|
|
Post by Jason Aiken on Jun 9, 2017 20:30:12 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by Jason Aiken on Aug 6, 2017 19:50:35 GMT -5
Haven't gotten around to finishing this puppy yet, but I just began reading Part III and I'm digging it so far.
So far this is reading like it's written by a lovechild of H. Rider Haggard and H. P. Lovecraft (Lost Race meets Cosmic Horror), but that's not a bad thing when in the capable hands of REH.
I'm noticing a lot less introspection on the part of Turlogh in this one, REH seems to be having too much fun constructing this lost land and their dark god.
|
|
|
|
Post by johnnypt on Aug 7, 2017 7:01:21 GMT -5
Definitely has the "Haggard meets Lovecraft" vibe to it. I think he got a lot of the brooding out of the way in Dark Man (which the public wouldn't see for another month, good job Farnsworth!) A lot of this reminded me of the later El Borak story "Swords of the Hills/Lost Valley of Iskander" (some of which ended up in "Zamboula" as it is). It almost as if he rewrote one of these as the other, but they were written far apart from each other so that's not the case. It has more action than Dark Man, so maybe that's what tipped Farnsworth's hand to do this first.
|
|
fernando
Thief
I'm purist and proud! I hate insistent people! And I only give opinions when I'm ASKED!!
Posts: 141 
|
Post by fernando on Aug 10, 2017 14:33:47 GMT -5
Great tale!  A bit anticlimatic, IMO, about Turlogh/Brunhild's relationship, but I loved the informations about Khemite people - which includes Bal-Sagothians, Khemuris, Mogars and... Stygians (thanks, Deuce)! The scenes of battles and Bal-Sagoth's faith were, IMHO, great and very well written, and I also enjoyed the friendship's development between Turlogh and Athelstane. |
|
|
|
Post by johnnypt on Aug 10, 2017 15:44:38 GMT -5
Yeah, kind of presaged Dwellers in the Mirage in that regard...and Queen of the Black Coast for that matter.
|
|
|
|
Post by Von K on Aug 12, 2017 5:33:14 GMT -5
Thanks for your comments gentlemen, and I agree with your observations regarding the Haggard and Lovecraft elements etc.
This is another classic REH yarn, though it lacks the emotional intensity of The Dark Man, where Turlogh’s character is much more clearly defined imho. There’s an incredible wealth of worldbuilding in tGoBS for such a short yarn. Brunhild’s father Rane seems like the same Rane from REH’s poem The Deed Beyond the Deed:
The Bal-Saggoth island chain definitely seem like the "unco' (unknown) lands" of the poem.
Athelstane’s stance reminds me of some of the stances in medieval fighting technique vids I’ve seen on youtube from Skallagrim and others:
Zarono also did a great illustration of Groth-golka which he posted in his thread on the old forum, very Frazetta vibe to that one. I don’t think he’s ever reposted it to his thread on this forum. Wonder if he'd be willing to repost it here?
|
|
|
|
Post by kullagain on Aug 12, 2017 11:54:29 GMT -5
Definitely has the "Haggard meets Lovecraft" vibe to it. I think he got a lot of the brooding out of the way in Dark Man (which the public wouldn't see for another month, good job Farnsworth!) A lot of this reminded me of the later El Borak story "Swords of the Hills/Lost Valley of Iskander" (some of which ended up in "Zamboula" as it is). It almost as if he rewrote one of these as the other, but they were written far apart from each other so that's not the case. It has more action than Dark Man, so maybe that's what tipped Farnsworth's hand to do this first. I haven't read "Hills" yet but I personally got a hard "Daughter of Erlik Khan" vibe with the rescuing of the "revered girl" subplots and the sneaking around the city that transpires in both. As for Farnsworth's decision, I think it was more precipitated by the lack of weirdness/fantasy in "The Dark Man," which Howard caught shit for from some fans as it was, so "Bal-Sagoth" serves to convince the audience that Turlogh tales fit the "Weird" genre. However I do agree it's awkward introducing yourself to the stories in that order. Clearly the chronology is reversed and we need to see Athelstane and Turlough on opposing sides before they team up, as by "Bal-Sagoth" they clearly are familiar with each other from "Dark Man." |
|
|
|
Post by zarono on Aug 13, 2017 15:58:50 GMT -5
Zarono also did a great illustration of Groth-golka which he posted in his thread on the old forum, very Frazetta vibe to that one. I don’t think he’s ever reposted it to his thread on this forum. Wonder if he'd be willing to repost it here? I have heard your request carried on cosmic winds across the trackless void of infinite space   |
|
|
|
Post by Char-Vell on Aug 15, 2017 7:50:59 GMT -5
Zarono also did a great illustration of Groth-golka which he posted in his thread on the old forum, very Frazetta vibe to that one. I don’t think he’s ever reposted it to his thread on this forum. Wonder if he'd be willing to repost it here? I have heard your request carried on cosmic winds across the trackless void of infinite space That resembles a "Terror Bird". en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phorusrhacidae
Terror Birds are badass and need to get more of a push in fantastic fiction.
Good job!
|
|
|
|
Post by Von K on Aug 17, 2017 18:21:25 GMT -5
That's the one - thanks for the repost Zarono!
And thanks for the additional linkage Char-Vell.
Wonder if REH had read any literature regarding the prehistorical terror bird before writing tGoBS?
|
|
|
|
Post by Von K on Aug 22, 2017 5:48:51 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by Von K on Aug 22, 2017 6:02:22 GMT -5
Robert E Howard is the favorite author of Byron Roberts, who founded metal band Bal Sagoth: The rest of the interview, where Byron speaks more of REH's inluence, and also that of CAS and HPL, plus the Whole Wide World, is here: ink19.com/2001/06/magazine/interviews/bal-sagoth-2 |
|
fernando
Thief
I'm purist and proud! I hate insistent people! And I only give opinions when I'm ASKED!!
Posts: 141
|
Post by fernando on Aug 22, 2017 12:25:37 GMT -5
Honestly I didn't like it... Placing Bal-Sagoth in the Sea of Vilayet is like placing New York in Middle East, or Bagdad in China! |
|
|
|
Post by Voorqual on Aug 22, 2017 14:11:18 GMT -5
Not one of Howard's best, but still easily a good tale of violence, savagery, and monsters. Definitely a fun study of characters and lost lands, even if it could have been better.
Favorite part is easily the appearance of a truly terrifying terror bird!
|
|
|
|
Post by Von K on Aug 23, 2017 18:10:01 GMT -5
Welcome Voorqual!
One of the main things that strikes me is the incredible amount of worldbuilding REH creates specifically for this one yarn.
Fernando - I think Roy's choice might have been partly driven by the continuity of where they had Conan adventuring at that point in the run. Athlestane becomes Fafnir Hellhand. I tried looking for a review comparing versions in detail but no luck so far.
|
|
A bit anticlimatic, IMO, about Turlogh/Brunhild's relationship, but I loved the informations about Khemite people - which includes Bal-Sagothians, Khemuris, Mogars and... Stygians (thanks, Deuce)! The scenes of battles and Bal-Sagoth's faith were, IMHO, great and very well written, and I also enjoyed the friendship's development between Turlogh and Athelstane.
