Showing results by author "Clark Ashton Smith" in All Categories

Zothique is Earth's last continent in the very distant future when the sun has grown dim, the work has grown old and the remorseless seas have overwhelmed all other continents. The sciences have been forgotten as the shadowy arts of sorcery and magic have been reborn. The result: a dark world of older mystery where luxurious kings and wandering heroes venture across dim landscapes, pitting their strength and wisdom against powerful wizards, necromancers and alien gods all under a dying sun.

Zothique is Earth's last continent in the very distant future when the sun has grown dim, the world has grown old, and the remorseless seas have overwhelmed all other continents. The sciences have been forgotten as the shadowy arts of sorcery and magic have been reborn. The result: a dark world of mystery in which luxurious kings and wandering heroes venture across dim landscapes, pitting their strength and wisdom against powerful wizards, necromancers, and alien gods.

A story from the acclaimed tales of "Hyperborea": A grotesque, deadly black form undulated toward them. Closer and closer it came, almost toying with the frightened, fleeing men who sought treasure in the long-deserted Hyperborean capital....

The plague of the "silver death" descended hard upon the land or Yoros, exactly as foretold by ancient astrologers. Countless victims fell instantly where they were stricken, including messengers racing to tell of itscoming. Young King Fulbra, protected from the plague by a magic ring, fled Yoros by ship in search of an island his advisors believed would welcome him. Before long, however, a sudden hurricane set the king on course for another island with a very different reputation.

A story from the renowned tales of "Xiccarph": Before Tiglari, many brave souls had the same noble dream of scaling and crossing through the forbidding palace of Maal Dweb. So far, none who attempted this feat has ever returned or have been seen again. But Tiglari, the jungle hunter skilled in destroying dangerous beasts, was undeterred by the hideous odds that lay before him!

King Hoaraph chose two of his most valiant warriors to search through desolate lands for a ravenously beautiful maiden rumored to be living among the far-off pastures. After locating the king's newest desire, mighty Zobal and Cushara headed back home, both with their own eyes on the girl! Priorities changed suddenly when the crew veered off course into mysterious weather and found themselves staring into the eyes of a tall, horrific-looking creature approaching them from the mist ahead!

In true Lovecraftian fashion a man's wife thought to be dead is entombed in the family crypt. The husband has an uneasy feeling, so he enters the tomb and finds the lid torn off the coffin. His wife is alive but in a state of delirium and shock. He sees a naked creature scurrying off through the inner vaults on all four semi-human limbs.

A collection of Smith's apace adventure stories featuring Captain Volmar, including the never before published novella, "Red World of Polaris."

In the deep forests of Averoigne, where magic weaves through everyday life, the mysterious sorcerer Gilles Grenier and his wife Sabine lead a life shrouded in secrets. Their renowned love potions, brewed from rare mandrakes growing in the nearby marshes, attract customers from far and wide. But when Sabine suddenly disappears, Gilles is left alone, and his dark experiments begin to yield unexpected results.

Clark Ashton Smith (January 13, 1893-August 14, 1961) was an American writer and artist. He achieved early local recognition, largely through the enthusiasm of George Sterling, for traditional verse in the vein of Swinburne.

In the medieval town of Vyones, master stone-carver Blaise Reynard creates two grotesque gargoyles for the newly built cathedral. Little does he know that his creations will unleash a reign of terror upon the city. As night falls, demonic forces descend upon Vyones, leaving a trail of blood and horror in their wake. The townspeople are gripped by fear, and even the church seems powerless against this evil.

In “The End of the Story” by Clark Ashton Smith, mysterious passion and ardor lead us through forbidden manuscripts, mystical encounters, and matters of the heart. Set in 17th-century France, young law student Christophe Morand discovers the tale of Gerard de Venteillon, a knight seduced by a lamia dwelling in the ruins of Chateau des Faussesflammes near Perigon. Will Morand share his fate? The choice between heart and the abbot’s counsel becomes pivotal, and the enigmatic woman continues to tempt.

“Mother of Toads” is a short story by Clark Ashton Smith, originally published in the July issue of Weird Tales in 1938. The plot revolves around a young apothecary’s assistant who encounters an extraordinary witch deep in the forest. Listeners are drawn into a mysterious world where magic and supernatural phenomena intertwine with human desires and fears. The tale is filled with intriguing details and unexpected twists that will captivate fans of horror and fantasy.

In the haunting tale of "A Night in Malnéant," a nameless wanderer stumbles upon a city shrouded in mist and mystery. As he navigates its shadowy streets and encounters its solemn inhabitants, he discovers that the entire town is eerily preoccupied with the impending funeral of a woman named Mariel—a name that strikes terror into his heart. Tormented by memories of a love lost and a guilt that has followed him across time and space, he is drawn deeper into the city's labyrinth, where reality and nightmare blur.

La raíz de Ampol es un relato del autor de fantasía Clark Ashton Smith, que se desarrolla en el mundo ficticio de Zothique. En esta historia, un joven llamado Ildefonse se aventura en un viaje en busca de la misteriosa raíz de Ampol, que se dice que otorga la inmortalidad. A medida que avanza en su búsqueda, enfrenta desafíos y peligros, incluidos seres sobrenaturales y horrores ocultos en la oscuridad de las profundidades de la tierra. Ildefonse lucha contra criaturas monstruosas y fuerzas malignas mientras se acerca cada vez más a su objetivo.

Los relatos Smith que se desarrollan en el mundo prehistórico de Hiperbórea son ejemplos perfectos del estilo y las constantes de su narrativa fantástica que acabo de señalar. Hiperbórea es anterior a la Historia humana; un mundo crepuscular, condenado a la desaparición y al olvido. Los personajes son pícaros y buscavidas nada heroicos; los dioses son monstruosos y crueles; las costumbres, bárbaras y perversas.

In the desolate forest of Averoigne, resides Anselme, a young romantic who became a recluse after being rejected by his beloved Dorothée. After 13 months of solitude, Anselme stumbles upon a beautiful woman bathing in a forest pond, accompanied by a massive wolf. She is Séphora, an enchantress, who invites him to her realm—Sylaire, “a land lying beyond time and space.”

You can imagine the chagrin of a handsome young man when he wakes up next to the Toad Witch who drugged him the night before and had her way with him.

"Las siete pruebas" es un relato de fantasía Clark Ashton Smith, que sigue la historia de un joven llamado Satampra Zeiros que se aventura en una búsqueda para encontrar la legendaria Joya de la Verdad. Para alcanzar su objetivo, Zeiros debe superar siete pruebas mortales, cada una más desafiante que la anterior. En su viaje, se encuentra con monstruos, trampas mortales y fuerzas sobrenaturales que desafían su ingenio y habilidades. A medida que avanza en su búsqueda, Zeiros se enfrenta a decisiones difíciles y descubre verdades profundas sobre sí mismo y el mundo que lo rodea.

El relato de Satampra Zeiros es un relato de terror, uno de los mejores cuentos de Clark Ashton Smith que se inspira en Lord Dunsany e integra simultáneamente el Ciclo Hiperbóreo y los Mitos de Cthulhu a través de Tsatthoggua.