The Conan Grimoire

20
Jun

The Conan Grimoire is a 1972 collection of essays, poetry and fiction edited by L. Sprague de Camp and George H. Scithers, published in hardcover by Mirage Press. The essays were originally published as articles in Scithers’ fanzine Amra. The book is a companion to Mirage’s previous two volumes of material from Amra, The Conan Reader (1968) and The Conan Swordbook (1969). Most of the material in the three volumes, together with some additional material, was later reprinted in two de Camp-edited paperback anthologies from Ace Books; The Blade of Conan (1979) and The Spell of Conan (1980).

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The Conan Swordbook

20
Jun

The Conan Swordbook is a 1969 collection of essays edited by L. Sprague de Camp and George H. Scithers, published in hardcover by Mirage Press. The essays were originally published as articles in Scithers’ fanzine Amra. The book is a companion to Mirage’s other two volumes of material from Amra, The Conan Reader (1968) and The Conan Grimoire (1972). Most of the material in the three volumes, together with some additional material, was later reprinted in two de Camp-edited paperback anthologies from Ace Books; The Blade of Conan (1979) and The Spell of Conan (1980).

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Sword & Fantasy #10

15
May

Features include a long article on Virgil Finlay by Sam Moskowitz, a folio of the 1953 Kelly Freas art from the TOPS IN SCIENCE FICTION reprint of “Lorelei Of The Red Mist” (just the art, not the story, too), 5 page reprint of the James Blish anti-A. Merritt reviews from the 1957 FANTASY TIMES and the original fan responses to them, facsimile reprint of Donald A. Wandrei’s 1926 OVERLAND MONTHLY article on Clark Ashton Smith “The Emperor of Dreams”, a 2 page article written by H.P. Lovecraft in 1929 discussing his own horror stories “In The Vault,” “The Hound” and “The Colour Out of Space”, reprints of the 1933 & 1934 letters by Forrest Ackerman and others regarding whether the fantasy stories of Clark Ashton Smith belong in the science fiction mag WONDER STORIES (even H.P. Lovecraft weighed in on the debate), a tribute to artist James Cawthorn (1929-2008), and more. Full color front and back covers by Mahlon Fawcett.

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Sword & Fantasy #9

15
May

Features include a 6 page reprint of the Frank Frazetta comic strip “Diamonds & Pebbles” from HAPPY COMICS #33 (Sept. 1949) in black and white (a version of this issue with the strip in full color is also available but at a higher price in a separate listing). An art folio by Howard Pyle. An original 9 page sword & sorcery comic strip by Ron Wilber “The Accursed Wizards Land.” Articles on H.P. Lovecraft from 1950s fanzines. “On Science Fiction And The Weird” by Seabury Quinn from the fanzine THE TALISMAN (Summer, 1950), a 5 page Roy Krenkel folio and more.

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Sword & Fantasy #2

09
May

Articles include a lengthy interview with Jim & Ruth Keegan, the writers and artists of THE ADVENTURES OF TWO-GUN BOB, the Robert E. Howard bio-strip which appears in each issue of the Dark Horse CONAN comic book.

There is also an article on the Conan story “The Scarlet Citadel.” Plus a 1938 article by Henry Kuttner “Selling The Fantasy Story.” Also presented is an 8 page letter by Harold Preece about a Robert E. Howard biography he planned to write. Also included is an article on MODERN ROBERT E. HOWARD FANDOM and the new fanzines currently available, a 1940s article on Robert E. Howard from the old fanzine THE FANSCIENT, and a 1940s review of the Arkham edition of SKULLFACE & OTHERS from a British science fiction fanzine, FANTASY REVIEW. There is also first in a series of articles on Sword & Sorcery in comics (this installment on the 1960s Warren magazines which featured Reed Crandall, Steve Ditko, Gray Morrow, Frank Frazetta and Jeff Jones), and much more!

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