The Face in the Abyss

Infobox Book
name = The Face in the Abyss
title_orig =
translator =


image_caption = Dust-jacket from the first edition
author = A. Merritt
illustrator =
cover_artist =
country = United States
language = English
series =
genre = Fantasy novel
publisher = Horace Liveright
release_date = 1931
english_release_date =
media_type = Print (Hardback)
pages = 343 pp
isbn = NA
oclc = 2528594
preceded_by =
followed_by =

"The Face in the Abyss" is a fantasy novel by A. Merritt. The novel is comprised 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" in the September 8, 1923 issue. "The Snake Mother" was originally serialized in seven parts in "Argosy" beginning with the October 25, 1930 issue.

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

*1931, USA, Horace Liveright OCLC|2528594, Pub date 1931, Hardback, first complete publication
*1945, USA, Avon MM29 OCLC|13930836, Pub date 1945, Paperback, reprinted 1957
*1991, USA, Donald M. Grant, Publisher, Inc. ISBN 0-937986-01-1, Pub date July 1991, Hardback

References

*cite book | last=Chalker | first=Jack L. | authorlink=Jack L. Chalker | coauthors=Mark Owings | title=The Science-Fantasy Publishers: A Bibliographic History, 1923-1998 | location=Westminster, MD and Baltimore | publisher=Mirage Press, Ltd.| pages=334 | date=1998
*cite book | last=Crawford, Jr. | first=Joseph H. |coauthors=James J. Donahue and Donald M. Grant| title="333", A Bibliography of the Science-Fantasy Novel | location=Providence, RI| publisher=The Grandon Company | pages=45 | date=1953|oclc= 3924496
*cite book | last=Tuck | first=Donald H. | authorlink=Donald H. Tuck | title=The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction and Fantasy | location=Chicago | publisher=Advent | pages=309 | date=1978|id=ISBN 0-911682-22-8