Ylana of Callisto
Encyclopedia
Ylana 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. Its working title was evidently Jungle Maid of Callisto, as announced in Locus #198, January 30, 1977; the title actually used appears to be a nod to that of Edgar Rice Burroughs
's Llana of Gathol
, a book in the Barsoom
series that inspired Carter's Callisto books. The actual character of Ylana, however, was established in Mind Wizards of Callisto
, an earlier volume in the series. The novel includes an appendix ("The Men of Thanator") collating background information from this and previous volumes.
, in which most of the evil Mind Wizards threatening the Jovian moon of Callisto
, or Thanator, were wiped out in the climactic battle. One last survivor of the villainous band seizes as hostages Ylana the jungle girl and her lover Tomar, and flees to take refuge with the Cave People, a tribe dominated by his race. Together with Ylana's father, lately deposed as chief of the tribe, the two captives escape and head for the territory of the rival River People, pursued by a hunting party. Ylana is kidnapped by a River faction intent on fomenting war between the tribes, but the eventual conflict is limited to young malcontents from both, strengthening the power of the traditional authorities. The threat of the Mind Wizard is ended when he is devoured by a plesiosaur
, and all ends happily for Ylana and Tomar.
, [and] Carter makes a real effort to keep the pages turning. But sadly, he offers nothing new and nothing remarkable, [and] the plot is thin with complications literally shoehorned in."
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...
novel 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...
, the seventh in his Callisto series
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...
. It was first published in paperback by Dell Books in October 1977. Its working title was evidently Jungle Maid of Callisto, as announced in Locus #198, January 30, 1977; the title actually used appears to be a nod to that 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:...
's Llana of Gathol
Llana of Gathol
Llana of Gathol is an Edgar Rice Burroughs science fiction novel, the tenth of his famous Barsoom series. It consists of four stories that were originally published in Amazing Stories in 1941 . The first collected edition of Llana of Gathol was published in 1948...
, a book in the 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 that inspired Carter's Callisto books. The actual character of Ylana, however, was established in Mind Wizards of Callisto
Mind Wizards of Callisto
Mind 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...
, an earlier volume in the series. The novel includes an appendix ("The Men of Thanator") collating background information from this and previous volumes.
Plot summary
The storyline begins during events covered in the previous volume in the series, Lankar of CallistoLankar 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...
, in which most of the evil Mind Wizards threatening the Jovian moon of Callisto
Callisto (moon)
Callisto named after the Greek mythological figure of Callisto) is a moon of the planet Jupiter. It was discovered in 1610 by Galileo Galilei. It is the third-largest moon in the Solar System and the second largest in the Jovian system, after Ganymede. Callisto has about 99% the diameter of the...
, or Thanator, were wiped out in the climactic battle. One last survivor of the villainous band seizes as hostages Ylana the jungle girl and her lover Tomar, and flees to take refuge with the Cave People, a tribe dominated by his race. Together with Ylana's father, lately deposed as chief of the tribe, the two captives escape and head for the territory of the rival River People, pursued by a hunting party. Ylana is kidnapped by a River faction intent on fomenting war between the tribes, but the eventual conflict is limited to young malcontents from both, strengthening the power of the traditional authorities. The threat of the Mind Wizard is ended when he is devoured by a plesiosaur
Plesiosaur
Plesiosauroidea is an extinct clade of carnivorous plesiosaur marine reptiles. Plesiosauroids, are known from the Jurassic and Cretaceous Periods...
, and all ends happily for Ylana and Tomar.
Reception
According to Den Valdron, assessing the series in ERBzine, the book is "[b]etter than Lankar of CallistoLankar 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...
, [and] Carter makes a real effort to keep the pages turning. But sadly, he offers nothing new and nothing remarkable, [and] the plot is thin with complications literally shoehorned in."