THE SIREN CALL OF CTHULHU

In this issue of FANTASTIC from June 1975, noted author Fritz Leiber provides details on the allure of H.P. Lovecraft's weird fiction and how writers are drawn into the literary tentacles of the so-called Cthulhu Mythos. He also reviews Brian Lumley's "The Burrowers Beneath", featuring his character, Titus Crow.

NOTE: For a while, I maintained a site called Yog Blogspot. It's still up and you can view it HERE.

LEIBER'S BAZAAR OF THE BIZARRE

After breezing through the newest Creedence Clearwater Revival bio (highly recommended!), "A Song For Everyone", I am shifting gears and reading The Spell of Seven, a sword and sorcery anthology edited by L. Sprague de Camp. The lead story is "Bazaar of the Bizarre", a tale by Fritz Leiber of his dashing (and often humorous) duo, Fafhrd and The Grey Mouser. Superbly written and as close as you can get to "literary" sword and sorcery (with the exception of the florid prose of Clark Ashton Smith), it first appeared in the August, 1963 issue of FANTASTIC STORIES OF IMAGINATION. Here, too, it was the lead story, as well as garnering the cover with accurately depicted art by Vernon Kramer (see above).

If ever there was a rousing call to arms regarding the subject of Sword & Sorcery, it is Mr. de Camp's  introduction to the book (included here along with his introduction to the story). Enthusiastic and exciting, it should alleviate anyone's doubts about the legitimacy of the genre.

Cover art by Gail Burwen (2nd Edition).

Illustration by Schelling.

BONUS! Two short tales by author of the paranormal, Brad Steiger, including the conclusion of "Bazaar of the Bizarre".

The Spell of Seven (1st edition).

FRITZ LEIBER MAKES A CASE FOR MONSTERS

The 60's Monster Craze was ramping up to full speed when editor Cele G. Lalli handed the reins over to Fritz Leiber in the March 1965 issue of FANTASTIC and allowed him to express his opinion about the matter. Leiber delivered a lengthy treatise on the types of monsters in literature and popular culture and their role in shaping society.

He cites many noted authors such as H.P. Lovecraft, Edgar Allen Poe, Arthur Machen, Ray Bradbury, Robert Bloch and many more to make his case that monsters hold a special and important place in literature and history.

Leiber also discusses the rising trend of science and science-fiction and their potential effects of diminishing the supernatural element of monsters, replacing them with robots and other mechanical menaces. Good news for us Monsterologists -- Leiber assured us that the good old-fashioned bogeyman is here to stay!

[NOTE: Photo of Fritz Leiber above is from FAMOUS MONSTERS OF FILMLAND #53, January 1969.]