Weird Tales 1

Weird Tales #1

by Lin Carter (Editor/ Contributor), Robert E. Howard (Contributor), Mary Elizabeth Counselman (Contributor)

A collection of the kind of stories that might have appeared in the old Weird Tales magazine. This contains some very interesting pieces by Robert E. Howard, Clark Ashton Smith, and David H. Keller. These are mostly either unpublished works by folks who wrote for the original Weird Tales, or new stories by people like Ramsey Campbell in the same vein.

Contents:

* "Introduction" (Lin Carter)
* "Scarlet Tears" (Robert E. Howard)
* "Down There" (Ramsey Campbell)
* "The Light From the Pole" (Clark Ashton Smith and Lin Carter)
* "Someone Named Guibourg" (Hannes Bok)
* "Annals of Arkya: 1. The Courier" (poem) (Robert A. W. Lowndes)
* "Annals of Arkya: 2. The Worshippers" (poem) (Robert A. W. Lowndes)
* "Bat's Belfry" (August Derleth)
* "The Pit" (Carl Jacobi)
* "When the Clock Strikes" (Tanith Lee)
* "Red Thunder" (poem) (Robert E. Howard)
* "Some Day I'll Kill You!" (Seabury Quinn)
* "Healer" (Mary Elizabeth Counselman)
* "The House Without Mirrors" (David H. Keller, M.D. )
* "Dreams in the House of Weir" (Lin Carter)

Genres: Horror, Fantasy, Anthologies, Fiction, Short Stories

272 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1981

About the author

Lin Carter was an American author, editor, and critic best known for his influential role in fantasy literature during the mid-20th century. Born in St. Petersburg, Florida, he developed an early passion for myth, adventure stories, and imaginative fiction, drawing inspiration from authors such as Edgar Rice Burroughs, Robert E. Howard, H. P. Lovecraft, and J. R. R. Tolkien. After serving in the U.S. Army, Carter attended Columbia University, where he honed his literary skills and deepened his knowledge of classical and medieval literature, myth, and folklore — elements that would become central to his work.
Carter authored numerous novels, short stories, and critical studies, often working within the sword-and-sorcery and high fantasy traditions. His own creations, such as the “Thongor of Lemuria” series, paid homage to pulp-era adventure fiction while adding his distinctive voice and world-building style. His nonfiction book Tolkien: A Look Behind The Lord of the Rings was one of the first major studies of Tolkien’s work and its mythological roots, and it helped establish Carter as a knowledgeable commentator on fantasy literature.
Beyond his own writing, Carter was a central figure in bringing classic and forgotten works of fantasy back into print. As editor of the Ballantine Adult Fantasy series from 1969 to 1974, he curated and introduced dozens of volumes, reintroducing readers to authors such as William Morris, Lord Dunsany, E. R. Eddison, and James Branch Cabell. His introductions not only contextualized these works historically and literarily but also encouraged a new generation to explore the breadth of the fantasy tradition.
Carter was also active in the shared literary universe of the “Cthulhu Mythos,” expanding upon the creations of H. P. Lovecraft and other members of the “Lovecraft Circle.” His collaborations and solo contributions in this genre further cemented his reputation as both a creative writer and a literary preservationist.
In addition to fiction and criticism, Carter was an active member of several science fiction and fantasy organizations, including the Science Fiction Writers of America. He frequently appeared at conventions, where he was known for his enthusiasm, deep knowledge of the genre, and willingness to mentor aspiring writers.
Though sometimes critiqued for the derivative nature of some of his work, Carter’s influence on the fantasy revival of the late 20th century remains significant. His combination of creative output, editorial vision, and scholarly enthusiasm helped bridge the gap between the pulp traditions of the early 1900s and the expansive fantasy publishing boom that followed.
Lin Carter’s legacy endures through his own imaginative tales, his critical studies, and the many classic works he rescued from obscurity, ensuring their place in the canon of fantasy literature for generations to come.

Reviews

[Craig · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the first issue of an attempt to revive Weird Tales magazine in mass-market paperback format; it appeared in 1980 and was edited by Lin Carter. Carter did an exemplary job of assembling pieces from most of the most famous authors closely associated with the classic years of Weird Tales, including a story and a poem from Robert E. Howard, a story by Clark Ashton Smith, and he reprinted an obscure Seabury Quinn story that had appeared in a rival magazine in 1941. The only notable omission is H.P. Lovecraft, I believe. There's also a story by August Derleth reprinted from Weird Tales' May, 1926 issue, but all of the other selections appeared here for the first time. There are three stories from more modern well-known writers, Carter himself, Tanith Lee, and Ramsey Campbell, as well as pieces from other well-known names from days-gone-by including Hannes Bok, Carl Jacobi, Robert A.W. Lowndes (who was better known as an editor; I believe he's credited with purchasing Stephen King's first story), Dr. David H. Keller, M.D., and Mary Elizabeth Counselman. Some of the works are quite dated, of course, but they're all fun and spirited tales. It was a very impressive debut effort from Carter, who also contributed interesting commentary throughout.

[Charles · Rating 4 out of 5]

A collection of the kind of stories that might have appeared in the old Weird Tales magazine. This contains some very interesting pieces by Robert E. Howard, Clark Ashton Smith, and David H. Keller. These are mostly either unpublished works by folks who wrote for the original Weird Tales, or new stories by people like Ramsey Campbell in the same vein.

This was supposed to mark a revival of "Weird Tales" as a paperback series.

[David Fackelman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fans of Weird Tales should enjoy this collection. The contributing authors to Weird Tales set the stage for later writers by stretching the boundaries of imagination, sometimes even to the realm of ridiculous just to see if it could be done and recording it to establish the permanent markers for "weird" on the literary landscape. As I read these stories, the resultant derivatives from later storytellers in books, movies and television came to mind easily one after another which confirms the tremendous, often unknown or unappreciated impact that Weird Tales has had upon the later creative culture. That contributory connection to the subsequent generations of writers may make Weird Tales accessible to those unfamiliar with Weird Tales; the best analogy I can draw would be fans of the various incarnations of The Twilight Zone can be fans of the stories from Weird Tales as not only did some Weird Tales authors contribute to The Twilight Zone but many stories from The Twilight Zone were variations or derivatives of Weird Tales stories. For me, Weird Tales stories are accessible short stories with often simple, fun and yet interesting plots. Absolutely enjoyable!

[NOLA Bert · Rating 4 out of 5]

I decided to read some weird stories for the month of October. I like the mix of stories that fall under the Weird Tales name, not exactly horror fiction, although that describes quite a few stories. Although it was published as a paperback, this series, edited by Lin Carter, was a continuation of the magazine in the 80s. The decision to switch to a paperback format was the belief that paperbacks were a more viable format at the time these were published. My favorite stories in this issue were Robert E. Howard’s “Scarlet Tears,” Ramsey Campbell’s “Down There,” “Someone Named Guibourg” by Hannes Bok, August Derleth’s first Weird Tales story, “Bat’s Belfry,” originally published in Weird Tales in May 1926, “The Pit” by Carl Jacobi, “Someday I’ll Kill You” by Seabury Quinn, and “Dreams in the House of Weir,” a Cthulhu tale by Lin Carter. My favorite of them all was Carl Jacobi’s “The Pit.” This was my first introduction to Jacobi’s stories. Jacobi goes back to the Farnsworth Wright era of WT. But this was a new story (at the time), published in this anthology. I need to read more of his stories!

[Morgan Chalfant · Rating 4 out of 5]

Howard is his usual awesome self. Some of the other writers in here really stand out too. As with any anthology book, some stories shine more than others. Among the ones who really rise to the surface are Carl Jacobi's "The Pit" and Howard's "Scarlet Tears," both which kept my attention handily (especially Jacobi's story).

[Faith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Solid stories. Was surprised MInnesota was basis for 2 of them!