Leisure Books became the prime publisher of sword & sorcery paperbacks in the mid-1970s as Paperback Library was bought out by Warner and Lancer Books went bankrupt. Some of the players at Lancer went on to found Zebra Books that also became a major publisher of sword & sorcery.

Leisure reprinted two of Gardner Fox’s Kothar paperbacks in 1973 and then Fox’s Kyrik books in 1975-76. Ken Barr became the main cover artist whereas at Zebra Books, Jeff Jones reached his apogee.

Tark and the Golden Tide by “Colum MacConnell” was Leisure’s sword & sorcery offering for 1977. Cover by Ken Barr who swiped Frank Frazetta’s girl pose from Kavin’s World. Who is “Colum MacConnell?” There is no other publication under that name.

I remember years ago, the name or rather names of the novel were listed at a site of author pseudonyms. I had forgotten who wrote this book. Was it Peter McCurtin or Ralph Hayes? Two authors who often wrote for Leisure. I put out a query at the Men’s Adventure Paperbacks of the 20^th Century group on social media. Someone came through.

“Colum MacConnell” was Steve Rossen and Mitchell Smith. I found one novel by Rossen, Naked Angel, a 19^th Century historical from 1979. Mitchell Smith has a handful of novels including thrillers, westerns, and a post-apocalyptic trilogy.

Tark and his companion Morned are exiles from the destroyed realm of the Tumbling Cliffs. Two years before a horde of savages mounted on very big spiders overwhelmed their homeland. They are forced into a job of escorting a princess to her home.

Tark is a described as a barbarian, has red hair, green eyes, and great stature. He carries a big sword. Morned the Flea is little and uses a rapier. Rossen and Smith seem to be as influenced by Fritz Leiber as Robert E. Howard.

There is plenty of action that is quite descriptive. The cover even states “In the Tradition of Conan.”

Copies of this book are not hard to find, or at least was not hard years ago. This is a good Saturday afternoon front porch book accompanied by your favorite beverage.