In Mayan Splendor

by Frank Belknap Long, Stephen E. Fabian (Illustrator)

Illustrated by Stephen E. Fabien.

Genres: Poetry, Horror

66 pages, Hardcover

First published July 1, 1977

About the author

Aka Lyda Belknap Long.

Frank Belknap Long was a prolific American writer of horror fiction, fantasy, science fiction, poetry, gothic romance, comic books, and non-fiction. Though his writing career spanned seven decades, he is best known for his horror and science fiction short stories, including early contributions to the Cthulhu Mythos. During his life, Long received the World Fantasy Award for Life Achievement (at the 1978 World Fantasy Convention), the Bram Stoker Award for Lifetime Achievement (in 1987, from the Horror Writers Association), and the First Fandom Hall of Fame Award (1977).

Reviews

[Craig · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an exceptionally lovely little volume of poetry. Long was a pulp writer who's not nearly as well remembered as H.P. Lovecraft or Robert E. Howard or even Clark Ashton Smith, though he was a part of their literary circle. (In fact, Lovecraft himself helped publish an early edition of some of the poems collected here.) His poetry is quite traditional in classic structure of meter and rhyme, though his subjects are of the weird and fantastic at their best. The Goblin Tower, The Abominable Snow Men, and Stallions of the Moon, three of my favorites, are all titles that evoke the weird and wonderful. His vocabulary is rich, though not as impenetrable as Lovecraft occasionally became. This volume is printed on fine slick paper and includes some stunning Stephen Fabian illustrations... which is a redundant statement to those familiar with his work. Arkham House sold this little hard-bound gem for six dollars when it appeared in 1977; there aren't any deals around like that anymore!

[Karl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read in 1980. Purchased for the Stephen Fabian illustrations, stayed for the poetry.

[Jared · Rating 5 out of 5]

The inner flap of this book includes a quote from Frank Belknap Long.

"There are visions of strangeness and beauty which come to us when we are quite young and remain with us until we are too old to dream."

This describes the haunting poetry in this lovely little book very well. The book is very captivating. There's some magic here. I'm glad I took the time to read this one.

This is four stars from me, but an extra star for a beautifully bound book of poetry with lovely illustrations.

[Jeff · Rating 3 out of 5]

Frank Belknap Long was no great shakes as a poet, but nonetheless there are some worthwhile pieces in this slim volume. At least one star of my rating is for the physical presentation alone - Arkham House did a great job on this volume, and Stephen Fabian's illustrations end up stealing the show from Long's poetry!

[Julian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not much innovation here but the poems are sincere without being cliche and generally superior to those of HPL. They stand with the finer poems of Clark Ashton Smith, if not better.