Gardner Fox (1911–1986)

I first had skimmed this volume and its companion a while ago as research for an article. It seemed rather thin then and after sitting down and actually reading through it cover to cover, it still has some lack as compared to some other barbarian swordsmen stories. It's not as bad as [b:Brak the Barbarian|509045|Brak the Barbarian (Brak the Barbarian, #1)|John Jakes|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1175371607l/509045._SY75_.jpg|3058663] but it's not as good as [a:Karl Edward Wagner|88014|Karl Edward Wagner|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1444470571p2/88014.jpg]'s Kane books. It cannot touch [a:Robert E. Howard|66700|Robert E. Howard|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1210954603p2/66700.jpg]'s Conan but that is an impossibly high standard.
The first third of the book had two interesting scenes. Inside the tomb of Afgorkon when Kothar gets his cursed sword and the flayed sorcerer hovering above the land tortured by the whipping winds screaming. The second third was not very memorable and the last third did pick up the pace a little. The writing was slightly better here and a semblance of an atmosphere seemed to seep in. However, for the most part, this book completely lacks atmosphere. There is plenty of monsters and demons but most are kind of cliched at this point (lizard-beasts, tentacled horrors, a yeti). Although, the giant worm-god-thing was pretty cool.
This book is an okay diversion if you're starving for some sword & sorcery but its barbarian swordsman, the titular Kothar, seemed a bit too invincible for all of it. His strength was off the charts and in the last third he leaped from the top of a tower to the slanting stakes at the edge of the spiked moat below, sliding on the soles of his "war boots" down along them at landing. There is also the misogyny present in a few collar-tugging incidents and the sexual focus on the female form got to be a bit weird pretty quick, not in some places mind you, but in most.
I cannot really recommend this book to anyone new to the Sword & Sorcery genre but a clean slate and an immature mind might be required to really and thoroughly enjoy this. But I have to admit it scratched the sword & sorcery itch but didn't quite fully satisfy.… (mere)

Well, the plot trotted along at a consistent pace and the writing was generally better than the previous volume. However, the few points of strange-spectacle that were in the last collection were not here at all. The only thing that came close was a gaggle of assassin liches bearing rusted battle axes and swords that Kothar made quick work of. The two novels in this book are also, for lack of a better word, rapey. Kothar basically admits to being a habitual rapist when accused by the witch Red Lori. In addition, the threat of rape is levied quite often against any female companions, especially in the last novel. Frankly, if you needed more Kothar the Barbarian after the first collection this is what you're looking for. I would not really recommend this book otherwise. If for some reason you want to get into Kothar the barbarian, check out the first megapack.… (mere)