Pulp writer E. Hoffmann Price was born on this date, July 3, in 1898. He passed away in 1988 at the age of 89 a few weeks prior to his birthday. Price graduated from West Point, served in the American Expeditionary Force in World War I, as well as in the Philippines and Mexico. A student of the orient, he drew on these interests for much of his fiction.
Price wrote for a variety of pulps, especially adventure, detective, and western, but he is best remembered these days for his weird fiction. A correspondent of H. P. Lovecraft, they collaborated on “Through the Gates of the Silver Key”. I believe he is the only pulp writer to have met Robert E. Howard in person, on two different occasions, IIRC. He is also the only known person to have Howard, Lovecraft, and Clark Ashton Smith. Price met many of the pulp writers, including Edmond Hamilton, Jack Williamson, and L. Sprague de Camp.
Price experienced a resurgence in his career in the late 70’s and early 80’s, publishing several fantasy and science fiction novels.
We just got back from vacation last night, so I’m playing catch-up today. If I get a chance, I’ll read one of his short stories this evening.
I’ve found EHP to be very uneven. His (fairly rare) good stuff is pretty damned good, though. Those tales show why HPL and REH admired and respected his work.
In a like manner, I found his THE BOOK OF THE DEAD both informative and infuriating. While giving us otherwise-unknown info on Lovecraft and Howard, you get a constant undercurrent of what can only be called sour grapes and envy. Also, his constant praise of the slicks vs. the pulps gets old fast.
I’ve not read very much of his stuff. I’m hoping to change that over the next year or so.
I’ve got THE BOOK OF THE DEAD but have only read bits and pieces of it.
*Hoffmann
Fixed it. Thanks.