Lin Carter's Flashing Swords #6: A Sword and Sorcery Anthology
Edited by Robert M. Price
Cover art by Regis Moulun

Lin Carter is a name well known to those who enjoy speculative fiction. His anthology series Flashing Swords is still well regarded and sought after.

Robert M. Price is the executor of Carter's estate, and with this anthology he has attempted to revive this beloved series.

There was quite a stir about this anthology. It is my understanding that there were issues long before Mr. Price's introduction incensed so many people in the online community. Many wrote negative reviews about a book they had never read because of an introduction that inflamed their righteousness.

The new introduction Mr. Price wrote is in the same vein as his initial one. This introduction is shorter and casts a glaring light upon current events and most importantly those who write in this field. He cites sources to back up his position while explaining from his point of view the events leading up to the original publisher pulling and canceling the project.

Was this introduction necessary for the anthology?

Not really.

I understand the sentiment behind Mr. Price's introduction. Some points I agree with, some not so much. The introduction of such an anthology would be better served to include background information about the authors and their stories. Or perhaps an anecdote about his friendship with Lin Carter.

Ten stories by authors I was mostly unfamiliar with. Many very familiar characters and locales are featured in these stories, from Barsoom to Lemuria, from Ki-gor to Elak.

A Prince of Mars by Lin Carter and Robert Price

A fast paced Sword and Planet tale in first person perspective. A young Texan, with limited prospects, has a fatal accident and is reborn on Mars. Somehow he retains the memories of his previous life on Earth. Essentially a western set on a post-cataclysmic world of finite resources and lost tech. Undeniably a homage to A Princess of Mars.

Curse of the White Witch by Wayne Judge

A good old fashioned story with the indomitable jungle hero from the pulps, Ki-gor.

The action starts immediately. Ki-gor and his companions save a young man from cannibals. The young man tells the sad tale of the lost city of Tal Anori and its subjugation at the hands of the White Witch.

Ki-gor was created to fill the demand of fans for more Tarzan adventures after Burroughs’ death. Pastiches using the Tarzan name were out of the question thus Ki-gor was born. Ki-gor has quite the catalog to peruse.

Bellico and the Tower of Mouths by Richard Toogood

On the shores of a lake, Bellico ruminates about a dead empire that ruled with dire sorcery. The scribe he has employed to chronicle his life becomes ensnared in a remnant of that dead empire. No mortal weapon can stand against this threat. Bellico will not be daunted with his weapon Morguemonger in hand.

I wouldn't mind reading more about Bellico. Fantastic blood and thunder.

Immortals of Lemuria by Robert M. Price

A story of Thongor of Lemuria. The King of Lemuria's friend lies dying. Only Thongor can search out aid from an unlikely source.

It bothers me how easily Thongor circumvents his own security as he slips away. Does he not care that his security is so lax?

The Sword of Thongor, a collection of Thongor stories by Price, has been out for a while. If you're a fan be sure to check it out.

The Vanishing Conjurer by Glynn Owen Barrass

A swordswoman searches for her missing mage companion. From a dark and decrepit keep to a dimension of nightmares. A mage's desire for knowledge bears deadly fruit.

There seems to be quite a few duos in sword and sorcery today. Especially of the female variety. Something that was novel has become mundane.

The World of the Black Sun by Pierre V. Comtois

A tale of Elak of Atlantis. Lycon, Elak's friend, has been robbed and beaten. A priceless medallion was taken. Elak traverses the city following the trail of this medallion, encountering thieves, the king's henchmen, and a wizard from another world. Will a cold fate be Elak's reward?

More Elak adventures can be found in Elak of Atlantis by Henry Kuttner, and in Elak, King of Atlantis by Adrian Cole.

Boscastle and the Swamp Enchantress by Jason Ross Cummings

A lost world/sword and planet sci-fi action adventure story. This story would fit nicely within the pulps of yesteryear.

Boscastle has been tasked with the rescue of a young woman. Her captors are fleeing to a place the locals hold in taboo. Within this swampy crater everyone discovers more than they bargained for.

Frankly there is a wealth of ideas presented here that could populate many stories.

Varla and the Mad Magician by Steve Lines and Glen Usher

An adventure set upon Thongor's Lemuria.

On the run for blasphemy, Varla is out of time. With the priests hot on her heels and a sandstorm coming down on her head, she stumbles upon some ruins. Within she finds vast machinery and an old adversary who has learned how to utilize these ancient devices.

Hercules Versus the Cyclops by Satiago del Dardano Turann

A Cyclops has taken over a local village and let the riffraff have free reign debasing civilization. A prod by a god in disguise sends Hercules and his companions to confront the Cyclops.

Hercules commands, "These wretched creatures do not deserve to live in a city of civilized men. Drive them out to the fields to live like the animals they are!"

Tonga of Lemuria by Clayton L. Hinkle

An adventure set upon Thongor's Lemuria.

Tonga is drawn with epic proportions.  A slave and gladiatrix, she longs for freedom. Circumstances and a betrayal lead to a slave revolt. Tonga is strong enough to face any challenge coming her way.

Anthologies can be a mixed bag. This particular one didn't strictly stick to sword and sorcery mentioned in the subtitle. What we are given is a variety of tales from many sub-genres. All of which would have been at home in the pulps.

With the prevalence of Lemuria and Atlantis figuring into many of the stories it might have been a better idea to change the title of the anthology; or at the very least the subtitle. This change might have helped to distance it from the stigma associated with its original title.

All in all I really enjoyed this anthology and was thankful to finally get the opportunity to read it. It stands taller than the original paperbacks I own of books 1-4, and even larger than the BCE hardcover of #5, but I still welcome it to my collection.

Flashing Swords #6 is available on Amazon.