Novelette
Number of words : 11800
Percent of complex words : 8.3
Average syllables per word : 1.4
Average words per sentence : 11.4
READABILITY INDICES
Fog : 7.9
Flesch : 75.6
Flesch-Kincaid : 5.5
PEOPLE
Eric John Stark
N'Chaka, Man-Without-a-Tribe.
Aarl
Lord of the Third Bend. The Lord of the Abyss. Martian wizard.
Shorr Khan
King of Aldeshar in the Marches.
Song Durr
A dodgy bloke on Aldeshar.
Flane Fell
King of Tranett.
Kan Martan
One of the Lords of the Marches.
Narin Har
Chief of the joint scientific mission against the new creature.
Jhal Arn
Ruler of the Mid-Galactic Empire.
PLACES
Great Rift Valley
On Mars.
Sinharat
Ancient Martian city.
Algol
A star.
Beteleguse
A star.
Marches of Outer Space
Holds a number of the smaller star-kingdoms.
Aldeshar
A star in the Marches.
Altoh
Throne world of Aldeshar.
Donalyr
Capital of Altoh.
Strior
A planet.
Naroten
A planet.
Dendrid's Veil
A dark nebula.
Tranett
A sun.
Maktoo
A sun.
The Twins of Keldar
Suns.
Ceidri
The farthest inhabited world known.
Vega
A star-system. Has a great computer.
Rigel
A star-system. Has a great computer.
Fomalhaut
A star-system. Has a great computer.
Deneb
A star-system.
Altair
A star-system.
Antares
A star-system.
Lyra
A star-system.
Cygnus
A star-system.
Cassiopeia
A star-system.
Lepus
A star-system.
Corvus
A star-system.
Orion
A star-system.
Kesh
Martian drylands area.
Shun
Martian drylands area.
RACES
Ramas
Nearly-immortal Martians with whom Stark had once done battle in the dead city of Sinharat.
Ceidrins
People of Ceidri. Small, dark and furry.
Creature
A new being. A giant space entity of enormous power.
ORGANISATIONS
Star Kings
Men who rule a future universe.
Lords of the Marches
Rulers of the Marches region of space.
Barons of Hercules
Rulers of the Hercules cluster.
TECHNOLOGY
Helix
Amplifies Aarl's mental powers.
FTL drive
Allows travel at greater than the speed of light.
Antimatter
Possible useful for destroying young giant godlike space entities.
CONCEPTS
Dendrid
The Goddess of Death.
Galactic Arbitrary Time
Used to co-ordinate across multiple planets.
VEHICLES
Hover-cars
Flying personal transport.
Phantom scout
A fast ship.
PLOT
Aarl summons Stark, who agrees. He tells him that he is needed to help stop a great menace, and build and alliance with Shorr Khan. Something that Stark is definitely good at.
So he ends up 200,000 years in the future thanks to Aarl. He bears witness to a huge new space entity that he feels is godlike, upon contact. However, it is a stellar scale menace in this nebula void, and the Star Kings agree to try and remove it.
Stark thinks it was wrong, but Aarl reminds him survival is the higher law, and man won, here.
3.5 out of 5
http://www.webscription.net/chapters/1893887162/1893887162___1.htm
Showing posts with label eric john stark. Show all posts
Showing posts with label eric john stark. Show all posts
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
The Reavers of Skaith - Leigh Brackett
Novel
Number of words : 60000
Percent of complex words : 6.9
Average syllables per word : 1.4
Average words per sentence : 12.7
READABILITY INDICES
Fog : 7.8
Flesch : 75.7
Flesch-Kincaid : 5.9
PEOPLE
Eric John Stark
N'Chaka, wild man of Mercury. The Dark Man of prophecy.
Simon Ashton
Stark's mentor and father figure. Reunited after finding him on Skaith, and now Stark's counsel.
Gelmar
Chief Wandsman of Skeg.
Baya
A Farer woman working for Gelmar. Hates Stark deeply.
Gerrith
Wise woman of Irnan, and prophet.
Yarrod
An Irnanese leader and martyr. Now a rallying cry for his people in battle.
Breca
Halk's shieldmate, slain in battle.
Halk
An apostate Wandsman, now with Yarrow, a warrior. Breca's shieldmate.
Mordach
Chief Wandsman of Irnan.
Kazimni
An Irnan military leader.
Hargoth
Priest-king of the Towers. The Corn King.
Kell a Marg
A leader of the Children of Skaith-Our-Mother. The Skaith-Daughter.
Gerd
The leader of the Northhounds with Stark.
Ferdias
One of the Lords Protector.
Klatlekt
Hairless, horny, four-armed and tentacled doorkeeper of the Fallarin.
Alderyk
King of the Fallarin.
Houndmaster
Keeper of the Northhounds at Yurunna.
Grith
One of Stark's Northhounds.
Tuchvar
From Tregad, an apprentice houndmaster.
Pedrallon
A red Wandsman Coordinator, disgraced for being pro-migration. In captivity and despair.
Sabak
Ildann's son.
Delvor
Warlord of Tregad.
Sanghalain
Ruler of Iubar, in the White South.
Morn
Comrade of Sanghalain, has the mind-touch.
Jal Bartha
A Wandsman.
Llandric
A Wandsman of Pedrallon's.
Penkawr-Che
A raider ship captain. An Antarean.
Gorrel
One of the Lords Protector. Dying.
Norverann
Priestess of the Nithi.
Cethlin
The Bridegroom.
Ceidrin
Cethlin's brother.
Ironmaster
Thyran warleader.
Vaybars
Fallarin friend of Alderyk.
Delbane
Oldest of the Kings of the White Islands.
Aud
Youngest of the Kings of the White Islands.
Wendor
An Irnan man.
PLACES
Pax
The chief habitable planet of Vega.
Skaith
A newly discovered world in the Orion Spur, with a dying sun.
Skeg
The spaceport on Skaith.
Fertile Belt
Most of the Skaith population live past here.
The Barrens
Area of Skaith interior.
Worldheart
Where lies the Citadel of the Lords Protector.
Irnan
A city-state of Skaith in the temperate zone.
Izvand
A city in the Barrens.
Bleak Mountains
A large range.
Witchfires
Mountain range near Thyra.
House of the Mother
Children of Skaith-Our-Mother dwelling.
The Citadel
Dwelling of the Lords Protector. Now a smoking ruin.
Yurunna
A strong city. Where the Yur are bred, and other mutations.
Ged Darod
City of the Wandsmen.
The Place of Winds
Where the Fallarin live.
Tregad
A city-state, east of Irnan and north of Ged Darod.
Iubar
A City-state.
Sol One
Mercury.
Andapell
Pedrallon's city.
Plain of Worldheart
Where Penkawr-Che held Stark captive.
Leaning Man
A rock formation.
Thermal Pits
Near the Witchfires.
House of Winter
Nithi ritual dwelling.
Thyra
Skaith city-state.
Cereleng
Chief seaport and capital of Andapell.
Hall of Joyful Rest
Inside the Children of Skaith's House.
Sea of Skorva
Where the Izvand live. Froze early.
Palace of the Twelve
Seat of authority in Ged Darod.
Shallafonh
City of the Ssussminh.
Holy Isle
Of the White Islanders, a giant iceberg.
Sun Temple
In Ged Darod.
Temple of the Dark Goddess
In Ged Darod.
Hercules Cluster
Site of a ship battle between the Union and Penkawr-Che's raiders.
CONCEPTS
Galactic Union
A democratic federation of star-worlds flung across half the Milky Way.
Three Ladies
A constellation viewed from Skaith.
Strayer
A god with a hammer.
Flying Dutchman
A mythical ghost ship.
Second Wandering
Current upheaval on Skaith.
The Trinity
My lady Cold and her lord Darkness, and their daughter Hunger.
Universal
Galactic common language.
ORGANISATIONS
Ministry of Planetary Affairs
Simon Ashton's employer on Pax.
Galactic Center
Based at Pax.
Lords Protector
Skaith Rulers. Heads of the Wandsmen.
Wild Bands
Groups of bandits.
Diviners
Children of Skaith-Our-Mother priests.
Lesser Hearths of the Seven Hearths of Kheb
A suffering group of lesser tribes.
Guild of Masons
Children of Skaith builders.
Four Kings
Rulers of the White Islands.
RACES
Harsenyi
Nomads.
Farers
Wanderers and hedonists.
Children of the Sea-Our-Mother
Ocean dwellers that find people tasty. A genetic hybrid experiment that is reverting.
Little Sisters of the Sun
Desert altered humans.
Children of Skaith-Our-Mother
White furred people, genetically modified.
Wandsmen
The ruling class of Skaith.
Irnan
One of the migrating peoples. Have applied to emigrate off the dying planet via the Galactic Union.
The Ochar
A once powerful tribe. The First-Come.
The Fallarin
A winged people created through mutation. Flightless, but psychokinetic.
Hann
A Lesser Hearth tribe.
Marag
A Lesser Hearth tribe.
Kref
A Lesser Hearth tribe.
Thuran
A Lesser Hearth tribe.
Qard
A Lesser Hearth tribe.
Thorn
A Lesser Hearth tribe.
The Nithi
A tribe of goddess worshippers.
People of the Towers
Hargoth's sorcerer-priests.
Ssussminh
Morn's telepathic people.
People of the White Islands
Desperate and very martial tribe.
ANIMALS
Northhounds
Large intelligent telepathic canines.
Tarf
Servants of the Fallarin.
TECHNOLOGY
Water of Vision
An Irnan tool of foresight.
Tlun
A mind-expanding drug.
Robe and the Crown
Destroyed Irnan tool of Gerrith's.
The finger-bones of the Spring Child
People of the Towers divination device.
MEDIA
Hymn of Life
Song of the Little Sisters of the Sun.
Hymn of Deliverance
Song of the People of the Towers.
VEHICLES
Planet hopper
Small transport craft from a spaceship used for in-atmosphere travel.
Arkeshti
Penkawr-Che's ship.
The book starts with a betrayal, that of the raider Penkawr-Che's. Rather than ferry Ashton to the Galactic Union, he has sold him and Stark both into captivity. So yet again Stark has to try and escape and build alliances that can hold together the cities he has taken for the rebels and others.
This time, as the title suggests, he leads his band of followers by sea, to Pedrallon's home and the white islands.
Meanwhile, all is converging on Ged Daron as the planet cools, and crops fail.
Gerrith's final sacrifice gives a boost to the pro-migration force when they need it, and Stark still commands the Northhounds left alive. He has to take the city of the Wandsmen fast, before all the technology that can communicate with the starships leaving the spaceport is destroyed, leaving them all doomed.
4 out of 5
Number of words : 60000
Percent of complex words : 6.9
Average syllables per word : 1.4
Average words per sentence : 12.7
READABILITY INDICES
Fog : 7.8
Flesch : 75.7
Flesch-Kincaid : 5.9
PEOPLE
Eric John Stark
N'Chaka, wild man of Mercury. The Dark Man of prophecy.
Simon Ashton
Stark's mentor and father figure. Reunited after finding him on Skaith, and now Stark's counsel.
Gelmar
Chief Wandsman of Skeg.
Baya
A Farer woman working for Gelmar. Hates Stark deeply.
Gerrith
Wise woman of Irnan, and prophet.
Yarrod
An Irnanese leader and martyr. Now a rallying cry for his people in battle.
Breca
Halk's shieldmate, slain in battle.
Halk
An apostate Wandsman, now with Yarrow, a warrior. Breca's shieldmate.
Mordach
Chief Wandsman of Irnan.
Kazimni
An Irnan military leader.
Hargoth
Priest-king of the Towers. The Corn King.
Kell a Marg
A leader of the Children of Skaith-Our-Mother. The Skaith-Daughter.
Gerd
The leader of the Northhounds with Stark.
Ferdias
One of the Lords Protector.
Klatlekt
Hairless, horny, four-armed and tentacled doorkeeper of the Fallarin.
Alderyk
King of the Fallarin.
Houndmaster
Keeper of the Northhounds at Yurunna.
Grith
One of Stark's Northhounds.
Tuchvar
From Tregad, an apprentice houndmaster.
Pedrallon
A red Wandsman Coordinator, disgraced for being pro-migration. In captivity and despair.
Sabak
Ildann's son.
Delvor
Warlord of Tregad.
Sanghalain
Ruler of Iubar, in the White South.
Morn
Comrade of Sanghalain, has the mind-touch.
Jal Bartha
A Wandsman.
Llandric
A Wandsman of Pedrallon's.
Penkawr-Che
A raider ship captain. An Antarean.
Gorrel
One of the Lords Protector. Dying.
Norverann
Priestess of the Nithi.
Cethlin
The Bridegroom.
Ceidrin
Cethlin's brother.
Ironmaster
Thyran warleader.
Vaybars
Fallarin friend of Alderyk.
Delbane
Oldest of the Kings of the White Islands.
Aud
Youngest of the Kings of the White Islands.
Wendor
An Irnan man.
PLACES
Pax
The chief habitable planet of Vega.
Skaith
A newly discovered world in the Orion Spur, with a dying sun.
Skeg
The spaceport on Skaith.
Fertile Belt
Most of the Skaith population live past here.
The Barrens
Area of Skaith interior.
Worldheart
Where lies the Citadel of the Lords Protector.
Irnan
A city-state of Skaith in the temperate zone.
Izvand
A city in the Barrens.
Bleak Mountains
A large range.
Witchfires
Mountain range near Thyra.
House of the Mother
Children of Skaith-Our-Mother dwelling.
The Citadel
Dwelling of the Lords Protector. Now a smoking ruin.
Yurunna
A strong city. Where the Yur are bred, and other mutations.
Ged Darod
City of the Wandsmen.
The Place of Winds
Where the Fallarin live.
Tregad
A city-state, east of Irnan and north of Ged Darod.
Iubar
A City-state.
Sol One
Mercury.
Andapell
Pedrallon's city.
Plain of Worldheart
Where Penkawr-Che held Stark captive.
Leaning Man
A rock formation.
Thermal Pits
Near the Witchfires.
House of Winter
Nithi ritual dwelling.
Thyra
Skaith city-state.
Cereleng
Chief seaport and capital of Andapell.
Hall of Joyful Rest
Inside the Children of Skaith's House.
Sea of Skorva
Where the Izvand live. Froze early.
Palace of the Twelve
Seat of authority in Ged Darod.
Shallafonh
City of the Ssussminh.
Holy Isle
Of the White Islanders, a giant iceberg.
Sun Temple
In Ged Darod.
Temple of the Dark Goddess
In Ged Darod.
Hercules Cluster
Site of a ship battle between the Union and Penkawr-Che's raiders.
CONCEPTS
Galactic Union
A democratic federation of star-worlds flung across half the Milky Way.
Three Ladies
A constellation viewed from Skaith.
Strayer
A god with a hammer.
Flying Dutchman
A mythical ghost ship.
Second Wandering
Current upheaval on Skaith.
The Trinity
My lady Cold and her lord Darkness, and their daughter Hunger.
Universal
Galactic common language.
ORGANISATIONS
Ministry of Planetary Affairs
Simon Ashton's employer on Pax.
Galactic Center
Based at Pax.
Lords Protector
Skaith Rulers. Heads of the Wandsmen.
Wild Bands
Groups of bandits.
Diviners
Children of Skaith-Our-Mother priests.
Lesser Hearths of the Seven Hearths of Kheb
A suffering group of lesser tribes.
Guild of Masons
Children of Skaith builders.
Four Kings
Rulers of the White Islands.
RACES
Harsenyi
Nomads.
Farers
Wanderers and hedonists.
Children of the Sea-Our-Mother
Ocean dwellers that find people tasty. A genetic hybrid experiment that is reverting.
Little Sisters of the Sun
Desert altered humans.
Children of Skaith-Our-Mother
White furred people, genetically modified.
Wandsmen
The ruling class of Skaith.
Irnan
One of the migrating peoples. Have applied to emigrate off the dying planet via the Galactic Union.
The Ochar
A once powerful tribe. The First-Come.
The Fallarin
A winged people created through mutation. Flightless, but psychokinetic.
Hann
A Lesser Hearth tribe.
Marag
A Lesser Hearth tribe.
Kref
A Lesser Hearth tribe.
Thuran
A Lesser Hearth tribe.
Qard
A Lesser Hearth tribe.
Thorn
A Lesser Hearth tribe.
The Nithi
A tribe of goddess worshippers.
People of the Towers
Hargoth's sorcerer-priests.
Ssussminh
Morn's telepathic people.
People of the White Islands
Desperate and very martial tribe.
ANIMALS
Northhounds
Large intelligent telepathic canines.
Tarf
Servants of the Fallarin.
TECHNOLOGY
Water of Vision
An Irnan tool of foresight.
Tlun
A mind-expanding drug.
Robe and the Crown
Destroyed Irnan tool of Gerrith's.
The finger-bones of the Spring Child
People of the Towers divination device.
MEDIA
Hymn of Life
Song of the Little Sisters of the Sun.
Hymn of Deliverance
Song of the People of the Towers.
VEHICLES
Planet hopper
Small transport craft from a spaceship used for in-atmosphere travel.
Arkeshti
Penkawr-Che's ship.
The book starts with a betrayal, that of the raider Penkawr-Che's. Rather than ferry Ashton to the Galactic Union, he has sold him and Stark both into captivity. So yet again Stark has to try and escape and build alliances that can hold together the cities he has taken for the rebels and others.
This time, as the title suggests, he leads his band of followers by sea, to Pedrallon's home and the white islands.
Meanwhile, all is converging on Ged Daron as the planet cools, and crops fail.
Gerrith's final sacrifice gives a boost to the pro-migration force when they need it, and Stark still commands the Northhounds left alive. He has to take the city of the Wandsmen fast, before all the technology that can communicate with the starships leaving the spaceport is destroyed, leaving them all doomed.
4 out of 5
Sunday, June 6, 2010
The Hounds of Skaith - Leigh Brackett
Novel
Number of words : 60000
Percent of complex words : 6.7
Average syllables per word : 1.4
Average words per sentence : 11.7
READABILITY INDICES
Fog : 7.4
Flesch : 77.8
Flesch-Kincaid : 5.3
PEOPLE
Eric John Stark
N'Chaka, wild man of Mercury. The Dark Man of prophecy.
Simon Ashton
Stark's mentor and father figure. Reunited after finding him on Skaith.
Gelmar
Chief Wandsman of Skeg.
Baya
A Farer woman working for Gelmar.
Gerrith
Wise woman of Irnan, and prophet.
Yarrod
An Irnanese leader and martyr.
Breca
Halk's shieldmate, slain in battle.
Halk
An apostate Wandsman, now with Yarrow, a warrior. Breca's shieldmate.
Mordach
Chief Wandsman of Irnan.
Jerann
Irnan Council chief.
Kazimni
An Irnan military leader.
Amnir
A Komrey trader, that died in conflict with Stark.
Hargoth
Priest-king of the Towers.
Vasth
A Wandsman.
Kell a Marg
A leader of the Children of Skaith-Our-Mother. The Skaith-Daughter.
Fenn
One of the Children of Skaith-Our-Mother. A courtier.
Ferdic
One of the Children of Skaith-Our-Mother. A courtier.
Flay
The old Northhound king-dog.
Gerd
The leader of the Northhounds with Stark.
Ferdias
One of the Lords Protector.
Yetko
An Harsenyi.
Ekmal
An Ochar chief.
Jofr
Ekmal's son.
Ildann
Hearth-Keeper of the Hann.
Romek
Keeper of the Hearth of Ochar.
Klatlekt
Hairless, horny, four-armed and tentacled doorkeeper of the Fallarin.
Alderyk
King of the Fallarin.
Houndmaster
Keeper of the Northhounds at Yurunna.
Mika
The Houndmaster's favorite bitch.
Grith
One of Stark's Northhounds.
Tuchvar
From Tregad, an apprentice houndmaster.
Varik
A Farer boy.
Pedrallon
A red Wandsman Coordinator, disgraced for being pro-migration.
Sabak
Ildann's son.
Clain
A red Wandsman.
Delvor
Warlord of Tregad.
Welnic
Red Wandsman of Tregad.
Sanghalain
Ruler of Iubar, in the White South.
Morn
Comrade of Sanghalain, has the mind-touch.
Jal Bartha
A Wandsman.
Llandric
A Wandsman of Pedrallon's.
Penkawr-Che
A ship captain.
PLACES
Pax
The chief habitable planet of Vega.
Pax
The major city of the chief habitable planet of Vega.
Twilight Belt
Habitable zone on Mercury.
Skaith
A newly discovered world in the Orion Spur.
Skeg
The spaceport on Skaith.
Fertile Belt
Most of the Skaith population live past here.
The Barrens
Area of Skaith interior.
Worldheart
Where lies the Citadel of the Lords Protector.
Irnan
A city-state of Skaith in the temperate zone.
Izvand
A city in the Barrens.
Komrey
City-state of Skaith.
Bleak Mountains
A large range.
Witchfires
Mountain range near Thyra.
House of the Mother
Children of Skaith-Our-Mother dwelling.
The Citadel
Dwelling of the Lords Protector. Now a smoking ruin.
Yurunna
A strong city. Where the Yur are bred, and other mutations.
Orion Spur
Largely unexplored area of the galaxy.
Ged Darod
City of the Wandsmen.
Hearth of Hann
Where the Hann live.
Ennaker
Skaith name for a Star also called Fregor by those that live on its third world, and Chunt.
The Place of Winds
Where the Fallarin live.
Tears of Lek
A lake.
Tregad
A city-state, east of Irnan and north of Ged Darod.
Greath Sea of Skaith
An ocean to the south.
Iubar
A City-state.
CONCEPTS
Galactic Union
A democratic federation of star-worlds flung across half the Milky Way.
Three Ladies
A constellation viewed from Skaith.
Great Migrations
People moving because of the changing conditions on Skaith.
Dark Goddess
Deity worshipped by the Outdwellers.
Great Wandering
When more of Skaith was nomadic.
Strayer
A god with a hammer.
Skaith-Mother, Sea-Mother, Sky-Father
Skaith deities.
ORGANISATIONS
Ministry of Planetary Affairs
Simon Ashton's employer on Pax.
Mercury Metals and Mining
Stark's parents worked here when they were killed.
Galactic Center
Based at Pax.
Lords Protector
Skaith Rulers. Heads of the Wandsmen.
Wild Bands
Groups of bandits.
Diviners
Children of Skaith-Our-Mother priests.
Earth Police Control
Ashton's old employer when he found Stark as a boy.
Lesser Hearths of the Seven Hearths of Kheb
A suffering group of lesser tribes.
RACES
Harsenyi
Nomads.
Farers
Wanderers and hedonists.
Children of the Sea-Our-Mother
Ocean dwellers that find people tasty. A genetic hybrid experiment that is reverting.
Little Sisters of the Sun
Desert altered humans.
Children of Skaith-Our-Mother
White furred people, genetically modified.
Wandsmen
The ruling class of Skaith.
Irnan
One of the migrating peoples. Have applied to emigrate off the dying planet via the Galactic Union.
The Ochar
A powerful tribe. The First-Come.
Yur
The Well-Created. Strangely modified beings.
The Fallarin
A winged people created through mutation. Flightless, but psychokinetic.
Hann
A Lesser Hearth tribe.
Marag
A Lesser Hearth tribe.
Kref
A Lesser Hearth tribe.
Thuran
A Lesser Hearth tribe.
Qard
A Lesser Hearth tribe.
Thorn
A Lesser Hearth tribe.
ANIMALS
Northhounds
Large intelligent telepathic canines.
Runners
Monsters that prey on people in the desert storms, very strong.
Swiftwing
Sky-piercer. Wind-rider. Lightning-brother. A bird of war.
Tarf
Servants of the Fallarin.
TECHNOLOGY
Water of Vision
An Irnan tool of foresight.
MEDIA
Hymn of Life
Song of the Little Sisters of the Sun.
VEHICLES
Planet hopper
Small transport craft from a spaceship used for in atmosphere travel.
Arkeshti
Penkawr-Che's ship.
The second part of the Skaith trilogy follow directly from the first. Stark has turned the Citadel of the Lords Protector into a flaming ruin, and now leads a pack of Northounds - the most powerful creatures on the planet. With Ashton at this side this allows him to attempt to put together more forces and alliances that can oppose the Wandsmen and their feudal grasp on power.
He travels to other places than in the first, to the tribes of the Lesser Hearths, and the Fallarin, and uses some lateral thrinking to help the former take down the Ochar, who work for the Wandsmen.
With new allies, he also has to break the hold the centre for mutation Yurunna has.
Finally, he needs to get Ashton off planet, with some envoys, to try and get some high tech aide via politics, in case things turn ugly back on Skaith, where he has decided to stay.
4.5 out of 5
Number of words : 60000
Percent of complex words : 6.7
Average syllables per word : 1.4
Average words per sentence : 11.7
READABILITY INDICES
Fog : 7.4
Flesch : 77.8
Flesch-Kincaid : 5.3
PEOPLE
Eric John Stark
N'Chaka, wild man of Mercury. The Dark Man of prophecy.
Simon Ashton
Stark's mentor and father figure. Reunited after finding him on Skaith.
Gelmar
Chief Wandsman of Skeg.
Baya
A Farer woman working for Gelmar.
Gerrith
Wise woman of Irnan, and prophet.
Yarrod
An Irnanese leader and martyr.
Breca
Halk's shieldmate, slain in battle.
Halk
An apostate Wandsman, now with Yarrow, a warrior. Breca's shieldmate.
Mordach
Chief Wandsman of Irnan.
Jerann
Irnan Council chief.
Kazimni
An Irnan military leader.
Amnir
A Komrey trader, that died in conflict with Stark.
Hargoth
Priest-king of the Towers.
Vasth
A Wandsman.
Kell a Marg
A leader of the Children of Skaith-Our-Mother. The Skaith-Daughter.
Fenn
One of the Children of Skaith-Our-Mother. A courtier.
Ferdic
One of the Children of Skaith-Our-Mother. A courtier.
Flay
The old Northhound king-dog.
Gerd
The leader of the Northhounds with Stark.
Ferdias
One of the Lords Protector.
Yetko
An Harsenyi.
Ekmal
An Ochar chief.
Jofr
Ekmal's son.
Ildann
Hearth-Keeper of the Hann.
Romek
Keeper of the Hearth of Ochar.
Klatlekt
Hairless, horny, four-armed and tentacled doorkeeper of the Fallarin.
Alderyk
King of the Fallarin.
Houndmaster
Keeper of the Northhounds at Yurunna.
Mika
The Houndmaster's favorite bitch.
Grith
One of Stark's Northhounds.
Tuchvar
From Tregad, an apprentice houndmaster.
Varik
A Farer boy.
Pedrallon
A red Wandsman Coordinator, disgraced for being pro-migration.
Sabak
Ildann's son.
Clain
A red Wandsman.
Delvor
Warlord of Tregad.
Welnic
Red Wandsman of Tregad.
Sanghalain
Ruler of Iubar, in the White South.
Morn
Comrade of Sanghalain, has the mind-touch.
Jal Bartha
A Wandsman.
Llandric
A Wandsman of Pedrallon's.
Penkawr-Che
A ship captain.
PLACES
Pax
The chief habitable planet of Vega.
Pax
The major city of the chief habitable planet of Vega.
Twilight Belt
Habitable zone on Mercury.
Skaith
A newly discovered world in the Orion Spur.
Skeg
The spaceport on Skaith.
Fertile Belt
Most of the Skaith population live past here.
The Barrens
Area of Skaith interior.
Worldheart
Where lies the Citadel of the Lords Protector.
Irnan
A city-state of Skaith in the temperate zone.
Izvand
A city in the Barrens.
Komrey
City-state of Skaith.
Bleak Mountains
A large range.
Witchfires
Mountain range near Thyra.
House of the Mother
Children of Skaith-Our-Mother dwelling.
The Citadel
Dwelling of the Lords Protector. Now a smoking ruin.
Yurunna
A strong city. Where the Yur are bred, and other mutations.
Orion Spur
Largely unexplored area of the galaxy.
Ged Darod
City of the Wandsmen.
Hearth of Hann
Where the Hann live.
Ennaker
Skaith name for a Star also called Fregor by those that live on its third world, and Chunt.
The Place of Winds
Where the Fallarin live.
Tears of Lek
A lake.
Tregad
A city-state, east of Irnan and north of Ged Darod.
Greath Sea of Skaith
An ocean to the south.
Iubar
A City-state.
CONCEPTS
Galactic Union
A democratic federation of star-worlds flung across half the Milky Way.
Three Ladies
A constellation viewed from Skaith.
Great Migrations
People moving because of the changing conditions on Skaith.
Dark Goddess
Deity worshipped by the Outdwellers.
Great Wandering
When more of Skaith was nomadic.
Strayer
A god with a hammer.
Skaith-Mother, Sea-Mother, Sky-Father
Skaith deities.
ORGANISATIONS
Ministry of Planetary Affairs
Simon Ashton's employer on Pax.
Mercury Metals and Mining
Stark's parents worked here when they were killed.
Galactic Center
Based at Pax.
Lords Protector
Skaith Rulers. Heads of the Wandsmen.
Wild Bands
Groups of bandits.
Diviners
Children of Skaith-Our-Mother priests.
Earth Police Control
Ashton's old employer when he found Stark as a boy.
Lesser Hearths of the Seven Hearths of Kheb
A suffering group of lesser tribes.
RACES
Harsenyi
Nomads.
Farers
Wanderers and hedonists.
Children of the Sea-Our-Mother
Ocean dwellers that find people tasty. A genetic hybrid experiment that is reverting.
Little Sisters of the Sun
Desert altered humans.
Children of Skaith-Our-Mother
White furred people, genetically modified.
Wandsmen
The ruling class of Skaith.
Irnan
One of the migrating peoples. Have applied to emigrate off the dying planet via the Galactic Union.
The Ochar
A powerful tribe. The First-Come.
Yur
The Well-Created. Strangely modified beings.
The Fallarin
A winged people created through mutation. Flightless, but psychokinetic.
Hann
A Lesser Hearth tribe.
Marag
A Lesser Hearth tribe.
Kref
A Lesser Hearth tribe.
Thuran
A Lesser Hearth tribe.
Qard
A Lesser Hearth tribe.
Thorn
A Lesser Hearth tribe.
ANIMALS
Northhounds
Large intelligent telepathic canines.
Runners
Monsters that prey on people in the desert storms, very strong.
Swiftwing
Sky-piercer. Wind-rider. Lightning-brother. A bird of war.
Tarf
Servants of the Fallarin.
TECHNOLOGY
Water of Vision
An Irnan tool of foresight.
MEDIA
Hymn of Life
Song of the Little Sisters of the Sun.
VEHICLES
Planet hopper
Small transport craft from a spaceship used for in atmosphere travel.
Arkeshti
Penkawr-Che's ship.
The second part of the Skaith trilogy follow directly from the first. Stark has turned the Citadel of the Lords Protector into a flaming ruin, and now leads a pack of Northounds - the most powerful creatures on the planet. With Ashton at this side this allows him to attempt to put together more forces and alliances that can oppose the Wandsmen and their feudal grasp on power.
He travels to other places than in the first, to the tribes of the Lesser Hearths, and the Fallarin, and uses some lateral thrinking to help the former take down the Ochar, who work for the Wandsmen.
With new allies, he also has to break the hold the centre for mutation Yurunna has.
Finally, he needs to get Ashton off planet, with some envoys, to try and get some high tech aide via politics, in case things turn ugly back on Skaith, where he has decided to stay.
4.5 out of 5
The Ginger Star - Leigh Brackett
Novel
Number of words : 55000
Percent of complex words : 6.7
Average syllables per word : 1.4
Average words per sentence : 11.0
READABILITY INDICES
Fog : 7.1
Flesch : 77.8
Flesch-Kincaid : 5.1
PEOPLE
Eric John Stark
N'Chaka, wild man of Mercury. The Dark Man of prophecy.
Simon Ashton
Stark's mentor and father figure. Missing in the field.
Gelmar
Chief Wandsman of Skeg.
Baya
A Farer woman working for Gelmar.
Gerrith
Wise woman of Irnan, and prophet. The Sun Woman.
Yarrod
An Irnanese leader who helps Stark.
Breca
A warrior in Yarrow's fake Pod. Halk's shieldmate.
Halk
An apostate Wandsman, now with Yarrow, a warrior. Breca's shieldmate.
Mordach
Chief Wandsman of Irnan.
Jerann
Irnan Council chief.
Kazimni
An Irnan military leader.
Old One
Elder of Stark's boyhood tribe on Mercury.
Atril
One of Yarrow's men. Wake's brother.
Wake
One of Yarrow's men. Atril's brother.
Amnir
A Komrey trader.
Hargoth
Priest-king of the Towers.
Kintoth
Towers fighting captain.
Slee
An Outdweller woman.
Slaifed
An Outdweller guide.
Ironmaster
Leader in the Iron House.
Vasth
A Wandsman.
Kell a Marg
A leader of the Children of Skaith-Our-Mother. The Skaith-Daughter.
Fenn
One of the Children of Skaith-Our-Mother.
Ferdic
One of the Children of Skaith-Our-Mother.
Flay
The old head Northhound.
Gerd
A young Northhound.
Ferdias
One of the Lords Protector.
PLACES
Pax
The chief habitable planet of Vega.
Pax
The major city of the chief habitable planet of Vega.
Twilight Belt
Habitable zone on Mercury.
Skaith
A newly discovered world in the Orion Spur.
Skeg
The spaceport on Skaith.
Fertile Belt
Most of the Skaith population live past here.
The Barrens
Area of Skaith.
Worldheart
Where lies the Citadel of the Lords Protector.
Irnan
A city-state of Skaith in the temperate zone.
Izvand
A city in the Barrens.
Lamp of the North
Moon of Skaith.
Komrey
City-state of Skaith.
Thyra
A Skaith city near the Witchfires.
Bleak Mountains
A large range.
Witchfires
Mountain range near Thyra.
Iron House
Thyran dwelling of authority.
House of the Mother
Children of Skaith-Our-Mother dwelling.
Tlavia
Queen City of the High North before the Wandering.
Plain of Worldheart
Where the Northhounds prowl.
CONCEPTS
Galactic Union
A democratic federation of star-worlds flung across half the Milky Way.
Galactic Arbitrary Time
A standard reference for use on multiple planets.
Three Ladies
A constellation viewed from Skaith.
Great Migrations
People moving because of the changing conditions on Skaith.
Pod
A collection of people so thoroughly sensitized by a species of group therapy that they no longer existed as individuals but only as interdependent parts of a
single organism.
Total Fulfillment
Endgame desire of Pods.
Pod-Master
Trainer of Pods.
Darkness, and his lady Cold, and their daughter Hunger
Tower deities.
Winter Dreaming
Towers ritual.
Dark Goddess
Deity worshipped by the Outdwellers.
Great Wandering
When more of Skaith was nomadic.
ORGANISATIONS
Ministry of Planetary Affairs
Simon Ashton's employer on Pax.
Mercury Metals and Mining
Stark's parents worked here when they were killed.
Galactic Center
Based at Pax.
Lords Protector
Skaith Rulers.
Wild Bands
Groups of bandits.
Diviners
Children of Skaith-Our-Mother priests.
Earth Police Control
Ashton's old employer when he found Stark as a boy.
RACES
Harsenyi
Nomads.
Outdwellers
Iron-clawed beastly band near Thyra.
People of the Towers
The Thyrans say they're great magicians. The Gray Maggots.
Farers
Wanderers and hedonists.
Children of the Sea-Our-Mother
Ocean dwellers that find people tasty. A genetic hybrid experiment that is reverting.
Little Sisters of the Sun
Desert altered humans.
Children of Skaith-Our-Mother
White furred people, genetically modified.
Wandsmen
The ruling class of Skaith.
People of the Barrens
Those who live in the interior.
Irnan
One of the migrating peoples. Have applied to emigrate off the dying planet via the Galactic Union.
ANIMALS
Rock-lizard
Large reptile.
Northhounds
Large intelligent telepathic canines.
Snow-dragon
Really large winged reptile.
PLANTS
Love-weed
A plant used as an euphoric drug.
TECHNOLOGY
The Robe and Crown of Fate
Worn by Gerrith, a veil and diadem.
Water of Vision
An Irnan tool of foresight.
Holy Breath of the Goddess
Freezing death weapon.
The Eye of the Mother
A large crystal and telepathic device.
FOOD
Khamm
An Irnan booze, like sweet white lightning.
MEDIA
The Long Wandering, The Destruction of the Red Hunters, The Coming of Strayer
Thyran ballads.
The Hymn of Deliverance
Ritual song of the Towers.
Eric John Stark discovers that his mentor Simon Ashton has gone missing while ona field assignment for his his employers in the Galactic Union.
His investigations take him to the newly discovered and primitive planet Skaith, an exotic place currently rife with conflict, because the sun is dying, making life harder and harder all the time.
Here, a minority class in the Wandsmen rule the rest of the planet, but rebellion is in the offing, as people in the inner areas want to migrate and take the past offer of being shipped off a planet that is no longer livable. Conservative feudal rulers dont like their labor base just leaving, of course.
Further, there is a prophecy that matches Stark's arrival, that of the Dark Man. This religious symbolism is an aid to the cause and morale of the rebels. The hereditary prophetess Gerrith becomes an ally through all the treachery and betrayal and violence, including parts of the the civil war, that Stark has to endure to find his mentor at the Citadel of the Lords Protector, on the plain of Worldheart where the telepathic Northhounds roam.
4 out of 5
Number of words : 55000
Percent of complex words : 6.7
Average syllables per word : 1.4
Average words per sentence : 11.0
READABILITY INDICES
Fog : 7.1
Flesch : 77.8
Flesch-Kincaid : 5.1
PEOPLE
Eric John Stark
N'Chaka, wild man of Mercury. The Dark Man of prophecy.
Simon Ashton
Stark's mentor and father figure. Missing in the field.
Gelmar
Chief Wandsman of Skeg.
Baya
A Farer woman working for Gelmar.
Gerrith
Wise woman of Irnan, and prophet. The Sun Woman.
Yarrod
An Irnanese leader who helps Stark.
Breca
A warrior in Yarrow's fake Pod. Halk's shieldmate.
Halk
An apostate Wandsman, now with Yarrow, a warrior. Breca's shieldmate.
Mordach
Chief Wandsman of Irnan.
Jerann
Irnan Council chief.
Kazimni
An Irnan military leader.
Old One
Elder of Stark's boyhood tribe on Mercury.
Atril
One of Yarrow's men. Wake's brother.
Wake
One of Yarrow's men. Atril's brother.
Amnir
A Komrey trader.
Hargoth
Priest-king of the Towers.
Kintoth
Towers fighting captain.
Slee
An Outdweller woman.
Slaifed
An Outdweller guide.
Ironmaster
Leader in the Iron House.
Vasth
A Wandsman.
Kell a Marg
A leader of the Children of Skaith-Our-Mother. The Skaith-Daughter.
Fenn
One of the Children of Skaith-Our-Mother.
Ferdic
One of the Children of Skaith-Our-Mother.
Flay
The old head Northhound.
Gerd
A young Northhound.
Ferdias
One of the Lords Protector.
PLACES
Pax
The chief habitable planet of Vega.
Pax
The major city of the chief habitable planet of Vega.
Twilight Belt
Habitable zone on Mercury.
Skaith
A newly discovered world in the Orion Spur.
Skeg
The spaceport on Skaith.
Fertile Belt
Most of the Skaith population live past here.
The Barrens
Area of Skaith.
Worldheart
Where lies the Citadel of the Lords Protector.
Irnan
A city-state of Skaith in the temperate zone.
Izvand
A city in the Barrens.
Lamp of the North
Moon of Skaith.
Komrey
City-state of Skaith.
Thyra
A Skaith city near the Witchfires.
Bleak Mountains
A large range.
Witchfires
Mountain range near Thyra.
Iron House
Thyran dwelling of authority.
House of the Mother
Children of Skaith-Our-Mother dwelling.
Tlavia
Queen City of the High North before the Wandering.
Plain of Worldheart
Where the Northhounds prowl.
CONCEPTS
Galactic Union
A democratic federation of star-worlds flung across half the Milky Way.
Galactic Arbitrary Time
A standard reference for use on multiple planets.
Three Ladies
A constellation viewed from Skaith.
Great Migrations
People moving because of the changing conditions on Skaith.
Pod
A collection of people so thoroughly sensitized by a species of group therapy that they no longer existed as individuals but only as interdependent parts of a
single organism.
Total Fulfillment
Endgame desire of Pods.
Pod-Master
Trainer of Pods.
Darkness, and his lady Cold, and their daughter Hunger
Tower deities.
Winter Dreaming
Towers ritual.
Dark Goddess
Deity worshipped by the Outdwellers.
Great Wandering
When more of Skaith was nomadic.
ORGANISATIONS
Ministry of Planetary Affairs
Simon Ashton's employer on Pax.
Mercury Metals and Mining
Stark's parents worked here when they were killed.
Galactic Center
Based at Pax.
Lords Protector
Skaith Rulers.
Wild Bands
Groups of bandits.
Diviners
Children of Skaith-Our-Mother priests.
Earth Police Control
Ashton's old employer when he found Stark as a boy.
RACES
Harsenyi
Nomads.
Outdwellers
Iron-clawed beastly band near Thyra.
People of the Towers
The Thyrans say they're great magicians. The Gray Maggots.
Farers
Wanderers and hedonists.
Children of the Sea-Our-Mother
Ocean dwellers that find people tasty. A genetic hybrid experiment that is reverting.
Little Sisters of the Sun
Desert altered humans.
Children of Skaith-Our-Mother
White furred people, genetically modified.
Wandsmen
The ruling class of Skaith.
People of the Barrens
Those who live in the interior.
Irnan
One of the migrating peoples. Have applied to emigrate off the dying planet via the Galactic Union.
ANIMALS
Rock-lizard
Large reptile.
Northhounds
Large intelligent telepathic canines.
Snow-dragon
Really large winged reptile.
PLANTS
Love-weed
A plant used as an euphoric drug.
TECHNOLOGY
The Robe and Crown of Fate
Worn by Gerrith, a veil and diadem.
Water of Vision
An Irnan tool of foresight.
Holy Breath of the Goddess
Freezing death weapon.
The Eye of the Mother
A large crystal and telepathic device.
FOOD
Khamm
An Irnan booze, like sweet white lightning.
MEDIA
The Long Wandering, The Destruction of the Red Hunters, The Coming of Strayer
Thyran ballads.
The Hymn of Deliverance
Ritual song of the Towers.
Eric John Stark discovers that his mentor Simon Ashton has gone missing while ona field assignment for his his employers in the Galactic Union.
His investigations take him to the newly discovered and primitive planet Skaith, an exotic place currently rife with conflict, because the sun is dying, making life harder and harder all the time.
Here, a minority class in the Wandsmen rule the rest of the planet, but rebellion is in the offing, as people in the inner areas want to migrate and take the past offer of being shipped off a planet that is no longer livable. Conservative feudal rulers dont like their labor base just leaving, of course.
Further, there is a prophecy that matches Stark's arrival, that of the Dark Man. This religious symbolism is an aid to the cause and morale of the rebels. The hereditary prophetess Gerrith becomes an ally through all the treachery and betrayal and violence, including parts of the the civil war, that Stark has to endure to find his mentor at the Citadel of the Lords Protector, on the plain of Worldheart where the telepathic Northhounds roam.
4 out of 5
Sunday, May 16, 2010
People of the Talisman - Leigh Brackett
Novel
Number of words : 39500
Percent of complex words : 5.9
Average syllables per word : 1.4
Average words per sentence : 12.5
READABILITY INDICES
Fog : 7.3
Flesch : 78.8
Flesch-Kincaid : 5.4
PEOPLE
Eric John Stark
N'Chaka, the Man-Without-a-Tribe. Earthman, out of Mercury.
Camar
A dying Martian.
Ciaran
The warlord of Mekh.
Ban Cruach
A great Martian king of old.
Thord
Leader of the Riders of Mekh.
Otar
One of Ciaran's men. Elderly and crazed.
Thanis
A Kushat girl who helps Stark. Balin's sister.
Lugh
The military leader in Kushat.
Balin
A soldier of Kushat. Thanis' brother.
Rogain
A noble in Kushat.
Tika
A girl Stark knew in his youth.
Narrabhar
A noble leader in Kushat.
Hrillin
One of the old race.
PLACES
Norland
A Martian desert region.
Kushat
Where Stark is heading. A city in the Martian north. The King City.
Thieves' Quarter
Where Camar was born.
Gates of Death
A pass that opens into the black mountains beyond Kushat. Domain of Ban Cruach.
Jekkara and Valkis and Barrakesh
Southern cities of Mars.
The Festival Stones
Two miles northeast of Kushat.
Quarter of the Tomb-Robbers
In Kushat. Quarter of the Blessed, a burying ground.
Kesh and Shun
Martin tribal areas.
Narrisan
The city that is Ciaran's eventual conqueror's goal.
Jekkara and Valkis
Cities of of the Sea-Kings.
Wells of Tamboin
Sand-drowned ruins.
Sinharat
City of the Ever-Living.
CONCEPTS
Lord of Silence
A deity.
High Martian
Ancient dialect.
TECHNOLOGY
Talisman
A crystal lens, some four inches across with an intricate interlocking of many
facets. Ban Cruach's, and contains his knowledge.
ORGANISATIONS
Riders of Mekh
Ciaran's barbarian warriors.
Drylanders
Martian desert dwellers.
Border States
Martian political area.
RACES
The old race
Golden skinned and large eyed, with thumb spurs.
WEAPONS
Globed weapons
Not a good idea to use, as they are not what they seem.
ANIMALS
Rock lizard
Martian desert reptile.
PLOT
Stark's friend Camar has taken the Talisman of Ban Cruach, and wants to take it back to Kushat. However, he has been mortally wounded, so passes it on to Stark.
Stark runs into a problem when he encounters the Riders of Merkh - a barbarian horde under the command of Lord Ciaran. He is brought in front of the lord, who shows both intelligence and brutality, but he manages to escape and make it to Kushat.
Despite being suspicious of Stark, they do take his advice and organise the city for war. The defense holds out for some time, but it is clear the city will fall.
Stark organises some people via Thanis to fall back to the Festival Stones, as a second line of defense. Ciaran is a strong leader and it doesn't take her long to take some men from the sacking of the city to go and put and end to this small band. However, Stark has a plan and lays a trap. He engineers a rockslide that cuts Ciaran off from all but a few of her men, and she is quickly captured after they are slain, and is now a hostage.
However, the Kushat exiles must go somewhere, and the draw of the talisman of Ban Cruach is strong, so they head for his old towers.
This place is strange, but also not empty. Dwelling there are the remnants of an old, decadent golden-skinned race. When they hear Kushat has fallen, and Ban Cruach's old promise of their safety gone, they aren't happy, but agree to arm the Kushat people with some of their advanced weaponry.
Except they don't, they aren't weapons of war. They have decided to end their days in a frenzied game of hunting and destroying humans and each other. After using the weapons, Stark has woken naked and unarmed, and is being herded. The talisman is destroyed by Hrillin.
Finally he finds the body of Rogain, and a sword. Not long after he encounters Ciaran, similarly armed, and he realised Hrillin knows they are enemies, and wants them to fight for their amusement. This pair of warriors has other plans, looking to breakout and fight their way to shutting down the mechanisms that keep the cold of the city at bay, allowing their antagonists' existence.
With the promise of power from this city gone, Stark makes a deal with Ciaran if she will take her army and leave, letting the Kushat people have their city back.
4 out of 5
Number of words : 39500
Percent of complex words : 5.9
Average syllables per word : 1.4
Average words per sentence : 12.5
READABILITY INDICES
Fog : 7.3
Flesch : 78.8
Flesch-Kincaid : 5.4
PEOPLE
Eric John Stark
N'Chaka, the Man-Without-a-Tribe. Earthman, out of Mercury.
Camar
A dying Martian.
Ciaran
The warlord of Mekh.
Ban Cruach
A great Martian king of old.
Thord
Leader of the Riders of Mekh.
Otar
One of Ciaran's men. Elderly and crazed.
Thanis
A Kushat girl who helps Stark. Balin's sister.
Lugh
The military leader in Kushat.
Balin
A soldier of Kushat. Thanis' brother.
Rogain
A noble in Kushat.
Tika
A girl Stark knew in his youth.
Narrabhar
A noble leader in Kushat.
Hrillin
One of the old race.
PLACES
Norland
A Martian desert region.
Kushat
Where Stark is heading. A city in the Martian north. The King City.
Thieves' Quarter
Where Camar was born.
Gates of Death
A pass that opens into the black mountains beyond Kushat. Domain of Ban Cruach.
Jekkara and Valkis and Barrakesh
Southern cities of Mars.
The Festival Stones
Two miles northeast of Kushat.
Quarter of the Tomb-Robbers
In Kushat. Quarter of the Blessed, a burying ground.
Kesh and Shun
Martin tribal areas.
Narrisan
The city that is Ciaran's eventual conqueror's goal.
Jekkara and Valkis
Cities of of the Sea-Kings.
Wells of Tamboin
Sand-drowned ruins.
Sinharat
City of the Ever-Living.
CONCEPTS
Lord of Silence
A deity.
High Martian
Ancient dialect.
TECHNOLOGY
Talisman
A crystal lens, some four inches across with an intricate interlocking of many
facets. Ban Cruach's, and contains his knowledge.
ORGANISATIONS
Riders of Mekh
Ciaran's barbarian warriors.
Drylanders
Martian desert dwellers.
Border States
Martian political area.
RACES
The old race
Golden skinned and large eyed, with thumb spurs.
WEAPONS
Globed weapons
Not a good idea to use, as they are not what they seem.
ANIMALS
Rock lizard
Martian desert reptile.
PLOT
Stark's friend Camar has taken the Talisman of Ban Cruach, and wants to take it back to Kushat. However, he has been mortally wounded, so passes it on to Stark.
Stark runs into a problem when he encounters the Riders of Merkh - a barbarian horde under the command of Lord Ciaran. He is brought in front of the lord, who shows both intelligence and brutality, but he manages to escape and make it to Kushat.
Despite being suspicious of Stark, they do take his advice and organise the city for war. The defense holds out for some time, but it is clear the city will fall.
Stark organises some people via Thanis to fall back to the Festival Stones, as a second line of defense. Ciaran is a strong leader and it doesn't take her long to take some men from the sacking of the city to go and put and end to this small band. However, Stark has a plan and lays a trap. He engineers a rockslide that cuts Ciaran off from all but a few of her men, and she is quickly captured after they are slain, and is now a hostage.
However, the Kushat exiles must go somewhere, and the draw of the talisman of Ban Cruach is strong, so they head for his old towers.
This place is strange, but also not empty. Dwelling there are the remnants of an old, decadent golden-skinned race. When they hear Kushat has fallen, and Ban Cruach's old promise of their safety gone, they aren't happy, but agree to arm the Kushat people with some of their advanced weaponry.
Except they don't, they aren't weapons of war. They have decided to end their days in a frenzied game of hunting and destroying humans and each other. After using the weapons, Stark has woken naked and unarmed, and is being herded. The talisman is destroyed by Hrillin.
Finally he finds the body of Rogain, and a sword. Not long after he encounters Ciaran, similarly armed, and he realised Hrillin knows they are enemies, and wants them to fight for their amusement. This pair of warriors has other plans, looking to breakout and fight their way to shutting down the mechanisms that keep the cold of the city at bay, allowing their antagonists' existence.
With the promise of power from this city gone, Stark makes a deal with Ciaran if she will take her army and leave, letting the Kushat people have their city back.
4 out of 5
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Black Amazon of Mars - Leigh Brackett
Novella
Number of words : 23900
Percent of complex words : 5.3
Average syllables per word : 1.4
Average words per sentence : 15.3
READABILITY INDICES
Fog : 8.3
Flesch : 76.5
Flesch-Kincaid : 6.4
PEOPLE
Eric John Stark
N'Chaka, the Man-Without-a-Tribe. Earthman, out of Mercury.
Camar
A dying Martian.
Ciaran
The warlord Ciara, Black Amazon of Mars.
Ban Cruach
A great Martian king of old.
Thord
Leader of the Riders of Mekh.
Otar
One of Ciaran's men. Elderly and crazed.
Thanis
A Kushat girl who helps Stark. Balin's sister.
Lugh
The military leader in Kushat.
Balin
A soldier of Kushat. Thanis' brother.
Rogain
A noble in Kushat.
Tika
A girl Stark knew in his youth.
PLACES
Norland
A Martian desert region.
Kushat
Where Stark is heading. A city in the Martian north.
Thieves' Quarter
Where Camar was born.
Gates of Death
A pass that opens into the black mountains beyond Kushat. Domain of Ban Cruach.
Babylon
Ancient Earth city.
Phobos and Deimos
The moons of Mars.
Jekkara and Valkis and Barrakesh
Southern cities of Mars.
CONCEPTS
Lord of Silence
A deity.
High Martian
Ancient dialect.
TECHNOLOGY
Talisman
A crystal lens, some four inches across with an intricate interlocking of many
facets. Ban Cruach's, and contains his knowledge.
Crystal Globes
Ancient technology, used for heat blocking.
Master-bank
Technology of the ice-folk.
ORGANISATIONS
Riders of Mekh
Ciaran's barbarian warriors.
RACES
Ice-folk
Shining faceless ones. The kings of the glacial ice of ages past. Banished by Ban Cruach.
WEAPONS
Ban Cruach's sword
Worries the ice-folk.
PLOT
Stark's friend Camar has taken the Talisman of Ban Cruach, and wants to take it back to Kushat. However, he has been mortally wounded, so passes it on to Stark.
Stark runs into a problem when he encounters the Riders of Merkh - a barbarian horde under the command of Lord Ciaran. He is brought in front of the lord, who shows both intelligence and brutality, but he manages to escape and make it to Kushat. Despite two of the locals, a brother and sister believing him, those in charge do not believe in barbarian hordes at the gate.
Hence, unprepared and despite Stark's effort, Kushat will soon be overrun. Stark decides to lead a charge, however, futile, and heads straight for Ciaran. They clash on horseback, both losing their weapons. This brings Stark an advantage in size as they grapple - and even more so when he realises Ciaran is actually female. She still has a good punch though, knocking Stark back.
Her own men are shocked by this revelation, but she declares he accomplishments, and when they waver she rides into them, slaughtering several. So the new boss is the as the old boss. Stark gets away in this confusion. Fascinated, however, he seeks her out in her new chambers in Kushat.
She says will eve go beyond the Gates of Death - and knows that Stark has the talisman.
Thanis' brother Balin has gone to the Gates of Death, which is very bad if in his anger at his city's loss he looses what Ban Cruach stived to hold in check. The coming of the ice-folk again.
Both Stark and Ciara are too brave to see the city go this way, even if it is not hers, and they head out to try and find Balin. There they find ancient super science and the old, cold race, and Ban Cruach's sword.
It is up to Stark to use the talisman and Ban Cruach's knowledge within to hold back this old anyway, and save Balin and Ciara.
5 out of 5
http://www.archive.org/details/BlackAmazonOfMars
http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/3/2/6/6/32665/32665-h/32665-h.htm
Number of words : 23900
Percent of complex words : 5.3
Average syllables per word : 1.4
Average words per sentence : 15.3
READABILITY INDICES
Fog : 8.3
Flesch : 76.5
Flesch-Kincaid : 6.4
PEOPLE
Eric John Stark
N'Chaka, the Man-Without-a-Tribe. Earthman, out of Mercury.
Camar
A dying Martian.
Ciaran
The warlord Ciara, Black Amazon of Mars.
Ban Cruach
A great Martian king of old.
Thord
Leader of the Riders of Mekh.
Otar
One of Ciaran's men. Elderly and crazed.
Thanis
A Kushat girl who helps Stark. Balin's sister.
Lugh
The military leader in Kushat.
Balin
A soldier of Kushat. Thanis' brother.
Rogain
A noble in Kushat.
Tika
A girl Stark knew in his youth.
PLACES
Norland
A Martian desert region.
Kushat
Where Stark is heading. A city in the Martian north.
Thieves' Quarter
Where Camar was born.
Gates of Death
A pass that opens into the black mountains beyond Kushat. Domain of Ban Cruach.
Babylon
Ancient Earth city.
Phobos and Deimos
The moons of Mars.
Jekkara and Valkis and Barrakesh
Southern cities of Mars.
CONCEPTS
Lord of Silence
A deity.
High Martian
Ancient dialect.
TECHNOLOGY
Talisman
A crystal lens, some four inches across with an intricate interlocking of many
facets. Ban Cruach's, and contains his knowledge.
Crystal Globes
Ancient technology, used for heat blocking.
Master-bank
Technology of the ice-folk.
ORGANISATIONS
Riders of Mekh
Ciaran's barbarian warriors.
RACES
Ice-folk
Shining faceless ones. The kings of the glacial ice of ages past. Banished by Ban Cruach.
WEAPONS
Ban Cruach's sword
Worries the ice-folk.
PLOT
Stark's friend Camar has taken the Talisman of Ban Cruach, and wants to take it back to Kushat. However, he has been mortally wounded, so passes it on to Stark.
Stark runs into a problem when he encounters the Riders of Merkh - a barbarian horde under the command of Lord Ciaran. He is brought in front of the lord, who shows both intelligence and brutality, but he manages to escape and make it to Kushat. Despite two of the locals, a brother and sister believing him, those in charge do not believe in barbarian hordes at the gate.
Hence, unprepared and despite Stark's effort, Kushat will soon be overrun. Stark decides to lead a charge, however, futile, and heads straight for Ciaran. They clash on horseback, both losing their weapons. This brings Stark an advantage in size as they grapple - and even more so when he realises Ciaran is actually female. She still has a good punch though, knocking Stark back.
Her own men are shocked by this revelation, but she declares he accomplishments, and when they waver she rides into them, slaughtering several. So the new boss is the as the old boss. Stark gets away in this confusion. Fascinated, however, he seeks her out in her new chambers in Kushat.
She says will eve go beyond the Gates of Death - and knows that Stark has the talisman.
Thanis' brother Balin has gone to the Gates of Death, which is very bad if in his anger at his city's loss he looses what Ban Cruach stived to hold in check. The coming of the ice-folk again.
Both Stark and Ciara are too brave to see the city go this way, even if it is not hers, and they head out to try and find Balin. There they find ancient super science and the old, cold race, and Ban Cruach's sword.
It is up to Stark to use the talisman and Ban Cruach's knowledge within to hold back this old anyway, and save Balin and Ciara.
5 out of 5
http://www.archive.org/details/BlackAmazonOfMars
http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/3/2/6/6/32665/32665-h/32665-h.htm
Sunday, May 2, 2010
The Secret of Sinharat - Leigh Brackett
Novella
Number of words : 28000
Percent of complex words : 5.4
Average syllables per word : 1.4
Average words per sentence : 12.4
READABILITY INDICES
Fog : 7.1
Flesch : 78.2
Flesch-Kincaid : 5.4
PEOPLE
Eric John Stark
N'Chaka, oh Man-without-a-tribe who is on the run. Gets to be an agent.
Simon Ashton
Stark's friend and mentor who has a deal for him he can't say no to.
Kynon
A barbarian chieftain from Shun. The Giver of Life.
Delgaun
A bandit, and one of the System's top criminals.
Knighton
Terran bandit. Owner of a fast cruiser.
Walsh
Terran bandit. A genius weaponeer.
Themis
Mercurian bandit. Also a mechanic.
Arrod
Callistan bandit and organised crime leader.
Luthar
Venusian bandit. A cashiered officer of the Venusian Guards. Has worked with and betrayed Stark before.
Berild
Raman woman, allied with Kynon.
Tika
Girl Stark knew, killed by a giant bird.
Freka
Kynon's captain and indulger in Shanga.
Fianna
Rama woman who is sick of the lifestyle and hates Kynon.
Kala
Old woman, owner of Kala's.
PLACES
Valkis
Martian Low Canal town.
Barrakesh
Martian Low Canal town.
Tarak
Where the Earth Commission offices are located. On the Dryland Border.
Kesh
Martian drylands area.
Shun
Martian drylands area.
Kala's
Bar in Valkis.
Belly of Stones
Ancient underground place with a secret water supply, where Stark and Berild shelter from a desert storm.
Twilight Belt
Habitable zone on Mercury.
Sinharat
Rallying point for the tribes and Kynon's plans for war. Has Catacombs.
TECHNOLOGY
Venusian spider silk
Used for making clothes.
Crowns of the Ramas
Used for mind transfer. Or so it is said.
Purcell electronic discharge
Useful for fake shows.
Shanga
The going-back drug. Makes people more primitive.
WEAPONS
Banning
An electrical gun.
ORGANISATIONS
Earth Police Control
Hunters of Stark.
Terro-Venusian Metals
A company Stark opposed.
The Martian Council of City-States
Martian government organisation.
Earth Commission
Earth government organisation related to Mars.
Venusian Guards
Venus military group.
Brotherhood of the Little Worlds
Organised crime on the smaller planetary bodies.
Space Patrol
Police organisation, whom the Brotherhood drove nuts.
RACES
Middle Venusians
Martian swamp dwellers.
Ramas
Ancient Martian serial immortals. The Twice Born.
Keshi
Martian barbarians.
CONCEPT
Banner of Death and Life
Kynon's rallying flag.
PLOT
Simon Ashton and his posse catch up to Eric John Stark, his former mentee and almost-son.
Stark has a long stretch in the slammer hanging over his head, so Ashton offers him a deal. Be his agent in trying to break up the plans Kynon and Delgaun have for provoking an inter-regional war, and the slate is wiped clean.
Stark does so and discovers at the heart of it, along with several crimelords are a pair of women. Both take an interest in him, and Fianna wants to aid him.
Stark has an enemy in Luhar, who sold him out when he was doing some gunrunning for some locals. Therefore, they try and set him up at Kala's when he is tasked with retrieving one of Kynon's captains, Freka, from his overindulgence in Shanga. Or, Wild Man vs Beastial Men.
The woman Berild also takes an interest in Stark, growing tired of Kynon, and has her own plans. She is trapped in a desert storm with Stark, who helps her to survive, along with her knowledge of a secret underground water supply.
At Sinharat, Stark discovers that the ancient Rama race remnants are at the heart of this conspiracy, including Berild, Delgaun and Fianna. When Kynon realises he has been manipulated, he turns on his allies, with Stark. Fianna takes the Raman personality switching Crowns to hide, telling Stark that if he is tired of growing old, to come and find her, as she can't bring herself to destroy them, in case she wants to use them again.
4 out of 5
Number of words : 28000
Percent of complex words : 5.4
Average syllables per word : 1.4
Average words per sentence : 12.4
READABILITY INDICES
Fog : 7.1
Flesch : 78.2
Flesch-Kincaid : 5.4
PEOPLE
Eric John Stark
N'Chaka, oh Man-without-a-tribe who is on the run. Gets to be an agent.
Simon Ashton
Stark's friend and mentor who has a deal for him he can't say no to.
Kynon
A barbarian chieftain from Shun. The Giver of Life.
Delgaun
A bandit, and one of the System's top criminals.
Knighton
Terran bandit. Owner of a fast cruiser.
Walsh
Terran bandit. A genius weaponeer.
Themis
Mercurian bandit. Also a mechanic.
Arrod
Callistan bandit and organised crime leader.
Luthar
Venusian bandit. A cashiered officer of the Venusian Guards. Has worked with and betrayed Stark before.
Berild
Raman woman, allied with Kynon.
Tika
Girl Stark knew, killed by a giant bird.
Freka
Kynon's captain and indulger in Shanga.
Fianna
Rama woman who is sick of the lifestyle and hates Kynon.
Kala
Old woman, owner of Kala's.
PLACES
Valkis
Martian Low Canal town.
Barrakesh
Martian Low Canal town.
Tarak
Where the Earth Commission offices are located. On the Dryland Border.
Kesh
Martian drylands area.
Shun
Martian drylands area.
Kala's
Bar in Valkis.
Belly of Stones
Ancient underground place with a secret water supply, where Stark and Berild shelter from a desert storm.
Twilight Belt
Habitable zone on Mercury.
Sinharat
Rallying point for the tribes and Kynon's plans for war. Has Catacombs.
TECHNOLOGY
Venusian spider silk
Used for making clothes.
Crowns of the Ramas
Used for mind transfer. Or so it is said.
Purcell electronic discharge
Useful for fake shows.
Shanga
The going-back drug. Makes people more primitive.
WEAPONS
Banning
An electrical gun.
ORGANISATIONS
Earth Police Control
Hunters of Stark.
Terro-Venusian Metals
A company Stark opposed.
The Martian Council of City-States
Martian government organisation.
Earth Commission
Earth government organisation related to Mars.
Venusian Guards
Venus military group.
Brotherhood of the Little Worlds
Organised crime on the smaller planetary bodies.
Space Patrol
Police organisation, whom the Brotherhood drove nuts.
RACES
Middle Venusians
Martian swamp dwellers.
Ramas
Ancient Martian serial immortals. The Twice Born.
Keshi
Martian barbarians.
CONCEPT
Banner of Death and Life
Kynon's rallying flag.
PLOT
Simon Ashton and his posse catch up to Eric John Stark, his former mentee and almost-son.
Stark has a long stretch in the slammer hanging over his head, so Ashton offers him a deal. Be his agent in trying to break up the plans Kynon and Delgaun have for provoking an inter-regional war, and the slate is wiped clean.
Stark does so and discovers at the heart of it, along with several crimelords are a pair of women. Both take an interest in him, and Fianna wants to aid him.
Stark has an enemy in Luhar, who sold him out when he was doing some gunrunning for some locals. Therefore, they try and set him up at Kala's when he is tasked with retrieving one of Kynon's captains, Freka, from his overindulgence in Shanga. Or, Wild Man vs Beastial Men.
The woman Berild also takes an interest in Stark, growing tired of Kynon, and has her own plans. She is trapped in a desert storm with Stark, who helps her to survive, along with her knowledge of a secret underground water supply.
At Sinharat, Stark discovers that the ancient Rama race remnants are at the heart of this conspiracy, including Berild, Delgaun and Fianna. When Kynon realises he has been manipulated, he turns on his allies, with Stark. Fianna takes the Raman personality switching Crowns to hide, telling Stark that if he is tired of growing old, to come and find her, as she can't bring herself to destroy them, in case she wants to use them again.
4 out of 5
Saturday, May 1, 2010
Queen Of the Martian Catacombs - Leigh Brackett
Novella
Number of words : 22000
Percent of complex words : 5.2
Average syllables per word : 1.4
Average words per sentence : 12.0
READABILITY INDICES
Fog : 6.8525
Flesch : 79.2826
Flesch-Kincaid : 5.1779
PEOPLE
Eric John Stark
N'Chaka, oh Man-without-a-tribe who is on the run. Gets to be an agent.
Simon Ashton
Stark's friend and mentor who has a deal for him he can't say no to.
Kynon
A barbarian chieftain from Shun. The Giver of Life.
Delgaun
A bandit, and one of the System's top criminals.
Knighton
Terran bandit. Owner of a fast cruiser.
Walsh
Terran bandit. A genius weaponeer.
Themis
Mercurian bandit. Also a mechanic.
Arrod
Callistan bandit and organised crime leader.
Luthar
Venusian bandit. A cashiered officer of the Venusian Guards. Has worked with and betrayed Stark before.
Berild
Raman woman, allied with Kynon.
Tika
Girl Stark knew, killed by a giant bird.
Freka
Kynon's captain and indulger in Shanga.
Fianna
Rama woman who is sick of the lifestyle and hates Kynon.
Kala
Old woman, owner of Kala's.
PLACES
Valkis
Martian Low Canal town.
Barrakesh
Martian Low Canal town.
Tarak
Where the Earth Commission offices are located.
Kesh
Martian drylands area.
Shun
Martian drylands area.
Kala's
Bar in Jekkara.
Belly of Stones
Ancient Raman underground, where Stark and Berild shelter.
Twilight Belt
Habitable zone on Mercury.
Sinharat
Rallying point for the tribes and Kynon's plans for war. Has Catacombs.
TECHNOLOGY
Venusian spider silk
Used for making clothes.
Crowns of the Ramas
Used for mind transfer. Or so it is said.
Purcell electronic discharge
Useful for fake shows.
Shanga
The going-back drug. Makes people more primitive.
WEAPONS
Banning
An electrical gun.
ORGANISATIONS
Earth Police Control
Hunters of Stark.
Terro-Venusian Metals
A company Stark opposed.
The Martian Council of City-States
Martian government organisation.
Earth Commission
Earth government organisation related to Mars.
Venusian Guards
Venus military group.
Brotherhood of the Little Worlds
Organised crime on the smaller planetary bodies.
Space Patrol
Police organisaiton, whom the Brotherhood drove nuts.
RACES
Middle Venusians
Martian swamp dwellers.
Ramas
Ancient Martian serial immortals. The Twice Born.
Keshi
Martian barbarians.
CONCEPT
Khamsin
Martian storm.
PLOT
Simon Ashton and his posse catch up to Eric John Stark, his former mentee and almost-son.
Stark has a long stretch in the slammer hanging over his head, so Ashton offers him a deal. Be his agent in trying to break up the plans Kynon and Delgaun have for provoking an inter-regional war, and the slate is wiped clean.
Stark does so and discovers at the heart of it, along with several crimelords are the remnants of the Rama race - people that can transfer their consciousness to different bodies.
Stark has an enemy in Luhar, who sold him out when he was doing some gunrunning for some locals. Therefore, they try and set him up at Kala's when he is tasked with retrieving one of Kynon's captains, Freka, from his overindulgence in Shanga. Or, Wild Man vs Beastial Men.
The Rama woman Berild also takes an interest in Stark, growing tired of Kynon, and has her own body switching plans.
This pair has reckoned without Berild's Rama servant Fianna - who has her own plans and hates Kynon. Hence she aids Stark. It doesn't hurt that Stark is nice to her, either. Warning him of ambush, helping him out of prison, and helping to engineer the downfall of her fellows.
4.5 out of 5
http://www.archive.org/details/QueenOfTheMartianCatacombs
Number of words : 22000
Percent of complex words : 5.2
Average syllables per word : 1.4
Average words per sentence : 12.0
READABILITY INDICES
Fog : 6.8525
Flesch : 79.2826
Flesch-Kincaid : 5.1779
PEOPLE
Eric John Stark
N'Chaka, oh Man-without-a-tribe who is on the run. Gets to be an agent.
Simon Ashton
Stark's friend and mentor who has a deal for him he can't say no to.
Kynon
A barbarian chieftain from Shun. The Giver of Life.
Delgaun
A bandit, and one of the System's top criminals.
Knighton
Terran bandit. Owner of a fast cruiser.
Walsh
Terran bandit. A genius weaponeer.
Themis
Mercurian bandit. Also a mechanic.
Arrod
Callistan bandit and organised crime leader.
Luthar
Venusian bandit. A cashiered officer of the Venusian Guards. Has worked with and betrayed Stark before.
Berild
Raman woman, allied with Kynon.
Tika
Girl Stark knew, killed by a giant bird.
Freka
Kynon's captain and indulger in Shanga.
Fianna
Rama woman who is sick of the lifestyle and hates Kynon.
Kala
Old woman, owner of Kala's.
PLACES
Valkis
Martian Low Canal town.
Barrakesh
Martian Low Canal town.
Tarak
Where the Earth Commission offices are located.
Kesh
Martian drylands area.
Shun
Martian drylands area.
Kala's
Bar in Jekkara.
Belly of Stones
Ancient Raman underground, where Stark and Berild shelter.
Twilight Belt
Habitable zone on Mercury.
Sinharat
Rallying point for the tribes and Kynon's plans for war. Has Catacombs.
TECHNOLOGY
Venusian spider silk
Used for making clothes.
Crowns of the Ramas
Used for mind transfer. Or so it is said.
Purcell electronic discharge
Useful for fake shows.
Shanga
The going-back drug. Makes people more primitive.
WEAPONS
Banning
An electrical gun.
ORGANISATIONS
Earth Police Control
Hunters of Stark.
Terro-Venusian Metals
A company Stark opposed.
The Martian Council of City-States
Martian government organisation.
Earth Commission
Earth government organisation related to Mars.
Venusian Guards
Venus military group.
Brotherhood of the Little Worlds
Organised crime on the smaller planetary bodies.
Space Patrol
Police organisaiton, whom the Brotherhood drove nuts.
RACES
Middle Venusians
Martian swamp dwellers.
Ramas
Ancient Martian serial immortals. The Twice Born.
Keshi
Martian barbarians.
CONCEPT
Khamsin
Martian storm.
PLOT
Simon Ashton and his posse catch up to Eric John Stark, his former mentee and almost-son.
Stark has a long stretch in the slammer hanging over his head, so Ashton offers him a deal. Be his agent in trying to break up the plans Kynon and Delgaun have for provoking an inter-regional war, and the slate is wiped clean.
Stark does so and discovers at the heart of it, along with several crimelords are the remnants of the Rama race - people that can transfer their consciousness to different bodies.
Stark has an enemy in Luhar, who sold him out when he was doing some gunrunning for some locals. Therefore, they try and set him up at Kala's when he is tasked with retrieving one of Kynon's captains, Freka, from his overindulgence in Shanga. Or, Wild Man vs Beastial Men.
The Rama woman Berild also takes an interest in Stark, growing tired of Kynon, and has her own body switching plans.
This pair has reckoned without Berild's Rama servant Fianna - who has her own plans and hates Kynon. Hence she aids Stark. It doesn't hurt that Stark is nice to her, either. Warning him of ambush, helping him out of prison, and helping to engineer the downfall of her fellows.
4.5 out of 5
http://www.archive.org/details/QueenOfTheMartianCatacombs
Friday, April 30, 2010
Enchantress of Venus - Leigh Brackett
Novella
Number of words : 25000
Percent of complex words : 5.0
Average syllables per word : 1.4
Average words per sentence : 12.5
READABILITY INDICES
Fog : 7.0
Flesch : 79.9
Flesch-Kincaid : 5.2
CHARACTERS
Eric John Stark
N'Chaka, Man Without a Tribe. Looking for his lost friend.
Malthor
Captain of the ship Stark takes to Shuruun.
Helvi
A friend of Stark's who disappears in Shuruun.
Larrabee
An Earthman, and now Shuruunian who assists Stark. Survives as a medical practitioner.
Zareth
The young daughter of Malthor, who tries to warn Stark.
Varra
Lhari woman.
Bor
Lhari youth and fond of dragons.
Egil
Lhari man who wants to marry Varra. Slavemaster.
Arel
Older Lhari woman.
Grandmother
Large, monstrous Lhari ruler.
Treon
A cripped and apparently worthless Lhari man, according to the others.
Tika
A dead girl.
Tobal
Helvi's brother, died in Shuruun.
Cond
Lhari and Egil's brother.
PLACES
Red Sea
Venusian Ocean
Mountains of the White Cloud
Beyond which lie the Red Sea.
Shuruun
Venusian pirate city.
Twilight Belt
Mercurian zone inbetween the two sides.
Yarell
A town near where Helvi hails from.
High Plateaus
Area of Venus where the Cloud People come from.
Sinharat
Martian ruined city.
Jekkara
A Low Canal town.
Valkis
A Low Canal town.
Callisto
Has buried tombs.
Arianrhod
Site of the cliff-caves.
RACES
Lhari
The Lords of Shuruun. Rulers and slavers, with access to remnants of ancient possibly alien technology.
Cloud People
Live on the Venusian High Plateaus.
CONCEPTS
The Lost Ones
Those taken by the Lhari as slaves.
ANIMALS
Dragon
A small flying pet of the Lhari.
Lord of the Rocks
A large lizard.
WEAPONS
Black Rod
An energy weapon Egil uses.
Shock-weapons
Used by the guards to control the Lost One slaves.
TECHNOLOGY
Collars
Used to control the Lost One slaves. Hurt or kill if a barrier is crossed.
Cosmic ray machines
Technology used by the Lhari to change living cells. There a variety of types, including tomblike.
PLOT
Eric John Stark is looking for his friend, a barbarian princeling. He has disappeared in Shuruun, a city of outlaws and pirates on Venus. Stark hires one such to take him there over the Red Sea.
He finds a city in the grip of the Lhari, the remnants of an advanced race, using those they can catch as slaves on a technology project to restore their former glory.
The arrival of an uncowed and fearless Stark throws the Wild Man among the pigeons, and draws the attention of one of the women - provoking jealousy in the man who would wed her. He places Stark among the slaves. A bad move, as Stark is not one to be caged. His friend Helvi is there also, to show him the ropes until their can organise a fight for freedom.
There are divisions among the Lhari, too. Treon has been doing his own technology work, unknown to the others, even though the monstrous Grandmother still rules.
The Lhari also have well armed guards and minions like Malthor the pirate who brought Stark to them, and the slaves have to fight their way past these before they can take on the Lhari. Their internal jealousies help the slave revolt, but the slaves and Stark and Helvi are still in trouble, until the arrival of Larrabee with some of the locals.
4 out of 5
http://www.archive.org/details/EnchantressOfVenus
Number of words : 25000
Percent of complex words : 5.0
Average syllables per word : 1.4
Average words per sentence : 12.5
READABILITY INDICES
Fog : 7.0
Flesch : 79.9
Flesch-Kincaid : 5.2
CHARACTERS
Eric John Stark
N'Chaka, Man Without a Tribe. Looking for his lost friend.
Malthor
Captain of the ship Stark takes to Shuruun.
Helvi
A friend of Stark's who disappears in Shuruun.
Larrabee
An Earthman, and now Shuruunian who assists Stark. Survives as a medical practitioner.
Zareth
The young daughter of Malthor, who tries to warn Stark.
Varra
Lhari woman.
Bor
Lhari youth and fond of dragons.
Egil
Lhari man who wants to marry Varra. Slavemaster.
Arel
Older Lhari woman.
Grandmother
Large, monstrous Lhari ruler.
Treon
A cripped and apparently worthless Lhari man, according to the others.
Tika
A dead girl.
Tobal
Helvi's brother, died in Shuruun.
Cond
Lhari and Egil's brother.
PLACES
Red Sea
Venusian Ocean
Mountains of the White Cloud
Beyond which lie the Red Sea.
Shuruun
Venusian pirate city.
Twilight Belt
Mercurian zone inbetween the two sides.
Yarell
A town near where Helvi hails from.
High Plateaus
Area of Venus where the Cloud People come from.
Sinharat
Martian ruined city.
Jekkara
A Low Canal town.
Valkis
A Low Canal town.
Callisto
Has buried tombs.
Arianrhod
Site of the cliff-caves.
RACES
Lhari
The Lords of Shuruun. Rulers and slavers, with access to remnants of ancient possibly alien technology.
Cloud People
Live on the Venusian High Plateaus.
CONCEPTS
The Lost Ones
Those taken by the Lhari as slaves.
ANIMALS
Dragon
A small flying pet of the Lhari.
Lord of the Rocks
A large lizard.
WEAPONS
Black Rod
An energy weapon Egil uses.
Shock-weapons
Used by the guards to control the Lost One slaves.
TECHNOLOGY
Collars
Used to control the Lost One slaves. Hurt or kill if a barrier is crossed.
Cosmic ray machines
Technology used by the Lhari to change living cells. There a variety of types, including tomblike.
PLOT
Eric John Stark is looking for his friend, a barbarian princeling. He has disappeared in Shuruun, a city of outlaws and pirates on Venus. Stark hires one such to take him there over the Red Sea.
He finds a city in the grip of the Lhari, the remnants of an advanced race, using those they can catch as slaves on a technology project to restore their former glory.
The arrival of an uncowed and fearless Stark throws the Wild Man among the pigeons, and draws the attention of one of the women - provoking jealousy in the man who would wed her. He places Stark among the slaves. A bad move, as Stark is not one to be caged. His friend Helvi is there also, to show him the ropes until their can organise a fight for freedom.
There are divisions among the Lhari, too. Treon has been doing his own technology work, unknown to the others, even though the monstrous Grandmother still rules.
The Lhari also have well armed guards and minions like Malthor the pirate who brought Stark to them, and the slaves have to fight their way past these before they can take on the Lhari. Their internal jealousies help the slave revolt, but the slaves and Stark and Helvi are still in trouble, until the arrival of Larrabee with some of the locals.
4 out of 5
http://www.archive.org/details/EnchantressOfVenus
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