Lost Worlds

Lost Worlds is a collection of fantasy short stories edited and primarily written by Lin Carter, published by DAW Books in 1980. The anthology contains eight stories centered on mythical lost civilizations like Atlantis, Mu, and Valusia. Three of the stories were begun by other authors - Clark Ashton Smith and Robert E. Howard - and completed by Carter after their deaths. The collection includes Carter's own introduction and afterword providing context about lost world literature and the stories' origins. The stories explore ancient mysteries, forgotten kingdoms, and supernatural forces through tales of adventure and discovery. Each narrative presents its own unique take on the "lost world" concept that has fascinated readers of fantasy literature for generations. The anthology represents Carter's contribution to a classic fantasy subgenre, building upon the traditions established by earlier writers while adding his own interpretations of these mysterious vanished realms.

Readers note that Lost Worlds functions as a basic introduction to fantasy literature and lost civilization stories, though many find Carter's writing style dry and academic. Several reviews mention the book works better as a reference guide than entertainment. Readers liked: - Comprehensive coverage of the "lost race" genre - Detailed bibliography for further reading - Historical context for early fantasy works Readers disliked: - Dense, textbook-like prose - Limited analysis beyond plot summaries - Focus on obscure works over major classics Ratings: Goodreads: 3.3/5 (31 ratings) Amazon: 3.5/5 (4 reviews) From reviews: "More like a catalog than a narrative" - Goodreads reviewer "Useful for research but not pleasure reading" - Amazon review "Carter's enthusiasm shows but the writing is too academic" - LibraryThing user The most common critique across platforms is that the book reads like a dry academic survey rather than an engaging exploration of the genre.

At the Mountains of Madness by H. P. Lovecraft Ancient Antarctic civilization and cosmic horror merge in this tale of a doomed polar expedition uncovering the ruins of beings that predate mankind.

The Lost World by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle A scientific expedition discovers a plateau in South America where prehistoric creatures still exist, isolated from the modern world.

The Land That Time Forgot by Edgar Rice Burroughs A submarine crew finds themselves on the lost island of Caprona, where evolution progresses from prehistoric to modern forms in a single lifetime.

She by H. Rider Haggard Two adventurers journey to a hidden African kingdom ruled by an immortal queen who has preserved the customs of an ancient civilization.

The Lost City of Z by David Grann This non-fiction account follows Percy Fawcett's real-life quest to find an advanced civilization in the Amazon, leading to his disappearance in 1925.

🗺️ The mythical lost continent of Mu was first proposed by Augustus Le Plongeon in the 1800s after misinterpreting Mayan ruins. 🖋️ Lin Carter completed several unfinished manuscripts by Robert E. Howard, including fragments found after Howard's death in 1936. 🏺 Valusia, one of the settings in the book, was originally created by Robert E. Howard as part of his "Kull" series, set in the pre-Cataclysmic Age. 📚 Clark Ashton Smith, whose work Carter completed in this collection, was part of the "Weird Tales" circle along with H.P. Lovecraft and Robert E. Howard. 🌊 The Atlantis myth, featured in the book, originated from Plato's dialogues "Timaeus" and "Critias," written around 360 BCE, and remains influential in fantasy literature.