Posted by Rodger Whitlock on February 05, 1999 at 10:04:17:
In Reply to: Clark Ashton Smith posted by Tim Stretton on January 27, 1999 at 07:38:00:
> I have recently come across the writings of Clark Ashton Smith,
> who, as far as I can make out, was a US writer of fantasy and
> horror in the 1940s. His prose style is curious, ornate and
> compelling, and reminds me in some ways of Vance's. There is
> a much anthologised short story, "The Weird of Avoosl Wuthqqan"
> which would not be out of place in "The Dying Earth".
> Does anyone out there agree with me? And can anyone tell me
> anything about Clark Ashton Smith?
I'm almost certain that I've said this before, so I ask that longtime JV BBS readers bear with me:
Smith's prose shares with Lovecraft's the bad habit of using words that denote horror or strangeness. Vance, when he wishes to evoke such a tone, lets the reader's mind do the work.
IOW, Smith & Lovecraft will write about "gibbering formless horrors" while Vance might write "a soft chattering noise sounded. A misty apparition appeared but I could not make out the exact form."
Smith (and Lovecraft) are simply far too precious and I find their writing, unlike Vance's, does not often get my attention.