Kyrik: Warrior Warlock (1975) by Gardner F. Fox

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Gardner F. Fox was a highly prolific writer who worked in multiple genres and formats, from short stories, to novels, to comic books. In fact, it is estimated that he wrote over 4,000 comics stories, 1,500 for DC Comics alone. So, it was with some excitement that I waded into the first of four books in a series of sword and sorcery novels featuring the mighty Kyrik, a barbarian swordsman in the mold of Conan, but with blond hair (or tawny as we’re often reminded) and green eyes. 

What I unfortunately discovered was a poorly constructed pastiche of Conan that lacked depth, characterization, or compelling plot. From the moment when Kyrik is released from a thousand years of bondage, having been imprisoned in a small statue of himself, all he seems to care about is drinking, fighting, and bedding down with every woman he sees. Furthermore, he’s just not that smart. We are reminded at every turn that everything about the swordsman is “huge, giant, or mighty.” 

The plot meanders, involving a revenge quest against the descendant of the wizard who originally imprisoned Kyrik. Except Kyrik seemingly couldn’t care less. He’s not even the one seeking revenge. Instead that quest belongs to one of the two hot women who end up accompanying him and spend long stretches admiring Kyrik’s anatomy and fighting skills. 

The book isn’t badly written from a pure prose perspective, I just wish that Fox had infused some fun and the least bit of logic into the mix. As it is, this short book with relatively large print was a real slog to get through. And this makes me sad as I own the entire series and I love those Ken Barr covers so much! For anyone curious enough, the Kyrik books are available in inexpensive ebook versions for the Kindle through Amazon. But you don't get the awesome Ken Barr cover paintings on them.

Review by Steve Carroll

Comments

  1. Rick TuckerApril 20, 2022 at 2:31 PM

    So, you were expecting a gem at the height of the barbaric adventure phase of English language publications? Fox wrote for a living, not be considered fine art. I'm glad I read them without those expectations, and no, at my age and experience I'm not likely to read them again. But I sure enjoyed them for the rollicking S&S adventure yarns they were at the time.

    ReplyDelete
  2. SteveApril 22, 2022 at 7:04 PM

    Check out SHADOW OF THE BARBARIAN by John Thane

    ReplyDelete

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