Clark Ashton Smith

[Luke Fleeman]

I have nto had an oppurtunity to rea dmuch of his work. Most of this is due to the fact that unlike fellow pulp authors Robert E. Howard and H.P. Lovecraft, his work is not as widely available.

Nonetheless, I have happened upon a collection of his, and I was curious of the opinions of others before I got it. I'm sure I will purchase it, considering what I know about him and what i have read. But I was curious about the input of others.

[Stebehil]

Do you know the old Castle Amber Module ? Averoigne is based on some of CAS´ stories, these stories make a good read. His other stories are quite disturbing, and could be material for horror movies. If you like strange and disturbing stories, read them.
I haven´t read all of his stories yet, but I recommend getting a collection if you got the chance.

Stefan

[Bärsärk]

Smith is a bit more uneven in his prose works than Lovecraft, but produced some very memorable stories. Perhaps I shouldn't say stories, as it is primarily the settings and the mood of them that are fantastic. They've left me with some very vivid and lasting images. Consequently, I find his best work to be his his poetry, which is amazing.

[Rob Kuntz]

As a persoanl favortite of mine since I was 14 years of age, I have studied him in depth, and he ranks up there with the fantasy masters. Of him Lovecraft (his long-time friend through correspondence) said: "In sheer daemonic strangeness and fertility of conception, Clark Ashton Smith is perhaps unexcelled by any other writer dead or living."

The best link on the net for him is here: http://www.eldritchdark.com

Rob Kuntz

[Heathansson]

I scored a 1970 paperback version of Zothique at a used bookstore for $2. It's one of the most fortuitous finds I have ever made, scuttling about through musty aisles of shelves of yellowing tomes.
The back cover quotes Ray Bradbury as saying, "...incredible worlds, impossibly beautiful cities, and still more fantastic creatures...Take one step across the threshold of his stories, and you plunge into color, sound, taste, smell, and texture: into language."

[Rob Kuntz]

Yes I have those Ballantine editions edited by Lin Carter.

Zothique
Hyperborea
Poseidonis
Xiccarph

all great stuff :)

[Eyeball]

Luke Fleeman wrote:

I have nto had an oppurtunity to rea dmuch of his work. Most of this is due to the fact that unlike fellow pulp authors Robert E. Howard and H.P. Lovecraft, his work is not as widely available.

Nonetheless, I have happened upon a collection of his, and I was curious of the opinions of others before I got it. I'm sure I will purchase it, considering what I know about him and what i have read. But I was curious about the input of others.

Clark Ashton Smith is a truly wonderful author. If you're a fan of poetic prose and bizarre, dreamlike stories, I cannot recommend Klarkashton highly enough.

[Heathansson]

www.eldritchdark.com

Has a ton of his short stories.

[Krypter]

Night Shade Books is putting out the complete collection of CAS stories, including a never-before-published one. I recently received the first of the series and it looks like a very high-quality production.

CAS is a great horror-fantasy writer, and his created worlds are unmatched for exotic flavour and feverish opulence. Highly recommended.

[The Eldritch Mr. Shiny]

I haven't gotten into the works of the great Klarkash-Ton, but I did come across some of his stuff in a Wierd Tales compilation. If I was looking for good Smith works, I would start with Wierd Tales.

[Kirth Gersen]

Uncle wrote:

As a personal favortite of mine since I was 14 years of age, I have studied him in depth, and he ranks up there with the fantasy masters. Of him Lovecraft (his long-time friend through correspondence) said: "In sheer daemonic strangeness and fertility of conception, Clark Ashton Smith is perhaps unexcelled by any other writer dead or living."

The best link on the net for him is here: http://www.eldritchdark.com

Rob Kuntz

THE Robert J. Kuntz? Like, the guy who rolled up Robilar? Who did El Raja Key, Gardens of the Plant Master, et al.? One of the Founding Fathers of D&D? Here on these boards?

Sorry... minor old-timer fan-boy outburst there. Forgive me if this was common news to everyone.

[The Eldritch Mr. Shiny]

Kirth Gersen wrote:

Uncle wrote:

As a personal favortite of mine since I was 14 years of age, I have studied him in depth, and he ranks up there with the fantasy masters. Of him Lovecraft (his long-time friend through correspondence) said: "In sheer daemonic strangeness and fertility of conception, Clark Ashton Smith is perhaps unexcelled by any other writer dead or living."

The best link on the net for him is here: http://www.eldritchdark.com

Rob Kuntz

THE Robert J. Kuntz? Like, the guy who rolled up Robilar? Who did El Raja Key, Gardens of the Plant Master, et al.? One of the Founding Fathers of D&D? Here on these boards?

Sorry... minor old-timer fan-boy outburst there. Forgive me if this was common news to everyone.

I was wonderin' the same thing...

[Krypter]

Yes, that's Mr. Kuntz. He frequents these boards. Who do you think wrote all those Maure Castle adventures?

The Eldritch Mr. Shiny wrote:

If I was looking for good Smith works, I would start with Wierd Tales.

aka Weird Tales. Good stuff.

[The Eldritch Mr. Shiny]

Krypter wrote:

Yes, that's Mr. Kuntz. He frequents these boards. Who do you think wrote all those Maure Castle adventures?

Ohhh, man...

For some reason, I feel like I touched God...