Customer Reviews

Swords of Zinjaban

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Classifying this story is actually rather difficult. L. Sprauge de Camp moved the culture of his world forward and was showing how modern cultural products and philosophies will slowly change another culture. He does this by moving the time-line forward 25 years and then reintruducing two characters he had brought together before.

I had not read the other Krishna books, but still found this an interesting and entertaining read. Fergus Reith and Alicia Dyckman are well developed and written characters and the interplay between them as former spouses who still clearly loved each other is touching and well thought out.

Sadly, the other characters don't hold up as well, and many are at best cliqued cutouts rather than well fleshed out foils for the heros.

If you can find this book and like humor and a mix of fantasy and sci-fi, this is an excellent read. It flows well and is fun and funny.

L Sprague De Camp created the Krishna series, of which "The Swords Of Zinjaban" is but one example, as a modern version of Edgar Rice Burrough's Barsoom tales. Drawing on his own vast experiences of travel in the Middle East, De Camp creates a more practical view of another world, and a vastly entertaining one. De Camp's sly sense of humor shines through every page of the entire series.

This one deals with the problems of shooting a motion picture on an alien world.

Keep an eye peeled for a tribute to Robert E. Howard, of Conan fame.

Every fan of Golden Age Science Fiction should have the complete Krishna Series on his bookshelf.

The Hipster gives it a Thumbs Up!

Continuing the story that started in "the Hostage of Zir", "The Prisoner Of Zhamanak" and "The Bones of Zora", Fergus Reith is reacquainted with Alicia Dyckman, his ex-wife who he divorced due to her hot-headed personality. As a tour guide, he leads a movie production company through a series of self-inflicted adventures including the defeat of an invading nomad hord. de Campe has what is for me a classic style, pitting common people in oddball situations against their own resources. His characters tend to be steryotyped, but have some force of personality despite that. His aliens are human, and yet have thier own unique culture. Anyone tired of those stories about The Brave Hero Who Saves The Day By Killing Off All The Bad Guys will find the Krishna series refreshing. Fergus does'nt save the universe, but he does have "fun".