects with eloquence, humor and compassion”. Evangeline Walton (24 November 1907...
. He also helped new authors break into the field, such as Katherine Kurtz
Katherine Kurtz
Katherine Kurtz is the author of numerous fantasy novels, most notably the Deryni novels. Although born in America, for the past several years, up until just recently, she has lived in a castle in Ireland...
, Joy Chant
Joy Chant
Joy Chant is the pen name of British fantasy writer Eileen Joyce Rutter . She is best known for her three novels on the House of Kendreth.-Works:...
, and Sanders Anne Laubenthal
Sanders Anne Laubenthal
Sanders Anne Laubenthal was an American poet, novelist, historian and textbook writer. Much of her work concerns Mobile, Alabama, of which she was a native. She also wrote about the history of unrecorded areas of Scotland...
.
Carter was a fantasy anthologist of note, editing a number of new anthologies of classic and contemporary fantasy for Ballantine and other publishers. He also edited several anthology series, including the Flashing Swords!
Flashing Swords!
Flashing Swords! was a series of fantasy anthologies published by Dell Books from 1973 to 1981 under the editorship of Lin Carter. It showcased the heroic fantasy work of the members of the Swordsmen and Sorcerers' Guild of America , a somewhat informal literary group active from the 1960s to the...
series from 1973–1981, the first six volumes of The Year's Best Fantasy Stories
The Year's Best Fantasy Stories
The Year's Best Fantasy Stories is a 1975 anthology of fantasy stories, edited by Lin Carter. It was first published in paperback by DAW Books...
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...
from 1975–1980, and an anthology format revival
Weird Tales (anthology series)
Weird Tales was a series of paperback anthologies, a revival of the classic fantasy and horror magazine of the same title, published by Zebra Books from 1980 to 1983 under the editorship of Lin Carter. It was issued more or less annually, though the first two volumes were issued simultaneously and...
of the classic fantasy magazine Weird Tales
Weird Tales
Weird Tales is an American fantasy and horror fiction pulp magazine first published in March 1923. It ceased its original run in September 1954, after 279 issues, but has since been revived. The magazine was set up in Chicago by J. C. Henneberger, an ex-journalist with a taste for the macabre....
from 1981-1983.
Together with SAGA
Swordsmen and Sorcerers' Guild of America (SAGA)
The Swordsmen and Sorcerers' Guild of America is the name of a literary group of American fantasy authors active from the 1960s through the 1980s, noted for their contributions to the fantasy subgenre of heroic fantasy or "Sword and Sorcery."...
he sponsored the Gandalf Award
Gandalf Award
The Gandalf Awards, honoring achievement in fantasy literature, were conferred by the World Science Fiction Society annually from 1974 to 1981. They were named for Gandalf the wizard, from the Middle-earth stories by J. R. R. Tolkien. The award was created and sponsored by Lin Carter and the...
, an early fantasy equivalent to science fiction's Hugo Award
Hugo Award
The Hugo Awards are given annually for the best science fiction or fantasy works and achievements of the previous year. The award is named after Hugo Gernsback, the founder of the pioneering science fiction magazine Amazing Stories, and was officially named the Science Fiction Achievement Awards...
, for the recognition of outstanding merit in authors and works of fantasy. It was given annually by the World Science Fiction Society from 1974 to 1981, but went into abeyance with the collapse of Carter’s health in the 1980s. Its primary purpose continues to be fulfilled by the initially rival World Fantasy Award
World Fantasy Award
The World Fantasy Awards are annual, international awards given to authors and artists who have demonstrated outstanding achievement in the field of fantasy...
s, first presented in 1975.
Posthumous revival
Wildside PressWildside Press
Wildside Press is an independent publishing company located in Maryland, USA. It was founded in 1989 by John Gregory and Kim Betancourt. While the press was originally conceived as a publisher of speculative fiction in both trade and limited editions, it has broadened out somewhat since then, both...
began an extensive program returning much of Carter's fiction to print in 1999. Most of its Carter titles are now themselves out of print.
The History of the Great Imperium
- Outworlder (1971)
- The Man Without a Planet (1966)
- Star Rogue (1970)
Callisto
- Jandar of CallistoJandar of CallistoJandar of Callisto is a science fiction novel written by Lin Carter, the first in his Callisto series. It was first published in paperback by Dell Books in December 1972, and reprinted twice through September 1977. The first British edition was published by Orbit Books in 1974...
(1972) - Black Legion of CallistoBlack Legion of CallistoBlack Legion of Callisto is a science fiction novel written by Lin Carter, the second in his Callisto series. It was first published in paperback by Dell Books in December 1972, and reprinted twice through January 1974. The first British edition was published by Orbit Books in 1975...
(1972)
Callisto Volume 1 (2000 - omnibus including Jandar of Callisto and Black Legion of Callisto) - Sky Pirates of CallistoSky Pirates of CallistoSky Pirates of Callisto is a science fiction novel written by Lin Carter, the third in his Callisto series. It was first published in paperback by Dell Books in January 1973, and reprinted twice through April 1974. The first British edition was published by Orbit Books in 1975...
(1973) - Mad Empress of CallistoMad Empress of CallistoMad Empress of Callisto is a science fiction novel written by Lin Carter, the fourth in his Callisto series. It was first published in paperback by Dell Books in February 1975...
(1975) - Mind Wizards of CallistoMind Wizards of CallistoMind Wizards of Callisto is a science fiction novel written by Lin Carter, the fifth in his Callisto series. It was first published in paperback by Dell Books in March 1975...
(1975) - Lankar of CallistoLankar of CallistoLankar of Callisto is a science fiction novel written by Lin Carter, the sixth in his Callisto series. It was first published in paperback by Dell Books in June 1975...
(1975) - Ylana of CallistoYlana of CallistoYlana of Callisto is a science fiction novel written by Lin Carter, the seventh in his Callisto series. It was first published in paperback by Dell Books in October 1977...
(1977) - Renegade of CallistoRenegade of CallistoRenegade of Callisto is a science fiction novel written by Lin Carter, the eighth and last in his Callisto series. It was first published in paperback by Dell Books in August 1978, and reprinted once, in November of the same year. A tribute to Edgar Rice Burroughs's The Chessmen of Mars, the book...
(1978)
The Green Star
- 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....
(DAW Books, 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)
The Mysteries of Mars
- The Valley Where Time Stood Still (1974)
- The City Outside the World (1977)
- Down to a Sunless Sea (1984)
- The Man Who Loved Mars (1973)
Zarkon-Lord of the Unknown
- The Nemesis of Evil (1975)
- Invisible Death (1975)
- The Volcano Ogre (1976)
- The Earth-Shaker (Doubleday, 1982)
- Horror Wears Blue (1987)
Zanthodon
- Journey to the Underground World (DAW Books, 1979)
- Zanthodon (DAW Books, 1980)
- Hurok of the Stone Age (DAW Books, 1981)
- Darya of the Bronze Age (DAW Books, 1981)
- Eric of Zanthodon (DAW Books, 1982)
Other novels
- Destination Saturn (1967) (with Donald Wollheim writing as David Grinnell)
- The Flame of Iridar (1967)
- Time War (1974)
- Tower at the Edge of Time (1968)
- Tower of the Medusa (1969)
Thongor of Valkarth
- The Wizard of Lemuria (1965; revised/expanded as Thongor and The Wizard of Lemuria (1969)). In his introduction to the revised edition, "A Word from the Author", Carter reveals that the revisions consist of restoring certain passages cut by the editor from the first edition, conforming certain portions of the book to details described in later books of the series, and adding a few thousand words of new material.
- Thongor of Lemuria (1966; revised/expanded as Thongor and the Dragon City (1970))
- Thongor Against the Gods (1967)
- Thongor in the City of Magicians (1968)
- Thongor at the End of Time (1968)
- Thongor Fights the Pirates of Tarakus (1970)
Note: Carter's literary executor Robert M. Price
Robert M. Price
Robert McNair Price is an American theologian and writer. He teaches philosophy and religion at the Johnnie Colemon Theological Seminary, is professor of biblical criticism at the Center for Inquiry Institute, and the author of a number of books on theology and the historicity of Jesus, including...
has written two Thongor stories, "Witch of Lemuria" http://www.robertmprice.mindvendor.com/fic_witchq.htm and "Mind Lords of Lemuria"
http://www.robertmprice.mindvendor.com/fic_mindlords.htm.
In 1978 a Thongor movie was in production for release in 1979. It was titled Thongor in the Valley of Demons; however the movie was never produced.
Conan
- ConanConan (collection)Conan is a 1967 collection of seven fantasy short stories and associated pieces written by Robert E. Howard, L. Sprague de Camp and Lin Carter featuring Howard's seminal sword and sorcery hero Conan the Barbarian. Most of the stories were originally published in various pulp magazines...
(1967) (with Robert E. HowardRobert E. HowardRobert Ervin Howard was an American author who wrote pulp fiction in a diverse range of genres. Best known for his character Conan the Barbarian, he is regarded as the father of the sword and sorcery subgenre....
and L. Sprague de CampL. Sprague de CampLyon Sprague de Camp was an American author of science fiction and fantasy books, non-fiction and biography. In a writing career spanning 60 years, he wrote over 100 books, including novels and notable works of non-fiction, including biographies of other important fantasy authors...
) - Conan of the IslesConan of the IslesConan of the Isles is a 1968 fantasy novel written by L. Sprague de Camp and Lin Carter featuring Robert E. Howard's seminal sword and sorcery hero Conan the Barbarian. It was first published in paperback by Lancer Books, and has been reprinted a number of times since by various publishers...
(1968) (with L. Sprague de CampL. Sprague de CampLyon Sprague de Camp was an American author of science fiction and fantasy books, non-fiction and biography. In a writing career spanning 60 years, he wrote over 100 books, including novels and notable works of non-fiction, including biographies of other important fantasy authors...
) - Conan the WandererConan the WandererConan the Wanderer is a 1968 collection of four fantasy short stories written by Robert E. Howard, L. Sprague de Camp and Lin Carter featuring Howard's seminal sword and sorcery hero Conan the Barbarian. Most of the stories were originally published in various fantasy magazines...
(1968) (with Robert E. HowardRobert E. HowardRobert Ervin Howard was an American author who wrote pulp fiction in a diverse range of genres. Best known for his character Conan the Barbarian, he is regarded as the father of the sword and sorcery subgenre....
and L. Sprague de CampL. Sprague de CampLyon Sprague de Camp was an American author of science fiction and fantasy books, non-fiction and biography. In a writing career spanning 60 years, he wrote over 100 books, including novels and notable works of non-fiction, including biographies of other important fantasy authors...
) [O/N+ Conan the Adventurer (Howard & de Camp) + Conan the Buccaneer (Carter & de Camp);= The Conan Chronicles 2 (1990)] - Conan of CimmeriaConan of CimmeriaConan of Cimmeria is a 1969 collection of eight fantasy short stories written by Robert E. Howard, L. Sprague de Camp and Lin Carter featuring Howard's seminal sword and sorcery hero Conan the Barbarian. Most of the stories were originally published in various fantasy magazines...
(1969) (with Robert E. HowardRobert E. HowardRobert Ervin Howard was an American author who wrote pulp fiction in a diverse range of genres. Best known for his character Conan the Barbarian, he is regarded as the father of the sword and sorcery subgenre....
and L. Sprague de CampL. Sprague de CampLyon Sprague de Camp was an American author of science fiction and fantasy books, non-fiction and biography. In a writing career spanning 60 years, he wrote over 100 books, including novels and notable works of non-fiction, including biographies of other important fantasy authors...
) [O/2N+ Conan the Freebooter (Howard & de Camp);= The Conan Chronicles (1989)] - Conan the BuccaneerConan the BuccaneerConan the Buccaneer is a 1971 fantasy novel written by L. Sprague de Camp and Lin Carter featuring Robert E. Howard's seminal sword and sorcery hero Conan the Barbarian. It was first published in paperback by Lancer Books, and has been reprinted a number of times since by various publishers. It has...
(1971) (with L. Sprague de CampL. Sprague de CampLyon Sprague de Camp was an American author of science fiction and fantasy books, non-fiction and biography. In a writing career spanning 60 years, he wrote over 100 books, including novels and notable works of non-fiction, including biographies of other important fantasy authors...
) - Conan of AquiloniaConan of AquiloniaConan of Aquilonia is a 1977 collection of four linked fantasy short stories written by L. Sprague de Camp and Lin Carter featuring Robert E. Howard's seminal sword and sorcery hero Conan the Barbarian. The stories were originally published in Fantastic for August 1972, July 1973, July 1974, and...
(1977) (with L. Sprague de CampL. Sprague de CampLyon Sprague de Camp was an American author of science fiction and fantasy books, non-fiction and biography. In a writing career spanning 60 years, he wrote over 100 books, including novels and notable works of non-fiction, including biographies of other important fantasy authors...
) - Conan the SwordsmanConan the SwordsmanConan the Swordsman is a collection of seven fantasy short stories and associated pieces written by L. Sprague de Camp, Lin Carter and Björn Nyberg featuring Robert E. Howard's seminal sword and sorcery hero Conan the Barbarian. It was first published in paperback by Bantam Books in August 1978....
(1978) (with L. Sprague de CampL. Sprague de CampLyon Sprague de Camp was an American author of science fiction and fantasy books, non-fiction and biography. In a writing career spanning 60 years, he wrote over 100 books, including novels and notable works of non-fiction, including biographies of other important fantasy authors...
and Björn NybergBjörn NybergBjörn Emil Oscar Nyberg, born September 11, 1929, is a Swedish fantasy author best known for his additions to the series of Conan stories begun by Robert E. Howard. His primary contribution to the series was The Return of Conan , which was revised for publication by L. Sprague de Camp. He lives in...
) - Conan the LiberatorConan the LiberatorConan the Liberator is a fantasy novel written by L. Sprague de Camp and Lin Carter featuring Robert E. Howard's seminal sword and sorcery hero Conan the Barbarian. It was first published in paperback by Bantam Books in February 1979; later paperback editions were issued by Ace Books...
(1979) (with L. Sprague de CampL. Sprague de CampLyon Sprague de Camp was an American author of science fiction and fantasy books, non-fiction and biography. In a writing career spanning 60 years, he wrote over 100 books, including novels and notable works of non-fiction, including biographies of other important fantasy authors...
) - Conan the BarbarianConan the BarbarianConan the Barbarian is a fictional sword and sorcery hero that originated in pulp fiction magazines and has since been adapted to books, comics, several films , television programs, video games, roleplaying games and other media...
(1982) (with L. Sprague de CampL. Sprague de CampLyon Sprague de Camp was an American author of science fiction and fantasy books, non-fiction and biography. In a writing career spanning 60 years, he wrote over 100 books, including novels and notable works of non-fiction, including biographies of other important fantasy authors...
) - Sagas of ConanSagas of ConanSagas of Conan is a 2004 omnibus collection of three previously issued fantasy books written by L. Sprague de Camp, Lin Carter and Björn Nyberg featuring Robert E. Howard's seminal sword and sorcery hero Conan the Barbarian. It was first published in paperback by Tor Books.-Contents:*Conan the...
(2004) (with L. Sprague de CampL. Sprague de CampLyon Sprague de Camp was an American author of science fiction and fantasy books, non-fiction and biography. In a writing career spanning 60 years, he wrote over 100 books, including novels and notable works of non-fiction, including biographies of other important fantasy authors...
and Björn NybergBjörn NybergBjörn Emil Oscar Nyberg, born September 11, 1929, is a Swedish fantasy author best known for his additions to the series of Conan stories begun by Robert E. Howard. His primary contribution to the series was The Return of Conan , which was revised for publication by L. Sprague de Camp. He lives in...
)
The Chronicles of Kylix
- The Quest of KadjiThe Quest of KadjiThe Quest of Kadji is a fantasy novel written by Lin Carter, the first book in the Chronicles of Kylix series. It was first published in paperback by Belmont Books in July 1971, and was reprinted once by Belmont, in December 1972, and once by Borgo Press in December 1999...
(1971) - Amalric (unpublished in complete form)
- "The Higher Heresies of Oolimar" (1973)
- "The Curious Custom of the Turjan Seraad" (1976)
- The Wizard of Zao (1978)
- Kellory the Warlock (1984)
Gondwane
- The Warrior of World's End (1974)
- The Enchantress of World's End (1975)
- The Immortal of World's End (1976)
- The Barbarian of World's End (1977)
- The Pirate of World's End (1978)
- Giant of World's End (1969)
Terra Magica
- Kesrick (1982)
- Dragonrouge (1984)
- Mandricardo (1987)
- Callipygia (1988)
Oz
Published posthumously by Tails of the Cowardly Lion and Friends- The Tired Tailor of Oz (2001)
- The Merry Mountaineer of Oz (collection of four complete Oz novels: The Awful Ogre of Ogodown, High Times on Tip Top Mountain, The Wooden Soldier of Oz, No Joy in Mudville) (2004)
Other novels
- The Black Star (1973)
- Found Wanting (1985)
- Lost World of Time (1969)
- The Star Magicians (1966)
- Tara of the TwilightTara of the TwilightTara of the Twilight is a fantasy novel written by Lin Carter. It was first published in paperback by Zebra Books in October 1979.According to Carter's introductory note, Tara of the Twilight represents his attempt to combine the genre of sword and sorcery with pornographic fantasy...
(1979)
Collections
- King Kull (1967) (Robert E. HowardRobert E. HowardRobert Ervin Howard was an American author who wrote pulp fiction in a diverse range of genres. Best known for his character Conan the Barbarian, he is regarded as the father of the sword and sorcery subgenre....
) - Beyond the Gates of DreamBeyond the Gates of DreamBeyond the Gates of Dream is a collection of short stories by science fiction and fantasy author Lin Carter. It was first published in paperback by Belmont Books in 1969....
(Nordon Publications/Leisure Books, 1969)ISBN 0-8439-1082-8 - Lost Worlds (DAW Books, 1980)
- The Xothic Legend Cycle: The Complete Mythos Fiction of Lin CarterThe Xothic Legend Cycle: The Complete Mythos Fiction of Lin CarterThe Xothic Legend Cycle: The Complete Mythos Fiction of Lin Carter is a collection of horror short stories by science fiction and fantasy author Lin Carter, edited by Robert M. Price. It was first published as a trade paperback by Chaosium in 1997 as book 13 of the publisher's "Cthulhu Cycle" series...
(Chaosium, 1997) - Lin Carter's Anton Zarnak, Supernatural Sleuth. Edited by and with intro "The Many Incarnations of Anton Zarnak" by Robert M. PriceRobert M. PriceRobert McNair Price is an American theologian and writer. He teaches philosophy and religion at the Johnnie Colemon Theological Seminary, is professor of biblical criticism at the Center for Inquiry Institute, and the author of a number of books on theology and the historicity of Jesus, including...
. (Marietta Publishing, 2000). Collects Carter's three stories of this occult detectiveOccult detectiveOccult detective stories combine the tropes of the detective story with those of supernatural horror fiction. Unlike the traditional detective the occult detective is employed in cases involving ghosts, curses, and other supernatural elements...
character together with stories of Zarnak by other authors including Price, Joseph S. PulverJoseph S. PulverJoseph S. Pulver, Sr. is an author and poet, much of whose work falls within the horror fiction, noir fiction / hardboiled, and dark fantasy genres...
, Pierre Comtois, C.J. Henderson, John L. French and James Chambers.
Poetry
- Sandalwood and Jade: Poems of the Exotic and the Strange (St Petersburg, FL:Sign of the Centaur Press, 1951; 100 copies).
- Galleon of Dream: Poems of Fantasy and Wonder (NY: Sign of the Centaur Press, 1955; 200 copies)
- A Letter to Judith (New York, 1959; 500 copies).
- Dreams from R'lyehDreams from R'lyehDreams from R'lyeh is a collection of poems by Lin Carter. It was released in 1975 by Arkham House in an edition of 3,152 copies. It was Carter's only book published by Arkham House. The Sonnet Cycle, "Dreams from R'lyeh", that comprises the first two-thirds of the book, consists of poems...
(Arkham, 1975) - "Shadow Song" in Kotan September 1948, Vol. 1, No. 1. Edited by Gordon Mack, Jr.
Boardgames
- Royal Armies of the Hyborian Age: A Wargamers' Guide to the Age of Conan (with Scott Bizar). Fantasy Games Unlimited, 1975. Illustrated by Roy Krenkel.
Non-fiction
- Tolkien: A Look Behind "The Lord of the Rings" (1969) (Ballantine)
- Lovecraft: A Look Behind the Cthulhu MythosLovecraft: A Look Behind the Cthulhu MythosLovecraft: A Look Behind the "Cthulhu Mythos" is a 1972 non-fiction book written by Lin Carter, published by Ballantine Books. The introduction notes that the book "does not purport to be a biography of H. P...
(1972) (Ballantine) - Imaginary Worlds: the Art of FantasyImaginary Worlds: the Art of FantasyImaginary Worlds: the Art of Fantasy is a study of the modern literary fantasy genre written by Lin Carter. It was first published in paperback by Ballantine Books in June, 1973 as the fifty-eighth volume of its celebrated Ballantine Adult Fantasy series; it was the only nonfiction entry in the...
(1973) (Ballantine Adult Fantasy) - Middle-earth: The World of Tolkien Illustrated (text by Carter, paintings by David WenzelDavid WenzelDavid T. Wenzel is an illustrator and children's book artist. He is best known for his graphic novel adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit.-Biography:...
, 1977)
Ballantine Adult Fantasy series
- Dragons, Elves, and HeroesDragons, Elves, and HeroesDragons, Elves, and Heroes is an anthology of fantasy short stories, edited by Lin Carter. It was first published in paperback by Ballantine Books in October 1969 as the sixth volume of its celebrated Ballantine Adult Fantasy series...
(1969) - The Young MagiciansThe Young MagiciansThe Young Magicians is an anthology of fantasy short stories, edited by Lin Carter. It was first published in paperback by Ballantine Books in October 1969 as the seventh volume of its celebrated Ballantine Adult Fantasy series...
(1969) - Golden Cities, FarGolden Cities, FarGolden Cities, Far is an anthology of fantasy short stories, edited by Lin Carter. It was first published in paperback by Ballantine Books in October 1970 as the twenty-second volume of its celebrated Ballantine Adult Fantasy series...
(1970) - New Worlds for OldNew Worlds for OldNew Worlds for Old is an anthology of fantasy short stories, edited by Lin Carter. It was first published in paperback by Ballantine Books in September 1971 as the thirty-fifth volume of its celebrated Ballantine Adult Fantasy series...
(1971) - The Spawn of CthulhuThe Spawn of CthulhuThe Spawn of Cthulhu is an anthology of fantasy short stories, edited by Lin Carter. It was first published in paperback by Ballantine Books in October 1971 as the thirty-sixth volume of its celebrated Ballantine Adult Fantasy series...
(1971) French ed. as Les Adorateurs de Cthulhu, Champs-Élysées (Masque fantastique 12), 1979. - Discoveries in FantasyDiscoveries in FantasyDiscoveries in Fantasy is an anthology of fantasy short stories, edited by Lin Carter. It was first published in paperback by Ballantine Books in March 1972 as the forty-third volume of its celebrated Ballantine Adult Fantasy series...
(1972) - Great Short Novels of Adult Fantasy IGreat Short Novels of Adult Fantasy IGreat Short Novels of Adult Fantasy I is an anthology of fantasy novellas, edited by Lin Carter. It was first published in paperback by Ballantine Books as the fifty-second volume of its celebrated Ballantine Adult Fantasy series in September, 1972...
(1972) - Great Short Novels of Adult Fantasy Volume IIGreat Short Novels of Adult Fantasy Volume IIGreat Short Novels of Adult Fantasy Volume II is an anthology of fantasy novellas, edited by Lin Carter. It was first published in paperback by Ballantine Books as the fifty-sixth volume of its celebrated Ballantine Adult Fantasy series in March, 1973...
(1972)
Flashing Swords!
- Flashing Swords! #1Flashing Swords! 1Flashing Swords! #1 is an anthology of fantasy stories, edited by Lin Carter. It was first published in hardcover by Nelson Doubleday in April 1973 as a selection in its Science Fiction Book Club, and in paperback by Dell Books in July of the same year....
(1973) - Flashing Swords! #2Flashing Swords! 2Flashing Swords! #2 is an anthology of fantasy stories, edited by Lin Carter. It was first published in hardcover by Nelson Doubleday in 1973 as a selection in its Science Fiction Book Club and in paperback by Dell Books in February 1974....
(1973) - Flashing Swords! #3: Warriors and WizardsFlashing Swords! 3: Warriors and WizardsFlashing Swords! #3: Warriors and Wizards is an anthology of fantasy stories, edited by Lin Carter. It was first published in hardcover by Nelson Doubleday in 1976 as a selection in its Science Fiction Book Club, and in paperback by Dell Books in August 1976.The book collects five heroic fantasy...
(1976) - Flashing Swords! #4: Barbarians and Black MagiciansFlashing Swords! 4: Barbarians and Black MagiciansFlashing Swords! #4: Barbarians and Black Magicians is an anthology of fantasy stories, edited by Lin Carter. It was first published in hardcover by Nelson Doubleday in 1977 as a selection in its Science Fiction Book Club, and in paperback by Dell Books in November 1977.The book collects five...
(1977) - Flashing Swords! #5: Demons and DaggersFlashing Swords! 5: Demons and DaggersFlashing Swords! #5: Demons and Daggers is an anthology of fantasy stories, edited by Lin Carter. It was first published in hardcover by Nelson Doubleday in December 1981 as a selection in its Science Fiction Book Club, and in paperback by Dell Books simultaneously.The book collects five heroic...
(1977). Dell Books, 191 ISBN 0-440-12590-1
Weird Tales
- Weird Tales #1Weird Tales 1Weird Tales #1 is an anthology edited by Lin Carter, the first in his paperback revival of the classic fantasy and horror magazine Weird Tales. It is also numbered vol. 48, no. 1 in continuation of the numbering of the original magazine...
(Zebra Books, 1981) - Weird Tales #2Weird Tales 2Weird Tales #2 is an anthology edited by Lin Carter, the second in his paperback revival of the classic fantasy and horror magazine Weird Tales. It is also numbered vol. 48, no. 2 in continuation of the numbering of the original magazine...
(Zebra Books, 1981) - Weird Tales #3Weird Tales 3Weird Tales #3 is an anthology edited by Lin Carter, the third in his paperback revival of the classic fantasy and horror magazine Weird Tales...
(Zebra Books, 1981) - Weird Tales #4Weird Tales 4Weird Tales #4 is an anthology edited by Lin Carter, the fourth and last in his paperback revival of the classic fantasy and horror magazine Weird Tales...
(Zebra Books, 1983)
The Year's Best Fantasy Stories
- The Year's Best Fantasy StoriesThe Year's Best Fantasy StoriesThe Year's Best Fantasy Stories is a 1975 anthology of fantasy stories, edited by Lin Carter. It was first published in paperback by DAW Books...
(DAW Books, 1975) - The Year's Best Fantasy Stories: 2The Year's Best Fantasy Stories: 2The Year's Best Fantasy Stories: 2 is a 1976 anthology of fantasy stories, edited by Lin Carter. It was first published in paperback by DAW Books....
(DAW Books, 1976) - The Year's Best Fantasy Stories: 3The Year's Best Fantasy Stories: 3The Year's Best Fantasy Stories: 3 is a 1977 anthology of fantasy stories, edited by Lin Carter. It was first published in paperback by DAW Books....
(DAW Books, 1977) - The Year's Best Fantasy Stories: 4The Year's Best Fantasy Stories: 4The Year's Best Fantasy Stories: 4 is a 1978 anthology of fantasy stories, edited by Lin Carter. It was first published in paperback by DAW Books....
(DAW Books, 1978) - The Year's Best Fantasy Stories: 5The Year's Best Fantasy Stories: 5The Year's Best Fantasy Stories: 5 is an anthology of fantasy stories, edited by Lin Carter. It was first published in paperback by DAW Books in January, 1980...
(DAW Books1980) - The Year's Best Fantasy Stories: 6The Year's Best Fantasy Stories: 6The Year's Best Fantasy Stories: 6 is an anthology of fantasy stories, edited by Lin Carter. It was first published in paperback by DAW Books in November, 1980...
(DAW Books, 1980)
Other anthologies
- The Magic of AtlantisThe Magic of AtlantisThe Magic of Atlantis is an anthology of fantasy short stories, edited by Lin Carter. It was first published in paperback by Lancer Books in 1970....
(1970) - Kingdoms of SorceryKingdoms of SorceryKingdoms of Sorcery: An Anthology of Adult Fantasy is a 1976 anthology of fantasy stories, edited by Lin Carter. It was first published in hardcover by Doubleday....
(1976) - Realms of WizardryRealms of WizardryRealms of Wizardry: An Anthology of Adult Fantasy is a 1976 anthology of fantasy stories, edited by Lin Carter. It was first published in hardcover by Doubleday....
(1976)
External links
- In Memoriam Lin Carter 1930-1988, a tribute site by Ken St. AndreKen St. AndreKenneth Eugene St. Andre is a retired public librarian, fantasy author, and game designer, best known for his work with Tunnels & Trolls. He has been an active member of The Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America since 1989.-General information:St. Andre was born in Ogden, Utah. He lives...
- Barbarians of Lemuria, a free role-playing game set in the world of Carter's Thongor series.
- "Why Lin Carter's Name keeps Coming Up" by David Bruce Bozarth, http://www.erblist.com/erbmania/tangor/lincarter.html
- "My Life with Lin Carter" by Noel Vreeland Carter, http://www.beyond49.ca/Carter/noelcarter_trib.html
- Information on Thongor of Lemuria as a character in Marvel Comics adaptations http://www.marvunapp.com/Appendix/thongorlemuria.htm
- "An Unnatural History of Thongor's Lemuria" by Den Valdron http://www.erbzine.com/mag28/2856.html