ecl@ahuta.UUCP (ecl) (01/28/85)
EARTHBLOOD by Keith Laumer and Rosel George Brown
Bluejay, 1985, $8.95.
A book review by Mark R. Leeper
Bluejay Books is a relatively new publishing company run by Jim
Frenkel. It publishes trade paperbacks and hardbacks. Most of their line
seems to be reprints of older novels, but they also publish some new
fiction. Frenkel's memory seems better than his eye for new talent. I have
yet to hear of a good new piece of fiction that Bluejay has printed, nor a
bad reprint.
You may remember me ranting and raving about Bluejay Books in the past.
In specific, I ranted against Elizabeth Lynn's THE SILVER STALLION, which
even in my youth I would have hated. By the time I was old enough that I
would have been able to read THE SILVER STALLION, I would have been too old
to appreciate the sugary story of toys coming to life. And I raved about
Jack Williamson's DARKER THAN YOU THINK. This is a fun fantasy-horror novel
with a feel of the 40's horror films, but which is just as much fun today.
Frenkel had David G. Klein illustrate it inside and out and at least inside
the illustrations were superb.
I just recently picked up another Bluejay reprint, EARTHBLOOD by Keith
Laumer and Rosel George Brown. EARTHBLOOD is a wild space opera which was
written in 1966. The book follows the adventures of Roan Cornay, a
descendent of Earth stock in a universe in which Terrans are mistrusted and
feared. Roan was hatched from a valuable terrestrial strain embryo and
grows to youth among the bird-like gracyls. The first part of the book
borrows a lot of its plotting from TARZAN OF THE APES, I think. From there
he is kidnapped into a circus where he hones his skills until the circus is
destroyed by pirates. Once again kidnapped, he joins the pirates. The plot
never slows down as we follow Cornay's career. The plot is comic book
level, but well-written. Alan Gutierrez illustrates and though the cover is
attractive, the interior illustrations are a bit fast and sloppy. Gutierrez
is no David Klein. Still, EARTHBLOOD is a nice-looking book and the story
makes a good evening's read, if a bit pricey at $8.95.
(Evelyn C. Leeper for)
Mark R. Leeper
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