Mention My Name in Atlantis

Mention My Name in Atlantis is a satirical fantasy novel from John Jakes that presents an alternate history of Atlantis's destruction through the narrative of Hoptor the Vintner. The story follows Hoptor, a smooth-talking opportunist who believes his connections can solve any problem. The novel incorporates classic Atlantis mythology elements, including extraterrestrial encounters and ancient advanced technology. A key character is Conax of Chimeria, a direct parody of the famous fantasy hero Conan of Cimmeria, who represents one of many genre tropes the book addresses. The tale is structured as a historical manuscript written by a survivor of Atlantis's destruction, using unreliable narration to blend humor with fantasy conventions. Hoptor's constant refrain of "mention my name" serves as a running commentary on influence and social currency in the ancient world. This work represents both a send-up of sword-and-sorcery conventions and an exploration of how myths and legends transform through their retelling. The novel uses humor to examine themes of hubris, power, and the human tendency to seek advantage even in the face of catastrophe.

Most readers describe this as a light, comedic sword-and-sorcery novel that doesn't take itself seriously. Multiple reviews note it works as a parody of pulp fantasy tropes and Conan-style adventures. Readers appreciated: - Fast-paced action and humor - The main character's irreverent personality - References to fantasy/pulp fiction clichés - Short length that doesn't overstay its welcome Common criticisms: - Plot feels disjointed and random at times - Some jokes fall flat or feel dated - Writing quality varies throughout - Character development is minimal Ratings: Goodreads: 3.4/5 (76 ratings) Amazon: 3.8/5 (12 ratings) "A fun romp that doesn't pretend to be anything more than entertainment," notes one Amazon reviewer. A Goodreads review calls it "pulp fiction that knows it's pulp fiction and has fun with it."

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🌊 The legend of Atlantis was first recorded by the Greek philosopher Plato around 360 BC in his dialogues "Timaeus" and "Critias" 📚 John Jakes, the author, is best known for his American historical fiction series "The Kent Family Chronicles" and "North and South," which became successful TV miniseries 🗺️ The lost continent of Atlantis has inspired over 20,000 books, with theories placing its location everywhere from the Mediterranean to Antarctica ⚔️ The book parodies popular sword-and-sorcery conventions that emerged in the 1960s, following the success of works like Robert E. Howard's Conan series 🛸 Ancient astronaut theories about Atlantis gained widespread popularity in the 1960s through works like Erich von Däniken's "Chariots of the Gods," which this novel playfully references