Clark Ashton Smith

Clark Ashton Smith: A Critical Guide to the Man and His Work (Second Edition) This comprehensive study is the first in-depth examination of Clark Ashton Smith's life and works, tracing his artistic evolution and literary heritage. Drawing on unpublished materials, correspondence, and conversations with surviving friends and colleagues, critic Steve Behrends presents a nuanced portrait of Smith as a gifted and stubborn iconoclast. Smith's fiction and poetry are characterized by their richly ornate prose style, which values image and atmosphere over plot and action. His stories often explore the exotic realms of Zothique, Poseidonis, and Averoigne, creating piquant and colorful tales of beauty and death. This Second Edition includes a supplementary suite of essays that delve into the most interesting aspects of Smith's fiction, as well as his unpublished tale of Mars, "Mnemoka". With over 220 pages of analysis and commentary, this book is an essential resource for anyone interested in understanding Clark Ashton Smith's unique contribution to fantasy and science fiction.