Today, January 18, marks two birthdays of note. I’ve decided both people are of enough significance, and different enough, that I’ve done separate birthday posts rather than one. This one concerns C. M. Eddy, Jr (1896-1967). The post on Clare Winger Harris can be found here. Continue reading
There are two birthdays of note today, January 18. Normally I would write one post about both of them. In this case, though, I’m going to write separate posts because the contributions of the two authors were so different. This post will focus on Clare Winger Harris. The post about C. M Eddy, Jr can be found here. Continue reading
Clark Ashton Smith (1893-1961) was born on this date, January 13. Along with Robert E. Howard and H. P. Lovecraft, Smith was considered one of the Big Three of Weird Tales. Smith lived the longest of these three gentlemen, but his writing career wasn’t much longer. He wrote during the 1920s and 30s but stopped writing around 1937. Smith was a poet as well as a short story writer, and it shows in his lush, baroque prose. In fact, one of the more common criticisms of Smith is that reading him requires too much work and too large of a vocabulary. His stories were often set in imaginary worlds such as Hyperborea, Poseidonis, and Zothique. They are well worth seeking out. Fortunately they are available in inexpensive electronic editions.
In observance of his birth, let’s look at two of his stories set in more modern times. Mild spoiler warning. Continue reading
J. R. R. Tolkien was born on this date, January 3, in 1892. He needs no introduction. I’ve written several tributes to him in the past. I’m not sure what I can say.
Last year I started rereading The Lord of the Rings and took it with me on a business trip to Costa Rica. My father-in-law passed away while I was there. I read as much as I could, or tried to, on the flight back. I managed to get somewhere in the first half of The Two Towers. I want to finish it this spring.
I also want to read some of the other works which deal with other Ages in MIddle Earth.
Tolkien’s world is so rich and detailed, I want to experience as much as I can. He casts a long shadow over the field of fantasy, longer than either Lovecraft or Howard. I think part of the reason his works have endured for so long is because he writes about universal virtues, such as courage, loyalty, and sacrifice. We need more of that these days.
So tonight, Professor Tolkien, I’ll raise a glass in your honor. The world is a better place because of your life and your writings. I am glad to work in your shadow.
Charles Beaumont
Charles Beaumont (1929-1967) was born on this date, January 2. A protege of Ray Bradbury, Beaumont wrote many of the classic scripts for the original Twilight Zone.
I first read Beaumont when I was a sophomore in high school. It was about the time we moved from one side of the state to the other to be closer to my grandmother. I had picked up a copy of Best of Beaumont, in part because of the introduction provided by Ray Bradbury. Continue reading
Seabury Quinn was born on this date, January 1, in 1889. He passed away Christmas Eve, 1969. Quinn wrote for Weird Tales in the 1920s, 30s, and 40s. He is best remembered for his occult detective Jules de Grandin.
I don’t have a review to mark the occasion. It’s been a while since I read any of his works. I’m traveling today, so I don’t know if I will get a chance to read anything he wrote today. If it doesn’t happen today, it may be a few days. The rest of the week is going to be pretty packed with work and other obligations.
I do want to read more Quinn this year. I have the Night Shade editions of the complete Jules de Grandin, as well as the Battered Silicon Dispatch edition and a collection of non-de Grandin stories from Ash-Tree Press. I’ll let you know what I think when I do read some.
“Four Ghosts in Hamlet”
Fritz Leiber
available in Fritz Leiber: Selected Stories
paperback $14.99
ebook $9.99
This post is another that is serving double-duty. Not only is it a Christmas ghost post, but today, December 24, is the birthday of Fritz Leiber (1910-1992).
This novelette draws upon Leiber’s experience as a Shakespearean actor. It’s the story of a troupe of Shakespeareans who have hired a down and out actor who used to be well known before he crawled into a bottle. Continue reading
Pierre Louys (no, I don’t know how to get WordPress to put the oomlaut or whatever its called over the “y”) was born on this date, December 10, 1870.
The reason he is remembered much today is that Robert E. Howard gave his girlfriend Novalyne Price a copy of his collected works for Christmas in 1934. Much of the book (I have a copy but haven’t read it) is erotic in nature. Novalyne called it pornography. Howard strongly disagreed.
So just for giggles I thought I would do a birthday post on ol’ Pierre.
Margaret Brundage was born on December 9, 1900. She passed away in 1976. She is best remembered as a cover artist for Weird Tales. Some of her most famous works appeared in the 1030s. Since I’m swamped with grading final exams, I’m going to let her art speak for itself. You’ll find the art below the fold. Keep in mind, some of these may not be safe for your work. Continue reading
“Mars Minus Bisha”
Originally published in Planet Stories, January 1954
Today, December 7, marks the birth of Leigh Brackett (1915-1978). As has become customary in these here parts, we observed that day by reading one of her works. This year it’s the story “Mars Minus Bisha”.
The was collected in the long out of print book The Coming of the Terrans. It’s set in the year 2016. Fraser is a doctor doing research on viruses outside a remote Martian village. He lives in a Quonset hut juts past the edge of town. He’s not exactly welcome there. Continue reading