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Atres Artes, v. 1, issue 3, 1946
Page 29
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Fantasy bookreview H.P.L.: A MEMOIR by Sam Moskowitz H.P.L.: A MEMOIR, by August Derleth, 122 pages, Abromson, N. Y., $2.50 This, the third book of a fantastic nature to come from Abromson's press is the first completely original volume yet in many ways it is the poorest of the three. It is hastily done, careless, slip-shod job, both in writing and method of printing. The first section of the book, preceded by a full page photo of H.P.L. is a biographical sketch with the emphasis on the sketch. There is little or no new material: this section particularly, and the rest of the book generally are enough to make the reader sea-sick. Every pertinent remark concerning Lovecraft is explained by a footnote in six point type. These footnotes, from an eighth to three-quarters of a page in length, appear on all but a few of the pages in the first chapter, and the regular text hurdles over the tops of them like a dope-sick nag. Easy reading is impossible. Fortunately little of value appears here. The second chapter, "The Man," is more sensibly printed. It is a fairly long section; and since Derleth is an experienced writer, not badly written. But the bits of new information are few and pitifully scanty, and the old has not been approached from any new angle. Though no glaring faults are present it leaves you with a distinct feeling of dissatisfaction. "The Work" portion is sadly incompetent. Not only has Derleth failed to say anything new in diagnosing Lovecraft's written work, but he failed to take advantage of pertinent observations made by such worthies as Fritz Leiber, Jr, Winfield Townley Scott, Matthew Onderdonk, etc. What there is, is merely a recounting of the chronological order of various types of Lovecraft's works, little more. In the "Appendix" Derleth muffs an opportunity to make up a fascinating selection of Lovecraft errata not available in any volumes in print. There are quotations from "The Providence Press," a company organized to publish mimeographed booklets by H. P. Lovecraft at the age of Seven!, a poem "To Pan" written in 1902, quotes from his astronomical column in the "Providence Journal," 1906, an editorial from Lovecraft's amateur publication, "The Conservative," etc. Unfortunately, Derleth filled out the bulk of this stuff with the complete reprint of Lovecraft's stories, "The Cats of Ulthar," and "The Festival," apparently to display the advance of Lovecraft's style, but smacking of space filling. Completing the volume is a bibliography of Lovecraft's books and places of book publication, and a bibliography of his professionally published works. The paper, binding and type are not bad, but to a man who is not a completist, and wishes to merely read for interests sake I urge you strongly to add 50c and buy a copy of "Marginalia" from Arkham House instead and really get your money's worth. -------------------------------- 000000000000000000 -------------------------------- Fantasy Poetry NOSTALGIA by Lionel Inman I love forsaken things, / The moonlight desert sands / To me nostalgia brings. / Along deserted strands / I heard to ocean pound, / And wings unleashed from hell -- / Unholy, screaming sound / That came and promised well. / An attic full of books / And long forgotten things -- / The hidden woodland brooks / To me nostalgia brings. ------------------------------------ 00000000000000000000 ------------------------------------ -- Page 29 --
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Fantasy bookreview H.P.L.: A MEMOIR by Sam Moskowitz H.P.L.: A MEMOIR, by August Derleth, 122 pages, Abromson, N. Y., $2.50 This, the third book of a fantastic nature to come from Abromson's press is the first completely original volume yet in many ways it is the poorest of the three. It is hastily done, careless, slip-shod job, both in writing and method of printing. The first section of the book, preceded by a full page photo of H.P.L. is a biographical sketch with the emphasis on the sketch. There is little or no new material: this section particularly, and the rest of the book generally are enough to make the reader sea-sick. Every pertinent remark concerning Lovecraft is explained by a footnote in six point type. These footnotes, from an eighth to three-quarters of a page in length, appear on all but a few of the pages in the first chapter, and the regular text hurdles over the tops of them like a dope-sick nag. Easy reading is impossible. Fortunately little of value appears here. The second chapter, "The Man," is more sensibly printed. It is a fairly long section; and since Derleth is an experienced writer, not badly written. But the bits of new information are few and pitifully scanty, and the old has not been approached from any new angle. Though no glaring faults are present it leaves you with a distinct feeling of dissatisfaction. "The Work" portion is sadly incompetent. Not only has Derleth failed to say anything new in diagnosing Lovecraft's written work, but he failed to take advantage of pertinent observations made by such worthies as Fritz Leiber, Jr, Winfield Townley Scott, Matthew Onderdonk, etc. What there is, is merely a recounting of the chronological order of various types of Lovecraft's works, little more. In the "Appendix" Derleth muffs an opportunity to make up a fascinating selection of Lovecraft errata not available in any volumes in print. There are quotations from "The Providence Press," a company organized to publish mimeographed booklets by H. P. Lovecraft at the age of Seven!, a poem "To Pan" written in 1902, quotes from his astronomical column in the "Providence Journal," 1906, an editorial from Lovecraft's amateur publication, "The Conservative," etc. Unfortunately, Derleth filled out the bulk of this stuff with the complete reprint of Lovecraft's stories, "The Cats of Ulthar," and "The Festival," apparently to display the advance of Lovecraft's style, but smacking of space filling. Completing the volume is a bibliography of Lovecraft's books and places of book publication, and a bibliography of his professionally published works. The paper, binding and type are not bad, but to a man who is not a completist, and wishes to merely read for interests sake I urge you strongly to add 50c and buy a copy of "Marginalia" from Arkham House instead and really get your money's worth. -------------------------------- 000000000000000000 -------------------------------- Fantasy Poetry NOSTALGIA by Lionel Inman I love forsaken things, / The moonlight desert sands / To me nostalgia brings. / Along deserted strands / I heard to ocean pound, / And wings unleashed from hell -- / Unholy, screaming sound / That came and promised well. / An attic full of books / And long forgotten things -- / The hidden woodland brooks / To me nostalgia brings. ------------------------------------ 00000000000000000000 ------------------------------------ -- Page 29 --
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