The Citadel of Fear (1918) is a science fiction novel by Francis
Stevens. Using her well-known pseudonym, Gertrude Barrows Bennett
published some of the twentieth century's greatest science fiction
stories and novels. The Citadel of Fear, her debut novel, has been
recognized as a powerful tale of the lost world genre of adventure and
remains central to Stevens' reputation as a pioneering author of fantasy
and science fiction. As the Great War rages on, two Irish American
prospectors journey across the Mexican desert in search of fortune.
Lucky to survive the heat and harsh conditions, they discover a dense
jungle rumored to be the home of a lost tribe of Aztecs devoted to the
serpent god Quetzalcoatl. Despite their fears, Kennedy and Colin O'Hara
remain determined to complete their mission, no matter the cost.
Venturing through the darkness of the jungle, they find the underground
city of Tlapallam, where a group of assailants takes Kennedy prisoner.
Left to return alone through the desert, O'Hara vows to return for his
friend. Published at the height of Stevens' career as a popular
storyteller in the nation's leading fantasy magazines, The Citadel of
Fear is a lost world novel in the tradition of H. Rider Haggard and
Edgar Rice Burroughs that continues to entertain and astound over a
century after it appeared in print. With a beautifully designed cover
and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Francis Stevens'
The Citadel of Fear is a classic work of American science fiction
reimagined for modern readers.
