[Llama]

Hello, it seems that although most people on the forum are readers of contemporary fantasy there may be a few like myself who also search out and enjoy old classic fantasy (by which I mean fantasy that's at least forty or fifty years old and preferably pre-Tolkien). It also seems like there are folks out there who might be interested in reading some of these works if only someone would tell them where to look. So I've now started this thread, where people can discuss their favorite classic authors and works and perhaps give recommendations to others. To keep discussion moving I will try to post a minireview of a work I like every couple of weeks or so, although people should obviously feel free to post whatever they want whenever they want.

What authors am I talking about? Here's a sampling: Ashton Smith, Hope Hodgson, Eddison, Cabell, Merritt, Warner Munn, Blackwood, Chambers, Bramah, Moore, Dunsany, Crawford, MacDonald, Meredith, Beckford, Wandrei, etc, etc , etc. Have fun!

[Hobbit]

Have you looked at some of the (admittedly not too recent) threads round here, Llama? I think you'll find there's quite a few round here who read the 'old but good' stuff, now harder to get.

Personal faves: Eddison, Ashton Smith, Hope Hodgson, Dunsany....

Hobbit

[nicba]

But most of the recomendation threads around here tends to be in the format of people spewing forth a lot of "favourite author" names, which in itself is good enough if you happen to have the time and the interest to research each one further by yourself.

I think the "minireview" approach suggested by Llama sounds really interesting to us more "causal" readers, who might get the incitament to look up a specific author or story if it sounds to our liking.

And since most of these old stories are hard to come by in bookstores, and since they are usual old enough that their copyright has expired, it would be really nice to get a link if someone happends to know that it's online at a particulary website.

[SusF]

I have not heard of most of the authors mentioned above and would love to read a little elaboration on them. Maybe some book titles as well...

Susan

[AuntiePam]

I just discovered Leo Perutz. I think he qualifies as a forgotten classic.

Here's a url to a Weird Review story on him:
http://www.violetbooks.com/REVIEWS/jas-perutz.html

I just finished At Night Under The Stone Bridge. I was sort of expecting a "normal" story, but it was instead a series of vignettes about life in Prague in the 1600's, with a very magical element. Each chapter could be read on its own, like a fable, yet when I finished the book, it *did* stand on its own as one story.

I really like Perutz, and I haven't had any trouble finding his stuff in affordable editions.

[Cygnus]

I second the suggestion put forth by SusF. I'd like to hear more about these classic authors and what they have written. None of these names are familiar to me, but I'm always interested in reading more fantasy.

[Cadfael]

You are really asking a hard question when it comes to Clark Ashton Smith, this guy was on HELL of a prolific writer... his work must number in the hundreds... mostly short stories... he was also a hell of a writer!! Rather than try to tell you about him... look HERE (http://www.oceanstar.com/cas/)

I have 2 books of short stories by him The Lost Worlds of Clark Aston Smith, volume 1 & 2... they are amonst my most prized books... you may find them very hard to get hold of.

ER Eddison is easier, his books are still to be found in the bookshops, I think this guy predated Tolkien. His most well know book is The Worm Oroborus, which is part of a series, I cannot remember them all, but one of the books is called A Fish Dinner In Memison. His writing style is very... er... 'poetic/classical'. Again... I can't do him justice... look HERE (http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Corridor/5582/eddison.html)

Maybe the 'Old Sage of Fantasy' can do a better job... hey Hobbit?

[This message has been edited by dennizm (edited December 23, 2001).]

[mundanemies]

Worm Ourobouros is actually not a part of any series by the man Eddison, though one of the main characters of the The Zimiamvian Books (Mistress of Mistresses, A Fish Dinner in Memison and The Mezentian Gate) also makes a brief appearance in Worm Ourobouros.

Eddison is surprisingly easy to find at used book stores and at reasonable prices (about $3/4) too. There are new re-prints of both Worm and Mistresses by Millennium Fantasy Masterworks (if I remember the publisher and the serie-name correctly) and I'd reckon that they will re-print the other two in due time.

Old fantasy classics are often a bit pricey, especially if you want hard covers, but there are still some really nice surprises left if one keeps searching the second hand book shops. I only recently did some relatively cheap findings at NYC (Eddison and Dunsany). But it takes a trip to a used book store. You really can't find these books at your local B&N, Borders or Waterstones, not to mention W.H. Smith's or Suomalainen. All you Swedes, go to SF-Bokhandeln och fråga bara!

There's also the very worthy publishing house Wildside Press, who have re-printed some forgotten classics just recently (there's another thread somewhere, me reckon's), like Ernst Bramah, William Morris et al.

[Llama]

Leo Perutz certainly qualifies as a forgotten classic. I think BY NIGHT..., MARQUIS OF BOLIBAR and LEONARDO'S JUDAS are all excellent, although my favorite remains MASTER OF THE DAY OF JUDGMENT a mystery with fantastical overtones and the first Perutz I read. I myself don't think he's so easy to find, although MASTER... should still be in print.

[AuntiePam]

I didn't think any of his stuff would be in print so I went right to the secondhand sites. I found three titles -- one paperback (Master) and two really nice mint hardcovers (Bolibar & Night) with Mylar covers. I think I spent less than $50 for all three.

That's sort of a splurge for me, but since I quit smoking, I've been treating myself. http://www.sffworld.com/ubb/smile.gif