The Sorceror's Apprentices (More slightly off-topic C.A.S. stuff)
Skrybe
is another C.A.S. tribute just released by James Ambuehl and Ron Shiflet.
Warning! What follows is a shameless plug (not that I'm getting money out
of it, merely satisfaction).
The Sorceror's Apprentices is an A4 magazine/fanzine format rather than a
hard-cover book but it's nicely put together and the stories I've read so
far have been of very good quality (I'm about halfway through).
The book itself has a rather brief introduction to C.A.S. and his writings,
but then hasn't everyone familiar with CAS? It then moves on with a number
of short stories, poems and illustrations. The contents list is as follows;
Intro. - James Ambuehl
Through Time & Space with CAS - Scott F Wyatt
The House of Haon-Dor - CAS & Laurence J Cornford
Tsathogguan Chant - Todd H C Fisher
Tsathoggua - Ron Shiflet
Warriors of the Worm - Todd H C Fisher
The Face of Yladra - Peter F Guenther
The Incubus of Atlantis - Robert M Price
Terminus - Ian Davey
The Legacy of Maal-Dweb - Ron Shiflet
The Ring of Eibon - Ron Shiflet
After Tomorrow - Peter A Worthy
The Giants of Oothom Zagi - John R Fultz
Cavern of the Golden Fleece - E P Berglund
The Court of the Crystal Flame - James Ambuehl
The Blasted Altar - Kenneth J Beattie
The Grasses of Mahspe - David Barker
The Hypocrisy of Morkhabba - Kevin Eric Sheridan
The Death of the Sorceror - James William Hjort
The Disappearance of Mordos - Boyd Pearson
The Butcher of Vyones - Mike Minnis
Naat - Scott F Wyatt
Shadowed Zothique - Ron Shiflet
Artwork
Cover - Mike Minnis
The House of Haon-Dor - Laurence J Cornford
Tsathoggua - Mark Stagg
The Warriors of the Worm - Todd H C Fisher
The Face of Yladra - Todd H C Fisher
The Giants of Oothom Zagi - Jason Thompson
The Court of the Crystal Flame - Jason Thompson
The Blasted Altar - Kenneth J Beattie
The Grasses of Mahspe - Jason Thompson
Vulthoom - J B Lee
A Monk - Laurence J Cornford
A Gargoyle - Laurence J Cornford
The Dweller in the Gulf - J B Lee
You may recognise a few of the names there, but most of the work is
appearing in print for the first time with the exception of Scott Wyatt's
two pieces and The Grasses of Mahspe. As for the quality of the art and the
prose, Mike Minnis Cover piece is very good and Jason Thompson's artwork is
stand-out. It particular suits the medium. I'm afraid most of the other art
doesn't reproduce quite as well (sorry guys).
As stated earlier I haven't made it through the entire thing yet, but of
what I have read; Ron's poetry is up to his usual fine level while Todd and
Peter's stories evoked the same feeling I got when I read some of the pulp
stories of Howard & Smith (that's a good thing). Laurence's piece is quite
good, and I'd like to know just how much is Laurence and how much is CAS...
Robert's story brought a smile to my face as I tried to (not) picture CAS
as Klarkash-ton. Finally, Terminus is probably the best, well the story I
have enjoyed the most, so far. It is quite well written and deals almost
affectionately with one of CAS more memorable characters - Malygris.
The negatives (and I'll probably be crucified for this...). I would have
liked a bit more in the introduction, a bit more background on CAS. He,
like HPL was such an interesting character in real life it seems a pity
there wasn't a little more about him. Similarly, I think it would have been
a nice touch to have a little background on the various contributors and
their writings/artwork. Finally, some of the artwork suffers a little from
the format, the originals were undoubtedly produced at a larger scale and
in some cases in colour, reduction and conversion to black and white hasn't
been kind to a few of them. Still these are minor things which would have
improved the book, rather than detracting from it.
Hopefully someone else who has a copy can provide a bit of a review of the
last stories, otherwise I might drop a few lines in a week or so once I've
finished it. If you're interested in getting hold of a copy contact Ron at
rshi...@ix.netcom.com or James Ambuehl at jamesa...@webtv.net for
ordering info.
--
Skrybe
aka ken.b...@publicworks.qld.gov.au
Skrybe's Tales of Terror - Original short horror stories
http://www.fortunecity.com/roswell/lovecraft/320/index.html
james ambuehl
Ken's description is very on-target, but of course modesty prevents him
from mentioning his own story, "The Blasted Altar," which although
actually a submission for a magazine I co-edit, I was just so impressed
by its "CAS-ness" that we had to use it here! Folks, there really are
some great stories here -- many of them Cthulhu Mythos-related!
As for where Smith leaves off and Laurence Cornford begins in "The House
of Haon-Dor," I believe it was the paragraph beginning: 'It was not
until the second week of his stay at Gold Canyon' -- or somewhere
thereabouts. Smith set up the events; Laurence brought them to a
logical and quite satisfying conclusion.
As for ordering information for this 100-page CAS-Extravaganza, send
check or money order for $10
U. S. postpaid to:
Ron Shiflet
232 Eller
Crowley, TX 76036
(for Overseas orders, please enquire first, at the following
net-address):
Thanks again, Ken, for the excellent coverage!
-- Jim (and Ron)
Q. What's 600' tall, British, tentacled and green, and dwells in a
non-Euclidian police box sunken beneath the Pacific?
A. Doctor Cthul-Who!!!
StoOdin101
>the format, the originals were undoubtedly produced at a larger scale and
>in some cases in colour, reduction and conversion to black and white hasn't
>been kind to a few of them.
One thinks of one's own "Vulthoom" illustration with drab musings of what one's
own fate will be when the cosmic lord of the Martian underworld espies his
image so mutilated by the computer conversion process. Especially when one
considers the colossal ego of the botanical creature.
Next time I send them a xerox of the real thing, rather than trusting that the
computer has done fine by the work.
Assuming Vulthoom permits a "next time". One can only hope he still sleeps in
the caverns of Ravormos.
"It is said that Music is a universal language, crossing the barriers of
culture, age, and language. Perhaps, eventually, we will learn that it also
spans those of time... and space." --- THE OUTER LIMITS; "Music of the Spheres"
Skr...@my-dejanews.com
I hate it when posts don't show up on my newsserver and I only realise they
exist by a little cross-referencing.
As the saying goes, it was a learning experience. In future I'll tailor my own
art to the format rather than looking at the page in front of me and saying
that looks ok.
Skrybe aka nospam.Ke...@publicworks.qld.gov.au
Remove the nospam to reply...
www.fortunecities.com/roswell/lovecraft/320/index.html
-----------== Posted via Deja News, The Discussion Network ==----------
http://www.dejanews.com/ Search, Read, Discuss, or Start Your Own
Skr...@my-dejanews.com
jamesa...@webtv.net (james ambuehl) wrote:
> Ken, thanks much for the mini-review! Ron and I appreciate it greatly!
You're quite welcome, and I can't believe I left out a couple things, like;
The price and other order details you've thoughtfully appended,
The fact that it's been a very enjoyable read and I'd recommend it to any
lover of CAS fiction, and probably to most fans of the Mythos in general.
> Ken's description is very on-target, but of course modesty prevents him
> from mentioning his own story, "The Blasted Altar," which although
> actually a submission for a magazine I co-edit, I was just so impressed
> by its "CAS-ness" that we had to use it here! Folks, there really are
> some great stories here -- many of them Cthulhu Mythos-related!
Thanks :) Indeed there are many great stories, I'll add a couple more comments
now that I've read a little further.
Jim's story "The Court of the Crystal Flame" is a fun romp reminiscent of not
just CAS but also Howard and Lieber's Fafrhd and Grey Mouser, all in all a
good thing. "The Grasses of Mahspe" by David Barker is another fine piece,
very surrealist and I think it comes very close to some of CAS Sci-fi
stylings.
> As for where Smith leaves off and Laurence Cornford begins in "The House
> of Haon-Dor," I believe it was the paragraph beginning: 'It was not
> until the second week of his stay at Gold Canyon' -- or somewhere
> thereabouts. Smith set up the events; Laurence brought them to a
> logical and quite satisfying conclusion.
Thanks for the info. Why exactly was this an unfinished manuscript, if I may
ask?
> As for ordering information for this 100-page CAS-Extravaganza, send
> check or money order for $10
> U. S. postpaid to:
>
> Ron Shiflet
> 232 Eller
> Crowley, TX 76036
>
> (for Overseas orders, please enquire first, at the following
> net-address):
>
> rshi...@ix.netcom.com
>
> Thanks again, Ken, for the excellent coverage!
You're most welcome.
> -- Jim (and Ron)
>
> Q. What's 600' tall, British, tentacled and green, and dwells in a
> non-Euclidian police box sunken beneath the Pacific?
>
> A. Doctor Cthul-Who!!!
>
>
Skrybe aka nospam.Ke...@publicworks.qld.gov.au