The Tritonian Ring by L. Sprague de Camp (1977, 212 pages) – Actually written in 1951, this sword and sorcery tale has one of my least favorite troupes: the gods using humans as pawns on a chessboard. Fortunately, the hero is so endearing and the gods are so absent, you forget that they are merely a plot device to get the young philosopher prince started on his quest.
Prince Vakar, next in line to the throne in a large, inland kingdom, is not your usual princely heroic stereotype. While he can use a sword and knows how to waltz, he’d much prefer studying the philosophical texts and staying at home. Everyone in his kingdom and in the surrounding ones receive messages from the gods in their dreams and can perform some small magicks. Prince Vatar has absolutely no magical ability nor does he receive prophetic dreams from the gods.
The gods, fearing their own dissolution should the people stop fearing them, recognize that Prince Vatar and the legendary star stone he’s destined to find could be the end of them. They send wizards, assassins, and priests against him. This only makes the prince aware of the star stone (impervious to magic and the gods) and sends him on a quest to obtain it.
Accompanied by servants, he leaves his mistress and his favorite golden helmet behind on what he hopes will be a short, uneventful journey into the outside world. Of course, how boring would a book be if everything went swimmingly? Prince Vatar is beset upon, stripped, stabbed, chained, attacked by magic and swords, seduced, and flogged. He encounters some strange people in strange lands, yet his simple outlook stands him in good stead, and he learns much from his change in life station. When he’s flogged, he decides maybe he really shouldn’t flog his servant so much.
He meets a satyr and helps her get home after she saves him. He brokers a marriage between the Amazons and their male counterparts, only to discover not everyone is as true to their promises as he is. An evil wizard convinces Vatar to bring him the body of his rival for information on where the ring carved from the star stone is. People who refuse to believe he’s a prince throw him in an arena with an ape-man. A headless seductress tries to steal his magic.
If anything, L. Sprague de Camp can spin some strange and interesting worlds. Vatar, alone and scarred, returns home to find his brother has arranged to have an enemy take over his country. Vatar has had a piece of the star stone smithed into a sword and leads the battle to defeat his foes.
Oh, and there’s a voluptuous princess who wants him to give it all up to become her consort and the father of her children.
The ending is surprising but perfectly suited to a philosopher prince who just wants to sing and study.
A quick, easy read without too much godly manipulation and with an unusual and likable hero.
