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World's End #3
The Enchantress of World's End
Gondwane . . . In the last days of Earth, the continents drifted together again after aeons of separation, and that was Gondwane. Gondwane . . . When all the kingdoms of all the peoples of Earth had come and gone and new ones arose, it was on Gondwane they created their ephemeral glories. On Gondwane, amid the turmoil of the last wars and the last quests and the last efforts of scientists and alchemists, there arose one final hero, the mighty Ganelon Silvermane. The saga of Ganelon is the telling of master fantasist Lin Carter. And it is in the story of the Scarlet Enchantress that Ganelon first found the meaning of manhood.
196 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 1975
About the author
Lin Carter
429 books177 followersLin Carter was an American author, editor, and critic best known for his influential role in fantasy literature during the mid-20th century. Born in St. Petersburg, Florida, he developed an early passion for myth, adventure stories, and imaginative fiction, drawing inspiration from authors such as Edgar Rice Burroughs, Robert E. Howard, H. P. Lovecraft, and J. R. R. Tolkien. After serving in the U.S. Army, Carter attended Columbia University, where he honed his literary skills and deepened his knowledge of classical and medieval literature, myth, and folklore — elements that would become central to his work.
Carter authored numerous novels, short stories, and critical studies, often working within the sword-and-sorcery and high fantasy traditions. His own creations, such as the “Thongor of Lemuria” series, paid homage to pulp-era adventure fiction while adding his distinctive voice and world-building style. His nonfiction book Tolkien: A Look Behind The Lord of the Rings was one of the first major studies of Tolkien’s work and its mythological roots, and it helped establish Carter as a knowledgeable commentator on fantasy literature.
Beyond his own writing, Carter was a central figure in bringing classic and forgotten works of fantasy back into print. As editor of the Ballantine Adult Fantasy series from 1969 to 1974, he curated and introduced dozens of volumes, reintroducing readers to authors such as William Morris, Lord Dunsany, E. R. Eddison, and James Branch Cabell. His introductions not only contextualized these works historically and literarily but also encouraged a new generation to explore the breadth of the fantasy tradition.
Carter was also active in the shared literary universe of the “Cthulhu Mythos,” expanding upon the creations of H. P. Lovecraft and other members of the “Lovecraft Circle.” His collaborations and solo contributions in this genre further cemented his reputation as both a creative writer and a literary preservationist.
In addition to fiction and criticism, Carter was an active member of several science fiction and fantasy organizations, including the Science Fiction Writers of America. He frequently appeared at conventions, where he was known for his enthusiasm, deep knowledge of the genre, and willingness to mentor aspiring writers.
Though sometimes critiqued for the derivative nature of some of his work, Carter’s influence on the fantasy revival of the late 20th century remains significant. His combination of creative output, editorial vision, and scholarly enthusiasm helped bridge the gap between the pulp traditions of the early 1900s and the expansive fantasy publishing boom that followed.
Lin Carter’s legacy endures through his own imaginative tales, his critical studies, and the many classic works he rescued from obscurity, ensuring their place in the canon of fantasy literature for generations to come.
Carter authored numerous novels, short stories, and critical studies, often working within the sword-and-sorcery and high fantasy traditions. His own creations, such as the “Thongor of Lemuria” series, paid homage to pulp-era adventure fiction while adding his distinctive voice and world-building style. His nonfiction book Tolkien: A Look Behind The Lord of the Rings was one of the first major studies of Tolkien’s work and its mythological roots, and it helped establish Carter as a knowledgeable commentator on fantasy literature.
Beyond his own writing, Carter was a central figure in bringing classic and forgotten works of fantasy back into print. As editor of the Ballantine Adult Fantasy series from 1969 to 1974, he curated and introduced dozens of volumes, reintroducing readers to authors such as William Morris, Lord Dunsany, E. R. Eddison, and James Branch Cabell. His introductions not only contextualized these works historically and literarily but also encouraged a new generation to explore the breadth of the fantasy tradition.
Carter was also active in the shared literary universe of the “Cthulhu Mythos,” expanding upon the creations of H. P. Lovecraft and other members of the “Lovecraft Circle.” His collaborations and solo contributions in this genre further cemented his reputation as both a creative writer and a literary preservationist.
In addition to fiction and criticism, Carter was an active member of several science fiction and fantasy organizations, including the Science Fiction Writers of America. He frequently appeared at conventions, where he was known for his enthusiasm, deep knowledge of the genre, and willingness to mentor aspiring writers.
Though sometimes critiqued for the derivative nature of some of his work, Carter’s influence on the fantasy revival of the late 20th century remains significant. His combination of creative output, editorial vision, and scholarly enthusiasm helped bridge the gap between the pulp traditions of the early 1900s and the expansive fantasy publishing boom that followed.
Lin Carter’s legacy endures through his own imaginative tales, his critical studies, and the many classic works he rescued from obscurity, ensuring their place in the canon of fantasy literature for generations to come.
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June 26, 2020
DAW Collectors #150
Cover Artist: Michael Whelan
Name: Carter, Linwood Vrooman, Birthplace: St. Petersburg, Florida, USA, (09 June 1930 - 07 February 1988)
Alternate Names: Corporal Lin Carter, L. Carter, Lin(wood) Carter, Lin Karter,, H. P. Lowcraft, Grail Undwin.
This is the third book in the World's End series.
Gondwane, In the last days of Earth, the continents drifted together again after aeons of separation, and that was Gondwane. When all the kingdoms of all the peoples of Earth had come and gone and new ones arose, it was on Gondwane they created their ephemeral glories. On Gondwane, amid the turmoil of the last wars and the last quests and the last efforts of scientists and alchemists, there arose one final hero, the mighty Ganelon Silvermane.
The saga of Ganelon is the telling of fantasist Lin Carter. And it is in the story of the Scarlet Enchantress that Ganelon first found the meaning of manhood.
World's End Series:
1. Giant of World's End (1969)
2. The Warrior of World's End (1974)
3. The Enchantress of World's End (1975)
4. The Immortal of World's End (1976)
5. The Barbarian of World's End (1977)
6. The Pirate of World's End (1978)
Cover Artist: Michael Whelan
Name: Carter, Linwood Vrooman, Birthplace: St. Petersburg, Florida, USA, (09 June 1930 - 07 February 1988)
Alternate Names: Corporal Lin Carter, L. Carter, Lin(wood) Carter, Lin Karter,, H. P. Lowcraft, Grail Undwin.
This is the third book in the World's End series.
Gondwane, In the last days of Earth, the continents drifted together again after aeons of separation, and that was Gondwane. When all the kingdoms of all the peoples of Earth had come and gone and new ones arose, it was on Gondwane they created their ephemeral glories. On Gondwane, amid the turmoil of the last wars and the last quests and the last efforts of scientists and alchemists, there arose one final hero, the mighty Ganelon Silvermane.
The saga of Ganelon is the telling of fantasist Lin Carter. And it is in the story of the Scarlet Enchantress that Ganelon first found the meaning of manhood.
World's End Series:
1. Giant of World's End (1969)
2. The Warrior of World's End (1974)
3. The Enchantress of World's End (1975)
4. The Immortal of World's End (1976)
5. The Barbarian of World's End (1977)
6. The Pirate of World's End (1978)
July 20, 2019
“Gondwane . . . In the last days of Earth, the continents drifted together again after aeons of separation, and that was Gondwane.
Gondwane . . . When all the kingdoms of all the peoples of Earth had come and gone and new ones arose, it was on Gondwane they created their ephemeral glories.
On Gondwane, amid the turmoil of the last wars and the last quests and the last efforts of scientists and alchemists, there arose one final hero, the mighty Ganelon Silvermane.”
And thus with these words begins the second volume of the “Gondwane Epic,” otherwise known as the “World’s End Saga,” by one Linwood Vrooman Carter. So you’ll first get the usual shakedown: if you are new to this series then don’t start here. Instead you should start HERE:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
There you will find my review of the first book in the series, “The Warrior of World’s End.” You will also find a few short notes about the author Lin Carter. Carter was mostly known as a pastiche artist, but the Gondwane books in particular showed a different side of Carter’s creativity. I’ll admit to being a pretty big fan of Carter, since to my mind he epitomizes the pulp fantasy ethic more so than most writers of the genre. Carter had a deep respect for the tropes and nuances of fantasy fiction, and this strength helped to make him an excellent anthologist and literary critic within the field. Now having said all of this I will just assume that you have enough of the basics of how things operate in the Gondwane universe.
THE PLOT THUS FAR: Book Two, “The Enchantress of World’s End,” picks up right where volume one left off. Ganelon Silvermane and his fellow adventurers Xarda the Swordwoman, the Illusionist of Nerelon, and the mechanical and sentient Bazonga Bird (hehehehehehehe….he said Bazonga…..hehehehehe…..) decide to land in the city of Chx for some much needed rest. They find themselves embroiled in some intrigue when they find themselves labeled as lawbreakers for NOT engaging in the strange dual nature of the inhabitants of the city, who by day are pious and righteous citizens and by night thieves and harlots and drunks. The little band (sans Bazonga Bird) is imprisoned for public decency, whereupon they are separated into different cells in different parts of the local jail. The Bazonga Bird manages to free Ganelon and spirit him away to a place of supposed safety and then knocks herself unconscious when she tries to return for the rest of the group. Meanwhile, Xarda and the Illusionist have made the acquaintance of one Prince Erigon, heir to the throne of the Kingdom of Valardus, recently sacked by the Ximchak Barbarian hordes. The three make jailbreak and then use a magical kayak to fly to safety, attempting to find Ganelon along the way.
Ganelon, meanwhile, has been captured by the Death Dwarves and taken to the Enchantress of Red Magic, who hopes to use him as a stud to create a race of super-human conquerors. Here Ganelon makes friends with another prisoner, Grrff the Tigerman. He also acquires a young male slave named Phadia, who helps he and Grrff to escape the clutches of the mad and sexually frustrated Enchantress. Whew!!! I’m horrible with exposition. Suffice it to say there is plenty more action to be found within these pages. The reader will get another flying city, a grand reunion of friends, a sideways jaunt into the land of Fey (complete with a dragon and a room full of magic swords), and about a million gallons of Death Dwarf and Red Magic legionnaire blood and guts and gore along the way.
The thing that I love the most about the Gondwane Epic is that it never takes itself too seriously at any point in the narrative. Carter keeps the tone light and gently humorous without falling into the trap of outright comedy or satire. In other words, this ISN’T something along the lines of Robert Asprin’s “Myth Adventures.” None of the situations that the characters get themselves into seem particularly dangerous or full of any real peril. It’s more akin to a fun romp through a Dungeons and Dragons module than anything else. You know what I’m talking about. The DM just wants to drink a few beers and have a good time and isn’t out to kill off your Level 3 magician with a charisma of 12 just because he or she can.
Carter also manages to explore some subtle and not so subtle sexuality with this volume of the Epic. I like how he handles the standard pulp trope “princess in skimpy chainmail bikini,” for one thing. And he also deals with the idea of prepubescent male concubines in an interesting and mostly honest fashion, though he kind of spoils it at the end with a bit of “wink wink” patronizing that seems a bit out of place in the subcontext of the story. My one big criticism of Carter is that he sometimes has a awkward way of dealing with sexuality in his novels and stories. He tends to caricature women as either “voluptuous and curvy and sensual” or “boyish with pink nipples and small, upturned breasts.” His main male characters all seem to have the same set of “steely thews and bronzed skin and massive shoulders.” It’s especially interesting considering that Carter also wrote some explicitly erotic fantasy later on in his career. Here he had a golden opportunity to explore Ganelon’s latent sexuality and he kind of passed the whole thing off. A gay or bisexual lead character in a fantasy novel would have been groundbreaking back when this was published, but Carter decided to take the easy way out.
Still, “The Enchantress of World’s End” is a worthy entry into the Carter canon, and it’s a great follow-up to the initial volume. I’m still of the opinion that this series is Carter’s attempt to break out of the pastiche mold and create something purely original, even though he still employs a lot of stock ideas and background characterizations that will seem very familiar to fantasy fans. The world building is still front and center, and you can tell that the author had a great time playing in his massive construct of the final continent on Earth, Gondwane. Carter hasn’t reinvented the wheel here, but he sure does manage to keep the well worn treads on the road for a smooth ride that makes for a plenty enjoyable trip.
There are four more installments in the “World’s End” series, including the 1969 conclusion to the epic that was published BEFORE the rest of the volumes. Keep in mind that DAW only published the five books that were written in the 1970s. If you want the complete set then you will have to seek out the Belmont publication of “The Giant of World’s End.”
My advice is to get you some of this, especially if you enjoy classic pulp fantasy and science-fiction. I enjoy trying to shed some light on these forgotten and/or obscure genre classics. In point of fact I have kind of made it one of my primary missions here on Goodreads. Don’t let my hard work go to waste. Hit your used book store or Abebooks TODAY and put your nose between these pages.
Gondwane . . . When all the kingdoms of all the peoples of Earth had come and gone and new ones arose, it was on Gondwane they created their ephemeral glories.
On Gondwane, amid the turmoil of the last wars and the last quests and the last efforts of scientists and alchemists, there arose one final hero, the mighty Ganelon Silvermane.”
And thus with these words begins the second volume of the “Gondwane Epic,” otherwise known as the “World’s End Saga,” by one Linwood Vrooman Carter. So you’ll first get the usual shakedown: if you are new to this series then don’t start here. Instead you should start HERE:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
There you will find my review of the first book in the series, “The Warrior of World’s End.” You will also find a few short notes about the author Lin Carter. Carter was mostly known as a pastiche artist, but the Gondwane books in particular showed a different side of Carter’s creativity. I’ll admit to being a pretty big fan of Carter, since to my mind he epitomizes the pulp fantasy ethic more so than most writers of the genre. Carter had a deep respect for the tropes and nuances of fantasy fiction, and this strength helped to make him an excellent anthologist and literary critic within the field. Now having said all of this I will just assume that you have enough of the basics of how things operate in the Gondwane universe.
THE PLOT THUS FAR: Book Two, “The Enchantress of World’s End,” picks up right where volume one left off. Ganelon Silvermane and his fellow adventurers Xarda the Swordwoman, the Illusionist of Nerelon, and the mechanical and sentient Bazonga Bird (hehehehehehehe….he said Bazonga…..hehehehehe…..) decide to land in the city of Chx for some much needed rest. They find themselves embroiled in some intrigue when they find themselves labeled as lawbreakers for NOT engaging in the strange dual nature of the inhabitants of the city, who by day are pious and righteous citizens and by night thieves and harlots and drunks. The little band (sans Bazonga Bird) is imprisoned for public decency, whereupon they are separated into different cells in different parts of the local jail. The Bazonga Bird manages to free Ganelon and spirit him away to a place of supposed safety and then knocks herself unconscious when she tries to return for the rest of the group. Meanwhile, Xarda and the Illusionist have made the acquaintance of one Prince Erigon, heir to the throne of the Kingdom of Valardus, recently sacked by the Ximchak Barbarian hordes. The three make jailbreak and then use a magical kayak to fly to safety, attempting to find Ganelon along the way.
Ganelon, meanwhile, has been captured by the Death Dwarves and taken to the Enchantress of Red Magic, who hopes to use him as a stud to create a race of super-human conquerors. Here Ganelon makes friends with another prisoner, Grrff the Tigerman. He also acquires a young male slave named Phadia, who helps he and Grrff to escape the clutches of the mad and sexually frustrated Enchantress. Whew!!! I’m horrible with exposition. Suffice it to say there is plenty more action to be found within these pages. The reader will get another flying city, a grand reunion of friends, a sideways jaunt into the land of Fey (complete with a dragon and a room full of magic swords), and about a million gallons of Death Dwarf and Red Magic legionnaire blood and guts and gore along the way.
The thing that I love the most about the Gondwane Epic is that it never takes itself too seriously at any point in the narrative. Carter keeps the tone light and gently humorous without falling into the trap of outright comedy or satire. In other words, this ISN’T something along the lines of Robert Asprin’s “Myth Adventures.” None of the situations that the characters get themselves into seem particularly dangerous or full of any real peril. It’s more akin to a fun romp through a Dungeons and Dragons module than anything else. You know what I’m talking about. The DM just wants to drink a few beers and have a good time and isn’t out to kill off your Level 3 magician with a charisma of 12 just because he or she can.
Carter also manages to explore some subtle and not so subtle sexuality with this volume of the Epic. I like how he handles the standard pulp trope “princess in skimpy chainmail bikini,” for one thing. And he also deals with the idea of prepubescent male concubines in an interesting and mostly honest fashion, though he kind of spoils it at the end with a bit of “wink wink” patronizing that seems a bit out of place in the subcontext of the story. My one big criticism of Carter is that he sometimes has a awkward way of dealing with sexuality in his novels and stories. He tends to caricature women as either “voluptuous and curvy and sensual” or “boyish with pink nipples and small, upturned breasts.” His main male characters all seem to have the same set of “steely thews and bronzed skin and massive shoulders.” It’s especially interesting considering that Carter also wrote some explicitly erotic fantasy later on in his career. Here he had a golden opportunity to explore Ganelon’s latent sexuality and he kind of passed the whole thing off. A gay or bisexual lead character in a fantasy novel would have been groundbreaking back when this was published, but Carter decided to take the easy way out.
Still, “The Enchantress of World’s End” is a worthy entry into the Carter canon, and it’s a great follow-up to the initial volume. I’m still of the opinion that this series is Carter’s attempt to break out of the pastiche mold and create something purely original, even though he still employs a lot of stock ideas and background characterizations that will seem very familiar to fantasy fans. The world building is still front and center, and you can tell that the author had a great time playing in his massive construct of the final continent on Earth, Gondwane. Carter hasn’t reinvented the wheel here, but he sure does manage to keep the well worn treads on the road for a smooth ride that makes for a plenty enjoyable trip.
There are four more installments in the “World’s End” series, including the 1969 conclusion to the epic that was published BEFORE the rest of the volumes. Keep in mind that DAW only published the five books that were written in the 1970s. If you want the complete set then you will have to seek out the Belmont publication of “The Giant of World’s End.”
My advice is to get you some of this, especially if you enjoy classic pulp fantasy and science-fiction. I enjoy trying to shed some light on these forgotten and/or obscure genre classics. In point of fact I have kind of made it one of my primary missions here on Goodreads. Don’t let my hard work go to waste. Hit your used book store or Abebooks TODAY and put your nose between these pages.
September 18, 2021
This is engaging humorous fantasy or even a fantasy parody. Pratchett would begin mining the same vein enormously more successfully ten years later with his best-selling Discworld series.
Sadly, and astonishingly really, the book is marred by extended sequences where Carter deals flippantly and even lasciviously with child sex slavery. I can’t tell if he had any sexual feelings for pubescent boys. But as this novel proves, he certainly thought the subject of men using kids sexually was well suited to comedy. I disagree.
Sadly, and astonishingly really, the book is marred by extended sequences where Carter deals flippantly and even lasciviously with child sex slavery. I can’t tell if he had any sexual feelings for pubescent boys. But as this novel proves, he certainly thought the subject of men using kids sexually was well suited to comedy. I disagree.
January 23, 2022
So far, of the novels of Lin Carter I have read, I’d say the Gondwane books are the author’s best. Inventive adventures. They are fun and clever. Both fantastic and science fictional, and set in the far, far future, they nevertheless do not read like modern fantasy or science fiction, but more like ancient satire. Admittedly not great literature — no great themes of tragic or philosophical nature; the major passions are not explored, nor chthonic presences felt — these tales still impress me as perfect examples of the form. I just wish I could designate, with some Polonian accuracy, the exact genre. As it is, science-fantasy-adventure’ll have to do.
Razzledoxy?
Razzledoxy?
January 9, 2014
It is sort of like sword-and-sorcery, but without the grit and ferocity of Robert E. Howard, the sparkle and wit of Fritz Leiber, the undercurrent of horror of Karl Edward Wagner or the old-fashioned sensibilities of Edgar Rice Burroughs. I enjoyed this more than the first book of the series, but it won't stick with me. Part of the problem is that the protagonist is sort of bland for an adventure hero.
Read
July 16, 2023The hero, the child-like eight-foot-tall giant Silver Mane, is kidnapped by a red-skinned queen of similar stature who attempts to seduce him in order to create a master dynasty to dominate all those of lesser stature. Silver Mane, however, is still childlike and as of yet has no interest in these amorous pursuits, and resists these repeated seduction attempts much to the anger of the rebuffed queen.
She figures that Silver Mane must be homosexual and sends a variety of men and then children to seduce him in order to find a weakness she might exploit. Ultimately, Silver Mane pretends to be interested in a twelve-year-old boy and they make their escape together, with a friendly lion-man, from the city. The author treats this all in an off-hand way that I found disturbing.
Carter makes it clear that pedophilia is a normal and accepted part of that fictional society yet the absence of judgment of such a horrific thing is concerning.
She figures that Silver Mane must be homosexual and sends a variety of men and then children to seduce him in order to find a weakness she might exploit. Ultimately, Silver Mane pretends to be interested in a twelve-year-old boy and they make their escape together, with a friendly lion-man, from the city. The author treats this all in an off-hand way that I found disturbing.
Carter makes it clear that pedophilia is a normal and accepted part of that fictional society yet the absence of judgment of such a horrific thing is concerning.
April 13, 2023
Another amusing entry in the Gondwane series by Lin Carter. This story finds our heroes joined by a tigerman, a young slave boy and a prince from a northern kingdom. After a disastrous stay in the city of Chx Silvermain is separated from his compatriots and ends up in the clutches of the Red Queen. Silvermain escapes, spends some time in the land of Fae and eventually reunites with his friends just in time to see the Red Queen's armies thwarted and her captured. This series is growing on me and I really appreciate the light-hearted tone and comedy Lin Carter has intentionally added to the story. I'm looking forward to the third book in the series.
April 10, 2022
Love these books. It's like a blast from the past.
I read these books when I was just a kid. Now that I am re-reading them, they bring back lots of memories. I hope to finish re-reading the whole series. Lin Carter was an amazing writer who was very underrated and underappreciated. I highly recommend any of his fantasy books. They are fast reads and very entertaining.
I read these books when I was just a kid. Now that I am re-reading them, they bring back lots of memories. I hope to finish re-reading the whole series. Lin Carter was an amazing writer who was very underrated and underappreciated. I highly recommend any of his fantasy books. They are fast reads and very entertaining.
August 9, 2021
The Gondwane series does not belong to the heights of sword and sorcery literature, but it's so weird, so fun, that I can't help but love it.
April 9, 2025
The second Gondwane book continues with its exploration of a magical world in the far future, with plenty of creativity and humor. The heroes start out visiting a town where the people are law-abiding and holier-than-thou during the day, but participate in all kinds of crime and debauchery at night. The artificially made hero Ganelon is captured by an enchantress known as the Red Queen, who wants to use him for breeding purposes. He escapes with the help of a Tigerman. After travel through some mountains that appear and disappear, the future theme is expanded upon in a self-aware and communicative city of robots, which helps them to fight off the Queen's troops. At one point, Ganelon visits a land of fairies that's also home to an ancient dragon, who shows him a bunch of legendary swords, including Excalibur, Tyrfing, Dyrnwyn, Beowulf's Hrunting, several from Middle-Earth, Kothar's Frostfire, Fafhrd's Graywand, and Elric's Stormbringer. The Bazonga Bird is still an entertaining character, and the Illusionist Narelon has a pet Gyraphont, a sort of lobster demon. This book also has magic grouped by color, something that has interested me for a while.
July 20, 2010
This was the weakest of Lin Carter's many series of books. I didn't care for the main character at all. They have the benefit of being short, easy reads. But there's very little excitement to them.
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May 8, 2018Wild!
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews