The Maze of the Enchanter

Volume Four of the Collected Fantasies of Clark Ashton Smith

By: Clark Ashton Smith, Ron Hilger - editor, Scott Connors - editor

Narrated by: Gregory St. John, Bernard Setaro Clark, Chris Kayser, Daniel May

This series presents Clark Ashton Smith's fiction chronologically, based on composition rather than publication. Editors Scott Connors and Ron Hilger have compared original manuscripts, various typescripts, published editions, and Smith's notes and letters in order to prepare a definitive set of texts. The Maze of the Enchanter includes, in chronological order, all of his stories from The Mandrakes (February, 1933) to The Flower-Women (May, 1935). This volume also features an introduction and extensive notes on each story.

©2009 The Estate of Clark Ashton Smith (P)2013 Audible, Inc.

Good stuff

This collection of short stories was a delight to listen to. The author bounces back and forth between stories set in space, and those set in a distant, Hyperborean, past. Each story is self-contained, however, and the variety keeps the experience fresh. The several narrators, also keep things lively and new, and they all are very good. I do have one complaint with this volume, though: it’s great, it’s grand, and then suddenly you hit the terrible story about the Sultan’s kids and the demon, and it is SO BAD, and it goes on for SO LONG! It’s like Oronoko: or, the Royal Slave. Horrible, terrible, and boring!! And then it ends and we’re back to the authors usual style and it stays strong for the rest or the book. His style and quality is very consistent, and so when you hit the one bad story it comes as quite a shock. Take it from me, if you start the above mentioned story and find that it is not to your taste, skip it and don’t feel bad. It doesn’t get any better. Anyhow, all things considered, great collection, I absolutely recommend it.

phantasmagory

The next installment of these tales is as magical, bizarre, and colorful as the previous three. The amazing graphic details make each tale come to life right before your life, and the sights are beyond fascinating.

Great weird fiction from a master of the genre!

Clark Ashton Smith was a true master of the genre of weird fiction, a genre that encompassed much of what we would now call science fiction, fantasy, horror, etc. He is often considered a notable omission from the Appendix N compiled by Gary Gygax - his name probably belonged on the list, but was not included for some reason. This collection of short stories represents some of the best of Smith's weird fiction. Highly recommended.

A very good collection from a true wordsmith.

The fantasy stories are among Smith's best. The sci-fi is fun too but Smith shines best in the Zothique, Xiccarph, and Hyperbole settings.

Relatively good

Reasonably interesting for it's time. Lovecraft told stories where this author basically just stacked up words. Same weakness as a Bradbury or Burroughs. Will definitely check out the rest of the series nevertheless. First couple stories were very engaging.