7.2 /10 1 Votes
Language English Pages 343 Originally published 1931 Page count 343 Publisher Horace Liveright | 3.6/5 Goodreads Publication date 1931 OCLC 2528594 Genre Fantasy Fiction Country United States of America | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Series "The Face in the Abyss"
September 8, 1923
"The Snake Mother"
Weekly: October 25-December 6, 1930 Media type Print (Serial, Hardback, and Paperback) Similar Works by A Merritt, Speculative fiction books | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The Face in the Abyss is a fantasy novel by A. Merritt. The novel is composed of a novelette with the same title and its sequel, "The Snake Mother". It was first published in its complete form in 1931 by Horace Liveright. The novelette "The Face in the Abyss" originally appeared in the magazine Argosy All-Story Weekly in the September 8, 1923 issue. "The Snake Mother" was originally serialized in seven parts in Argosy beginning with the October 25, 1930 issue.
Contents
Plot introduction
The novel concerns American mining engineer Nicholas Graydon. While searching for lost Inca treasure in South America, he encounters Suarra, handmaiden to the Snake Mother of Yu-Atlanchi. She leads Graydon to an abyss where Nimir, the Lord of Evil is imprisoned in a face of gold. While Graydon's companions are transformed by the face into globules of gold on account of their greed, he is saved by Suarra and the Snake Mother whom he joins in their struggle against Nimir.
Publication history
Legacy
Peter Levi has noted parallels between "The Face in the Abyss" and a story H.P. Lovecraft created as a ghostwriter, "The Mound."