Search Worlds Without End

Dr. Slusser charts the course of Heinlein's development as a writer, from his days as a pulp hack to his enshrinement as a hero of the counter-culture.

Contents:

• i - Introduction (Robert A. Heinlein: Stranger in His Own Land) - essay by George E. Slusser
• 1 - Twins and Doubles: Time for the Stars and Double Star - essay by George E. Slusser
• 17 - The Two Smiths: Stranger in a Strange Land and I Will Fear No Evil - essay by George E. Slusser
• 38 - The Deification of Lazarus Long: Time Enough for Love and Methuselah's Children - essay by George E. Slusser
• 51 - Heinlein in His Own Land: Have Space Suit - Will Travel - essay by George E. Slusser
• 56 - Afterword (Robert A. Heinlein: Stranger in His Own Land) - essay by George E. Slusser
• 57 - Biography & Bibliography (Robert A. Heinlein: Stranger in His Own Land) - essay by George E. Slusser

Contents:

• 3 - Introduction (The Farthest Shores of Ursula K. Le Guin) - essay by George E. Slusser
• 5 - The Early Hainish Novels - essay by George E. Slusser
• 17 - The Left Hand of Darkness - essay by George E. Slusser
• 31 - The Earthsea Trilogy - essay by George E. Slusser
• 46 - The Dispossessed - essay by George E. Slusser
• 57 - Conclusion (The Farthest Shores of Ursula K. Le Guin) - essay by George E. Slusser
• 59 - Biography & Bibliography (The Farthest Shores of Ursula K. Le Guin) - essay by George E. Slusser

Contents:

• 3 - (Introduction - The Bradbury Chronicles) - essay by George E. Slusser
• 10 - The October Country - essay by George E. Slusser
• 26 - The Vintage Bradbury - essay by George E. Slusser
• 43 - The Machineries of Joy - essay by George E. Slusser
• 52 - Fahrenheit 451 - essay by George E. Slusser
• 54 - Dandelion Wine & The Martian Chronicles - essay by George E. Slusser
• 60 - Conclusion (The Bradbury Chronicles) - essay by George E. Slusser
• 61 - (Biography & Bibliography - The Bradbury Chronicles) - essay by George E. Slusser

Critalcal essays on Ellison's work up to 1977.

Contents:

• 3 - Introduction (Harlan Ellison, Unrepentant Harlequin) - essay by George E. Slusser
• 8 - Journalism - essay by George E. Slusser
• 23 - Fantasy - essay by George E. Slusser
• 42 - Myth - essay by George E. Slusser
• 59 - Conclusion (Harlan Ellison, Unrepentant Harlequin) - essay by George E. Slusser
• 62 - Biography & Bibliography (Harlan Ellison, Unrepentant Harlequin) - essay by George E. Slusser

Contents:

• 3 - Introduction: The Naive Vision - essay by Clark Mayo
• 9 - Player Piano; or, Stay Close to the Edge - essay by Clark Mayo
• 15 - The Sirens of Titan; or, What Is, Is; and What Isn't, Isn't - collection by Clark Mayo
• 23 - Mother Night; or, Be Careful What You Pretend to Be - essay by Clark Mayo
• 28 - Cat's Cradle; or, Live by Harmless Untruths - essay by Clark Mayo
• 34 - God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater; or, False Pearls Before Real Swine - essay by Clark Mayo
• 41 - The Short Stories and Plays; or, No Pain - essay by Clark Mayo
• 45 - Slaughterhouse- Five; or, Wonderful New Lies - essay by Clark Mayo
• 52 - Breakfast of Champions; or, Adapting to Chaos - essay by Clark Mayo
• 58 - Slapstick; or, Life as a Turkey Trot - essay by Clark Mayo
• 63 - Conclusion; or, Reaching Equilibrium - essay by Clark Mayo
• 64 - Biography and Bibliography (Kurt Vonnegut: The Gospel from Outer Space) - essay by Clark Mayo

Contents:

• 3 - The Odyssey Pattern: Progress and Clarke's Elegaic Humanism - essay by George E. Slusser
• 35 - Six Odysseys - essay by George E. Slusser
• 64 - Biography (The Space Odysseys of Arthur C. Clarke) - essay by George E. Slusser

Mathews leads the reader through a lively examination and critical study of Brian Aldiss's literary development.

Contents:

• 3 - Wherein Proteus Meets Prometheus - essay
• 4 - Singing in a New Universe - essay
• 8 - Short and Sweet - essay
• 11 - The Communion of Laughter - essay
• 18 - Heat, Cold, and Other Dichotomies - essay
• 23 - A Grey and Beautiful World - essay
• 34 - Head Waters - essay
• 48 - Flashback - essay
• 50 - What Rough Beast - essay
• 56 - Repairing the Fabric - essay
• 62 - Biography and Bibliography (Aldiss Unbound) - essay

George Edgar Slusser discusses author Samuel R. Delany's work, from his first paperbacks, to his success with "Triton."

Contents:

• 3 - The Delany Intersections - essay by George E. Slusser
• 12 - The Fall of the Towers - essay by George E. Slusser
• 29 - From Babel-17 to Nova - essay by George E. Slusser
• 60 - From The Tides of Lust to Triton: Old Patterns, New Directions - essay by George E. Slusser
• 64 - Biography and Bibliography (The Delany Intersection) - essay by George E. Slusser

Contents:

• 3 - The Classic Years (The Classic Years of Robert A. Heinlein) - essay by George E. Slusser
• 9 - Stories (The Classic Years of Robert A. Heinlein) - essay by George E. Slusser
• 24 - Novellas (The Classic Years of Robert A. Heinlein) - essay by George E. Slusser
• 39 - Two Novels of Intrigue - essay by George E. Slusser
• 49 - A Heinlein Masterpiece - essay by George E. Slusser
• 57 - Afterthoughts (The Classic Years of Robert A. Heinlein) - essay by George E. Slusser
• 61 - Biography and Bibliography (The Classic Years of Robert A. Heinlein) - essay by George E. Slusser

Anyone looking to find out more about their favorite Horror Writer H. P. Lovecraft should definitely read Darrell's extensive study. The Bibliography of rare editions and his background biographical information makes this a must with all the dates of publication and actual time frames of publishing cycles expertly annotated and chronologically noted.

A critical study of the fantasy fiction of William Morris.

Contents:

• 3 - Worlds Beyond the World - essay
• 4 - Into the Unknown - essay
• 18 - The Dream of a Better World - essay
• 34 - Killing Time - essay
• 43 - Beyond the World - essay
• 61 - Some Closing Remarks (Worlds Beyond the World) - essay
• 63 - Selected Critical Sources (Worlds Beyond the World) - essay

Contents:

• 3 - Preface (Lightning from a Clear Sky) - essay
• 5 - J. R. R. Tolkien - essay
• 7 - The Hobbit - essay
• 18 - The Lord of the Rings - essay
• 52 - Selected Critical Sources (Lightning from a Clear Sky) - essay
• 57 - The Silmarillion - essay
• 59 - Some Closing Remarks (Lightning from a Clear Sky) - essay
• 63 - Biography & Bibliography (Lightning from a Clear Sky) - essay

The story of Conan, the huge Cimmerian who slashed his way through the exotic realms of the Hyborian Age, in the dim reaches of man's prehistoric past, eventually making himself King of Aquilonia, the greatest and riches of the Hyborian lands, is the core of this book on Robert Howard.

Non-Fiction about the works of Poul Anderson. The Milford Series: Popular Writers of Today #18

Table of Contents:

• Introduction - essay
• The Ultimate Emptiness - essay
• Fetters of Madness - essay
• When the Sun Grows Cold - essay
• Forging and Reforging the Shield - essay
• Biography and bibliography - essay

A general critical study of the fiction of Anthony Burgess.

Contents:

• 3 - Preface (The Clockwork Universe of Anthony Burgess) - essay
• 5 - A Vision of Battlements - essay
• 16 - The Long Day Wanes - essay
• 33 - The Doctor Is Sick - essay
• 36 - A Clockwork Orange - essay
• 43 - The Wanting Seed - essay
• 51 - One Hand Clapping - essay
• 60 - The Clockwork Ending - essay
• 62 - Biography & Bibliography (The Clockwork Universe of Anthony Burgess) - essay

Looks in depth at the works of David Lindsay.

Contents:

• 3 - The Haunted Man - essay by Colin Wilson
• 63 - Biography & Bibliography (The Haunted Man) - essay by Colin Wilson

Wilson, who is acknowledged for the consistently high quality of his prose, whether it be fiction, nonfiction, or criticism, has refused to accept the limitations of genre or form, or to be placed in some literary cubbyhole. Clifford P. Bendau here covers Wilson's work, from his first appearance as a literary enfant terrible, to the publication of his landmark novel, The Space Vampyres (1976), regarded by many critics as one of his finest works.

Contents:

• 3 - Introduction (Colin Wilson: The Outsider and Beyond)) - essay
• 5 - The New Existentialism - essay
• 11 - Perception and Imagination - essay
• 16 - Literature, Imagination, and Human Values - essay
• 24 - The Critics - essay
• 30 - A Critical Chronology (Colin Wilson: The Outsider and Beyond) - essay
• 59 - Conclusion (Colin Wilson: The Outsider and Beyond) - essay
• 62 - Bibliography (Colin Wilson: The Outsider and Beyond) - essay

Contents:

• 3 - Introduction: Conversations in Print - essay by Darrell Schweitzer
• 4 - Theodore Sturgeon - interview of Theodore Sturgeon by Darrell Schweitzer
• 18 - Alfred Bester - interview of Alfred Bester by Darrell Schweitzer
• 26 - Frederik Pohl - interview of Frederik Pohl by Darrell Schweitzer
• 32 - James Gunn - interview of James E. Gunn by Darrell Schweitzer
• 37 - Fritz Leiber - (1976) - interview of Fritz Leiber by Darrell Schweitzer
• 43 - Hal Clement - interview of Hal Clement by Darrell Schweitzer
• 53 - L. Sprague de Camp - interview of L. Sprague de Camp by Darrell Schweitzer

Brian Stableford discusses all of James Blish's significant work, his major and minor themes, and places his career in the perspective of science fiction history during the post-war period.

Table of Contents

• Introduction - essay
• Foundation Stones - essay
• Tectogenesis and Pantropy - essay
• Cities in Flight - essay
• Experiments in Thought - essay
• Experiments in Adventure - essay
• Juveniles - essay
• After Such Knowledge - essay
• Conclusion - essay
• Biography & Bibliography - essay

Contents:

• 3 - Introduction (Science Fiction Voices #2) - essay by Richard A. Lupoff
• 8 - Foreword (Science Fiction Voices #2) - essay by Jeffrey M. Elliot
• 9 - Larry Niven: Science Fiction's Master World-Builder - interview of Larry Niven by Jeffrey M. Elliot
• 20 - Ray Bradbury: Poet of Fantastic Fiction - interview of Ray Bradbury by Jeffrey M. Elliot
• 30 - A. E. van Vogt: A Writer with a Winning Formula - interview of A. E. van Vogt by Jeffrey M. Elliot
• 41 - Poul Anderson: Seer of Far-Distant Futures - interview of Poul Anderson by Jeffrey M. Elliot
• 51 - Robert Silverberg: Next Stop - Lord Valentine's Castle - (1979) - interview of Robert Silverberg by Jeffrey M. Elliot

Contents:

• 3 - Introduction (Earth Is the Alien Planet) - essay by David Pringle
• 15 - The Fourfold Symbolism - essay by David Pringle
• 37 - The Lamia, the Jester and the King: Ballard's Characters - essay by David Pringle
• 51 - Imprisonment and Flight: Ballard's Themes - essay by David Pringle
• 62 - Bibliography of J. G. Ballard's Novels and Short Story Collections - essay by David Pringle
• 63 - Bibliography of Criticism and Secondary Sources (Earth Is the Alien Planet) - essay by David Pringle

Contents:

• 3 - From Here to Entropy - essay by Douglas A. Mackey
• 12 - Cherchez la Femme - essay by Douglas A. Mackey
• 26 - A Woman in the Wasteland - essay by Douglas A. Mackey
• 36 - The Locus of Transformation - essay by Douglas A. Mackey
• 59 - The Road of Excess - essay by Douglas A. Mackey
• 62 - Bibliography (The Rainbow Quest of Thomas Pynchon) - essay by Douglas A. Mackey

Contents:

• 3 - Introduction (Science Fiction Voices #3) - essay by A. E. van Vogt
• 8 - Preface (Science Fiction Voices #3) - essay by Jeffrey M. Elliot
• 9 - Harlan Ellison: Outspoken, Outrageous, Outstanding! - interview of Harlan Ellison by Jeffrey M. Elliot
• 19 - David Gerrold: His Star Trek Continues - interview of David Gerrold by Jeffrey M. Elliot
• 33 - Richard Lupoff: On the Verge... - interview of Richard A. Lupoff by Jeffrey M. Elliot
• 44 - Gregory Benford: A Scientist Looks at Science Fiction - interview of Gregory Benford by Jeffrey M. Elliot
• 53 - Jerry Pournelle: From Space Program to Space Opera - (1979) - interview of Jerry Pournelle by Jeffrey M.

Wylie was a remarkably successful and versatile writer, whose literary range included pulp science fiction, social diatribes, concerns for the environment, fantasies, romances, mysteries, warnings against the coming nuclear holocaust, and satires.

Contents:

• 3 - Philip Wylie--The Reappearance - essay
• 8 - The Early Achievements - essay
• 23 - The Philosophical Works - essay
• 41 - The Atomic Age - essay
• 55 - The End of the Dream - essay
• 62 - Selected Bibliography (Still Worlds Collide) - essay

Contents:

• 3 - Introduction (Fantasy Voices) - essay by William F. Nolan
• 5 - Manly Wade Wellman: Better Things Waiting - interview of Manly Wade Wellman by Jeffrey M. Elliot
• 18 - John Norman: The Chronicles of Gor - (1980) - interview of John Norman by Jeffrey M. Elliot
• 31 - Hugh B. Cave: Master of Vintage Horror - interview of Hugh B. Cave by Jeffrey M. Elliot
• 44 - Katherine Kurtz: Tapestries of Medieval Wonder - interview of Katherine Kurtz by Jeffrey M. Elliot

Contents:

• 3 - Introduction (Masters of Science Fiction: Essays on Six Science-Fiction Authors) - essay by Brian Stableford
• 6 - Edmond Hamilton and Leigh Brackett: An Appreciation - essay by Brian Stableford
• 15 - Locked in the Slaughterhouse: The Novels of Kurt Vonnegut - essay by Brian Stableford
• 24 - Insoluble Problems: Footnotes to Barry Malzberg's Career in Science Fiction - (1977) - essay by Brian Stableford
• 32 - The Metamorphosis of Robert Silverberg - essay by Brian Stableford
• 43 - Utopia--and Afterwards: Socioeconomic Speculation in the SF of Mack Reynolds - essay by Brian Stableford

Contents:

• 5 - Preface (Science Fiction Voices #4) - essay by Jeffrey M. Elliot
• 6 - Introduction (Science Fiction Voices #4) - essay by Raymond Z. Gallun
• 11 - Charles D. Hornig: A Question of Conscience - interview of Charles D. Hornig by Jeffrey M. Elliot
• 26 - Bob Shaw: Preserving Science Fiction Traditions - interview of Bob Shaw by Jeffrey M. Elliot
• 38 - Frank Kelly Freas: Portrait of an Artist - interview of Frank Kelly Freas by Jeffrey M. Elliot
• 51 - Brian M. Stableford: An Academic Looks at Science Fiction - (1981) - interview of Brian Stableford by Jeffrey M. Elliot

Contents:

• 5 - Introduction (Science Fiction Voices #5) - essay by Darrell Schweitzer
• 7 - Isaac Asimov - (1976) - interview of Isaac Asimov by Darrell Schweitzer and Andrew Porter
• 14 - Lin Carter - interview of Lin Carter by Darrell Schweitzer
• 26 - Lester del Rey - interview of Lester del Rey by Darrell Schweitzer
• 35 - Edmond Hamilton and Leigh Brackett - interview of Edmond Hamilton and Leigh Brackett by Darrell Schweitzer
• 41 - Frank Belknap Long - interview of Frank Belknap Long by Darrell Schweitzer
• 48 - Clifford D. Simak - interview of Clifford D. Simak by Darrell Schweitzer
• 55 - Wilson Tucker - interview of Wilson Tucker by Darrell Schweitzer
• 60 - Jack Williamson - interview of Jack Williamson by Darrell Schweitzer

Contents:

• 3 - Foreword (Pulp Voices or Science Fiction Voices #6) - essay by Jeffrey M. Elliot
• 5 - Introduction (Pulp Voices or Science Fiction Voices #6) - essay by Poul Anderson
• 9 - Jack Williamson: In at the Creation - interview of Jack Williamson by Jeffrey M. Elliot
• 25 - H. L. Gold: Galaxy's Pioneering Editor - interview of H. L. Gold by Jeffrey M. Elliot
• 32 - Stanton A. Coblentz: "I Pant for the Music Which Is Divine" - interview of Stanton A. Coblentz by Jeffrey M. Elliot
• 45 - C. L. Moore: Poet of Far-Distant Futures - interview of C. L. Moore by Jeffrey M. Elliot
• 52 - Raymond Z. Gallun: Seeker of Tomorrow - interview of Raymond Z. Gallun by Jeffrey M. Elliot

Dr. Chapman provides the first comprehensive examination of Farmer's major themes and fiction, from his earliest writings to his bestseller, The Gods of Riverworld.

Contents:

• 3 - Introduction (The Magic Labyrinth of Philip Jose Farmer) - essay by Edgar L. Chapman
• 9 - The Romantic Rebel - essay by Edgar L. Chapman
• 21 - The Speculative Iconoclast - essay by Edgar L. Chapman
• 35 - Trickster Heroes and Primitive Worlds - essay by Edgar L. Chapman
• 44 - The Tarzan and Doc Savage Mythos - essay by Edgar L. Chapman
• 59 - The Virtuoso Artist - essay by Edgar L. Chapman
• 69 - The Fabulous Riverworld - essay by Edgar L. Chapman
• 84 - Against the Sun's Darkness: A Conclusion - essay by Edgar L. Chapman
• 91 - Selected Bibliography (The Magic Labyrinth of Philip Jose Farmer) - essay by Edgar L. Chapman

A study of the work of John Holbrook Vance (the nom-de-plume on his mystery novels), who is most famous as the science fiction writer Jack Vance.

Contents:

• 9 - About Jack Vance - essay by Jack Rawlins
• 12 - Vance's Work - essay by Jack Rawlins
• 49 - Vance's Words - essay by Jack Rawlins
• 66 - Vance's Plots - essay by Jack Rawlins
• 86 - Afterword: New Directions - essay by Jack Rawlins
• 88 - An Interview with Jack Vance - interview of Jack Vance - interview by Jack Rawlins
• 97 - Selective Secondary Bibliography - essay by Jack Rawlins

It is difficult now to recall the enormous impact that George Orwell's classic dystopia, Nineteen Eighty-Four, had on the psyche of the western world. Written by a dying man in the grimmest of circumstances, the novel was intended as both a warning against totalitarianism and the debasement of language, and as a reaction to Orwell's personal experiences with English socialism and World War II.

Clearly, "1984" has turned out differently than Orwell depicted. Yet the power of the novel remains undiminished: it continues to scare and enlighten future generations of readers nearly a half century after its original publication.

Well-known scholar Robert Plank provides a psychological examination of the roots of Nineteen Eighty-Four, and the curious parallels between the book and its antecedents, including the film Citizen Kane, the novels of Dostoevsky and Kafka, the philosophy of Whorf, Orwell's own life and works, and many other obvious and hidden influences. Complete with chronology, notes, bibliographies, and index.

Contents:

• 7 - Reactive Criticism: An Introduction to the Essays - essay
• 13 - Hugo Gernsback, Father of Modern Science Fiction: Introduction - essay
• 15 - The Man and His Times - essay
• 24 - The Science Fiction Writings of Hugo Gernsback - essay
• 37 - Hugo Gernsback, Editor and Publisher - essay
• 48 - Gernsback's Influence - essay
• 57 - Selected Bibliography (Hugo Gernsback, Father of Modern Science Fiction) - essay
• 65 - The Ecology of Politics and the Politics of Ecology in Frank Herbert's Dune - essay
• 75 - Selected Bibliography (Frank Herbert) - essay
• 78 - Carnal Knowledge: Dracula As Anti-Quest - essay
• 90 - Selected Bibliography (Bram Stoker) - essay

Contents:

• 5 - Acknowledgments (The Magic That Works: John W. Campbell and the American Response to Technology) - (1993) - essay
• 7 - A John W. Campbell Chronology - (1993) - essay
• 199 - Notes (The Magic That Works: John W. Campbell and the American Response to Technology) - (1993) - essay
• 225 - Index (The Magic That Works: John W. Campbell and the American Response to Technology) - (1993) - essay
• 232 - About the Author (The Magic That Works: John W. Campbell and the American Response to Technology) - (1993) - essay by uncredited

Stephen W. Potts presents Arkady and Boris Strugatsky in terms of their dual contributions to the SF genre and to modern Russian literature, placing their work in both its historical and literary context.

Contents:

• A Strugatsky Chronology
• 1. The Strugatsky Brothers in Context
• 2. The Road to Utopia
• 3. Of History and Human Nature
• 4. Fantasy and Satire
• 5. Confronting the Alien
• 6. Conclusion
• Bibliographical Notes
• About Stephen W. Potts
• Index

A study of the British science fiction and mystery author S. Fowler Wright, analyzing the author's strengths and weaknesses and discussing his varied fictional output.

Contents:

• 5 - An S. Fowler Wright Chronology - essay
• 9 - 1. Who Is S. Fowler Wright? - essay
• 15 - 2. The Short Stories - essay
• 27 - 3. The Mysteries - essay
• 39 - 4. Past and Future Warfare - essay
• 55 - 5. The Survivors - essay
• 81 - 6. Disaster: Deluge and Dawn - essay
• 95 - 7. Societies Far and Near - essay
• 115 - 8. Conclusion - essay

Seven lucid and entertaining essays on masters of science fiction and fantasy literature.

Contents:

• 4 - About Brian Stableford - essay by uncredited
• 5 - Introduction (Algebraic Fantasies and Realistic Romances: More Masters of Science Fiction) - essay by Brian Stableford
• 7 - The Future Between the Wars: The Speculative Fiction of John Gloag - (1980) - essay by Brian Stableford
• 25 - Algebraic Fantasies: The Science Fiction of Bob Shaw - (1981) - essay by Brian Stableford
• 45 - Realistic Romances: The Fantastic Fiction of Edgar Fawcett - essay by Brian Stableford
• 73 - The Politics of Evolution: Philosophical Themes in the Speculative Fiction of M. P. Shiel - (1983) - essay by Brian Stableford
• 99 - Galactic Hitch-Hiker: The Sudden Rise of Douglas Adams - essay by Brian Stableford
• 105 - The Chronicles of Stephen R. Donaldson: The Fantasist - essay by Brian Stableford
• 113 - Animal Spirits: The Erotic and the Supernatural in Michael Jackson's "Thriller" Video - (1985) - essay by Brian Stableford

A critical study of the Life and Works of the Science Fiction author Robert Sheckley.

Charles Beaumont (1929-1967) burst upon the science fiction scene in the 1950s, writing award-winning short stories, teleplays for The Twilight Zone and other TV programs, and screenplays for The Seven Faces of Dr. Lao, Burn Witch Burn!, The Premature Burial, and many others. This edition includes a comprehensive survey of the author's work, with chronology, bibliography, and index.

This book presents a wide range of analysis, criticism, and opinion about one of the most influential fantasy authors of the twentieth century.

Contents:

• 7 - Introduction (Robert E. Howard Reader) - essay by Darrell Schweitzer
• 11 - Robert E. Howard: A Texan Master - (2006) - essay by Michael Moorcock
• 16 - The Everlasting Barbarian - (2006) - essay by Leo Grin
• 24 - Robert E. Howard's Fiction - (1985) - essay by L. Sprague de Camp
• 39 - The Art of Robert Ervin Howard - (1959) - essay by Poul Anderson
• 42 - Howard's Style - (1961) - essay by Fritz Leiber
• 46 - What He Wrote and They Said It - essay by Robert Weinberg
• 51 - Barbarism vs. Civilization - essay by S. T. Joshi
• 82 - Crash Go the Civilizations - essay by Mark Hall
• 94 - Return to Xuthal - essay by Charles Hoffman
• 114 - Howard's Oriental Stories - essay by Don D'Ammassa
• 125 - King Kull as a Prototype of Conan - (2006) - essay by Darrell Schweitzer
• 133 - How Pure a Puritan Was Solomon Kane? - essay by Robert M. Price
• 139 - Balthus of Cross Plains - (1959) - essay by George H. Scithers
• 143 - Fictionalizing Howard - essay by Gary Romeo
• 155 - A Journey to Cross Plains - (1984) - essay by Howard Waldrop
• 162 - Weird Tales and the Great Depression - essay by Scott Connors
• 179 - After Aquilonia, and Having Left Lankhmar...: Sword & Sorcery Since the 1980s - (2007) - essay by Steve Tompkins
• 195 - About the Contributors (The Robert E. Howard Reader) - essay by uncredited

A major study of the major and minor fiction, poetry, and children's books of SF and fantasy writer Ursula K. Le Guin. As Le Guin herself writes, "It is written in English, not academese, and will be of interest to a wide spectrum of students, scholars, and interested readers."

Born in 1904, Clifford D. Simak sold his first science fiction story in 1930, and was soon publishing widely in the pulp magazines. He also pursued a separate career as a journalist and writer on science and other popular topics. He gained widespread fame in the SF world with the first of his series of "City" stories, published in Astounding Science Fiction in 1944; these were collected together in the book of the same title, which has remained almost continuously in print ever since.

Simak was best known for his pastoral and humanitarian themes, as exemplied in his Hugo Award-winning novel, Way Station (1963). In later years he wrote both fantasy and SF stories and novels, winning many additional accolades for his work. He died in 1988.

Robert J. Ewald provides the first extended look at Simak's writing, from his earliest pulp stories to the sophistical fiction of his later years. Complete with Chronology, Notes, Primary and Secondary Bibliographies, and detailed Index.

James Arthur Anderson takes a structuralist approach to dissecting the horror fiction of H. P. Lovecraft (1890-1937). This book offers both scholars and fans alike new insight into the work of the best-known American horror writer of the first half of the 20th century.

As S. T. Joshi states: "Anderson's thorough familiarity with Lovecraft's texts (essays and letters, as well as stories), and with the best scholarship on Lovecraft, is evident on every page; and the fluidity with which he weaves together critical approaches into a unified commentary is enviable." Complete with chronology, bibliography, and index.

In Beyond Horatio's Philosophy: The Fantasy of Peter S. Beagle, David Stevens examines the fantasy of American writer Peter S. Beagle.

He finds a consistent view of the world and an almost overpowering sense of humor, leading him to conclude that Beagle believes that love is the best thing we have and the only reason for living. His work will be read and enjoyed for generations to come, and Stevens tells you why. Beagle indulges in what Stevens terms "metaphysical speculations": a working-out of the possibilities of the world being different than it is.

He invites the reader to examine these speculations with him, and when we do, to come away from the experience as better men and women, believing in the transforming power of love and laughing at ourselves in the process.

No writer could ask for more, or succeed better. Beagle would have us believe, to paraphrase Shakespeare's Hamlet, that there are more things in heaven and earth than are dreamt of in our philosophy. Complete with bibliography and index.

Ray Bradbury was one of the first science fiction writers to achieve both popular success and critical acclaim. His books have not only sold millions of copies, but have been accepted as serious literature in an age when science fiction is still burdened by the stigma of being "pulp literature."

This book, a revised and expanded Second Edition of the 1990 chapbook, examines the Ray Bradbury phenomenon through a structuralist reading of five stories from his major collection, The Illustrated Man, together with the narrative framework (the prologue and epilogue), which ties the stories together to form a complete work. The analysis will show some of Bradbury's major literary themes, and highlight the narrative techniques used in his short stories. A first-rate examination of one of science fiction's seminal authors.

Clark Ashton Smith (1893-1961) was a major writer of fantasy and science fiction during the first half of the twentieth century. Together with H. P. Lovecraft and Robert E. Howard, Smith was one of the "Three Musketeers" of legendary Weird Tales magazine, and contributed some of the most distinctive (and controversial) fantastic fiction to ever appear in Hugo Gernsback's Wonder Stories. His "City of the Singing Flame" and "Vaults of Yoh-Vombis" are acknowledged classics in the field, but represent only two selections from a career that produced more than one hundred short stories and over five hundred poems.

His imagination roamed the exotic realms of Zothique, Poseidonis, and Averoigne, settings for piquant and colorful tales of beauty and death--stories that value image and atmosphere over plot and action, told in a richly ornate prose-style that has won him ardent admirers, and has influenced such writers as Ray Bradbury, Jack Vance, and Bruce Sterling.

This Second Edition of the first book-length study of Smith--a substantial examination of his life and works, his artistic evolution and literary heritage--includes a supplementary suite of essays that delve into the most interesting aspects of Smith's fiction, plus Smith's own tale of Mars, "Mnemoka," unpublished in his lifetime, but resurrected here from the fragments of its burned manuscript.

Drawing on unpublished materials and correspondence, and conversations with surviving friends and colleagues, critic Steve Behrends paints a portrait of Clark Ashton Smith as a gifted, stubborn iconoclast, one of the last surviving Romantics in the heyday of Realism--a man born outside his time, whose escape lay in the dream-journeys of his fiction and poetry.