Quote:
Originally Posted by knivesout  I've never read any of the Northwest Smith stories; I'll look for Shambleau (I probably have it somewhere unread), I've looked it up and it seems like an intriguing little tale with a lot going on under the surface.
With both GOLLUM and J.D. noting certain limitations in these stories but still recommending them, it would be churlish of me not to give them a second try. |
Well I had assumed you owned a copy of the Fantasy Masterwork edn,
Black Gods and Scarlet Dreams, which features Moore's Northwest and Jirel stories. It definitely contains Shambleau. My mistake.....
Having said that, that story in particular has been reprinted many times, so you may well locate it in one of your existing publications.
I found Jirel difficult to empathise with because she seems to often make bad or silly decisions and there is a certain sameness to the stories but the prose and at times striking imagery Moore is able to invoke makes up for the central character's and associated plot's obvious flaws. Not great works of literature but significant enough to anyone wishing to better understand the development of the Genre and more specifically S&S.
Here's an interesting link I found by someone who is an obvious fan of the Jirel stories. It provides a history of them as they appeared in WTs and may provide some useful background detail for you to consider when re-analyzing these stories.
Black Gate » Jirel of Joiry: The Mother of Us All
Despite my earlier comments I would also encourage you to try some of her Northwest Smith stories of which Shambleau is probably the best.