Thongor Against the Gods

Thongor Against the Gods is the third novel in Lin Carter's fantasy series set in the ancient continent of Lemuria. The tale centers on the warrior-king Thongor of Valkarth as he faces threats from the Druids of Yamath and their allies. The story combines elements of sword and sorcery with high fantasy, featuring airships, ancient magic, and mythical creatures. When Thongor's beloved Sumia is kidnapped as part of a plot against him, he must navigate treacherous alliances and supernatural forces to rescue her. The narrative moves through exotic locations across Lemuria, from mountain peaks to magical strongholds. Political intrigue between warring factions intertwines with personal vendettas and mystical confrontations. Carter's work pays homage to classic pulp fantasy while exploring themes of loyalty, power, and the conflict between civilization and barbarism. The novel continues the series' tradition of blending heroic adventure with elements of lost world fiction.

Readers describe Thongor Against the Gods as pulp sword-and-sorcery that mimics Robert E. Howard's Conan stories. Reviews note it is the second book in the series but works as a standalone adventure. Readers appreciated: - Fast-paced action sequences - Imaginative prehistoric world-building - Quick read with straightforward plot Common criticisms: - Derivative of other sword-and-sorcery works - Basic characterization - Repetitive descriptions - Dated writing style Ratings: Goodreads: 3.4/5 (47 ratings) Amazon: 3.8/5 (6 reviews) One reviewer on Goodreads noted: "Pure pulp entertainment, nothing more or less." Another called it "Howard-lite with dinosaurs." A critical Amazon review stated: "The prose is purple and the plot predictable, but it delivers exactly what you expect from this genre." Most readers agree it works as light entertainment for sword-and-sorcery fans who don't mind formulaic stories.

Conan the Barbarian by Robert E. Howard A warrior battles sorcerers and monsters across prehistoric kingdoms in a world of sword and sorcery.

At the Earth's Core by Edgar Rice Burroughs A man finds himself in a savage underground world filled with prehistoric creatures and ancient civilizations.

The Eternal Champion by Michael Moorcock A hero fights through multiple incarnations across different dimensions to maintain the balance between Law and Chaos.

The Sword of Shannara by Terry Brooks The last heir of an ancient bloodline must find a magical sword to defeat a warlock lord in a post-apocalyptic world filled with magic.

Kane of Old Mars by Michael Moorcock A Earth-born warrior navigates ancient Martian cities and battles strange creatures in a pulp science-fantasy setting.

🗸 Lin Carter worked as an editor for Ballantine Books' influential "Adult Fantasy" series, helping to revive interest in classic fantasy authors like Lord Dunsany and William Morris. 🗸 The continent of Lemuria was a real hypothetical landmass proposed in 1864 by zoologist Philip Sclater to explain the distribution of lemur fossils across Madagascar and India. 🗸 Carter's Thongor character was heavily influenced by Robert E. Howard's Conan the Barbarian, with both being powerful warriors in prehistoric fantasy settings. 🗸 This book is part of a larger series featuring Thongor, with six novels published between 1965 and 1970, establishing one of the earliest major sword-and-sorcery series after Conan. 🗸 Despite being primarily known as a fantasy author, Lin Carter was also a poet who published several collections of verse and wrote extensively about H.P. Lovecraft's work.