Back in the 1980s, TOR books set about to issue faux-ACE Doubles in a new series. ACE Doubles featured two books in one, with a tête-bêche format. The TOR Doubles followed this format. The TOR series included 36 books. Divide and Rule/The Sword of Rhiannon is #17 in the series.
L. Sprague de Camp’s Divide and Rule (first published as a serial in the magazine Unknown from April to May, 1939) presents a world 300 years from now when the Earth is controlled by alien invaders called the hoppers. They look like giant kangaroos. The hoppers brought a blue plague to Earth which killed off half the human population. Now, the hoppers rule by banning science and keeping humans operating on a medieval culture level. Sir Howard of Poughkeepsie gets involved in a scheme to overthrow the alien domination. GRADE: B
Leigh Brackett’s The Sword of Rhiannon was first published in the June 1949 issue of Thrilling Wonder Stories as “Sea-Kings of Mars”. Its first book publication was in the early famous Ace Double D-36 with Conan the Conqueror by Robert E. Howard. Many critics consider The Sword of Rhiannon the best of Brackett’s Mars novels. The action centers around Matthew Carse, a 35-year-old former archaeologist-turned-thief in the Martian city of Jekkara. Carse gets involved in a series of adventures in the best Sword and Sorcery tradition. Outstanding! GRADE: A
I found Divide and Rule to be lesser de Camp. And quite a bit dated even back in the 60’s when I first read it.
The Brackett I found to be a lot better. And more fun.
Steve, Leigh Brackett is an underrated SF writer. I’m a big fan of her work.
I was never much of a de Camp fan and although I think I read DIVIDE AND RULE I hardly remember it. Brackett is quite a different matter. Even though it’s been years since I read SWORD OF RHIANNON I’d be willing to bet that it holds up. Even though she’s not nearly as famous as she should be, her screenplays should have made her a legend: RIO BRAVO, THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK, THE LONG GOODBYE, THE BIG SLEEP, etc, etc. VERY impressive!
Michael, I totally agree with your assessment of Leigh Brackett!
Never a fan of sword & sorcery stuff, and de Camp I’ve read mostly short stories.
Jeff, you would enjoy THE SWORD OF RHIANNON. Leigh Brackett knew how to write SF adventure novels!
I’ve got that Ace double D-36 with the Howard. Read them both many years ago. The Brackett is a fun short novel.
Rick, at one time it was very difficult to find a copy of ACE Double D-36. I searched for years before I found a copy in Canada! Now, the Internet provides access…at a price!
Leigh Brackett is one of my favourite authors too – though I usually am not interested in Sword&Sorcery, for her I’ll make an exception.
Her Mars stories were something special.
A bit OT:
The ACE doubles really fascinated me in the 60s I bought everyone that I could get at my local bookstore – about one a month.
I think they got a package of US paperbacks every month.
If there was nothing else available I’d settle for the Carter Brown.
Can you imagine my happiness when I came to the Fantasy Centre in London for the first time? Thousands of second hand f&SF books and magazines …
In the early 70s, I had got a well paying job in IT and could afford to drive to London at least twice a year …
Wolf, I was a frequent buyer of ACE DOUBLES in the 1960s. I tapered off in the 1970s and switched to buying DAW Books.
Those who pay attention have always taken Brackett seriously…if there’s a single obvious element to De Camp, it’s cleverness, that with his best work, carries the day, while with Brackett, she at her best, brings a sense of conviction and life lived to even her most ornate work. I don’t think she’s underrated any longer, albeit fewer know of her work than once did among speculative fiction readers…but those who are not solely reading The New Stuff are hard-pressed to respect her work…as are those reading her crime fiction and western writing. And certainly cinephiles, as noted, those at least not still pretending directors write everything by the fact of directing, are more than aware of her contributions, as Michael Padgett suggests they well should be.
Todd, Leigh Brackett is underrated and under-recognized. I think she was a brilliant writer!
Leigh Brackett wrote what is called “sword and planet” stories, since they generally didn’t involve magic. I’m sure you remember the Ace anthology SWORDSMEN IN THE SKY with its Frazetta cover, and stories by Poul Anderson, Andre Norton, Brackett, Otis Adelbert Kline, and Edmond Hamilton.
But not solely “S&P” stories, though there was a reason she was The major contributor to PLANET STORIES (ahead of even such geniuses as Charles Harness, Poul Anderson and her mentee Ray Bradbury). THE LONG TOMORROW is her novel currently in print from the Library of America, and more should follow.
I loved THE LONG TOMORROW, and certainly felt it earned its place in that Library of America volume.
Jeff, THE LONG TOMORROW needs to be recognized as a great novel.
Yes, I’m a member of the Planetary Romance group on Facebook…”sword and planet” had to wait until after Fritz Leiber, who also wrote a little, had already named “sword and sorcery” in the early ’60s, iirc in AMRA magazine…and L. Sprague de Camp helped popularize the term with an anthology by that title…
Todd, no matter what the terminology–“Sword & Planet,” “Planetary Romance,” etc.–I love the genre!
Todd, I’d be happy if the Library of America did a whole volume devoted to Leigh Brackett’s work!
Jeff, I’ll have to find my copy of SWORDSMAN IN THE SKY for a future FFB.
Actually, while the term “sword and planet” was used for a little while, the current term is “planetary romances.” This covers Edgar Rice Burroughs through Leigh Brackett — and their modern successors like Marion Zimmer Bradley’s Darkover novels.
Brackett is one of those writers I haven’t read a whole lot of, but who I faithfully bought to read “someday.” I certainly enjoyed what I have read.
Jeff, I get a thrill out of re-reading Leigh Brackett’s work!