This eBook has been formatted to the highest digital standards and adjusted for readability on all devices. The Citadel of Fear is a lost world story and focuses on a forgotten Aztec city, which is "rediscovered" during World War I.Excerpt:"The sun, he thought, had grown monstrous and swallowed all the sky. No blue was anywhere. Brass above, soft, white-hot iron beneath, and all tinged to redness by the film of blood over sand-tormented eyes. Beyond a radius of thirty yards his vision blurred and ceased, but into that radius something flapped down and came tilting awkwardly across the sand, long wings half-spread, yellow head lowered, bold with an avid and loathsome curiosity. "You!" whispered the man hoarsely, and shook one great, red fist at the thing. "You'll not get your dinner off me nor him while my one foot can follow the other!"

The Citadel of Fear (1918) is a science fiction novel by Francis Stevens. Using her well-known pseudonym, Gertrude Barrows Bennett published some of the twentieth century's greatest science fiction stories and novels. The Citadel of Fear, her debut novel, has been recognized as a powerful tale of the lost world genre of adventure and remains central to Stevens' reputation as a pioneering author of fantasy and science fiction. As the Great War rages on, two Irish American prospectors journey across the Mexican desert in search of fortune. Lucky to survive the heat and harsh conditions, they discover a dense jungle rumored to be the home of a lost tribe of Aztecs devoted to the serpent god Quetzalcoatl. Despite their fears, Kennedy and Colin O'Hara remain determined to complete their mission, no matter the cost. Venturing through the darkness of the jungle, they find the underground city of Tlapallam, where a group of assailants takes Kennedy prisoner. Left to return alone through the desert, O'Hara vows to return for his friend. Published at the height of Stevens' career as a popular storyteller in the nation's leading fantasy magazines, The Citadel of Fear is a lost world novel in the tradition of H. Rider Haggard and Edgar Rice Burroughs that continues to entertain and astound over a century after it appeared in print. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Francis Stevens' The Citadel of Fear is a classic work of American science fiction reimagined for modern readers.

Citadel of Fear by Francis Stevens

Gertrude Barrows Bennett was the first major female writer of fantasy and science fiction in the United States, publishing her stories under the pseudonym Francis Stevens. Bennett wrote a number of highly acclaimed fantasies between 1917 and 1923 and has been called "the woman who invented dark fantasy". Citadel of Fear is considered Francis Stevens' masterpiece, by Lovecraft's acclaim. Two adventurers discover a lost city in the Mexican jungle. One is taken over by an evil god while the other falls in love with a woman from the ancient Mexican city of Tlapallan. Citadel of Fear was first published as a serial in Argosy Magazine in 1918-1919. It was eventually republished as a novel in 1970. It is now considered a "lost classic".An interesting book is Francis Stevens' The Citadel of Fear. Reprinted by Armchair Fiction as part of their Lost World-Lost Race series, this novel was originally serialized in The Argosy in 1918.This particular edition had a short select of artwork from her other works (covers of their appearances in pulp magazines), as well as the wrap-around artwork for the Paperback Library reprint of Citadel. It also had a short bio of Stevens and it was interesting.Francis Stevens was really Gertrude Barrows Bennett (1884-1948), an early author of fantasy and science fiction that some call the "woman who invented dark fantasy." She actually dropped out of school after the eighth grade and later became a stenographer. Her first published work of fiction was a short story "The Curious Experience of Thomas Dunbar," published in The Argosy in 1904. She later married and had a daughter, but her explorer husband died on an expedition. During World War I, her father died, and Gertrude had to help support her invalid mother.To make more money, she turned to fiction writing, and between 1917 and 1923, she wrote various short stories and longer works that appeared in several pulp magazines at the time. Several are considered excellent to this day, which is pretty high praise for someone who didn't even finish high school. Her first work was "Nightmare," which told of an island where evolution went in a different direction, similar to Edgar Rice Burrough's "The Land That Time Forgot" that appeared a year later. Bison Books has a collection of all of her short fiction in a collection titled The Nightmare and Other Tales of Dark Fantasy.

The Citadel of Fear, an anthology showcasing the work of Gertrude Barrows Bennett, who wrote under the pseudonym Francis Stevens, is a cornerstone in the foundation of science fiction literature. Within its pages, readers will discover an array of speculative narratives that transcend time and space, weaving together elements of fantasy, horror, and early science fiction. The collection encapsulates the diverse and groundbreaking storytelling techniques of its era, offering a splendid display of Stevens' pioneering imagination and mastery over the speculative. Its standout pieces not only explore the unknown but also delve into the complexities of human emotion and the interplay between fear and curiosity, making it a significant contribution to the genre's evolution. The authors behind these narratives, particularly Stevens, are considered trailblazers in science fiction. Bennett, an unsung heroine of her time, effectively laid the groundwork for future generations of writers within these genres. Through her unique lens, readers are offered a glimpse into the early 20th century's burgeoning fascination with the speculative and the fantastic. The anthology aligns with pivotal moments in literary history, where the boundaries of reality are pushed, and new worlds are conceived, cementing its place within the pantheon of science fiction classics. This collection is recommended for those intrigued by the roots of science fiction and the remarkable breadth of themes it encompasses. It offers a unique opportunity to experience the visionary work of Gertrude Barrows Bennett, whose contributions have significantly shaped the landscape of speculative fiction. The Citadel of Fear serves not only as a portal to imaginative realms but also as a critical resource for understanding the evolution of science fiction. Readers, scholars, and enthusiasts alike will find value in this anthology, for it fosters a greater appreciation of the genre's complexities and the diverse perspectives that have contributed to its enduring legacy.

The Citadel of Fear (1918) is a science fiction novel by Francis Stevens. Using her well-known pseudonym, Gertrude Barrows Bennett published some of the twentieth century’s greatest science fiction stories and novels. The Citadel of Fear, her debut novel, has been recognized as a powerful tale of the lost world genre of adventure and remains central to Stevens’ reputation as a pioneering author of fantasy and science fiction. As the Great War rages on, two Irish American prospectors journey across the Mexican desert in search of fortune. Lucky to survive the heat and harsh conditions, they discover a dense jungle rumored to be the home of a lost tribe of Aztecs devoted to the serpent god Quetzalcoatl. Despite their fears, Kennedy and Colin O’Hara remain determined to complete their mission, no matter the cost. Venturing through the darkness of the jungle, they find the underground city of Tlapallam, where a group of assailants takes Kennedy prisoner. Left to return alone through the desert, O’Hara vows to return for his friend. Published at the height of Stevens’ career as a popular storyteller in the nation’s leading fantasy magazines, The Citadel of Fear is a lost world novel in the tradition of H. Rider Haggard and Edgar Rice Burroughs that continues to entertain and astound over a century after it appeared in print. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Francis Stevens’ The Citadel of Fear is a classic work of American science fiction reimagined for modern readers.

This eBook has been formatted to the highest digital standards and adjusted for readability on all devices. The Citadel of Fear is a lost world story and focuses on a forgotten Aztec city, which is "rediscovered" during World War I.Excerpt:"The sun, he thought, had grown monstrous and swallowed all the sky. No blue was anywhere. Brass above, soft, white-hot iron beneath, and all tinged to redness by the film of blood over sand-tormented eyes. Beyond a radius of thirty yards his vision blurred and ceased, but into that radius something flapped down and came tilting awkwardly across the sand, long wings half-spread, yellow head lowered, bold with an avid and loathsome curiosity. "You!" whispered the man hoarsely, and shook one great, red fist at the thing. "You'll not get your dinner off me nor him while my one foot can follow the other!"