L.Sprague De Camp

[BAYLOR]

Lest Darkness Fall which he co wrote with Lin Carter is one the best fantasy time travel novels ever written. a man named Martin Padway finds himself transported back to ancient Rome just before the fall. It's quite a romp.

 

[j d worthington]

Lest Darkness Fall which he co wrote with Lin Carter is one the best fantasy time travel novels ever written. a man named Martin Padway finds himself transported back to ancient Rome just before the fall. It's quite a romp.

Well... no. He didn't collaborate with Carter on this one, as Lin would have only been nine years old at the time. (Carter was born in 1930; the novel was written in 1939.) What actually happened -- as Catherine told me during that conversation we had -- is that Sprague wrote this one in very brief period as a way to pay the rent for their first apartment together, submitting it and it being accepted just about the time of their marriage. And, as Sprague himself noted more than once, the novel is very heavily influenced by Twain's A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court.

All that said, I would agree that it is a fine novel, very enjoyable and full of de Camp's wit and pointed observations on humanity's foibles....

 

[BAYLOR]

Well... no. He didn't collaborate with Carter on this one, as Lin would have only been nine years old at the time. (Carter was born in 1930; the novel was written in 1939.) What actually happened -- as Catherine told me during that conversation we had -- is that Sprague wrote this one in very brief period as a way to pay the rent for their first apartment together, submitting it and it being accepted just about the time of their marriage. And, as Sprague himself noted more than once, the novel is very heavily influenced by Twain's A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court.

All that said, I would agree that it is a fine novel, very enjoyable and full of de Camp's wit and pointed observations on humanity's foibles....

Your absolutely right L sprague De Camp did write this one himself. I chalk it up to poor memory on my part given that I read the book almost 30 years ago.

 

[j d worthington]

Your absolutely right L sprague De Camp did write this one himself. I chalk it up to poor memory on my part given that I read the book almost 30 years ago.

*chuckle* Preaching to the choir there, friend; preaching to the choir....

 

[BAYLOR]

*chuckle* Preaching to the choir there, friend; preaching to the choir....

My Personal message system doesn't seem to work

Have you read The Star Rover by Jack London?

 

[j d worthington]

My Personal message system doesn't seem to work

Have you read The Star Rover by Jack London?

It works... or, at least, I got your message (my reply should have reached you by now). Yes, I read it, though it was many, many years ago.....

 

[BAYLOR]

It works... or, at least, I got your message (my reply should have reached you by now). Yes, I read it, though it was many, many years ago.....

I had the save copy setting off. All fixed.

 

[BAYLOR]

The Tritonian Ring I read that not too long ago . An excellent book. Honestly I like his books and stories and those of Lin Carter .

I liked the Adult fantasy series that they both did , which brought back so many great and forgotten fantasy books and stories.

As to what they did with Robert E Howard's works….. I think i can be charitable here. The 12 volume Conan series comprised stories by Howard and one created from outlines synopses and story fragments and rewrites by L Sprague De Camp and Lin Carter. Then there was Bjorn Nyborg Conan novel which was rather good in it won right . This is how I discovered Howard. I enjoyed reading the 12 books and yes I've read the 3 volume set which restored them to their original form and enjoyed them as well.

But I have fond memories of my time reading those 12 books . I cannot dislike L Sprague De Camp and Lin Carter over how did the 12 volume set .

 

[Extollager]

Lest Darkness Fall which he co wrote with Lin Carter

?

 

[BAYLOR]

?

Yes i know it's not correct.

 

[Lew Rockwell Fan]

Necroposting cause I can:
1.Major influence on Harry Turtledove.
2.To my taste, funniest fantasy writer of all time.
3. Wrote at least one "mainstream" historical novel that was well know to mundanes in its time. I was surprised to find it in my grandmother's library. Mentioned it to an older friend who wasn't a SF or fantasy reader & he knew it well. "An Elephant for Aristotle".
4. With Catherine, wrote "The Science Fiction Writer's Handbook".
5. Heinlein arranged to have de Camp and Asimov hired to work with him at a naval aviation r&d command during WW2.

 

[Al Jackson]

Lest Darkness Fall is a sort-of reworked and improved A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court, except it is more than that. It has a bigger scope and is framed differently. It is a smart novel and humorous too. It is probably De Camp's best novel. Alas I don't hear mention much of it anymore. L. Sparague De Camp was a grand master. He , like others in 30's and 40's wrote some of the best off-center science fiction and fantasy. He was part of that group who wrote for John W Campbell's Unknown magazine, some of the most unique and original fantasy ever written.

 

[BAYLOR]

Lest Darkness Fall is a sort-of reworked and improved A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court, except it is more than that. It has a bigger scope and is framed differently. It is a smart novel and humorous too. It is probably De Camp's best novel. Alas I don't hear mention much of it anymore. L. Sparague De Camp was a grand master. He , like others in 30's and 40's wrote some of the best off-center science fiction and fantasy. He was part of that group who wrote for John W Campbell's Unknown magazine, some of the most unique and original fantasy ever written.

Last Darkness Fall is also hilariously funny in places . I would love to see this one made int oa movie . It would be fun !

 

[Al Jackson]

Last Darkness Fall is also hilariously funny in places . I would love to see this one made int oa movie . It would be fun !

You know id Netflix and Amazon are looking for something this would be ideal.

 

[BAYLOR]

Necroposting cause I can:
1.Major influence on Harry Turtledove.
2.To my taste, funniest fantasy writer of all time.
3. Wrote at least one "mainstream" historical novel that was well know to mundanes in its time. I was surprised to find it in my grandmother's library. Mentioned it to an older friend who wasn't a SF or fantasy reader & he knew it well. "An Elephant for Aristotle".
4. With Catherine, wrote "The Science Fiction Writer's Handbook".
5. Heinlein arranged to have de Camp and Asimov hired to work with him at a naval aviation r&d command during WW2.

Interesting stuff.