The Gods of Bal-Sagoth was a disappointment. I picked the book up at a library sale and was happy to find an old, excellent condition 70's paperback. Unfortunately, this was an anthology who's theme seemed to be 'Conan vs. the Demon' - but with no Conan. Each story featured some heroic type battling some demon or other occult-ish monster, usually with women as either captives to be rescued or prizes to be won or both. Most of the stories were just poor. I can't even give this the benefit of being old, this was bad for its time. The stories were all either too simple, too predictable, too trite or all 3. ( )

Turlogh Dubh O'Brien is an Irish Gael who ends up shipwrecked on an island with a Saxon-turned-Viking. I’m guessing this is set in the 900s, though it may be the early 1000s. It’s definitely after Alfred the Great but before William the Conqueror’s time. Whenever it is, this reads as a supernatural historical work of fiction.

The gods of Bal-Sagoth are not necessarily gods, but are only thought to be so. The Gael and Saxon discover a beautiful blonde wearing nothing but a silk covering around her loins (thank you, Mr Howard!), who is originally from the Orkneys, but because she too was shipwrecked on this island inhabited by superstitious dark-skinned people, they think she’s a goddess come from the sea.

In this strange place sorcery and demons are to be found. Thus, with two battle-hard warriors and an almost-naked blonde beauty, we have the makings of another entertaining tale spun by the genius of Robert E. Howard. ( )