Customer Reviews

Lost World of Time

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This may well be Lin Carter's finest single novel; it's certainly in the top three of all his work. In it he transcended his love of pastiche (well worth reading for its own merits) & created a moving tale of a dying Empire, drawing upon both the sword & sorcery tradition exemplified by Robert Howard, and the high fantasy tradition exemplified by Tolkien. Although it's a short novel, like all of his work, it's filled with evocative images & ideas. Sargon is a more reflective barbarian hero than most, both bemused by & grappling with the notion of his own supposed godhood. And the landscapes have a haunted, dreamlike quality: we know that not only the once-glorious Empire is doomed, but the very planet itself will one day be nothing but rubble, which adds a dusky poignancy to the tale. If Carter recreates favorite moments from previous fantasy & adventure classics (both Robin Hood & the Battle of Helm's Deep obviously come to mind), he imbues them with a certain melancholy heroism & somber beauty. Of all his work, I find myself returning to this one most often, wishing it had been longer. Here we get a glimpse of the great fantasy epic he might have written, one with his own voice; and we can only regret that it never came to pass. Recommended!