David.Lamb@CMU-CS-A (01/04/83)
A note in SFL V6#113 from December 21 criticizes the novel SHE by H. Rider Haggard for its "stock" plot elements e.g. lost civilization from which modern-day explorers escape just before disaster wipes out all evidence. "She" is one of four novels by Haggard about Ayesha; my copy of Ayesha: the Return of She (sequel to She) has a dedication dated 1905. It thus seems likely to me that Haggard's novels are the source of those "stock" elements (though A. Merritt's stories may have been equally influential e.g. The Moon Pool, copyrighted 1919). Del Rey reprinted these old books several years ago (around 1978). It's been too long since I read them for me to give a reasonable review, but here are the titles: Wisdom's Daughter (ISBN 0-345-27428-8) Set in ancient Egypt, tells how Ayesha is cursed with immortality. She and Allan (ISBN 0-345-27449-0) Allan Quartermain and Umslopogaas, heroes of other books by Haggard, meet Ayesha. She (ISBN 0-345-27453-9) The book reviewed earlier in SFL. Ayesha: The Return of She (ISBN 0-345-27557-8) Sequel to She. I found all of these books worth reading. Haggard also wrote King Solomon's Mines; I haven't read it (SF fan prejudice against mainstream?) but have heard it's good.