
Dwellers in the Mirage
The novel follows the adventures of two men, John Gordon and his friend, the mysterious Abdul Ali, as they search for the lost city of Kadatheron. The city is said to be located in the middle of a vast desert, and is home to a powerful race of beings known as the Dwellers in the Mirage. John and Abdul Ali must battle their way through the desert, facing off against giant sandworms, giant spiders, and other strange creatures. Along the way, they discover the secrets of Kadatheron and the power of the Dwellers in the Mirage. The novel is a classic example of Merritt's blend of fantasy and science fiction, and is considered to be one of his best works. It has been adapted into a comic book, a radio play, and a film.
By Abraham Merritt · First published 1932 · Genre: Fantasy, Adventure, Romance · 23 chapters · 78,386 words
First lines
I raised my head, listening,--not only with my ears but with every square inch of my skin, waiting for recurrence of the sound that had awakened me. There was silence, utter silence. No soughing in the boughs of the spruces clustered around the little camp. No stirring of furtive life in the underbrush. Through the spires of the spruces the stars shone wanly in the short sunset to sunrise twilight of the early Alaskan summer.
A sudden wind bent the spruce tops, carrying again the sound--the clangour of a beaten anvil.
What this Textopian page supports
Dwellers in the Mirage is listed on Textopian as a novel by Abraham Merritt, dated 1932 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Novel
- Author: Abraham Merritt
- Date: 1932 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Fantasy, Adventure, Romance, Science Fiction, Mystery
- Length: 78,386 words
- Structure: 23 chapters, 3,061 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Dwellers in the Mirage by Abraham Merritt
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering Dwellers in the Mirage?
- How does this novel by Abraham Merritt fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Fantasy first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
Genres
- Fantasy — The book follows the adventures of two protagonists as they explore a mysterious and magical land, making it a classic example of a fantasy novel.
- Adventure — The protagonists embark on a journey of exploration and discovery, encountering strange creatures and magical forces, making it an adventure story.
- Romance — The protagonists fall in love and must overcome obstacles to be together, making it a romantic story.
- Science Fiction — The book features advanced technology and futuristic elements, making it a science fiction story.
Tags
Fantasy · ancient · black · dropped · drums · dwayanu · evalie · eyes · feet · green · hand · hands
Contents
- Chapter 1: Sounds in the Night
- Chapter 2: Ring of the Kraken
- Chapter 3: Ritual of Khalk'ru
- Chapter 4: Tentacle of Khalk'ru
- Chapter 5: The Mirage
- Chapter 6: The Shadowed-land
- Chapter 7: The Little People
- Chapter 8: Evalie
- CHAPTER IX
- Chapter 10: If a Man Could Use All His Brain
- Chapter 11: Drums of the Little People
- Chapter 12: On Nansur Bridge
- Chapter 13: Karak
- Chapter 14: In the Black Citadel
- Chapter 15: The Lake of the Ghosts
- Chapter 16: Kisses of Lur
- Chapter 17: Ordeal by Khalk'ru
- Chapter 18: Wolves of Lur
- Chapter 19: The Taking of Sirk
- Chapter 20: "Tsantawu-farewell!"
- Chapter 21: Return to Karak
- Chapter 22: Gate of Khalk'ru
- Chapter 23: In Khalk'ru's Temple
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