Appendix N: Literary Influence — The Book of Skaith

A quick look at Leigh Brackett's The Book of Skaith.

by R. Nelson Bailey

Leigh Brackett's The Book of Skaith.

Leigh Brackett’s The Book of Skaith is a trilogy featuring her recurring hero, John Eric Stark, a human raised on Mercury by its native beings. Earlier Stark tales unfolded on Mars, but after a ten-year break, Brackett returned to the character, relocating him to the dying world of Skaith.

Stark arrives on this harsh, fading planet in search of a missing friend, only to be drawn into a web of conflicts and betrayals. Although presented as science fiction, the stories lean heavily toward fantasy: psionics replace sorcery, and mutants stand in for supernatural monsters. The influence of Edgar Rice Burroughs’ John Carter is unmistakable, though Brackett’s world is grittier and far less self-congratulatory than Burroughs’ romantic vision.

Brackett’s style is taut and economical, propelling the story without digressions into backstory, subplots, or philosophical musings. Her prose has the momentum of pulp adventure but the edge of noir. That’s no surprise — Brackett co-wrote The Empire Strikes Back and penned screenplays for The Big Sleep and The Long Goodbye. The fatalism and hard-edged cynicism of those films resonate throughout Skaith, shaping both its characters and its bleak setting.

Conclusion

The Book of Skaith showcases Brackett at the height of her powers, blending pulp adventure with a noir sensibility that makes her work distinct from her influences. For readers of Dungeons & Dragons' Appendix N, or anyone who enjoys science fantasy with grit and momentum, Skaith remains a world well worth visiting.

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