Wednesday, February 01, 2012

Wednesday Cover(s): STAR BARBARIAN & LORD OF BLOOD!

Okay - a while back, I picked up a sword & sorcery novel at a used bookstore, based solely on the cover art. It was Lord Of Blood by someone named Dave Van Arnam. I didn't read it - I just put it on the shelf with the rest of my fantasy paperbacks. Well, a few days ago, it caught my eye, so I pulled it down off the shelf and started to leaf through it. It was then that I noticed that it was, in fact, a sequel to a novel called Star Barbarian. Which I didn't have.

That bugged me.

Ask my wife - I get obsessive about the weirdest shit, and I cannot knowingly read a series book out of order. Yeah, I know: what the hell, right? Further, I don't even know if Van Arnam is a decent writer, or if these books are even worth reading. But, still....

So, I went online, found a cheap copy of Star Barbarian (pictured above, and sporting a cover painting by the late Jeff Jones) and ordered it. I expect it in my mailbox any day now. Then, both it and Lord Of Blood will be placed on my ever-growing "To Be Read" pile.

Oh yeah, that Lord Of Blood cover that caught my eye? Here it is; artwork by Jim Steranko.

Here's hoping these books don't completely suck....
at

5 comments:

  1. NoelCT1:44 AM

    I typically don't read a series out of order, either, but my dad has Lord of Blood on his shelf alongside other books with Steranko covers (Dad worked for him as an assistant in the 70s). Not knowing it was a sequel, I got bored one weekend last year and read it on a whim. While there were some callbacks to a past adventure, it worked on its own pretty well.

    I'll be curious to hear your thoughts on it.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Christopher Mills1:48 AM

    At this point, it may be 2015 before I get around to reading it - there are a LOT of books on my reading pile!

    ReplyDelete
  3. NoelCT2:13 AM

    I know that problem all too well. :)

    ReplyDelete
  4. Rip Jagger2:21 AM

    You're not alone. I've chased many an oddball thing because it was the prequel or the sequel or some such thing, because I want to have an experience in the right order. It's not always possible, but it's worth the effort.

    As for the read pile, I have enough right now I reckon to keep me until I croak, but that doesn't stop me from bringing in more. Sheesh!

    Rip Off

    ReplyDelete
  5. Charles Gramlich2:10 PM

    Pretty weak reading, although I do like the one cover quite a bit.

    ReplyDelete