Jirel of Joiry (collection)
Encyclopedia
Jirel of Joiry is a collection of five fantasy
stories by C. L. Moore
, often characterized as sword and sorcery
. The volume compiles all but one of Moore's stories featuring the title character
, a female warrior in an imagined version of medieval France. All the stories were published in Weird Tales
during the 1930's. After being published as a paperback
original by Paperback Library in 1969, the collection was reissued by Ace Books
in the 1980's and 1990's. Donald M. Grant
published an illustrated hardcover edition in 1977, under the title The Black God's Kiss. In 2007, a British omnibus combining Jirel of Joiry with Moore's "Northwest Smith
" stories appeared as Black Gods and Scarlet Dreams. An expanded edition, also titled Black God's Kiss, was published by Paizo Publishing
in 2007.
A sixth story, "Quest of the Starstone", written in collaboration with Henry Kuttner
, teamed Jirel with Moore's science fiction hero "Northwest Smith." It was finally collected with the other Jirel stories in the 2007 Black God's Kiss.
noted that while the Jirel stories were among Moore's earliest work, they remained effective more than thirty years later because "the events which occur to Jirel, as she struggles with the half-understood forces of darkness in her quasi-medieval world, are all things that play on the heart of what being you and me is all about."
Fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...
stories by C. L. Moore
C. L. Moore
Catherine Lucille Moore was an American science fiction and fantasy writer, as C. L. Moore. She was one of the first women to write in the genre, and paved the way for many other female writers in speculative fiction....
, often characterized as sword and sorcery
Sword and sorcery
Sword and sorcery is a sub-genre of fantasy and historical fantasy, generally characterized by sword-wielding heroes engaged in exciting and violent conflicts. An element of romance is often present, as is an element of magic and the supernatural...
. The volume compiles all but one of Moore's stories featuring the title character
Jirel of Joiry
Jirel of Joiry is a fictional character created by American writer C. L. Moore, who appeared in a series of sword and sorcery stories published first in the pulp horror/fantasy magazine Weird Tales. Jirel is the proud, tough, arrogant and beautiful ruler of her own domain—apparently somewhere in...
, a female warrior in an imagined version of medieval France. All the stories were published in Weird Tales
Weird Tales
Weird Tales is an American fantasy and horror fiction pulp magazine first published in March 1923. It ceased its original run in September 1954, after 279 issues, but has since been revived. The magazine was set up in Chicago by J. C. Henneberger, an ex-journalist with a taste for the macabre....
during the 1930's. After being published as a paperback
Paperback
Paperback, softback or softcover describe and refer to a book by the nature of its binding. The covers of such books are usually made of paper or paperboard, and are usually held together with glue rather than stitches or staples...
original by Paperback Library in 1969, the collection was reissued by Ace Books
Ace Books
Ace Books is the oldest active specialty publisher of science fiction and fantasy books. The company was founded in New York City in 1952 by Aaron A. Wyn, and began as a genre publisher of mysteries and westerns...
in the 1980's and 1990's. Donald M. Grant
Donald M. Grant
Donald M. Grant, Publisher, Inc. is a fantasy and science fiction small press publisher in New Hampshire that was founded in 1964. It is notable for publishing fantasy and horror novels with lavish illustrations, most notably Stephen King's The Dark Tower series and the King/Peter Straub novel The...
published an illustrated hardcover edition in 1977, under the title The Black God's Kiss. In 2007, a British omnibus combining Jirel of Joiry with Moore's "Northwest Smith
Northwest Smith
Northwest Smith is a fictional character, and the hero of a series of stories by science fiction writer C. L. Moore.- Story setting :Smith is a spaceship pilot and smuggler who lives in an undisclosed future time when humanity has colonized the solar system....
" stories appeared as Black Gods and Scarlet Dreams. An expanded edition, also titled Black God's Kiss, was published by Paizo Publishing
Paizo Publishing
Paizo Publishing is an American publishing company in Redmond, Washington that specializes in game aids and adventures for "the world's oldest fantasy roleplaying game" and its flagship spin-off game and setting, Pathfinder...
in 2007.
Contents
- "Jirel Meets Magic" (Weird Tales 1935)
- "Black God’s Kiss" (Weird Tales 1934)
- "Black God’s Shadow" (Weird Tales 1934)
- "The Dark Land" (Weird Tales 1936)
- "Hellsgarde" (Weird Tales 1939)
A sixth story, "Quest of the Starstone", written in collaboration with Henry Kuttner
Henry Kuttner
Henry Kuttner was an American author of science fiction, fantasy and horror.-Early life:Henry Kuttner was born in Los Angeles, California in 1915...
, teamed Jirel with Moore's science fiction hero "Northwest Smith." It was finally collected with the other Jirel stories in the 2007 Black God's Kiss.
Reception
Algis BudrysAlgis Budrys
Algis Budrys was a Lithuanian-American science fiction author, editor, and critic. He was also known under the pen names "Frank Mason", "Alger Rome", "John A. Sentry", "William Scarff", and "Paul Janvier."-Biography:...
noted that while the Jirel stories were among Moore's earliest work, they remained effective more than thirty years later because "the events which occur to Jirel, as she struggles with the half-understood forces of darkness in her quasi-medieval world, are all things that play on the heart of what being you and me is all about."