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Fantasy Commentator, v. 1, issue 4, December 1944
Page 54
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54 FANTASY COMMENTATOR But Not Forgotten... by Thyril L. Ladd Although the versatile H. Rider Haggard, author of some seventy-five books, has written in many fields, through all his fiction---now suggested, now strong---runs a current of mysticism and fatalism. Haggard wrote several tales of English countryside life, which, beside his other fictional productions, seem rather dull. A number of excellent historical novels came from his pen, such as The Brethren (1904), Pearl Maiden (1903) and Fair Margaret (1907), in some of which his strong leaning toward the mystic theme are apparent. And verging upon pure occultism, with their thematic "influence from beyond," are Love Eternal (1918) and Stella Fregelius: a Tale of Three Destinies (1903). He authored a fine trilogy of adventure in the days of the great Zulu kings; in these titles---Marie (1912), Child of the Storm (1913), Finished (1917)---is to be found much excellent description of the magic of African witch-doctors. Therein also the fascinated reader journeys through time from the early days of King Chaka's great power to the last days of the Zulu empire and its final dissolution. And in all three tales is the unforgettable character of Zikali the Witch-Doctor. Haggard is mainly remembered today for his fantastic novels of lost peoples; many of these have Allan Quatermain as the hero, though some do not. In all, however, there are no less than fifteen books in which he appears in the hero's role. Apart from the trilogy described above, we have King Soloman's Mines (1886), an excellent "hidden people" tale, and its thrilling sequel, Allan Quatermain (1888), wherein this character meets his death. Having thus disposed of Allan, Haggard donned the cloak of "editor," in which guise he "discovered," among the deceased's belongings, a chest containing a number of manuscripts. By means of this device the adventures of Quatermain were permitted to continue for many years. Allan's Wife (1889) is one of the lesser (and less fascinating) of the author's Quatermain stories. Following it appeared the following, all tales of strange native magicians and lost peoples in different settings, and each with its own set of thrills: The Holy Flower (1915)---published in America under the title Allan and the Holy Flower---, The Ivory Child (1916), Heu-Heu, or the Monster (1924) and The Treasure of the Lake (1926). In one of these Allan and a Lady Ragnall meet, and bring home from Africa a chest of taduki, a strange native herb; when the smoke of this burning herb is inhaled the one who breathes it is transported back into the past, and is apt to relive some experience which occurred in a previous incarnation. This happens in The Ancient Allan (1920)---a terrific tale, by the way---in which the hero and Lady Ragnall journey back through time to relive their lives in ancient Babylon during the last days of the dying Egyptian empire, as well as in Allan and the Ice-Gods (1927). Finally might be mentioned a minor item in which Allan adopts the role of story-teller: A Tale of Three Lions (1887), a hunting novelette which in later editions appeared as Allan the Hunter. Some of Haggard's novels of lost peoples are unconnected, either by plot or character, with any other of his books. Assuredly the best of these---and also probably the author's ablest use of this particular theme---is The People of the Mist (1894). This is actually two stories in one, the first portion dealing with the raiding of a hidden jungle slave-camp, and the second with the search for a lost city---while all over broods the peril of the latter's living monster god. Queen Sheba's Ring (1910) is another excellent tale along similar lines, and in addition shows a bit of humor here and there, something unusual in Haggard's writings. When Egypt is his locale Haggard appears to write especially well. One
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54 FANTASY COMMENTATOR But Not Forgotten... by Thyril L. Ladd Although the versatile H. Rider Haggard, author of some seventy-five books, has written in many fields, through all his fiction---now suggested, now strong---runs a current of mysticism and fatalism. Haggard wrote several tales of English countryside life, which, beside his other fictional productions, seem rather dull. A number of excellent historical novels came from his pen, such as The Brethren (1904), Pearl Maiden (1903) and Fair Margaret (1907), in some of which his strong leaning toward the mystic theme are apparent. And verging upon pure occultism, with their thematic "influence from beyond," are Love Eternal (1918) and Stella Fregelius: a Tale of Three Destinies (1903). He authored a fine trilogy of adventure in the days of the great Zulu kings; in these titles---Marie (1912), Child of the Storm (1913), Finished (1917)---is to be found much excellent description of the magic of African witch-doctors. Therein also the fascinated reader journeys through time from the early days of King Chaka's great power to the last days of the Zulu empire and its final dissolution. And in all three tales is the unforgettable character of Zikali the Witch-Doctor. Haggard is mainly remembered today for his fantastic novels of lost peoples; many of these have Allan Quatermain as the hero, though some do not. In all, however, there are no less than fifteen books in which he appears in the hero's role. Apart from the trilogy described above, we have King Soloman's Mines (1886), an excellent "hidden people" tale, and its thrilling sequel, Allan Quatermain (1888), wherein this character meets his death. Having thus disposed of Allan, Haggard donned the cloak of "editor," in which guise he "discovered," among the deceased's belongings, a chest containing a number of manuscripts. By means of this device the adventures of Quatermain were permitted to continue for many years. Allan's Wife (1889) is one of the lesser (and less fascinating) of the author's Quatermain stories. Following it appeared the following, all tales of strange native magicians and lost peoples in different settings, and each with its own set of thrills: The Holy Flower (1915)---published in America under the title Allan and the Holy Flower---, The Ivory Child (1916), Heu-Heu, or the Monster (1924) and The Treasure of the Lake (1926). In one of these Allan and a Lady Ragnall meet, and bring home from Africa a chest of taduki, a strange native herb; when the smoke of this burning herb is inhaled the one who breathes it is transported back into the past, and is apt to relive some experience which occurred in a previous incarnation. This happens in The Ancient Allan (1920)---a terrific tale, by the way---in which the hero and Lady Ragnall journey back through time to relive their lives in ancient Babylon during the last days of the dying Egyptian empire, as well as in Allan and the Ice-Gods (1927). Finally might be mentioned a minor item in which Allan adopts the role of story-teller: A Tale of Three Lions (1887), a hunting novelette which in later editions appeared as Allan the Hunter. Some of Haggard's novels of lost peoples are unconnected, either by plot or character, with any other of his books. Assuredly the best of these---and also probably the author's ablest use of this particular theme---is The People of the Mist (1894). This is actually two stories in one, the first portion dealing with the raiding of a hidden jungle slave-camp, and the second with the search for a lost city---while all over broods the peril of the latter's living monster god. Queen Sheba's Ring (1910) is another excellent tale along similar lines, and in addition shows a bit of humor here and there, something unusual in Haggard's writings. When Egypt is his locale Haggard appears to write especially well. One
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