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Post by cauldronbrewer on Jul 26, 2021 20:45:25 GMT
One of my idle daydreams is to edit a series of Weird Tales anthologies (more "my favorites"/"an interesting sampling" than "best of"). I'm envision six volumes: 1923-1926, 1927-1930, 1931-1934, 1935-1938, 1939-1945, and 1946-1954 (with the dates for the last two volumes reflecting the switch to six issues a year). The rules: (1) 25 stories per volume; (2) only one story per author per volume; (3) no serials.
The first volume would be one of the most challenging to fill given what I'll politely call the variability in quality during the magazine's early run, particularly under Edwin Baird's editorship. Here are a dozen tentative selections:
J. Paul Suter – "Beyond the Door" (Apr. 1923) M. Humphreys - "The Floor Above" (May 1923) Seabury Quinn – "The Phantom Farmhouse" (Oct. 1923) C. M. Eddy, Jr. – "The Loved Dead" (May/June/July 1924) H. P. Lovecraft – "The Music of Erich Zann" (May 1925) H. Warner Munn – "The Werewolf of Ponkert" (July 1925) H. Thompson Rich – "The Sev'n-Ring'd Cup" (Sept. 1925) Edward Lucas White – "Lukundoo" (Nov. 1925) R. J. Robbins and Will Smith – "Swamp Horror" (Mar. 1926) Arthur J. Burks – "The Ghosts of Steamboat Coulee" (May 1926) A. Merritt – "The Woman of the Wood" (Aug. 1926) H. F. Arnold – "The Night Wire" (Sept. 1926)
I'm dithering over two authors:
Frank Belknap Long – "The Sea Thing" (Dec. 1925) or "The Ocean Leech" (Jan. 1925) or another story Henry S. Whitehead – "Jumbee" (Sept. 1926) or another story
And here are some other authors I'm still looking at for the first volume:
E. Hoffman Price Anthony M. Rud [may carry the banner for the first issue] Victor Rousseau Edmond Hamilton Robert S. Carr Oscar Cook Eli Colter Everil Worrell August Derleth Greye La Spina G. G. Pendarves Bassett Morgan Otis Albert Kline Farnsworth Wright [partly because he became editor] Francis Stevens W. J. Stamper Robert E. Howard [not sure any of his early stories would make the cut]
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Post by cauldronbrewer on Jul 26, 2021 21:10:49 GMT
And a "Women of Weird Tales" update:
I'm sure about two selections:
Greye La Spina – "The Remorse of Professor Panebianco" (Jan. 1925) G. G. Pendarves – "The Devil's Graveyard" (Aug. 1926)
In the case of Everil Worrell, I haven't read either of her two contributions from 1923-1926: "The Bird of Space" (Sept. 1926) or "Cattle of Furos" (Oct. 1926). When I get to Volume II, I'll have the opposite problem.
Likewise, I haven't read any of Eli Colter's three non-serials from 1923-1926: "Farthingale's Poppy" (July 1925), "The Deadly Aminita" (Dec. 1925), or "The Corpus Delicti" (Oct. 1926). However, I do plan to read the first of those soon. Bassett Morgan contributed one story during the early run: "Laocoon" (July 1926). All of her brain-transplant stories run together in my mind, so I can't say about this one off the top of my head.
It would be great to include a story by Francis Stevens, but her only contribution was a serial ("Sunfire"). It's not one of her better stories, either.
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Post by Middoth on Jul 27, 2021 10:14:48 GMT
Let me add to your ladies company " Mop-Head " by Leah Bodine Drake («Weird Tales» January 1954)
I think it is strong competitor to Brennan's "Slime".
I know, none agree.
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Post by dem bones on Jul 27, 2021 10:44:15 GMT
One of my idle daydreams is to edit a series of Weird Tales anthologies (more "my favorites"/"an interesting sampling" than "best of"). I'll take "my favourites/ an interesting sampling" over "best of" every time. Anyway, here are some you might consider, no particular order, for Vol 1, 1923-6 .A few of are commented upon in more detail on what is nominally a personal DIY Alt. Not at Night thread. Julian Kilman - The Golden Caverns: (May 1923). Sloppy in places, and he wrote 'better', tighter stories, but, in terms of enjoyment derived, this is my pick of his WT work. Farnsworth Wright - The Closing Hand: (March 1923). The debut issue is difficult to represent in that even those few stories of great entertainment value are terrible. Was sorely tempted to go with either R. T. M. Scott's Nimba, the Cave Girl or Capt. George Warburton Lewis's The Return of Paul Slavsky, so our imaginary audience get off lightly. C. Franklin Miller - The Hermit Of Ghost Mountain: (March 1924). One of the 'necrophile' tales to achieve brief notoriety in the Eyrie, quickly forgotten. Deserving of a second coming? Oh yes. Norman Elwood Hammerstrom & R. F. Searight - The Brain In The Jar: (Nov. 1924). Quintessential mad scientist horror. Ralph Parker Anderson - The Purple Light: (Nov. 1924) Very insane! Stephen Bagley - Whispering Tunnels: (Feb. 1925). Another that achieved huge popularity with the readership before falling from fashion. Alice I. Fuller - The Tomb-Dweller: (Feb. 1925). "The narrator does have a charming "I'm too morbid for the world, just like Edgar Allan Poe" proto-goth vibe going on." © Cauldron Brewer. So how could we not include her? Seabury Quinn - Out of the Long Ago: (Jan. 1925). if we're taking the non-de Grandin route I'd go with this medieval werewolf romance over the better known The Phantom FarmhouseH. P. Lovecraft - The Picture in the House: (Jan. 1924); First thought was The Rats in the Walls but dismissed it as over-anthologised even before I remembered it featured in a 'Not at Night'. Very probably more to follow.
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Post by cauldronbrewer on Jul 27, 2021 11:18:11 GMT
Let me add to your ladies company " Mop-Head " by Leah Bodine Drake («Weird Tales» January 1954) I think it is strong competitor to Brennan's "Slime". I know, none agree. "Mop-Head" would be a lock for Volume VI. Extra points to Drake for setting her story in Kentucky.
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Post by cauldronbrewer on Jul 27, 2021 11:28:12 GMT
Anyway, here are some you might consider, no particular order, for Vol 1, 1923-6 .A few of are commented upon in more detail on what is nominally a personal DIY Alt. Not at Night thread. Julian Kilman - The Golden Caverns: (May 1923). Sloppy in places, and he wrote 'better', tighter stories, but, in terms of enjoyment derived, this is my pick of his WT work. Farnsworth Wright - The Closing Hand: (March 1923). The debut issue is difficult to represent in that even those few stories of great entertainment value are terrible. Was sorely tempted to go with either R. T. M. Scott's Nimba, the Cave Girl or Capt. George Warburton Lewis's The Return of Paul Slavsky, so our imaginary audience get off lightly. C. Franklin Miller - The Hermit Of Ghost Mountain: (March 1924). One of the 'necrophile' tales to achieve brief notoriety in the Eyrie, quickly forgotten. Deserving of a second coming? Oh yes. Norman Elwood Hammerstrom & R. F. Searight - The Brain In The Jar: (Nov. 1924). Quintessential mad scientist horror. Ralph Parker Anderson - The Purple Light: (Nov. 1924) Very insane! These all look intriguing. I haven't read any of them. Stephen Bagley - Whispering Tunnels: (Feb. 1925). Another that achieved huge popularity with the readership before falling from fashion. Alice I. Fuller - The Tomb-Dweller: (Feb. 1925). "The narrator does have a charming "I'm too morbid for the world, just like Edgar Allan Poe" proto-goth vibe going on." © Cauldron Brewer. So how could we not include her? Two that are definitely worthy of consideration. And how did I not notice that "The Tomb-Dweller" is a Weird Tale by a woman writer? Seabury Quinn - Out of the Long Ago: (Jan. 1925). if we're taking the non-de Grandin route I'd go with this medieval werewolf romance over the better known The Phantom Farmhouse I should check this one out. Quinn's non-de Grandin tales are sometimes more unpredictable than the de Grandin ones. H. P. Lovecraft - The Picture in the House: (Jan. 1924); First thought was The Rats in the Walls but dismissed it as over-anthologised even before I remembered it featured in a 'Not at Night'. I went with "The Music of Erich Zann," but I also gave serious consideration to "Imprisoned with the Pharaohs." Now that I think about it, H. Thompson Rich's "The Purple Cincture" (Aug. 1925) is probably weirder than "The Sev'n-Ring'd Cup," though I have a hard time resisting Indiana Jones-style stories.
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Post by Middoth on Jul 27, 2021 11:55:12 GMT
Ok!
Spawn by P. Schuyler Miller («Weird Tales» August 1939)
The Bridle by David H. Keller («Weird Tales» September 1942)
The Weirds of the Woodcarver by Gardner F. Fox («Weird Tales» September 1944)
The Pale Criminal by C. Hall Thompson («Weird Tales» September 1947) Black Harvest of Moraine by Arthur J. Burks («Weird Tales» January 1950)
On the Elevator by Joseph Payne Brennan («Weird Tales» July 1953)
Never Stop to Pat a Kitten by Miriam Allen de Ford («Weird Tales» July 1954) Mop-Head by Leah Bodine Drake («Weird Tales» January 1954)
Weirdisms by Coye
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Post by cauldronbrewer on Jul 27, 2021 19:41:25 GMT
A few more notes on potential selections from 1923-1926:
I initially overlooked "The Weird Green Eyes of Sari" (March 1925) by Margaret McBride Hoss, which is a sure thing.
Henry S. Whitehead has a few prospects: "The Fireplace" (Jan. 1925), "Jumbee" (Sept. 1926), and "The Projection of Armand Dubois" (Oct. 1926). I would certainly choose one of those.
Anthony M. Rud's stories in the first two issues, "Ooze" (March 1923) and "A Square of Canvas" (Apr. 1923), are worth a look.
More for the "maybe" pile from authors who went on to publish more interesting stories: Robert E. Howard's "Wolfshead" (Apr. 1926); August Derleth's "Bat's Belfry" (May 1926) or "The Coffin of Lissa" (Oct. 1926).
W. J. Stamper published a string of Haiti-themed stories, but I'm not a fan.
Some people seem to like E. Hoffman Price's brand of faux exoticism. I'd probably leave him out to make room for another author.
Likewise, I've never managed to get into Edmond Hamilton's weird science stories.
Then there are three writers who contributed to WT frequently during this time period but have never left any impression on me: Victor Rousseau, Oscar Cook, and Otis Albert Kline.
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Post by Middoth on Jul 27, 2021 20:12:33 GMT
The Supreme Witch by G. Appleby Terrill reprinted 3 times!
«Weird Tales, October 1926», «Weird Tales, January 1935», «Weird Tales, March 1953»
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Post by dem bones on Jul 28, 2021 6:21:16 GMT
W. J. Stamper published a string of Haiti-themed stories, but I'm not a fan. I was just thinking about him! W. J. Stamper - The Vulture of Pignon: (Aug. 1925). Lieutenant Stamper's Haitan torture tales may be much of a muchness, but they're never dreary. Chose this one as it was one of the few neglected by CCT. Then there are three writers who contributed to WT frequently during this time period but have never left any impression on me: Victor Rousseau, Oscar Cook, and Otis Albert Kline. Only reason I've not included an Oscar Cook story is because CCT used the best ones and I'm trying to avoid any 'Not at Night' duplication. Incidentally, I'm far from convinced that Cargray Cook, credited with the authorship of On The Highway (Jan. 1925) and Oscar Cook are one and the same entity, even though the story is sometimes attributed to Cook. It reads nothing like him. Anthony M. Rud's stories in the first two issues, "Ooze" (March 1923) and "A Square of Canvas" (Apr. 1923), are worth a look. I'd go with A Square of Canvas every time, but it's your party! Another couple for consideration. Clyde Burt Clason - Lochinvar Lodge: (March, 1926). Came by this one while engrossed in recent Monster of Glamis phase. Mrs Chetwood Smith - An Egyptian Lotus: (May-June-July 1924). Mummy mania! "Mop-Head" would be a lock for Volume VI. Extra points to Drake for setting her story in Kentucky. In which case; Harry Harrison Kroll - Fairy Gossamer: (Dec. 1924).
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Post by cauldronbrewer on Jul 28, 2021 12:26:27 GMT
I'd go with A Square of Canvas every time, but it's your party! I believe you're right about this. Another couple for consideration. Clyde Burt Clason - Lochinvar Lodge: (March, 1926). Came by this one while engrossed in recent Monster of Glamis phase. Mrs Chetwood Smith - An Egyptian Lotus: (May-June-July 1924). Mummy mania! Two more new ones on me. I'm a fan of the Monster of Glamis and mummies, so they both sound promising. Harry Harrison Kroll - Fairy Gossamer: (Dec. 1924). Good call; I'd forgotten about this one. Sinkholes and spiders deep in the Kentucky limestone; what's not to like?
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Post by dem bones on Aug 13, 2021 9:16:51 GMT
I've made a start on 1927-1930, but can't let vol 1 go without nominating two favourites from the "banned" May/June/July 1924 issue: Estil Critchie - Voodoo Later correction; not from the banned May/June/July at all, but the Dec. 1924. Silly me posted both issues on same thread. Lyllian Huntley Harris - The Vow on Halloween. The first is a bit of a cheat as, for the benefit of anyone very new to this, 'Estil Critchie' is aka Alfred J Burks and we're already set on including his 'The Ghosts of Steamboat Coulee.' Far as I'm aware, John Betancourt is still intent on reissuing the rest of the 1925 Weird Tales over coming months ("I don't have a set schedule for the WT reprints, just doing them as I have time.") so, with luck, we'll have more possible additions to Vol 1 before the year's out.
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Post by cauldronbrewer on Aug 13, 2021 23:51:22 GMT
I've made a start on 1927-1930, but can't let vol 1 go without nominating two favourites from the "banned" May/June/July 1924 issue: Estil Critchie - Voodoo Lyllian Huntley Harris - The Vow on Halloween. The first is a bit of a cheat as, for the benefit of anyone very new to this, 'Estil Critchie' is aka Alfred J Burks and we're already set on including his 'The Ghosts of Steamboat Coulee.' I’m still working on my nominations for 1927-1930, but I can already report that the challenge will be in having too many good candidates rather than too few. On the ”Estil Critchie” gambit: I thought of pulling a similar trick with “Imprisoned with the Pharaohs” by “Houdini” (a.k.a. H. P. Lovecraft).
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Post by dem bones on Aug 14, 2021 5:44:59 GMT
I’m still working on my nominations for 1927-1930, but I can already report that the challenge will be in having too many good candidates rather than too few. I'm finding it difficult due to ridiculous self-imposed "nothing that appeared in the Not At Night's" restriction which rules out several personal favourites from that period. CCT hoovered up so much of the good stuff.
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Post by dem bones on Aug 17, 2021 16:01:56 GMT
So while Mr Brewer is deciding on the cover illo for Vol I, I'll press on with ten titles to consider for vol 2, pretty sure that Mr. B. will have already sidelined at least one of the following - the selection from the March 1928 issue - for Vol 2 proper.
Self-imposed restrictions - which nobody else should observe - nothing featured in the 'Not At Night's (which admittedly limits the choice somewhat). This is not an attempt at a 'best of,' just a bunch of stories I like.
G. Appleby Terrill - The Church Stove at Raebrudafisk: (Feb. 1927)
R. Anthony [Anthony Rud] - The Endocrine Monster: (April 1927)
John Martin Leahy - In Amundsen's Tent: (Jan. 1928)
G. G. Pendarves - The Eighth Green Man: (March 1928)
David H. Keller, M.D - The Jelly-Fish: (Jan. 1929)
Capwell Wyckoff - The Guillotine Club: (July, 1929)
Lois Lane - The Purple Sedan: (Aug. 1929)
Henry S. Whitehead - The Lips: (Sept. 1929)
Gaston Leroux - The Woman with the Velvet Collar: (Oct. 1929)
Seabury Quinn - The Bride of Dewer: (July, 1930)
Over to you ...
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