Warlord of Kor

Description

Terry Carr was primarily known as an editor and an anthologist, but he was a very talented original author as well, War of a Kor being one of his best writings. First published in 1963, the novel was included into one of the editions of Ace Double, the F-177, along The Star Wasps by Robert Moore Williams.

The novel features an exciting and eventful interplanetary experiment on planet Hirlaj. Humans go there to probe the planet and they encounter the planet’s inhabitants, the few aliens that still remained on Hirlaj (there are only 26 of them left).

The protagonist is Lee Rynarson, an archeologist out to study the sole intelligent creatures in the Galaxy, creatures that look like a mix of dinosaurs and horses. Rynarson talks to them, and that is how he finds out about a warlord from ancient times who managed to unite the entire planet, but then, after his communion with the god Kor he led the inhabitants of Hirlaj into abandoning both science and war.

After finding out about the past of the planet, Rynarson becomes involved with their present, as well, and goes through all sorts of adventures, some of them peaceful, others violent, to reveal the true intentions of Kor.

Carr uses colonialism and the concept of alien beings existing outside our planet in a masterful manner, adding lots of action to the ingenious idea that really gets the plot going from page one. The writing style in Warlord of Kor shows Carr’s talent as a writer and also makes the most of his experience as an editor of science fiction pulp – he can certainly write and he also known what makes a good story. The story includes fighting, there is blood and action, love and hatred, but Carr never exaggerates, the novel being a great choice for a quick afternoon read.
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