Clifford Simak’s "In the Lair of Evil" Summary

This 1982 novel immerses the reader in a dark frontier world, where the remnants of human civilization and Roman legions confront savage hordes of barbarians and sinister evil spirits beyond the river. The main plot revolves around the secret quest of four brave souls into the depths of forbidden lands in search of a sacred artifact and lost love. The novel is distinguished by a dense atmosphere of suspense, a blend of heroic fantasy with elements of ancient legends, and a profound psychological insight into the characters.

The Return of the Wanderer

Charles Harcourt returns from a morning hunt and spots a foul dragon in the sky above the river. Such creatures are increasingly heading north, serving the forces of evil. Harcourt travels to a nearby abbey to visit his old friend, Abbot Guy. The monastery is in decline, but the abbot warmly welcomes his guest over a glass of old wine. Soon, alarming news arrives from the castle about the unexpected reappearance of Uncle Raoul, who has been absent for many years.

Uncle Raoul emerges from the Forsaken Lands, completely gray and emaciated. Jean the miller and his adopted daughter Yolande find him by the roadside and bring him home. Recovering from sleep, Raoul announces startling news to his family. He has reliably discovered the location of the legendary Prism of Lasandra, which holds the soul of an ancient saint. Furthermore, Heloise, presumed dead after the sacking of Château de Fontaine, may be in those parts.

Secret crossing of the river

Harcourt decides to travel to the other bank with Abbot Guy and Lumpy. Yolande, a remarkable woodcarver, secretly joins the party. At night, the miller Jean takes them downstream by boat. The travelers delve into the dark wilderness, where they encounter a herd of unicorns fleeing from three dragons. An old rope, abandoned by Harcourt as a child, dangles from the neck of one of the dragons.

The forest path is blocked by mysterious underground mounds exuding a suffocating malice. The travelers overcome them and emerge into a misty swamp filled with the moans of invisible ghosts. On the opposite bank, they encounter the strange peddler Andre, who sells curiosities and conceals his true power behind the guise of a harmless vagabond.

Trials in the depths of the earth

The party stumbles upon the hut of a mad hermit who unsuccessfully attempted to teach a talking parrot prayers. The old man dies at the clutches of monsters. The travelers pass the site of a recent battle, where a Roman cohort led by the centurion Decimus was completely annihilated by superior forces of the undead.

While camping on a river island, the party discovers the dilapidated ruins of an ancient sanctuary. There, primordial entities of chaos awaken. Thanks to ancient words from Lumpy’s memory and the support of a peddler, the party manages to survive the nightmarish night and destroy thirteen giants who tried to impede their progress.

The path to the ancient temple

After traveling for miles, the party reaches an abandoned temple in a forested valley. Inside, the travelers discover only the gnawed bones of a dead hermit. Near a Roman estate, they are overtaken by a new horde of monsters. Unexpectedly, animated wooden gargoyles, who have abandoned the temple’s façade, come to their aid.

The Roman Decimus heroically dies in a fierce battle. A peddler arrives and unleashes a powerful bolt of lightning, sending the enemies fleeing. Having broken into the estate, Harcourt encounters an aged Heloise, now a bitter treasure guardian. The abbot finds Lasandra’s prism, but the bird accidentally drops it on the stone floor.

Liberation of the Soul

The fragile crystal shatters into tiny shards, releasing the saint’s tormented soul. The ghostly visions and dark spells dissipate. Faithful Lumpy suffers mortal wounds in battle and dies in the arms of his friends, forbidding the abbot to pray over him. His body is covered with heavy stones.

The surviving heroes return to their native bridge. Mysterious gargoyle trees take root along the road. The little troll finds hope in his own bridge, and Harcourt, along with Yolande and Nan, steps onto their native shore, leaving the dark secrets beyond the river behind them forever.