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Tros of Samothrace

January 01, 1970

Tros of Samothrace is a fantasy historical novel by American writer Talbot Mundy. The story was composed of several novellas which were published originally in the American magazine Adventure during 1925 and 1926. It was published first together as a book during 1934 by Appleton-Century company.

Tros of Samothrace
Picture of dust-cover from the first edition.
AuthorTalbot Mundy
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
SeriesTros
GenreFantasy
PublisherAppleton-Century
Publication date
1934
Media typePrint (Hardback)
Pages949
OCLC592466
Followed byQueen Cleopatra 

Mundy dedicated Tros of Samothrace to his friend Rose Wilder Lane, who had funded its book publication. [1]

Plot introduction edit

The novel concerns the courageous adventures of the title character (a Greek from Samothrace) as he helps pre-Roman Britons fight the invading forces of Julius Caesar. Over the course of the novel, Tros travels from Britain to Spain, and finally the city of Rome itself.[2]

The novel contains minor fantasy elements. One of the characters, Fflur, has the power of "second sight". The novel also imagines a benevolent secret society of mystics which includes the British Druids and the followers of the Greek Samothracian Mysteries.[2]

Publishing history edit

 
Picture of dust-cover by Lionel Dillon from the Gnome Press reprint.

The original sequence of novellas was published as follows:

  1. "Tros of Samothrace", 10 February 1925 (later became chapters 1..14 of the novel)
  2. "The Enemy of Rome", 10 April 1925 (chapters 15..26)
  3. "Prisoners of War", 10 June 1925 (chapters 27..37)
  4. "Hostages to Luck", 20 August 1925 (chapters 38..51)
  5. "Admiral of Caesar's Fleet", 10 October 1925 (chapters 52..66)
  6. "The Dancing Girl of Gades", 10 December 1925 (chapters 67..81)
  7. "Messenger of Destiny", part 1, 10 February 1926 (chapters 82..87)
  8. "Messenger of Destiny", part 2, 20 February 1926 (chapters 88..92)
  9. "Messenger of Destiny", part 3, 28 February 1926 (chapters 93..96) [3]

When Tros of Samothrace was published as four paperback volumes during 1967 and 1971, the divisions between volumes coincided with Mundy's own divisions:

  • Tros contains "Tros of Samothrace" and "The Enemy of Rome".
  • Helma contains "Prisoners of War" and "Hostages to Luck".
  • Liafail contains "Admiral of Caesar's Fleet" and "The Dancing Girl of Gades".
  • Helene contains all three parts of "Messenger of Destiny".

When Tros of Samothrace was reissued as three paperback volumes during 1976, the divisions between volumes was partway through "Prisoners of War" and "Admiral of Caesar's Fleet".

Reception edit

Although the stories were popular with Adventure's readers, they also aroused debate due to the fact that Mundy described Julius Caesar and Roman civilization as imperialistic and tyrannical; Adventure editor Arthur Sullivant Hoffman later stated that the Tros stories were the most controversial the magazine had ever published.[4] Mundy's negative depiction of Caesar resulted in controversy in Adventure's letters section, "the Camp-Fire".[5] The debate on Tros of Samothrace's depiction of Caesar in the magazine featured contributions by writers such as Elmer Davis, Arthur Gilchrist Brodeur, Hugh Pendexter and Arthur D. Howden Smith. [3]

Fritz Leiber praised Tros of Samothrace, saying: "The Tros stories made a great impression on me as a young man. I read and re-read them...it was wonderful, imaginative writing".[5] Floyd C. Gale wrote during 1959 when reviewing a new edition of the book that it was "Out of print far too long, here is one classic that still reads as if written yesterday ... An absolute Must Buy at this price".[6]

References edit

  • Chalker, Jack L.; Mark Owings (1998). The Science-Fantasy Publishers: A Bibliographic History, 1923–1998. Westminster, MD and Baltimore: Mirage Press, Ltd.
  • Clute, John; John Grant (1997). The Encyclopedia of Fantasy. New York: St. Martin's Press. ISBN 0-88184-708-9.
  • Tuck, Donald H. (1978). The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction and Fantasy. Chicago: Advent. pp. 323–324. ISBN 0-911682-22-8.

External links edit

  1. ^ Holtz, William. The Ghost in the Little House: A Life of Rose Wilder Lane. University of Missouri Press, 1995, ISBN 0-8262-1015-5. (p.253)
  2. ^ a b Hulse, Ed. Blood 'n' Thunder Presents: Pride of the Pulps: The Great All-Fiction Magazines. 2017. DE : Murania Press, ISBN 9781546819264 (p.16)
  3. ^ a b Taves, Brian, Talbot Mundy, Philosopher of Adventure, McFarland, 2006 ISBN 0-7864-2234-3 (pgs. 288-9).
  4. ^ Grant, Donald M., Talbot Mundy: Messenger of Destiny. Donald M. Grant publishers, 1983. ISBN 978-0-937986-46-2 (p. 152).
  5. ^ a b Server, Lee, Danger is my business: an illustrated history of the Fabulous Pulp Magazines. Chronicle Books, 1993. ISBN 0-8118-0112-8 (pp. 55–6)
  6. ^ Gale, Floyd C. (August 1959). "Galaxy's 5 Star Star Shelf". Galaxy. pp. 138–142. Retrieved 14 June 2014.

January 01, 1970
tros, samothrace, fantasy, historical, novel, american, writer, talbot, mundy, story, composed, several, novellas, which, were, published, originally, american, magazine, adventure, during, 1925, 1926, published, first, together, book, during, 1934, appleton, . Tros of Samothrace is a fantasy historical novel by American writer Talbot Mundy The story was composed of several novellas which were published originally in the American magazine Adventure during 1925 and 1926 It was published first together as a book during 1934 by Appleton Century company Tros of SamothracePicture of dust cover from the first edition AuthorTalbot MundyCountryUnited StatesLanguageEnglishSeriesTrosGenreFantasyPublisherAppleton CenturyPublication date1934Media typePrint Hardback Pages949OCLC592466Followed byQueen Cleopatra Mundy dedicated Tros of Samothrace to his friend Rose Wilder Lane who had funded its book publication 1 Contents 1 Plot introduction 2 Publishing history 3 Reception 4 References 5 External linksPlot introduction editThe novel concerns the courageous adventures of the title character a Greek from Samothrace as he helps pre Roman Britons fight the invading forces of Julius Caesar Over the course of the novel Tros travels from Britain to Spain and finally the city of Rome itself 2 The novel contains minor fantasy elements One of the characters Fflur has the power of second sight The novel also imagines a benevolent secret society of mystics which includes the British Druids and the followers of the Greek Samothracian Mysteries 2 Publishing history edit nbsp Picture of dust cover by Lionel Dillon from the Gnome Press reprint The original sequence of novellas was published as follows Tros of Samothrace 10 February 1925 later became chapters 1 14 of the novel The Enemy of Rome 10 April 1925 chapters 15 26 Prisoners of War 10 June 1925 chapters 27 37 Hostages to Luck 20 August 1925 chapters 38 51 Admiral of Caesar s Fleet 10 October 1925 chapters 52 66 The Dancing Girl of Gades 10 December 1925 chapters 67 81 Messenger of Destiny part 1 10 February 1926 chapters 82 87 Messenger of Destiny part 2 20 February 1926 chapters 88 92 Messenger of Destiny part 3 28 February 1926 chapters 93 96 3 When Tros of Samothrace was published as four paperback volumes during 1967 and 1971 the divisions between volumes coincided with Mundy s own divisions Tros contains Tros of Samothrace and The Enemy of Rome Helma contains Prisoners of War and Hostages to Luck Liafail contains Admiral of Caesar s Fleet and The Dancing Girl of Gades Helene contains all three parts of Messenger of Destiny When Tros of Samothrace was reissued as three paperback volumes during 1976 the divisions between volumes was partway through Prisoners of War and Admiral of Caesar s Fleet Reception editAlthough the stories were popular with Adventure s readers they also aroused debate due to the fact that Mundy described Julius Caesar and Roman civilization as imperialistic and tyrannical Adventure editor Arthur Sullivant Hoffman later stated that the Tros stories were the most controversial the magazine had ever published 4 Mundy s negative depiction of Caesar resulted in controversy in Adventure s letters section the Camp Fire 5 The debate on Tros of Samothrace s depiction of Caesar in the magazine featured contributions by writers such as Elmer Davis Arthur Gilchrist Brodeur Hugh Pendexter and Arthur D Howden Smith 3 Fritz Leiber praised Tros of Samothrace saying The Tros stories made a great impression on me as a young man I read and re read them it was wonderful imaginative writing 5 Floyd C Gale wrote during 1959 when reviewing a new edition of the book that it was Out of print far too long here is one classic that still reads as if written yesterday An absolute Must Buy at this price 6 References editChalker Jack L Mark Owings 1998 The Science Fantasy Publishers A Bibliographic History 1923 1998 Westminster MD and Baltimore Mirage Press Ltd Clute John John Grant 1997 The Encyclopedia of Fantasy New York St Martin s Press ISBN 0 88184 708 9 Tuck Donald H 1978 The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction and Fantasy Chicago Advent pp 323 324 ISBN 0 911682 22 8 External links editTros of Samothrace at Project Gutenberg Australia Holtz William The Ghost in the Little House A Life of Rose Wilder Lane University of Missouri Press 1995 ISBN 0 8262 1015 5 p 253 a b Hulse Ed Blood n Thunder Presents Pride of the Pulps The Great All Fiction Magazines 2017 DE Murania Press ISBN 9781546819264 p 16 a b Taves Brian Talbot Mundy Philosopher of Adventure McFarland 2006 ISBN 0 7864 2234 3 pgs 288 9 Grant Donald M Talbot Mundy Messenger of Destiny Donald M Grant publishers 1983 ISBN 978 0 937986 46 2 p 152 a b Server Lee Danger is my business an illustrated history of the Fabulous Pulp Magazines Chronicle Books 1993 ISBN 0 8118 0112 8 pp 55 6 Gale Floyd C August 1959 Galaxy s 5 Star Star Shelf Galaxy pp 138 142 Retrieved 14 June 2014 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Tros of Samothrace amp oldid 1139614924, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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