Clark Ashton Smith

I've just received the first two volumes of 'The Collected Stories of Clark Ashton Smith' from Night Shade Books.THE END OF THE STORY and THE DOOR TO SATURN are really beautiful editions and are a must for any collector.

Previously, I only had a paperback CAS collection called THE MONSTER OF THE PROPHECY, plus various short stories in miscellaneous collections. Reading these eerie, sepulchral stories now, in chronological order, it's easy to see why Smith is considered to be one of the big guns of the Weird Tradition, right up there alongside HPL (and apparently just as much a reader's favorite in WEIRD TALES).

I do prefer the CAS stories that take place, at least in part, in the early 20th century, but even the ones that take place entirely in times so distant that they boggle the mind are haunting reads.

I wish i could afford these editons, but I have most of Smith's stuff in Arkham House editions, so it's an extravagance to buy the new ones - although I'd like to have them for the notes and commentaries.

Leigh, you have a very impressive Arkham House collection, an imprint that is sorely lacking in my own library. I hope to remedy that a bit in the near future with Leiber and HPL editions that I've got my eyes on, pricey though they may be.

And yes, the new Night Shade CAS editions do contain some well-done notes and introductions. With the big CAS hole in my collection, they're a must-own for me.

The Fantasy Masterworks Emperor of Dreams had a pretty reasonable intro.

This is also highly useful :-

http://www.eldritchdark.com

Fills a lot of holes, as far as reading goes. :)

Very nice CAS site, Blue, thanks. I've got to find time to delve into their forums - they seem rather scholarly. And what I wouldn't give to own an original CAS sculpture!

That Clark Ashton Smith site is really impressive. Quite enjoying dipping in.

Just now I'm reading some tales from The Collected
Fantasies Vol. 1 and I must say I'm deeply impressed.

Stories read so far:

To the Daemon
The Tale of Satampra Zeiros
The Last Incantation
The Abominations of Yondo
A Night in Malnéant

All tales exceptionally fine with the last two being my personal favorites.

I saw this collection a while back on Amazon. Thinking about taking the plunge with a volume or two this holiday season...

Definitely worth the plunge! I'm really enjoying the sheer magnitude of Smith's imagination, not to mention his pitch-perfect combination of otherworldly splendor with things genuinely weird and uncanny. Plus, you never know where you might find yourself - from 1920's America to another planet aeons ago.

I do need to get a collection of Smith's stories. I quote one of them in my current book and will use a character from another (Vulthoom) in the forthcoming one.

Hi Lily! Using Vulthoom is an intriguing idea! Any chance of bringing the sprite to contemporary earth in your tale? I know, I know... that would be telling :)

Just got word from Night Shade Books that the loooooong delayed volume 4 of their CAS series, The Maze of the Enchanter, should be out 4/15/09. Finally!

Klarkash-Ton is a criminally neglected author; the term genius would not be misleading when it comes to his imagination. I'd personally recommend the Fantasy Masterworks collection "The Emperor of Dreams" for an affordable introduction to the many and varied worlds dreamt up by him.

I would love to have the finances to buy the collected volumes published by Night Shade Books.

I acquired my entire collection of C.A.S from a tiny second-hand bookstall, in a small town in the U.K. Currently I have the following:-
The Abominations of Yondo
Genius Loci and other stories
Tales of Science and Sorcery
Other Dimensions Vols. ! + 2
Lost Worlds Vols. 1+2
Out of Space and Time Vols.1+2

They are among my most treasured possessions!!!!

VERY nice finds! That doesn't happen very often anymore.

Night Shade Books recently announced that the 4th volume in their complete CAS series will finally be out at the end of 6/09.

Maybe we might see a film version of one of his stories, some day, huh?

The Eldritch Dark is a wonderful site.

CAS is, along with Michael Chabon, my big fiction discovery of the last 10 years or so. His poetry's pretty amazing, too.

Two tales from Smith I especially like are The Tale of Satampra Zeiros and The Planet of the Dead. He conjures up scenes full of sensuous details. It would be interesting to set a Call of Cthulhu game in a Smith or Howard fantasy setting.

I ran a CoC scenario loosely based on "The Vaults of Yoh-Vombis" last year. Worked very well.

Nightshade Books CAS volumes are available as eBooks if that is your things. All 5 for $25.

http://www.webscription.net/p-1542-clark-ashton-smith-bundle.aspx