Page One blog entry here, where single novels can be found. You are now on Page Two, the Dray Prescott Series, and other series he wrote under assumed names.
Four series are currently being reviewed on this page. Last updated April 4th/24.
THE DRAY PRESCOTT SERIES
1: THE DELIAN CYCLE
1: TRANSIT TO SCORPIO
Cover art by Tim Kirk.
From 1972 comes Bulmer's longest novel to date, at 190 pages. In the same year he published his last SF novel under his real name. He took up the name Alan Burt Akers (sounding similar to Edgar Rice Burroughs) and began writing a new series of books that would reach the astonishing number of 52. Unfortunately he died before finishing #53, which would have properly ended the series. Writing for DAW fantasy (DAW stands for Donald A Wolheim), what emerges is this first novel, obviously intended to be an hommage to Burroughs' mars series, with its hero John Carter.
Lately I have been mulling over whether to reread many novels from my Burroughs collection, currently sitting on a shelf downstairs. Now I don't have to; Bulmer/Akers has done it for me, rewriting many of the Burroughs adventures. There is very little that is original here, as Bulmer mimics the great adventure writer rather than relying on his own considerable talents. Dray Prescott is a sailor who is wrecked off the west coast of Africa. Captured by cannibals, he escapes and suddenly finds himself on the planet Kregen (pronounced Kraygen).
His river adventures lead him to a wonderful city, a paradise according to Dray, where he meets Delia, who is crippled but still very beautiful. He is baptised in a sacred spring, and thus given about a thousand years to live (H Rider Haggard is also a big influence on Akers). He sneaks Delia into the sacred waters, curing her but getting them both banished from the city as a result. Adventure after adventure follows, including (for Dray) a trip or two back to Earth. He loses Delia, then he finds her, then he loses her, then he finds her, and at the end he loses her again. Talk about coitus interruptus!
If you enjoy Burroughs (I mostly do), then you will enjoy this fantasy lifted directly from that earlier adventure writer. I can also recommend Michael Moorcock's similar hommage to Burroughs in his Mars trilogy (Michael Kane), which I liked much better than Bulmer's first novel. I will at least get through the first five books, called The Delian Cycle, before deciding whether or not to quit reading them or continue.
** 1/2 stars. Reviewed July 11th/21
BOOK 2: THE SUNS OF SCORPIO
From 1972 comes the second installment in Bulmer's largest series. Why he gave up on SF and wrote mostly heroic fantasy afterwards is hard to say, though it likely had to do with Tolkien. The paperback publication of Lord of the Rings and Hobbit changed forever publisher's demands. Readers wanted more and more fantasy, and SF never sold nearly so well. So like Bulmer just went with the flow, churning out books that in no way resembled Tolkien's, but that likely sold much better than any of his recent SF novels. Whatever the reason, Bulmer interests me far less now. While I will likely finish the first five book series, it is unlikely that I will continue beyond them.
The main reason has to do not with the storytelling, which is of a high quality, but of the device of yanking the hero back and forth from Kregen to Earth, at the whim of some pretty powerful person or persons unknown. Need to end a book? Simply have the hero yanked from wherever he is. Need to start a new book? Simply have the hero arrive someplace new on Earth or Kregen. After only two books, this is already very tiresome. We just get really involved in a story and then it ends, unfinished, abruptly.
All throughout this 2nd story, we learn what it is like to be a slave. Gradually the story develops, and Dray Prescott is able to begin to organize a big revolt. Pages and pages are devoted to this, many chapters, in fact. So what happens? At the final, climactic battle scene, the book suddenly ends with Dray feeling that call away again. Will her be transported or not? Who cares. The story is ruined, the continuity shot, and nearly two hundred pages of reading are wasted. This is one of the poorest endings to a novel I have ever read. The first book didn't end so well, either, but this one is much worse, and makes me think the remaining books will be equally treated. It doesn't make me want to read many more.
This time we are led to Sanurkazz, a city that worships the red sun, Zair. We also have two long visits to Magdag, the city that worships the green sun, Genodras. The cities are in conflict (big surprise), with Magdag the more brutal city, especially towards its slaves. Dray undergoes a sort of samurai training near Sanurkazz, and becomes a Krozair of Zy, a uniquely trained fighting man, part of a large brotherhood of same. The story gives good details about both cities, and I enjoyed Bulmer's writing a lot. He takes his time developing characters, stories, and places, and we feel grounded here. But we have covered a lot of ground in only two books, and as a result I only have dim memories of the several places visited in book one.
This is a good story, but poorly ended. And I am already sick and tired of all this unasked for travel between places on Kregan, and between planets. I am well beyond the point of admiring or supporting any weak plot convenience techniques. With a better ending this might have received another full star.
** 1/2 stars. Reviewed August 14th/21
3: WARRIOR OF SCORPIO
From 1973 comes this 190 page continuation of the story. Our hero has basically turned into Conan The Barbarian, but without any lusts to match his thirst for killing. He is essentially a murdering maniac, and thus not subject to any symptoms of PTSD. It's a shame that Bulmer had to end his career writing pap like this, but he obviously went where the money went. I will be lucky to finish the first five books as planned. Certainly I will not read beyond the first five. There really is no point to the books whatsoever, and if they were suddenly lifted from the planet and the memory of any readers, they would not be missed. If you want to see the downfall of a really decent SF writer during lean times for SF, then read no further than this series. Well written, of course, and this one does have a slightly better ending than book 2, but what is it all for? I never liked Conan stories. Solving problems by brute force and killing is just not my thing.
** stars. Reviewed September 13th/21
4: SWORDSHIPS OF SCORPIO
Except for the usual, really stupid ending (Dray accomplishes his goals at last, and is able to go in search of Delia yet again), where he is whisked back to Earth, this is the best book in the series so far. Oh well, thanks for all your service, Dray. It goes a bit beyond the usual strong arm stuff, and the characters he meets continue to deepen. There is even some humour in this entry. Bulmer can be a very funny writer at times, and his constant use of simile is often very amusing ("He wilted like a moonflower during new moon," being only one example of dozens. And Dray actually smiles and laughs in this story, though not very often.
Bulmer knows his seafaring lore, with a good knowledge of historical ships, its sailors and pirates, and the sea itself. He is not so much trying to imitate Robert E Howard now, but seems to be getting the feel of the fantasy yarn in his own way. Though this story in know way really shows the author's writing talent, it is an improvement over the previous three volumes, which I found mostly boring aside from a few good characters and situations.
There are three noteworthy female characters in this story. The first is a black woman he rescues in the wilderness. This is preceded by a very funny episode, where Dray has been captured by hideous beast men, is hogtied and being lowered into a wallowing swamp, with a nasty creature about to eat him. How does he escape? Bulmer has fun with this one, and I won't give it away, but it's a classic bit of a writer having fun with his readers.
The second female is an entertainer, whom he also saves from death and rape more than once. The 3rd woman is a pirate, and the most interesting female he has introduced to date. Though she falls for Dray,too, and is rejected (like all the others before her, except for Deila), her giving in to him isn't as crass as some of the other's have done, losing all pride in order to try and snare Dray for their own. All in all, not a bad yarn.
*** stars. Reviewed October 14th/21
5: PRINCE OF SCORPIO
The action-packed conclusion to the first cycle of Dray Prescott books comes from 1974, and is 223 pages long. Dray finally finds himself in Vallia, home of his beloved Delia, and this adventure takes place mostly in various parts of that kingdom. Revolt is simmering, however, and the Emperor, Delia's father, soon finds himself amidst a coup, and in danger of losing it all. To the rescue comes Dray, but not before a hearty adventure or three involving canals and canal boats, taming an island and becoming its governor, and setting out to abduct Delia and return to his island with her. Of course, the best laid plans are just that. Reality has a way of interfering with Dray's plans, and if it isn't the mysterious ones who transport him between Earth and Scorpio, it's some misfortune that befalls him just before the plan should have worked.
This is a colourful adventure, and Bulmer/Akers seems to have finally found his footing and what he wants to accomplish. Many loose ends are tied up by the end of this fifth tale, and we even learn that there are two different super powers pulling Dray's strings. Old friendships are renewed throughout the story, and new ones made. In fact it's a bit hard to keep track of everyone. There are simply too many characters in this chain of stories. Another problem is the very poor map included with the Kindle edition. Even expanding it as much as possible, it is almost completely useless in keeping track of Dray's adventures.
Bulmer provides a good ending for the first cycle, and Dray (for once) doesn't get spirited off just before getting his final prize. I did enjoy the last two books more so than the first three. But this sort of story and world could be made to go and on forever, which the author essentially did, and I am not a great fan of this type of thing. So my reading of Dray Prescott will likely terminate here, while I try to dip into some of his other series.
*** stars. Reviewed November 10th/21
2: THE HAVILFAR CYCLE 1
6: MANHOUNDS OF ANTARES
From 1974 comes the 6th book in the series, lasting for 131 pages. Things continue to look up for this series, which I had nearly given up on. I had left it alone for a year before deciding to come back. I'm glad I did. The book seems under control, as the story takes its time to develop. The first few chapters resume the story from where it left off, and after a few hair raising adventures--all minor stuff for Dray--he is happily married to his beloved Delia. They spend a happy year together, and twins are born to the couple, a boy and a girl. But soon afterwards, Dray is called away by the Overlords to fulfill a mission.
Dray awakens to find himself imprisoned with other slaves. At this point I thought the story was going to repeat itself. But it heads off into a new direction entirely. Dray must usually guess what his mission is to be; he is never told directly. In this case, he escapes no less than four times, rescuing who he thinks it is the Star Lords want rescued. He is wrong three times. And he is even partly wrong the fourth time. We are reminded again of Bulmer's sense of humour, and it works like a charm in this story. By the time he is finally told what his mission is to be, we have been set up for the next book!
Dray continues to meet new friends, and make new enemies. He gains a major new male friend, and becomes a babysitter for two spoiled young women. He takes on the best there is in unarmed combat, and he escapes from places no one else could. The adventures never get stale, and we spend much of the story in one location, which helps development considerably. I am hoping the quality of writing continues.
*** 1/2 stars. Reviewed November 13th/22
7: ARENA OF ANTARES
From 1974 comes this 140 page pulp adventure, a bit of a pot boiler, and somewhat predictable. The first of the story takes up where the previous volume left off, with several battles to fight to restore Mag and Mog to their rightful religious leadership. However, no sooner is that accomplished then Dray is whisked away again by the Star Lords, without even so much as a coffee break. And so, amidst the book, a brand new adventure is started.
This new adventure sees Dray captured (yet again) and made a fighting slave of an evil queen. Yawn. On it goes, with the remainder of the novel set in a gladiatorial arena, with fight after fight, usually uneven, for the delight and satisfaction of the bloodthirsty populace. I was quite bored soon after the arena takes over the plot. Luckily for us, Dray and Delia are saved at the last second by their friends in an airship, who rescue them from the arena and take them to safety (and hopefully some more interesting adventures).
** 1/2 stars. Reviewed Jan. 10th/23
8: FLIERS OF ANTARES
From 1975 comes a 207 page continuation of Dray's adventures on Kregan. Though it begins in the usual eye-rolling manner, Bulmer quickly gets the preliminaries out of the way and gets down to the business of good story telling. He begins as a slave in the Heavenly Mines, which will become more important later in the story. It really is a place of no escape (for once). But whoever is pulling his strings suddenly transports him to an inn at a crossroads, where the next adventure begins. He is told that he will be stuck here for ten years! What to do? First he lives it up in the city, becoming a bit of a rascal. But he soon comes to his senses, and seeing bad leadership and war all around him, he decides to do something about it. He does; he eventually becomes king and sets matters right. This part takes up the bulk of the novel.
Next he is taken away again by his puppeteer, and finds himself amidst a village destroying volcanic eruption. After saving the village and its people, he is imprisoned and put to work on building fliers. The leader's wife takes a fancy to him, and in the climactic scene he is brought to her as a sex slave. The story reaches a grand climax as Dray frees three chained slave maidens, allows them to escape, then goes about trying to learn the secret of building a good flier. How is it done? (hint: the Heavenly Mines play an important role). The ending sets up the next part of the adventure nicely.
A good entry in the series, despite the maddening interference of the great someone.
*** stars. Reviewed March 11th/23
9: BLADESMAN OF ANTARES
From 1975 comes this 192 page continuation of the story. Dray is seeking the secret of the fliers, so that his own country can make them. The only country to currently sell them only sells inferior ones to others, keeping the reliable ones to themselves. Dray becomes a spy in the midst of the enemy camp in this very engaging story. He becomes a sort of Zorro figure, imitating a fop as his main disguise. This brings forth a lot of humour from Bulmer. He often becomes involved in affairs that are not his own, as he does several times here. Of course by now we know that he is invincible in battle, but even so he manages to get captured a few times, even becoming a slave again briefly. There is almost a Fritz Leiber feel to much of this story, though no magic or sorcery is really present.
It must have been difficult for the author to keep track of the characters, countries, races, and animals that Dray has encountered so far. I know that I can't. A small city map is provided here for readers, but it's not much needed. More likely it helped the author keep the story real to him s he wrote it. We have one more evil Queen entered into the mix, this one supposedly the worst of them all. She tries her best to tame Dray, but has no luck. The climactic ending is one of the best of the series so far. A very enjoyable entry into the series.
*** 1/2 stars. Reviewed May 4th/23
10: AVENGER OF ANTARES
Published in December 1975, the novel is 176 pages long. Dray Prescott's adventures continue directly from the previous novel, where he managed to get aboard a friendly ship and head for home. But one sea battle later he and the remaining crew are washed up on a rocky shore of enemy territory, and have to make their way from there. Dray sends important information home, then goes back into the enemy city to gather more information. But he is side tracked, as the teenage daughter of his friend is kidnapped and he sets out to rescue her.
The novel returns to some familiar territory from previous novels, especially #6. But there are new friends made, including a very unusual one. I liked the part of the story that involved the rescue of a very savage female from a most cruel fate, and her reappearance at the very end. As before, sometimes Dray has to, in his disguise as a fop, let certain humiliations slide. But there is less of that this time around, and a few despicable enemies have their eyes opened (or permanently shut, as the case may be) when Dray lets loose his warrior skills. And he meets a new arch enemy, an evil wizard, who we will undoubtedly being seeing much more of in future adventures.
This is a good addition to the series, which, unlike that of Tubb's Dumerest saga, are directly linked to one another. There is endless material here for an ongoing TV series.
*** stars. Reviewed July 4th/23
#11: ARMADA OF ANTARES
From 1976 comes an additional 142 pages of the adventures of Dray Prescott. It completes a six book series within the overall framework, as Vallia and Hamil finally come to war. But the battle itself takes place only in the final chapter, and does not even take the whole chapter. For the rest, it's more of the same, though Dray does spend a bit of time at home with the wife and kids. Not always peacefully, of course, as he and the family are attacked by assassins in their own walled garden.
Dray continues to discover a bit more about the secret of flying, secrets stolen from the enemy. Of course he is captured (more than once) and held prisoner, and even forced to take part in a victory parade of the enemy, as the captured high ranking Vallian. There is also a bit more about the mysterious wizards of this strange world, who will likely have greater roles to play in future novels. And we also meet another man from Earth! Dray is not the only one here from a different planet. Indeed there are hints that almost everyone and everything on Kregen might have originated elsewhere, brought here by the Starlords for mysterious purposes.
One thing that is becoming quite annoying is how much new vocabulary readers must wade through. Virtually every paragraph has multiple instances of foreign words. Though a multi-page glossary is included, I have no time to be constantly checking back to see what the hell the word means. Sometimes Dray explains its use, but most times readers are on their own. The author has taken things a bit too far in this direction, in my opinion.
An adequate entry in the series, but nothing too special.
** 1/2 stars. Reviewed September 6th/23
Published in 1976, this anthology contains the only short story withing the Dray Prescott series, and takes place at this point, between the Havilfar and Krozair cycles.
Wizard of Scorpio is 24 pages long, and is from 1976. Dray Prescott has a complete adventure, beginning and ending in Vallia. A kidnap attempt during a state wedding sets Dray in search of the missing bride to be. It is pretty much a standard tale, but it also makes one wish that more of these kinds of stories were not forthcoming. The story is included in the Krozair series, below.
*** stars. Reviewed Nov. 5th/23
#12: TIDES OF KREGEN
From 1976 comes this 204 page continuation of the adventures of Dray Prescott. He has been taken to Kregen, a planet withing the Antares system, and has been doing noble as well as insane deeds for 12 novels now. This is a very long continuing story. This three book set embarks on all new adventures, but featuring the same people and lands. Kregen is a civilized as well as a barbaric place. There is still much slavery and brutality, and wild animals roam the lands and enormous killer birds and insects roam the skies.
This is an interesting volume in the series for several reasons. For one, after refusing to assist the Star Lords, he is returned to Earth, where he spends the next 21 years, away from his Kregen wife and family and friends. For another, he finally meets up with someone on Earth who knows about Kregen, and is willing to aid him in returning. And for a third reason, Dray is finally able to resist the power of the Star Lords, who once again attempt to remove him from the scene when his deeds do not coincide with their own wishes.
The main part of this adventure is seeing Dray stripped of his precious title of Krozair, and his sword broken. He becomes a slave again, and must begin from scratch to work his way back to Vallia and his wife, Delia. But as he begins to make his way home, he realizes that he must at least do something to help the people who have just kicked him out of his most prized title and organization. That is where the tides of Kregen come in, but only in the last chapter. The book reaches a suitable climax, and by the last page we are ready to continue on with Dray's adventures. He picks up another friend along the way, too. He is gathering quite a collection of loyal followers and warriors.
*** stars. Reviewed Nov. 7th/23
#13: RENEGADE OF KREGEN
From 1976 comes the 192 page continuation of the story of Dray Prescott, a man who seems to get little rest and relaxation. He has been stripped of his membership in an elite warrior society, and realizes that he will never get home to Delia unless his somehow regains his status. He hatches a plan to capture an enemy king and his #1 striker. Some of Dray's plans work really well. This is one of those that doesn't. One of the things about reading a series that is already published is knowing that the hero will never die, at least until the final volume. So no matter what Dray has to put up with, we know that somehow he will come out of it okay. But as we learn in this volume, not all of his friends and or family receive the same guarantee. Someone very close to Dray dies in this book, and it is quite shocking. And yet again he has to pretend to be loyal to an enemy by infiltrating it and serving the wrong side. That part seems to go okay. But with this sudden unexpected death at the end of the book, Dray has entered a new and deeper region of emotion then he is used to. We can be certain of one thing; someone will pay dearly for his loss.
*** stars. Reviewed December 7th/23
#14: KROZAIR OF KREGEN
From 1977 comes the 223 page (original 1977 edition) conclusion to Bulmer's Krozair trilogy, in which Dray Prescott loses, then finally regains, his status as a Krozair warrior. Dray doesn't take much interest in poetry, art, or music. He is a savage killing machine, and not much else. The first part of the book sees Dray yet again serving as an oar slave aboard a Grondin ship. It takes time, but he finally escapes, with the help of several slave companions. They become pirates for a while, before splitting up and going their own way. Dray has a score to settle with a certain king, who murdered his daughter at the end of the last book. He ends up defending a besieged city, but not before encountering a monster from the depths, something directly borrowed from H P Lovecraft (see original cover painting to the 1977 edition, 3rd image above). Though he rescues a maiden from her doom at the hands of the monster, she more or less disappears from the story immediately afterwards.
Once on land, the remainder of the story deals with the defense of the city where he has chosen to meet the bad king. In his usual bold manner, Dray takes the bull by the horns, storming into the enemy camp in disguise, capturing the king, and flying away with him. Since Dray has been hounded (mistakenly, of course) from the membership in the elite warrior class, his three sons have taken to being shamed by him, and they in turn speak words of hatred about him. None of them recognize Dray as their father, and there is a very funny scene at the end when they finally come to realize that their "cowardly" father is the brave man they have been fighting with all along. He is reunited with Delia, his wife, his status as a Krozair is reinstated, and they live happily ever after. Until Book 15. A good entry in the series, if readers can get past him being a slave for a time, yet again.
*** stars. Reviewed January 7th/23
#15: SECRET SCORPIO
There are four novels in this omnibus edition. Secret Scorpio is from 1977, and is 207 pages in its original DAW printing (see image, below). A new series of adventures takes place in Dray Prescott's home country of Vallia, where he is a prince married to the emperor's daughter, Princess Delia. Delia is not your usual princess. She is pretty handy with a knife, and can often look after herself quite well. Bulmer certainly elevates the role of women in these early fantasy tales, showing the full spectrum of female personalities, both old and young. Dray respects women, though he only loves one. In this volume we learn of a secret female society that tries to right wrongs. Delia and her and Dray's daughters belong to this society, which tries to help the unfortunate and downtrodden. Not your usual Conan the Barbarian type of novel.
In fact, Bulmer is a terrific writer, with a great sense of pacing and an ever lurking sense of humour. Many of these stories rise well above the usual pulp level encountered in so many books from this time. The guy was a veritable work horse, with a very demanding publishing schedule. Secret introduces a new fake religion, one promising riches and rewards in this life, as well as in the afterlife. Many people can not resist such promises, it would seem. Even people who should know better. For once, the Emperor, whom Dray has insulted and has banished him from the main city, is ahead of Dray. He does have his finger on the pulse of his people, it would seem. Dray will have to face him again in the next book. They do not like one another very much, and Delia is caught between them. A good addition to the series.
*** stars. Reviewed February 8th/24
#16: SAVAGE SCORPIO
Part 2 of the Valian Cycle is from 1978, and is 191 pages long. I read the Kindle version. Bulmer is now so comfortable with his Dray Prescott hero, as are we, that we can enjoy seeing his character trying to grapple with his own character development. He considers himself a peaceful man, even as he goes about chopping up enemies with his sword. These enemies, however, are usually asking for it, and attack first. The ones who survive an encounter with Dray are usually conked on the head and put to sleep while he carries out various clandestine actions. There is usually some form of humour on nearly every page, which also helps keep the pages turning. In this adventure, the Emperor of Vallia, Delia's father and Dray's father-in-law, is being poisoned by enemies, and Dray and Delia must get him to the sacred pool in time to save his life. There is no love lost between the two men, and Dray only helps because of Delia. This adds to the frustration level of things for readers, for Dray is never thanked for his life saving heroic deeds, but it also adds to the humour, as the tense scenes between the two men are often quite funny. As usual for each successive volume, we learn a bit more about the Star Lords, those mysterious figures who seem to control Dray as if he were their puppet. This is another solid entry in the series.
*** stars. Reviewed March 8th/24
#17: CAPTIVE SCORPIO
From 1976 comes the 157 page on-going troubles of Dray Prescott. Dray goes off in search of a daughter he has never seen, who is living with scoundrels and trouble makers. Imagine his surprise when he does encounter her (see cover art, above). Of course she hates him; he is a coward, etc. He ends up having to leave her among the group of traitors planning his death and that of the Emperor.
Meanwhile, back in the capital city, the Emperor's armies have been tricked and defeated. The evil Wizard of Loh 'Phu-si-Yantong' is behind the attacks on Vallia, and there seems little that can be done to stop him. In the shocking finale, another very important person close to Dray and Deliah is killed, forever altering the leadership and destiny of Vallia.
Along with the shocking revelation of Dray's daughter, and the death mentioned just above, it is obvious that Bulmer is taking his series very seriously. None of these happenings were expected, and end up shocking the reader, who expects most things to continue on as as before. Nope. A very good entry in the series.
*** 1/2 stars. Reviewed April 5th/24
CAPTAIN SHARK
BY PIRATE'S BLOOD
A two-book series, this first one is from 1975 and is 146 pages. Solidly within the pulp tradition, and thus catering mainly to male readers, the story is an easy read and packed with action and adventure. Sebastien Shark is an English buccaneer, not a pirate, if you please. Set in the 1670s in the Indies, the Spanish are the bad guys here, as are the real pirates. Real pirates will attack any ship, even other pirates, but buccaneers are English, and will only go after Spanish ships. If you like rousing action on the high seas, here is a first rate example of what is available. Bulmer pulls no punishes, and the story has violence galore, as well as sex and murder. With a loyal bunch of cutthroats at his back, Shark is able to escape capture by the Spanish, who long to torture him before killing him. Bulmer is in top form here, and the book is recommended once the reader knows what is in store.
*** stars. Reviewed December 8th/21
JAWS OF DEATH
The novel is 138 pages long, and is from 1975. The page count includes a brief recap of events in the first book, as well as a glossary of terms. Readers can learn to speak pirate! Obviously set for a longer series, this hearty and unwholesome swashbuckling saga sadly ended at book 2. I like Captain Shark, and his feisty femme fatale Beth Wren, both taking on the Spanish fleet whenever they can. The books are quite violent, and there are some lusty sex scenes. This book also has several humourous episodes, balanced by the torture scenes. All readers would have wanted to see the downfall of governor Don Pedro, but alas, we are thwarted. I'm guessing that the books did not sell well enough to warrant their continuation. This is unfortunate, as this novel contains some of Bulmer's best pulp writing. I read this just after finishing a vast Viking epic by Harry Harrison, and the two seem to go together rather well. There is rum, buried treasure, and a wonderful coming back to life scene in a crowded pub filled with pirates. Recommended.
*** stars. Reviewed January 12th/22
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SEA WOLF UBOAT SERIES
VOL 1: SEA SHARK
From 1978 comes this 140 page novel, the first in a series about German submarines and their crew out to destroy the British ocean going trade. It is 1940, and it's mostly Britain versus Germany at sea. I have never been a fan of war novels of any kind, though Bulmer is such a good action adventure writer that this story can be easily read by anyone. There is action, tension, and some room for character illumination, too. It is fast moving and a real page turner.
The German U-Boats (U for Underwater) were responsible for much destruction and devastation, as well as far too many casualties, both civilian, medical, and military. Though the men on board are brave, it is essentially a coward's way of fighting, much in the way a sniper would carry out a mission. Hide, shoot, then hide again.
There are some interesting angles in the story. For example, not too many German naval people seem sympathetic to the Nazi party, though their allegiance to Hitler is unquestioned. Also, there can be no women on board the fighting ships and subs, but through flashback moments women do enter into the story.
One wonders about the timing of the excellent film from 1982, Das Boot. This book series was launched four years before the movie came out, and it must have influenced the movie considerably. Well worth a look, even for non-naval battle types like me.
*** stars. Reviewed February 11th/22
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FOX SERIES
FOX #1: POWDER MONKEY (also Sailor's Blood)
From 1973 comes yet another Bulmer series, this time under the name of Adam Hardy. It is 137 pages long. While I was disappointed when the pirate series ended after only two books, this one seems to fill the bill nicely, but in a different approach. This first book of a long, successful series for Bulmer begins on the day of birth of George Abercrombie Fox. He is born in a gutter near the hanging of his uncle, sentenced for being a highway robber. The year is 1765, and the story tells of the unusual and difficult childhood of a young boy faced to confront a cruel and uncaring world far sooner than he should.
We follow him through his youngest years, with first memories around 4 years, up to the age of 12. In that time he learns many things, including how and when to kill. He is sent off to his grand uncle's house in the marshlands when his own one room house becomes too crowded with brothers and sisters. He kills birds to eat, learns how to survive, and to sling rocks with his kerchief in a most deadly and accurate manner. He loves his life in the marsh, but he is recalled to the city, and then back again to the marsh. Finally, at age ten, he joins the British navy as a ship boy, and this is where the story turns a corner.
He soon learns to hate all officers and those above him, who abuse him and the other boys in the worst way, including sexually. Fox, even at this young age, has already killed to defend Mary from two highly born young men who tried to rape her back in the marsh. He is sexually used once, and soon that man is dead, also. His adventures on board the ship Henrietta are riveting and eye opening, as we learn there is no lower form of human being than a ship boy. He main job, when the need arises, is to carry ammo from the bowls of the ship to the gunners on deck. But when not needed for that task, just about every other hideously scurvy job on deck and below is given to the young boys.
By the time the books ends, Fox has been through an adventure on land, in which he saves an officer from death and helps free his captured crew, to a full fledged battle against a massive French warship. He is about to leave the Henrietta, and to enter the service of Captain Cuthbert, the man who he saved on land earlier. We hope things are looking up for the young man, as he has been through more in his short life than most people who live to ninety. This is a very well written and rousing adventure story, though aimed at adults rather than children. There is some humour, but lots of brutal truth as well. Recommended for those who enjoy sea faring adventures. This one is unique, though much like Dickens at heart.
*** 1/2 stars. Reviewed March 9th/22
BOOK 2: PRESS GANG
This second book, also from 1973, is 140 pages long in the Kindle version. I was expecting something quite different. The first book gave us the origins of Mr. Fox among the slums of Rotherhithe, and in the marshes to the south where he was sent as a boy. We followed him as he joined the British navy as a boy who brings powder and ammo up to the guns during battle. But the second book was expected by this reader to take up from where we left off, as a captain who had befriended him gave him a career boost on his ship. but in this story, which is claimed to be the 2nd book, Fox is suddenly on board a different ship with a different captain, and has been promoted to a junior officer. And he has developed a debilitating eye problem, which we knew nothing about.
Anyway, the 2nd book does deal with press gangs, a practice made legal in England during war with the French. Men could literally be grabbed off the street, usually brutally, and virtually kidnapped to be brought aboard a ship to serve in the King's navy. The first time, Fox is in charge of such a gang, as they grab men from a fishing village and bring them aboard ship. These books are teaching more about the British navy then we ever wanted to know. but the author doesn't stop there. We learn, in painful detail, how a person becomes an officer. Basically, one is born into the aristocracy. That is the requirement. No matter how many times Fox saves the day for his officers and crew, he is never rewarded. Much of the story is very frustrating to readers who believe in fair play, and reward for past valiant actions. Someone else of public distinction replaces the officer killed on duty, and he is never promoted. Things didn't change much in England during the first world war, either. Idiots were put in charge of things of which they knew nothing.
The book is brutal, and not light entertainment. Homosexuality rears its head again, but not in a major way, as in the first book. There are sea battles aplenty, related to us as if the author had been present during the battles. Pain and suffering becomes completely normal, and death is sure and often sudden. I would probably not be able to watch a filmed version of these books; there is more brutality per page than I can normally handle. But there is excitement, and certainly plenty of truth, to the tale. Looking forward to more in this series.
*** stars. Reviewed April 9th/22
FOX 3: PRIZE MONEY
From 1972 comes this 140 page adventure story, a high seas adventure at the time of the war between Britain and France during Napoleon's reign. Nelson features in the story, though off-camera, as does Napoleon, who is caught in Egypt and has his fleet destroyed by the British. Best of all, our hero Mr. Fox finally becomes a first lieutenant, and, at the very end, a full captain. His ship is the Raccoon, a captured French brig, though he serves on other ships earlier in the book.
These short adventure books by Bulmer maintain the pulp tradition well into the 1970s, and there is no lessening of quality despite how many books he has written by this time. His sense of humour, sometimes very dark, also continues to shine from time to time. The title of the book refers to how the officers and crew share loot when their vessel captures one from the enemy. Fox has always wanted to make a big, significant capture so that he can send his share of the prize back to his poor family living in London slums. But when Fox finally gets his "prize", it comes in the form of a grossly obese young woman. She takes to him, and does all she can to advance his career. By the end of the book he has nearly everything he wanted, but the price paid for it has him losing sleep.
High seas adventures don't come any better than this one, and this is as close as I would ever wish to be to a major sea battle, or even a minor one, for that matter.
*** 1/2 stars. Reviewed May 12th/22
FOX 4: SIEGE
From 1973 comes the 143 page 4th installment of this fun and fascinating series. The Fox series, which follows the manly adventures of manly man George Abercrombie Fox, often strays into historical fiction, and this novel does the job very nicely. Have you ever wanted a ring side seat at the Seige of Acre in 1799? Then part of Palestine (now Israel). Napoleon and his army had marched up the coast from Cairo, looting, raping, and pillaging as they went. Their final stop was the small fortress settlement of Acre. After that, they could march onward to Constantinople, and from their into India. But it was not to be.
Closely following the historical records of the siege, Bulmer tells the tale from Mr. Fox's viewpoint, as a small contingent of the British navy, along with the local militia, held off Napoleon's assaults again and again, until reinforcements finally arrived, two months later. It was definitely a messy series of battles, with thousands of casualties, both from wounds and from the plague, which devastated the French.
The novel is a direct continuation of the previous volume, where Fox, now in charge of the Raccoon, is sent off to Acre with dispatches for the commander there. But by the end of the book, despite all he had done to help win the battle against the French, his command of the small ship is rescinded, and another captain comes aboard to take her. Not only that, but he has lost his link to a better life, namely his chubby wife to be, Sofie, who has accepted the hand of another man instead. So Fox is back where he was at the beginning of volume 3.
This is a rousing tale, based on historical facts, about a famous and bloody battle. The book can easily be read by someone unfamiliar with the Fox series. Recommended for historical fiction buffs.
*** 1/2 stars. Reviewed June 11th/22
FOX 5: TREASURE
The irascible Mr Fox is back in another series of adventures. In the last book he had just lost his temporary command, as well as his hopes to become a captain in the British navy. He is stuck at 1st lieutenant, and going nowhere else. He is back on board the Raccoon, with many of his mates still with him. but the new captain has also brought along many of his own men. From 1973, the adventure is 139 pages long.
In the previous volume, Fox had been handed a treasure map by a dying French officer, and this story deals with his attempts to locate and steal the treasure. The new captain, no surprise, turns out to be a major disaster, and the good ship Raccoon ends up on the rocks, its bottom torn out. Left on an island filled with French troops, Fox and his men are abandoned by their captain, who escapes with his men in a captured French boat.
Despite their difficulties, Fox escapes the island with his men, but they are soon attacked by a French ship. Fox is left floating on detritus and believed killed, while his men are captured. Bulmer's writing is first rate. It's important to note that Fox is by no means a Hollywood hero. He is getting on in years, is quite ugly, and always dressed poorly, as he sends his wages back home to his poor family in London. His hat becomes something of a running joke in the stories, and Bulmer's keen humour appears in other ways, too.
The series is remarkable for its consistent quality of storytelling, and of how interested readers become in the life and adventures of Mr. Fox. I am looking forward to next month's episode.
*** 1/2 stars. Reviewed July 10th/22
FOX 6: BLOOD FOR BREAKFAST
From 1973 comes this 135 page continuation of the hard life at sea of Abernathy Fox. After failing to steal his treasure last time, he is at sea in two small boats with his loyal Raccoons. Though somewhat of a pot boiler, these books are definitely a guilty pleasure with this reader. Despite capturing not one, but two ships in his most recent adventures, Fox is thwarted from bringing them home and claiming them as his work, as per usual.
This adventure is enlivened by the appearance of a group of Turkish warriors and a horde of harem girls, with their eunuch. The girls add humour to the proceedings, and end up surprising Mr. Fox with their ability to help out his short handed crew on deck. There is also a lovely French Countess, recently widowed and trying to escape the revolution. She seems to have a thing for Fox.
Bulmer seems to have really found his niche with these remarkable books of life in the British navy during the time of Napoleon, and the books seem to have a very loyal following, including this reviewer. Manly man adventure at its best! Recommended for manly men.
*** stars. Reviewed August 9th/22
FOX 7: COURT MARTIAL
From 1974 comes this 128 continuation of the sad saga of Abernathy Fox. The story begins with Fox in jail, accused of cowardice from an incident at the beginning of the previous book. He is facing a court martial, but isn't going to take it lying down. So the first half of the book leads up to the trial, with the result that Mr. Fox is cleared of all charges (barely), and becomes first lieutenant on a ship with Captain Staunton, the nephew of an admiral. The second part of the book deals with his new ship and crew, and includes a harrowing sea battle.
Both parts are fast moving and highly readable, as well as great fun. Bulmer has really found his niche in these books, despite all the wonderful SF and fantasy books he has written. He has a love and knowledge of the sea equal to that of Conrad, and by sticking with one main character and a small host of secondary ones, we come to really know Foxy in all his moods. That he should have been a captain long ago any reader would recognize. However, the British navy finds it impossible to think that way. This tells us much about the British navy at the time, but we learn much more than this about it.
Fox is one of the best literary anti-heroes ever penned on paper. Following his life and adventurous career is becoming quite addictive. He is a bit like Charlie Brown in many ways, never getting to kick the football. He never quite gets his hand on treasure, and never quite gets his promotion. Looking forward to book 8.
*** stars. Reviewed September 11th/22
FOX #8: BATTLE SMOKE
From 1974 comes the 138 page continuation of the story of George Abernathy Fox, 1st lieutenant in the British navy. The story continues directly from the previous book, only now Fox is sidelined and on half pay until his next assignment. He is back in Limehouse and living with his family. the first part of the book deals with him as a land lubber, something he takes to with great effort. He longs to be back at sea, but has received no call up. He even dabbles in highway robbery one time.
But at last his name comes up, and he is back with Captain Staunton, on board an 80 gun ship with 70 crewmen on board, and one admiral. The admiral is an alcoholic, and the captain is incompetent and always defers to Fox, whom he greatly admires. So when seven enemy ships are seen on the horizon, and the admiral is down for the count, everything falls on the shoulders of Mr. Fox. Once again we are witness to a great sea battle, four British ships to seven enemy ones, both French and Spanish.
After the battle Fox might finally be making a name for himself. Let us hope so, as it is long overdue.
*** stars. Reviewed October 9th/22
FOX 9: CUT AND THRUST
I read the Kindle edition. Cover by Dan Thompson.
From 1974 comes this 128 page novel, the continuing adventures of Mr. Fox. The first half of the book finds the ornery seaman on land, living it up with his earnings form a recent naval victory. His adventures on land are as much fun to read as his sea ones. Wine, women, and gambling seem to take up most of his time. Two women reappear in his life while he is staying at Tunbridge Wells. The first of the women he meets has one of the best lines in the entire series so far, as she recognizes Fox as one of the highway men who assaulted a rich old lecher who was practically abducting her at the time. Fox saved her and a precious piece of jewellery that his fellow robbers tried to manhandle and steel, and she never forgot him.
When it's time to return to the sea, Fox finds himself made the Commander of a gunboat, with Mr. Grey as his first lieutenant. With an unknown crew he soon has to enter a dangerous situation, and in addition to carrying out his mission, is called upon to rescue another gunboat that was damaged in battle. The adventure ends successfully, but with Mr. Fox having to face one of his hated superior officers during a debriefing of the catastrophic mission .
The quality of writing remains high, and it's good to see Fox in command of a vessel again. Whether on land or at sea, there is continuous action and excitement. Bulmer's writing is again in top form, and I am saddened that only 5 more books in this series remain.
*** 1/2 stars. Reviewed Dec. 5th/22
FOX 10: BOARDERS AWAY
From 1975 comes this 128 page continuation of the fascinating story of Commander Fox, that devil of the high seas. Now under the command of a man he detests, obstacles to promotion are again put in Fox's path. He always performs gloriously, craftily, and ruthlessly, yet is seldom, if ever, given the recognition required for his service in His Majesty's Royal Navy.
This time he must land two spies on French soil, then return to pick them up with other passengers on the next night. Of course plans go awry, and Fox must use all his courage and ingenuity to make things right. His reward is to be left behind, undermanned, while the other ships in his fleet go into action. Guarding four prize ships turns into disaster for Fox, however, and the book ends in a most pessimistic way.
Bulmer is in top writing form once again, having found his true subject matter.
*** 1/2 stars. Reviewed Feb. 9th/23
FOX 11: FIRESHIP
Leaving off immediately after the previous volume, Fox faces a court martial for losing his ship. So we are on land for a short time, before a new and more dangerous assignment is given out to him. First he becomes a spy with Etienne, and they are dropped off to learn the set up of the main French defenses. That done, Fox is assigned to a fireship, which will be used to bring down a few French gunships. We know that Fox has enemies, but in this story we also see that he has friends out there, too. This is another good entry in a fantastic series, but lately the endings are not real endings, but merely cliff hangers.
*** stars. Reviewed April 8th/23
FOX 12: BLOOD BEACH
Kindle cover art by Dan Thompson.
The amazing thing about this book series is that the major events that take place remain true to history. On top of that is the fact that Fox is one of the great characters of literature. Add also that Bulmer can tell a great action tale like no one else. This book is from 1975, and is a slim 110 pages long.
At the end of book 11 we left Mr. Fox flying through the air (on his birthday), after having just blown up his fireship and engulfing two French war ships. After getting out of a very sticky predicament, he is again without a ship, living on shore at half pay. Through a chance meeting with a peer and former friend, Fox is given another ship. But this one has had most of its guns removed and is now a cargo ship.
The blood beach of the title is in Egypt, and Fox is destined to fight in the Battle of Abukir, which occurred in March 1801. In this battle the British attacked the remaining French forces, and after a gruelling fight on the beach after landing their troops, they go on to win the battle and get established on land for a later assault on Alexandria. Lucky for the British that Mr. Fox was there to fight with them that day!
Another great entry in this amazing series.
*** 1/2 stars. Reviewed June 4th/23
FOX 13: SEA FLAME
From 1976 comes this 140 page addition to the on-going sea saga of Mr. Fox. He is still on land for the first half of the story, fighting the French near Alexandria in a gruesome battle based on historical truths. Bulmer writes for Fox on land as well as he does at sea, but Mr. Fox makes things very clear that he would rather be at sea. He has opportunity to capture some French soldiers, including a truly miserable colonel, a man who loathes Fox. There is also a beautiful young English woman, a prisoner of the French, whom Fox takes under his protective wing.
Returned to sea, Fox is assigned to take the prisoners back to England, as well as a lot of wounded soldiers. It doesn't take long for a French ship to find them and attack, and then all hell breaks loose on board, as per normal for Mr. Fox and his crew.
With only one book remaining in the series, I look forward to its conclusion with some apprehension. My life without a regular fix of Fox just will never be the same. He is one of the great pulp action heroes of all time.
*** 1/2 stars. Reviewed August 4th/23
#14: CLOSE QUARTERS
From
1977 comes the final book written about Commander Abernathy Fox. That
is one of the saddest statements I have ever written in this blog.
This is #14, called Close Quarters. Captain Fox, of the British Navy, is doing more than his part to help
his country defeat Napoleon. In fact, I doubt the British would have
ever won had it not been for Mr. Fox. The 148 page finale was not
supposed to be the last book, but alas, it was. Fox sets sail in his
repaired ship for England, part of a large convoy headed by his nemesis,
Captain Stone. I had always hoped to see Fox get even with that
blackguard captain, but I will never get that pleasure. Nor will
faithful readers get to see Fox promoted to full Captain, something he
deserved many books ago but never received. This
book is typical of the adventures Fox and his loyal crews have faced
since the beginning of the series, with one big exception; this time we
get to see Fox capture and ride in a primitive submarine! Science fiction?
Nope. Bulmer is relying on actual attempts to use underwater technology
in battles from the time, and he came up with a workable solution.
Despite its many flaws, Fox used it twice for successful outcomes on his
behalf. A nice touch in this otherwise standard Fox adventure.
There
is a bright gleam of hopeful light at the end, however. Fox has
rescued two British merchant ships from Spanish pirates, and one of them was carrying many grateful
VIPs. It seems a given that he will be rewarded when back on English
soil. And he has brought back the captive submarine and its French
inventor and his crew. The admiralty should be rewarding him, also. If
only there had been a Book 15. We have suffered Fox's indignities
along with him, and deserved to be rewarded nearly as much as he did.
*** 1/2 stars. Reviewed October 10th/23
Mapman Mike
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