ELAK: KING
OF ATLANTIS by Adrian Cole
Pulp Hero
Press, 2020
Elak was
originally created by the late Henry Kuttner as a replacement for the massively
popular Conan in the pages of Weird Tales after the Cimmerian’s creator took
his own life in 1936. Though Kuttner only wrote a handful of the original
stories, many years down the line Adrian Cole has continued Elak’s adventures
and produced an impressive saga in the five long stories included in this
collection. Together with his Falstaffian comrade at arms, the redoubtable
Lycon, and the ancient druid, Dalan, Elak’s adventures often involve fighting
to secure the safety of his newly won kingdom of Atlantis. Very much a hands-on
ruler, Elak glories in personally grasping danger by the throat, much to the
displeasure of his royal council, who would prefer him to let others risk their
necks on his behalf. But that isn’t Elak’s way, always leading from the front
when he can, knowing that his best friend, Lycon, will almost always be there
to support him, whatever supernatural or sorcerous threats they have to face.
And these threats are there by the score, from powerful sorcerers, incredibly
monstrous demons and gods, and ancient pre-human reptilian races who seek to
destroy humanity, though sometimes threats come from closer at home, from
traitors and would-be usurpers. Atlantis is a dangerous place, to say the
least!
Though
each of the stories in this volume is stand-alone, there is a common thread
running through these colourful tales, culminating in Sky Warriors of
Atlantis, a magnificent 90-page epic, full of savage battles,
world-shattering evil forces and empire-spanning intrigues, a memorable climax
to a memorable collection.
Though I
don’t recall ever reading any of the original tales by Henry Kuttner, Adrian
Cole’s soon grew on me, as did some of the subtle humour the author manages to
insert between the daring-do.
I must
also add that the stories are wonderfully complemented by a series of highly
detailed black and white illustrations by award-winning artist Jim Pitts. My
only regret was that the publisher chose to block them in beneath seven or
eight lines of text rather than give each illustration a full page to itself.
Regardless,
this is one of the best sword and sorcery collections I have come across for
many a long year. And I look forward to Adrian Cole giving us more tales of
Elak, King of Atlantis at some time in the not too distant future. Long may he
reign!
Elak:
King of Atlantis
is available from Amazon.
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