Fletcher Pratt’s The Well of the Unicorn will remind some readers of a Bernard Cornwell novel. There’s plenty of fighting, politics, and chasing women. Young Airar Alvarson evolves from a country bumpkin into a leader of men. Along the way, he practices some magic arts and learns how to be a warrior. Airar falls in love, as young men will, and Pratt creates some very enticing women to tempt him. This is sword and sorcery in the old style of storytelling. Fletcher Pratt is better known as L. Sprague de Camp’s partner in producing classics like The Incompleat Enchanter and Wall of Serpents. But this solo effort is well worth reading. It can be had at a bargain price from Daedalus Books at www.salebooks.com.
Do check out also, if you haven’t, THE BLUE STAR, his only solo fantasy novella I’m aware of, in a similar mode.
Yes, I have read Fletcher Pratt’s The Blue Star. It’s another underrated and little known gem.
Thanks. George. I have to make time to read more of the genre. Maybe in retirement.
I really liked Fletcher Pratt’s women characters in The Well of the Unicorn. Too often in sword & sorcery novels, women characters are shallow and stereotypical. Pratt’s women are mysterious and complex.