Adventure writer Talbot Mundy was born William Lancaster Gribbon on this day (April 23) in 1879. Mundy wrote a number short stories and novels for pulps such as Adventure, Argosy, and Cavalier. Some of his work, such as Tros of Samothrace and its sequels had fantasy elements.
I’ve only read one of his short stories, “A Transaction in Diamonds”. I’ve got several collections of his short stories from Black Dog Books which I intend to read.
In addition to being an adventure writer, Mundy is of interest because of his influence on other authors, notably Robert E. Howard, E.. Hoffman Price, Robert A. Heinlein, Fritz Leiber, H. Warner Munn, and I want to say L. Sprague de Camp but campt find a reference for that.
I cannot recall any fantasy elements in the Tros epic; although, I should not rule them out. Many of Mundy’s stories set in India have string mystic elements and some are fantasies by any definition. the “JimGrim” stories started out as straight adventure in the near east and became increasingly fantastic as Grim and company moved eastward.
It is worth noting that the JimGrim stories share characters with much of Mundy’s other ‘contemporary’ adventure stories. The protagonist of King of the Khyber Rifles appears is a couple of “Grim” books, and several of Grim’s associates later have books of their own.
I’ve not read the Tros books, so I could be wrong. I was under the impression they did have fantasy elements, but like I said, I could be wrong. Thanks for the correction.
From what I understand, there’s a female character (whose name escapes me) who shows up in a number of Mundy’s stories, so I’m not surprised the JimGrim stories overlap King.
I really need to work some Mundy in over the summer.
there’s a female character (whose name escapes me) who shows up in a number of Mundy’s stories,
Yasmini. She plays femme fatale to both King and to Grim (in different books), has a book of her own, and plays a smaller supporting role in a couple more. Try King of the Khyber Rifles or one of the later JimGrim novels.