That is the bare-bones, fairly non-spoilerish synopsis. He finds satisfaction in facing dangers more deadly than making a bad stock trade and he learns that some things are more precious than a fat bank account. Silverlock's picaresque adventures slowly work a change in his outlook. Silverlock, who has never read anything more literary than a newspaper-and proud of it-is utterly clueless when encountering such mythic and legendary figures. Within the Commonwealth live characters from tales throughout history, from Beowulf to Hiawatha. For you see, Silverlock has reached the Commonwealth of Letters, which might also be called the 'Land of Story'. The two men are rescued by some Vikings, reach a vast island named 'the Commonwealth' and soon end up at the Battle of Clontarf. Golias and Shandon-whom Golias has dubbed 'Silverlock' due to a white streak in Shandon's hair-make landfall on another island where Silverlock runs afoul of a touchy sorceress. The two men soon reach an island where they narrowly escape the gastronomic attentions of cannibals. The ship Shandon is on-the Naglfar-suddenly sinks and Shandon finds himself sharing a piece of storm-tossed flotsam with a man who calls himself Golias. Shandon is an unhappy and fairly unlikable man who, despite being unhappy, is convinced that his degree in Business Administration constitutes everything he needs to know about the world and life in general. Silverlock begins by introducing the reader to the protagonist, a man named Clarence Shandon. I might add, having read further accounts of his life-including one by his daughter, Celia-that he was a passionate, talented man of sharp wit who loved the written word and fine whiskey. Regarding Myers himself, I sketched out his biography in a previous blog post. To honor the occasion, I'm going to take a look at his most famous novel, Silverlock. Today marks the one hundred and fifteenth birthday of John Myers Myers. A galloping narrative, endlessly inventive people you must love or hate but can never be indifferent to humor that ranges from the cat-subtle to the uproarious discoveries, achievements, battles, feasts, drinking bouts, lovemaking, unabashed joy, celebration of life-what more do you want?' - Poul Anderson, 1979

'There are few such glorious romps in all the world's literature, and surely none that surpass.

Silverlock john myers myers etext