You Can't Think of Everything--The Pusadian Tales, Part 2

Read/Watch 'am In Order #105

The second Pusadian tale (stories set in a mythical Bronze Age written by L. Sprague Dr Camp) was published in the November 1951 issue of Imagination.

Get out your Pusadian Tales scorecard and remind yourself about the setting. Pusad is a slowly sinking continent that is analogous to Atlantis. Lorsk is the predominant nation on Pusad. In this story, we meet Gezun, a 14-year-old boy who originally came from Lorsk. The ensuing tales will follow Gezun's life as he eventually rises from slave to king, largely through his cleverness and his innate ability as a con artist.

In this story, he's been a slave for about a year, having been captured by pirates, taken away from Pusad and sold to a wizard named Sancheth Sar.

Fortunately, the wizard is a relatively benevolent master and Gezun has not been unhappy. In fact, as the story opens, Gezun is awkwardly trying to seduce a girl he's befriended, though being only fourteen, he's not quite sure what he'll do if she says "Yes."

 Gezun's first adventure begins when his master sends him to attend an auction of magical items, with orders to obtain a specific manuscript.

Before he gets home again, Gezun will need to be clever, make important spot decisions, deal with a pair of bandits, and resist the lure of o shape-changing sprite. But while he's on guard against these threats, he's not necessarily watching out for more mundane ways of getting the manuscript away from him.

The story is a delight on several levels. The characterization of Gezun is excellent. He's clever and capable, but de Camp never forgets that he is still a young boy, who sometimes reacts to the world in childish manner.

Also, as is true with all of de Camp's Pusadian Tales, Gezun's world view, such as his attitude towards slavery or the casual ruthlessness of his tactics when dealing with bandits, accurately reflect a Bronze Age culture. The story is a fantasy, but de Camp's thoughtful inclusion of period-accurate details give it verisimilitude and makes the setting and characters seem real.

You can find the story online HERE.