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The Horrors of Mars
The Horrors of Mars by Clark Ashton SmithFour stories with two alternate versions about the horrors to be found on Mars, the Red Planet.
The Planet Entity (1931)Chapter II. Shanghaied Into SpaceChapter III. The Giant of MarsChapter IV. The Astounding Creation!Chapter V. The Return to EarthChapter VI. The Martian’s Power
Dweller in Martian Depths (1933) —Into the planet’s bowels they went in search of fabulous wealth. . . but they found waiting for them the grim dweller. . . .
The Dweller in the Gulf
The Vaults of Yoh-Vombis (1932) —A powerful story of a nightmare horror, a weird vampirism spawned in the caverns of the red planet
The Vaults of Yoh-Vombis (Original Version)
Vulthoom (1935) —A weird-scientific story of two Earthmen on Mars—a tale of frightful tortures and eery horrors in the subterranean caverns of the red planet, and a doom that menaced Earth
The Planet Entity (1931)Chapter II. Shanghaied Into SpaceChapter III. The Giant of MarsChapter IV. The Astounding Creation!Chapter V. The Return to EarthChapter VI. The Martian’s Power
Dweller in Martian Depths (1933) —Into the planet’s bowels they went in search of fabulous wealth. . . but they found waiting for them the grim dweller. . . .
The Dweller in the Gulf
The Vaults of Yoh-Vombis (1932) —A powerful story of a nightmare horror, a weird vampirism spawned in the caverns of the red planet
The Vaults of Yoh-Vombis (Original Version)
Vulthoom (1935) —A weird-scientific story of two Earthmen on Mars—a tale of frightful tortures and eery horrors in the subterranean caverns of the red planet, and a doom that menaced Earth
202 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 27, 2021
About the author
Clark Ashton Smith
775 books1,065 followersClark Ashton Smith was a poet, sculptor, painter and author of fantasy, horror and science fiction short stories. It is for these stories, and his literary friendship with H. P. Lovecraft from 1922 until Lovecraft's death in 1937, that he is mainly remembered today. With Lovecraft and Robert E. Howard, also a friend and correspondent, Smith remains one of the most famous contributors to the pulp magazine Weird Tales.
His writings are posted at his official website.
His writings are posted at his official website.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
September 23, 2025
Four novellas set on Mars, which--according to Clark Ashton Smith--is not a nice place to visit.
"The Planet Entity" is not Smith's best. The plot for this one was actually submitted to Wonder Stories magazine by a reader as part of a contest, with Smith then given the job of writing the actual story. It's not bad, but doesn't generate the horrific atmosphere that is normally one of Smith's strongpoints. It just kind of plods along until it comes to an unsatisfying ending.
"The Dweller in the Gulf" and "The Vaults of Yoh-Vombis" were both re-written before publication in ways Smith did not care for. This book features both the original and the published versions, allowing us to see that Smith was right, by golly. In both cases, the original versions trip with an tatmosphere of horror and dread that the re-writes diluted. This is Clark Ashton Smith at his best.
"Vulthoom" is Smith's last Mars story and, though not quite as good as "Vaults" or "Dweller," gives us an alien menace that would have fit perfectly into Lovecraft's Cthulhu cycle.
It should be noted that "Vaults," "Dwellers" and "Vulthoom" are all set on the same version of Mars. It really is a planet that you want to avoid. Maybe go to Venus instead.
"The Planet Entity" is not Smith's best. The plot for this one was actually submitted to Wonder Stories magazine by a reader as part of a contest, with Smith then given the job of writing the actual story. It's not bad, but doesn't generate the horrific atmosphere that is normally one of Smith's strongpoints. It just kind of plods along until it comes to an unsatisfying ending.
"The Dweller in the Gulf" and "The Vaults of Yoh-Vombis" were both re-written before publication in ways Smith did not care for. This book features both the original and the published versions, allowing us to see that Smith was right, by golly. In both cases, the original versions trip with an tatmosphere of horror and dread that the re-writes diluted. This is Clark Ashton Smith at his best.
"Vulthoom" is Smith's last Mars story and, though not quite as good as "Vaults" or "Dweller," gives us an alien menace that would have fit perfectly into Lovecraft's Cthulhu cycle.
It should be noted that "Vaults," "Dwellers" and "Vulthoom" are all set on the same version of Mars. It really is a planet that you want to avoid. Maybe go to Venus instead.
October 20, 2026
I remember liking this stuff more years ago. It remains atmospheric but now seems very bleak.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews