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Fantasy Commentator, v. 1, issue 7, Summer 1945
Page 142
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142 FANTASY COMMENTATOR "The Werewolf of Ponkert" achieved great popularity, and in all probability this caused the appearance of its sequel. "The Return of the Master," while its early chapters are not equal to those in its predecessor, nevertheless has in its final portion some points that are truly of the stuff which makes classics. Monsieur M---, translator and narrator of the initial tale in the series, is called urgently to France, bringing the book with him. Upon arrival there he learns from one of Brenryk's descendants that he has been lured to the place by the Master, who is forming a new band. The two flee together, only to be trapped in a deserted building. At this point Munn's narration reaches the tremendous heights that he maintains throughout the "The Daughter of the Werewolf" and climaxes in "The Master Strikes." Gathering all the candle-stumps scattered about they hold off the Master, but as the candles fail the band closes in. Flame is the only thing to which the Master is vulnerable---and it is this that is finally to bring about his downfall. As the last of the candles flicker and die nebulous shadows take form. They thicken, coalesce, and dim bodies appear. It is the rising of the slaves! One figure gradually grows stronger as all the others unite to give him strength. And there ensues a titanic struggle between the Master and the form struggling for materialization. Finally the figure takes on tangible existence---Wladislaw Brenryk has returned for vengeance! Multitudinous voices tell Monsieur M.--- to hurl the lamp, which he does, and the two are able to escape. Their last vision is of the master dying, held down by Brenryk, thankfulness in Brenryk's eyes. Thus perishes the Master. Throughout the third story in the series, "The Werewolf's Daughter," Munn's narrative style continues to remain on this same high level. The novel opens with a gypsy train passing through fifteenth century Ponkert. Hugo Gunnar, riding at the head of the train, sights a beautiful---though obviously miserable---girl. Despite being told that she is the daughter of the Werewolf, hated and feared by everyone in the town, it is to Gunnar still love at first sight. At an accidental forest meeting they reveal mutual passion. Swirling events come a head when a woodchopper is found murdered in the forest. This crystallizes the townspeople's hatred for Ivga into action; naturally she is blamed for all such misfortunes that occur in the community. Dmitri, her crippled stepfather, is unable to protect her, and since Hugo is away nothing prevents the superstitious villiagers from spiriting her into the town where she is to be burnt at the stake as a witch the next morning. During the night she is visited by the Master, and there ensues a discussion where the fate of the world hangs in the balance. He offers her freedom in exchange for one in every generation to come being born his slave; and faced with the choice of the born and the unborn, she accepts her freedom. At this time the Master tells his own story---how he is in reality a bodiless entity from a dark star near Algol, how he was brought to this planet by a Babylonian sorceress, and how he has occupied the deathless body of a Chaldean named Althusar during the long and weary centuries of his stay on Earth. After he leaves Gunnar arrives, slays Ivga's guard, and frees her. The two flee over the mountain away from Ponkert, unknown to them, Dmitri has followed behind, and holds the narrow mountain pass with "Gate-Opener," his gigantic sword, that the lovers may make good their escape. This poignant struggle, wherein Dmitri gives his own life to save the others', is almost another story in itself. Hugo and Ivga eventually reach France and Blois, Gunnar's home, after a lengthy journey. Shortly after their arrival the places becomes known as the city of werewolves. And the Master is soon to have his vengeance upon Wladislaw Brenryk's descendants for the annihilation of his werewolf band. With "The Master Strikes" Munn's style reaches its brilliant peak, only to fall off anticlimactically in "The Master Fights" and drop to an abysmal nadir with "The Master Has a Narrow Escape." Munn's name has a narrow escape
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142 FANTASY COMMENTATOR "The Werewolf of Ponkert" achieved great popularity, and in all probability this caused the appearance of its sequel. "The Return of the Master," while its early chapters are not equal to those in its predecessor, nevertheless has in its final portion some points that are truly of the stuff which makes classics. Monsieur M---, translator and narrator of the initial tale in the series, is called urgently to France, bringing the book with him. Upon arrival there he learns from one of Brenryk's descendants that he has been lured to the place by the Master, who is forming a new band. The two flee together, only to be trapped in a deserted building. At this point Munn's narration reaches the tremendous heights that he maintains throughout the "The Daughter of the Werewolf" and climaxes in "The Master Strikes." Gathering all the candle-stumps scattered about they hold off the Master, but as the candles fail the band closes in. Flame is the only thing to which the Master is vulnerable---and it is this that is finally to bring about his downfall. As the last of the candles flicker and die nebulous shadows take form. They thicken, coalesce, and dim bodies appear. It is the rising of the slaves! One figure gradually grows stronger as all the others unite to give him strength. And there ensues a titanic struggle between the Master and the form struggling for materialization. Finally the figure takes on tangible existence---Wladislaw Brenryk has returned for vengeance! Multitudinous voices tell Monsieur M.--- to hurl the lamp, which he does, and the two are able to escape. Their last vision is of the master dying, held down by Brenryk, thankfulness in Brenryk's eyes. Thus perishes the Master. Throughout the third story in the series, "The Werewolf's Daughter," Munn's narrative style continues to remain on this same high level. The novel opens with a gypsy train passing through fifteenth century Ponkert. Hugo Gunnar, riding at the head of the train, sights a beautiful---though obviously miserable---girl. Despite being told that she is the daughter of the Werewolf, hated and feared by everyone in the town, it is to Gunnar still love at first sight. At an accidental forest meeting they reveal mutual passion. Swirling events come a head when a woodchopper is found murdered in the forest. This crystallizes the townspeople's hatred for Ivga into action; naturally she is blamed for all such misfortunes that occur in the community. Dmitri, her crippled stepfather, is unable to protect her, and since Hugo is away nothing prevents the superstitious villiagers from spiriting her into the town where she is to be burnt at the stake as a witch the next morning. During the night she is visited by the Master, and there ensues a discussion where the fate of the world hangs in the balance. He offers her freedom in exchange for one in every generation to come being born his slave; and faced with the choice of the born and the unborn, she accepts her freedom. At this time the Master tells his own story---how he is in reality a bodiless entity from a dark star near Algol, how he was brought to this planet by a Babylonian sorceress, and how he has occupied the deathless body of a Chaldean named Althusar during the long and weary centuries of his stay on Earth. After he leaves Gunnar arrives, slays Ivga's guard, and frees her. The two flee over the mountain away from Ponkert, unknown to them, Dmitri has followed behind, and holds the narrow mountain pass with "Gate-Opener," his gigantic sword, that the lovers may make good their escape. This poignant struggle, wherein Dmitri gives his own life to save the others', is almost another story in itself. Hugo and Ivga eventually reach France and Blois, Gunnar's home, after a lengthy journey. Shortly after their arrival the places becomes known as the city of werewolves. And the Master is soon to have his vengeance upon Wladislaw Brenryk's descendants for the annihilation of his werewolf band. With "The Master Strikes" Munn's style reaches its brilliant peak, only to fall off anticlimactically in "The Master Fights" and drop to an abysmal nadir with "The Master Has a Narrow Escape." Munn's name has a narrow escape
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