Literary Swordsmen and Sorcerers
Encyclopedia
Literary Swordsmen and Sorcerers: the Makers of Heroic Fantasy is a 1976 work of collective biography
on the formative authors of the heroic fantasy
genre by L. Sprague de Camp
, published by Arkham House
in an edition of 5,431 copies. Most of its chapters are revised versions of articles that initially appeared in the magazine Fantastic
from 1971-1976.
The work presents the history of the genre through a discussion of the lives and works of its most important early writers. After a general survey of the development of modern fantasy, individual chapters deal with William Morris
, Lord Dunsany
, H. P. Lovecraft
, E. R. Eddison
, Robert E. Howard
, Fletcher Pratt
, Clark Ashton Smith
, J. R. R. Tolkien
, and T. H. White
. A final chapter concerns lesser or later literary lights C. L. Moore
, Leslie Barringer
, Nictzin Dyalhis
, Clifford Ball
, Henry Kuttner
, Norvell W. Page
and Fritz Leiber
.
The book includes an introduction by de Camp's colleague Lin Carter
, who remedies what he considers de Camp's most egregious omission by providing a profile of de Camp himself (also a formative author in the genre).
De Camp also produced separate full-length biographies of two of the authors treated, H. P. Lovecraft (Lovecraft: a Biography
(1975)) and Robert E. Howard (Dark Valley Destiny: the Life of Robert E. Howard
(1983)).
praised de Camp as "an honest, thoroughgoing, and effective researcher, declaring that LS&S "will almost instantly become a standard reference."
Biography
A biography is a detailed description or account of someone's life. More than a list of basic facts , biography also portrays the subject's experience of those events...
on the formative authors of the heroic fantasy
Heroic fantasy
Heroic fantasy is a sub-genre of fantasy which chronicles the tales of heroes in imaginary lands. Unlike stories of sword and sorcery, heroic fantasy narratives tend to be intricate in plot, often involving many peoples, nations and lands. Grand battles and the fate of the world are common themes,...
genre by L. Sprague de Camp
L. Sprague de Camp
Lyon Sprague de Camp was an American author of science fiction and fantasy books, non-fiction and biography. In a writing career spanning 60 years, he wrote over 100 books, including novels and notable works of non-fiction, including biographies of other important fantasy authors...
, published by Arkham House
Arkham House
Arkham House is a publishing house specializing in weird fiction founded in Sauk City, Wisconsin in 1939 by August Derleth and Donald Wandrei to preserve in hardcover the best fiction of H.P. Lovecraft. The company's name is derived from Lovecraft's fictional New England city, Arkham. Arkham House...
in an edition of 5,431 copies. Most of its chapters are revised versions of articles that initially appeared in the magazine Fantastic
Fantastic (magazine)
Fantastic was an American digest-size fantasy and science fiction magazine, published from 1952 to 1980. It was founded by Ziff-Davis as a fantasy companion to Amazing Stories. Early sales were good, and Ziff-Davis quickly decided to switch Amazing from pulp format to digest, and to cease...
from 1971-1976.
The work presents the history of the genre through a discussion of the lives and works of its most important early writers. After a general survey of the development of modern fantasy, individual chapters deal with William Morris
William Morris
William Morris 24 March 18343 October 1896 was an English textile designer, artist, writer, and socialist associated with the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood and the English Arts and Crafts Movement...
, Lord Dunsany
Edward Plunkett, 18th Baron Dunsany
Edward John Moreton Drax Plunkett, 18th Baron of Dunsany was an Irish writer and dramatist, notable for his work, mostly in fantasy, published under the name Lord Dunsany...
, H. P. Lovecraft
H. P. Lovecraft
Howard Phillips Lovecraft --often credited as H.P. Lovecraft — was an American author of horror, fantasy and science fiction, especially the subgenre known as weird fiction....
, E. R. Eddison
Eric Rucker Eddison
Eric Rücker Eddison was an English civil servant and author, writing under the name "E.R. Eddison."-Biography:...
, Robert E. Howard
Robert E. Howard
Robert Ervin Howard was an American author who wrote pulp fiction in a diverse range of genres. Best known for his character Conan the Barbarian, he is regarded as the father of the sword and sorcery subgenre....
, Fletcher Pratt
Fletcher Pratt
Murray Fletcher Pratt was an American writer of science fiction, fantasy and history, particularly noted for his works on naval history and on the American Civil War.- Life and work :...
, Clark Ashton Smith
Clark Ashton Smith
Clark Ashton Smith was a self-educated American poet, sculptor, painter and author of fantasy, horror and science fiction short stories. He achieved early local recognition, largely through the enthusiasm of George Sterling, for traditional verse in the vein of Swinburne...
, J. R. R. Tolkien
J. R. R. Tolkien
John Ronald Reuel Tolkien, CBE was an English writer, poet, philologist, and university professor, best known as the author of the classic high fantasy works The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and The Silmarillion.Tolkien was Rawlinson and Bosworth Professor of Anglo-Saxon at Pembroke College,...
, and T. H. White
T. H. White
Terence Hanbury White was an English author best known for his sequence of Arthurian novels, The Once and Future King, first published together in 1958.-Biography:...
. A final chapter concerns lesser or later literary lights C. L. Moore
C. L. Moore
Catherine Lucille Moore was an American science fiction and fantasy writer, as C. L. Moore. She was one of the first women to write in the genre, and paved the way for many other female writers in speculative fiction....
, Leslie Barringer
Leslie Barringer
Leslie Barringer was an English editor and author of historical novels and historical fantasy novels, best known for the latter.-Life:...
, Nictzin Dyalhis
Nictzin Dyalhis
Nictzin Wilstone Dyalhis was an American chemist and short story writer who specialized in the genres of science fiction and fantasy. He wrote as Nictzin Dyalhis...
, Clifford Ball
Clifford Ball
Clifford Ball was an American fantasy writer whose primary distinction was having been one of the earliest post-Howard writers in the sword and sorcery subgenre of fantasy....
, Henry Kuttner
Henry Kuttner
Henry Kuttner was an American author of science fiction, fantasy and horror.-Early life:Henry Kuttner was born in Los Angeles, California in 1915...
, Norvell W. Page
Norvell W. Page
Norvell Wordsworth Page was an American pulp fiction writer, journalist and editor who later became a government intelligence worker. He is best known as the author of the majority of the adventures of the ruthless vigilante hero The Spider, which he and a handful of other writers wrote under the...
and Fritz Leiber
Fritz Leiber
Fritz Reuter Leiber, Jr. was an American writer of fantasy, horror and science fiction. He was also a poet, actor in theatre and films, playwright, expert chess player and a champion fencer. Possibly his greatest chess accomplishment was winning clear first in the 1958 Santa Monica Open.. With...
.
The book includes an introduction by de Camp's colleague Lin Carter
Lin Carter
Linwood Vrooman Carter was an American author of science fiction and fantasy, as well as an editor and critic. He usually wrote as Lin Carter; known pseudonyms include H. P. Lowcraft and Grail Undwin.-Life:Carter was born in St. Petersburg, Florida...
, who remedies what he considers de Camp's most egregious omission by providing a profile of de Camp himself (also a formative author in the genre).
De Camp also produced separate full-length biographies of two of the authors treated, H. P. Lovecraft (Lovecraft: a Biography
Lovecraft: a Biography
Lovecraft: a Biography is a 1975 biography of the writer H. P. Lovecraft by science-fiction writer L. Sprague de Camp, first published in hardcover by Doubleday in February 1975. A later hardcover edition was issued by Barnes & Noble in January 1996. The first paperback edition, corrected and...
(1975)) and Robert E. Howard (Dark Valley Destiny: the Life of Robert E. Howard
Dark Valley Destiny: the Life of Robert E. Howard
Dark Valley Destiny: the Life of Robert E. Howard is a biography of the writer Robert E. Howard by science-fiction writer L. Sprague de Camp in collaboration with Catherine Crook de Camp and Jane Whittington Griffin, first in hardcover published by Bluejay Books in 1983...
(1983)).
Contents
Literary Swordsmen and Sorcerers: the Makers of Heroic Fantasy contains the following:- "Introduction: Neomythology", by Lin CarterLin CarterLinwood Vrooman Carter was an American author of science fiction and fantasy, as well as an editor and critic. He usually wrote as Lin Carter; known pseudonyms include H. P. Lowcraft and Grail Undwin.-Life:Carter was born in St. Petersburg, Florida...
- I. "The Swords of Faërie"
- II. "Jack of All Arts: William MorrisWilliam MorrisWilliam Morris 24 March 18343 October 1896 was an English textile designer, artist, writer, and socialist associated with the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood and the English Arts and Crafts Movement...
" - III. "Two Men in One: Lord Dunsany"
- IV. "Eldritch Yankee Gentleman: H. P. LovecraftH. P. LovecraftHoward Phillips Lovecraft --often credited as H.P. Lovecraft — was an American author of horror, fantasy and science fiction, especially the subgenre known as weird fiction....
" - V. "Superman in a Bowler: E.R. EddisonEric Rucker EddisonEric Rücker Eddison was an English civil servant and author, writing under the name "E.R. Eddison."-Biography:...
" - VI. "The Miscast Barbarian: Robert E. HowardRobert E. HowardRobert Ervin Howard was an American author who wrote pulp fiction in a diverse range of genres. Best known for his character Conan the Barbarian, he is regarded as the father of the sword and sorcery subgenre....
" - VII. "Parallel Worlds: Fletcher PrattFletcher PrattMurray Fletcher Pratt was an American writer of science fiction, fantasy and history, particularly noted for his works on naval history and on the American Civil War.- Life and work :...
" - VIII. "Sierran Shaman: Clark Ashton SmithClark Ashton SmithClark Ashton Smith was a self-educated American poet, sculptor, painter and author of fantasy, horror and science fiction short stories. He achieved early local recognition, largely through the enthusiasm of George Sterling, for traditional verse in the vein of Swinburne...
" - IX. "Merlin in Tweeds: J.R.R. Tolkien"
- X. "The Architect of Camelot: T.H. White"
- XI. "Conan's Compeers"
- Notes
- Index
Reception
Richard A. LupoffRichard A. Lupoff
Richard Allen Lupoff is an American science fiction and mystery author, who has also written humor, satire, non-fiction and reviews. In addition to his two dozen novels and more than 40 short stories, he has also edited science-fantasy anthologies. He is an expert on the writing of Edgar Rice...
praised de Camp as "an honest, thoroughgoing, and effective researcher, declaring that LS&S "will almost instantly become a standard reference."