Transcribe
Translate
Lethe, whole no. 5, January 1947
Page 10
More information
digital collection
archival collection guide
transcription tips
After the Afternoon by Arthur MacArthur published by D. Appleton-Century Co. 1941 and reviewed by Tigrina This is a story of Lykos, a faun, who awakened one afternoon by a bevy of a beauteous virgins, falls in love with one of them, and prays at the shrine of Aphrodite that he may claim the girl for his own. Aphrodite, heeding Lykos' plea, interceded for him with Zeus and the other gods and goddesses on Mount Olympus, and causes Lykos to be brought there, where he is transformed from a faun into a human being. The gods and goddesses endow Lykos with various attributes and powers, including immortality and the ability to change at will from one body to another. However, Ate, the Goddess of Discord, limits Lykos' powers by decreeing that when Lykos enters a body, he will not be able to leave it again until it is dead or destroyed, and furthermore, that Lykos will be unable to reveal his identity. These exceptions, of course, create difficulties for the faun later on. Lykos is then sent back to Earth in his human form, with enough gold to make him independent, and he meets and marries the young girl Aoni, who took his faunish fancy that day in the forest. Aoni dies in bearing Lykos a son. Shortly afterwards, Lykos accepts service under Princess Ni of Egypt, who anchored her boats at his village while in search of new warriors, presumably for her "Scarlet Guard." Lykos learned later that he has been selected because of his close resemblance to the Pharaoh, Phenkaton, who has not been able to furnish his wife, Queen Tharmis (who was also his sister. Evidently they believed in family affairs in those days), with an heir to the throne. Fearing that the man next in the royal line, who bitterly opposed the King and Queen would claim a right to the throne, Princess Ni and Queen Tharmis had conspired, unknown to the Pharaoh, who dearly loved his wife, to obtain a substitute father for the child, the man to be banished as soon as the mission was accomplished. The story from here on departs from fantasy for awhile, and the greater part of the book is concerned with court intrigue, lurid descriptions of barbaric splendour, accommodating Lydian slave boys and girls, licentious living, whipping orgies, cruel sports and torture scenes. Queen Tharmis and Lykos fall in love, or what passed for "love" in those days, and later a little heir to the throne makes its presence known. The Pharaoh suspects, however, and has Lykos poisoned. Lykos' death, of course, releases his immortal spirit, which is then free to page ten
Saving...
prev
next
After the Afternoon by Arthur MacArthur published by D. Appleton-Century Co. 1941 and reviewed by Tigrina This is a story of Lykos, a faun, who awakened one afternoon by a bevy of a beauteous virgins, falls in love with one of them, and prays at the shrine of Aphrodite that he may claim the girl for his own. Aphrodite, heeding Lykos' plea, interceded for him with Zeus and the other gods and goddesses on Mount Olympus, and causes Lykos to be brought there, where he is transformed from a faun into a human being. The gods and goddesses endow Lykos with various attributes and powers, including immortality and the ability to change at will from one body to another. However, Ate, the Goddess of Discord, limits Lykos' powers by decreeing that when Lykos enters a body, he will not be able to leave it again until it is dead or destroyed, and furthermore, that Lykos will be unable to reveal his identity. These exceptions, of course, create difficulties for the faun later on. Lykos is then sent back to Earth in his human form, with enough gold to make him independent, and he meets and marries the young girl Aoni, who took his faunish fancy that day in the forest. Aoni dies in bearing Lykos a son. Shortly afterwards, Lykos accepts service under Princess Ni of Egypt, who anchored her boats at his village while in search of new warriors, presumably for her "Scarlet Guard." Lykos learned later that he has been selected because of his close resemblance to the Pharaoh, Phenkaton, who has not been able to furnish his wife, Queen Tharmis (who was also his sister. Evidently they believed in family affairs in those days), with an heir to the throne. Fearing that the man next in the royal line, who bitterly opposed the King and Queen would claim a right to the throne, Princess Ni and Queen Tharmis had conspired, unknown to the Pharaoh, who dearly loved his wife, to obtain a substitute father for the child, the man to be banished as soon as the mission was accomplished. The story from here on departs from fantasy for awhile, and the greater part of the book is concerned with court intrigue, lurid descriptions of barbaric splendour, accommodating Lydian slave boys and girls, licentious living, whipping orgies, cruel sports and torture scenes. Queen Tharmis and Lykos fall in love, or what passed for "love" in those days, and later a little heir to the throne makes its presence known. The Pharaoh suspects, however, and has Lykos poisoned. Lykos' death, of course, releases his immortal spirit, which is then free to page ten
Hevelin Fanzines
sidebar
