THE PRISONER OF ZHAMANAK

by L. Sprague de Camp ‧ RELEASE DATE: May 10, 1982

Continuing a short-lived series begun in 1949 with The Queen of Zamba, this sf comedy-adventure features the roguish humanoids of planet Krishna--who have a medieval-style, city-state culture (Earth technology is forbidden). The setup: feisty blonde sociologist Alicia Dyckman is being held prisoner by Khorosh, king of Zhamanak, so Oxford-educated Terran consul Percy Mjipa sets off to rescue her. Crossing Kalwm, Mjipa must placate flat-planet believer King Vuzhov (he's gone bankrupt building a tower to reach heaven). Reaching Zhamanak, Mjipa is seized and jailed with Alicia--because lewd monarch Khorosh is insatiably curious about Terran sexual habits and intrigued by the possibility of offspring from Mjipa (very black and large) and Alicia (very white and small). But straitlaced Mjipa refuses to perform, especially when he discovers that their jail is riddled with peep-holes. And, after bickering and heroically resisting one another, Mjipa and Alicia do escape. . . into still more trouble. Despite the Krishnans' wretched pseudomedieval speech (""eftsoons,"" ""forsooth,"" ""clepes""): amusing, agreeable froth.

Pub Date: May 10, 1982

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Phantasia Press (13101 Lincoln Street, Huntington Woods, MI 48070)

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 1982

Categories: FICTION