First published in 1922, The Worm Ouroboros stands as an essential classic of the genre later known as 'Sword and Sorcery.' Orville Prescott explains why in the book's introduction:

"First of all there is the lordly narrative sweep of it, the pure essence of story-telling for its own sake such as has become increasingly rare in our introspective modern world.

Second is the splendor of the prose, the roll and swagger and reverberating rhythms and the sheer gorgeousness of much of its deliberate artifice.

And third is the blessed sense of vicarious participation in a simpler, more primitive world where wonders still abound and glory is still a word untarnished by the cynical tongues of small-minded men.

In these ringing pages courage and nobility and loyalty are almost taken for granted; women are beautiful and to be served; and glory is worth striving for.

Even the villains are heroic in their monumental villainy. And life itself is joyful and wonderful."