Clark Ashton Smith
(1893-1961)
Hailed as "The New Keats" by the San Francisco press, he drew the serious attention of Ambrose Bierce, George Sterling and Jack London when his first poems were first published in 1911. Despite this early literary success and the fact that he lived a mere hundred miles from the vibrant metropolis, he chose a quiet, solitary life in the foothills of the Sierra Mountains. There he would pass his years in relative obscurity, though he gained some small fame as a key contributor to the legendary Weird Tales pulp magazine in the early 1930s. From his cabin on Boulder Ridge, Clark Ashton Smith evoked distant times on earth -- such as Poseidonis and Hyperborea of the past and Zothique of the far future -- and conjured up new worlds with a magical melding of science fiction with fantasy and prose with poetry.
Photo: Clark Ashton Smith, c. 1911
Courtesy Bancroft Library, UC-Berkeley
Publishing News!
Lost Worlds: The Journal of Clark Ashton Smith Studies
Edited by Scott Connors.
Seele Brennt Publications 2004+
This new journal picks up where The Dark Eidolon left off years ago! The first issue is in print and a second is forthcoming, with articles and reviews by Smith scholars and learned fans, and occasional unpublished work by Smith himself.
Order from Seele Brennt Publications
The Sword Of Zagan And Other Writings
By Clark Ashton Smith
Edited by Dr. W. C. Farmer, Introduction by S. T. Joshi.
Hippocampus Press 2004
A second volume of juvenilia that includes the title novella and a selection of early tales, as well as alternate versions of more mature poetry, tied together with notes and a very readable memoir by Smith's friend, Dr. W. C. Farmer.
Order from Hippocampus Press.
The Maker of Gargoyles and Other Stories
by Clark Ashton Smith
Wildside Press 2004
Reprints eight of his classic fantasies, including
"The Abominations of Yondo",
"The Third Episode of Vathek",
"The Testament of Athammaus",
"Thirteen Phantasms",
"The Resurrection of the Rattlesnake",
"The Nameless Offspring", and
"The Maker of Gargoyles ".
Available in hardcover or paperback from
Wildside Press
The Selected Letters of Clark Ashton Smith
Edited and Annotated with Introduction by David E. Schultz and Scott Connors.
Arkham House 2003
At long last! A major contribution to Smith studies -- and plain good reading -- 276 annotated letters to the likes of George Sterling, H.P. Lovecraft, August Derleth and others.
Order from Arkham House
The Double Shadow
By Clark Ashton Smith
Wildside Press 2003, 1st, hardcover, 106 pages.
Reprints Smith's self-published booklet from 1933, a
collection of six stories which he considered his own best.
Available in hardcover or paperback from
Wildside Press
The Last Oblivion: Best Fantastic Poems of Clark Ashton Smith
Edited with Introduction by S. T. Joshi and David E. Schultz.
Hippocampus Press 2002
The first major selection of Smith's poetry in more than thirty years!
Weird verse from all phases of his life; includes over two dozen previously
unpublished or uncollected poems. Artwork by the author; glossary of exotic words and names; bibliography; indices. Essential!!
Order from Hippocampus Press.
Webography
Other Clark Ashton Smith Websites
General
Writings
Artwork
Bibliographical
Critical Studies
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Clark Ashton Smith's Poetry by Jonathan Vos Post
Chapter 10 of The Ultimate Science Fiction Poetry Guide ~ Science Fiction & Fantasy Poetry
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The Poetics of Morbidity by Jim Rockhill, at Violet Books
An essay on the original text of Smith's "The Maze of Maal Dweb "
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First posted: July 27, 1996.
Last updated: October 22, 2004.
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