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1Metal Monster

By Abraham Merritt

The Metal Monster is an Abraham Merritt fantasy novel.<br /><br /> Dr. Goodwin is on a botanical expedition in the Himalayas. There he meets Dick Drake, the son of one of his old science acquaintances. They are witnesses of a strange aurora-like effect, but seemingly a deliberate one. As they go out to investigate, they meet Goodwin's old friends Martin and Ruth Ventnor, brother and sister scientists. The two are besieged by Persians as Darius III led when Alexander of Macedon conquered them more than two thousand years ago.<br /><br /> The group is saved by a magnificent woman they get to know as Norhala. She commands the power of lightning and controls strange metal animate Things, living, metallic, geometric forms; an entire city of sentient cubes, globes and tetrahedrons, capable of joining together and forming colossal shapes, and wielding death rays and other armaments of destruction.<br /><br /> They are led to a hidden valley occupied by what they name "The Metal Monster", a strange metal city occupied by the metal animate Things Norhala commands This city is governed by what they call the Metal Emperor, assisted by the Keeper of the Cones.<br /><br /> Ruth is slowly being converted by Norhala to become like her; her little sister. Martin, her brother, tries shooting the Metal Emperor, who retalliates with a ray blast, putting Martin in a comatose state.<br /><br /> Closed in between the Metal Monster and the Persians, it falls to Goodwin and Drake to find a way to escape their predicament. (Summary Wikipedia)

2Moon Pool

By Abraham Merritt

Dr. David Throckmartin’s scientific expedition to the South Sea Islands discovers among ancient ruins a portal into Muria, an unknown underground world. After the disappearance of Throckmartin, his wife and two companions, his old friend Dr. Walter Goodwin enters Muria with a rescue party, only to confront an fantastic world filled with incredible beings, astounding scientific advances, and the worship of the most evil of all creatures, The Dweller. (Introduction by Mark Nelson)

Here is a story utterly different from any you have ever read before—a tale of a forest of trees in actual warfare against their human foes—utterly weird, utterly fascinating, utterly thrilling, written by the author of “The Moon Pool,” “The Metal Monster,” “The Ship of Ishtar,” and other gripping books. It is a tale of vivid beauty and eery thrills. For four centuries a family of French peasants had lived on the edge of this forest in the Vosges Mountains; and now, when the last of the race attacked the trees with fire and ax, the forest struck back. This is a story of graphic action, strange murders and uncanny mystery — and through it shines the incredible beauty of the Woman of the Wood. - Summary by Weird Tales Magazine, September 1926

Imaginative, sensual, gory.<br> John Kenton, WWI veteran and wealthy archaeologist, receives stone artifact from a friend in Babylon. Surprisingly, within the block is an incredibly detailed model of an ancient Babylonian ship. Soon Kenton finds himself transported to the ship the model represents, sailing the sea of an alien world and taking part in the eternal conflict between two Babylonian gods, Ishtar and Nergal. Sharane, the assistant priestess of Ishtar, controls one half of the ship; Klaneth, the assistant priest of Nergal, controls the other half. Can Kenton win over the priestess of Ishtar and free the ship from Nergal's influence? - Summary by TriciaG

Our narrator tells us of the time he met Nicholas Graydon in a small village in the Peruvian uplands of the Andean mountains, feverish and at death's door. While nursing Graydon back to health, our narrator is told of an incredible adventure Graydon experienced. Of the treacherous band of journeyman of which he found himself in the company. Of the beautiful and mysterious ivory-skinned woman Suarra and her claims of a hidden civilization filled with untold jewels and gold. Of The Snake Mother who haunts his dreams and presides over the lost world of Yu-Atlanchi with the blue and yellow-cowled Two Lords. Of that dreaded Face in the Abyss which he must resist or forever be consumed! (Summary by Ben Tucker)

One wrong step and you owe Satan a service. Two wrong steps and you are his slave for a year. Three wrong steps and your are HIS, body and soul, FOREVER. But if you take four right steps, his vast wealth and kingdom will be yours! Do you dare take the challenge and face his black throne? (Summary by Ben Tucker)