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Dream Quest, v. 1, issue 1, July 1947
Page 6
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DREAM QUEST 6 He pried from the insect jaws the bright crumb of steel." SEVEN of the fantastic poems of Frank Belknap Long are here, previously obtainable only in fantastically rare limited editions, like THE GOBLIN TOWER, published by R. H. Barlow at his Dragon Fly Press in Florida, and in a limited edition of 100 copies of which only twenty were ever bound and distributed. A 25-page volume, most of its poems were originally published in "Weird Tales." I am unable to ascertain whether any of the Long poems are taken from his first volume A Man from Genoa, published by W. Paul Cook in 1926, inasmuch as I have never seen the contents of that publication listed. The two poems published of Francis Flagg, like others read elsewhere, show remarkable ability in powerful presentation of subject matter, a predominating virility of spirit and aptitude of phrasing that leads me to believe that others may yet "discover" Flagg. A liberal sampling of Robert E. Howard is rewarding, particularly in a work as outstanding as "Always Comes Evening," which almost tempts the reviewer to stick his neck out long enough to wonder if this is not a valid contribution to an anthology of great american verse. Howard shows adeptness at the ballad, and though he has some faults, not the least of which is a bit of clumsiness in phrasing, the fantasy fan will devour "Solomon Kand's Homecoming" with relish. Then there is Donals Wandrei's "Sonnets of the Midnight Hours," complete, which falls in the same category of weird poetry as Lovecraft's "Fungi from Yuggoth" and proves as enjoyable. Anthony Boucher, Leah Bodine Drake, Mary Elizabeth Counselman, and Duane W. Rimel, all well-known to the fan and the "Weird Tales" reader, are present. August W. Derleth treats us to a selection of his own work. Of all the present-day weirdists present, Derleth more than any other follows the modern style popularized by Carl Sandburg, which becomes evident even in an episodic poem like "Bart Hinch" which follows the line of Lovecraft's "Fungi" and Wandrei's "Sonnets," which, while patterned similarly, retains distinctively Derleth's own style. Derleth has shown a good deal of Boston's proverbial "Moxie" in presenting this collection, which I recommend unqualifiedly. I only hope that the stubbornness of viewpoint and purpose which has exasperated many fans in the past sets its mind upon a series of complete fantastic or related poetry by individual poets, such as Clark Ashton Smith, Frank Belknap Long, Robert E. Howard, etc., for that would satisfy my equally tenacious viewpoint as to what constitutes books worth collecting. --Sam Moskowitz ****
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DREAM QUEST 6 He pried from the insect jaws the bright crumb of steel." SEVEN of the fantastic poems of Frank Belknap Long are here, previously obtainable only in fantastically rare limited editions, like THE GOBLIN TOWER, published by R. H. Barlow at his Dragon Fly Press in Florida, and in a limited edition of 100 copies of which only twenty were ever bound and distributed. A 25-page volume, most of its poems were originally published in "Weird Tales." I am unable to ascertain whether any of the Long poems are taken from his first volume A Man from Genoa, published by W. Paul Cook in 1926, inasmuch as I have never seen the contents of that publication listed. The two poems published of Francis Flagg, like others read elsewhere, show remarkable ability in powerful presentation of subject matter, a predominating virility of spirit and aptitude of phrasing that leads me to believe that others may yet "discover" Flagg. A liberal sampling of Robert E. Howard is rewarding, particularly in a work as outstanding as "Always Comes Evening," which almost tempts the reviewer to stick his neck out long enough to wonder if this is not a valid contribution to an anthology of great american verse. Howard shows adeptness at the ballad, and though he has some faults, not the least of which is a bit of clumsiness in phrasing, the fantasy fan will devour "Solomon Kand's Homecoming" with relish. Then there is Donals Wandrei's "Sonnets of the Midnight Hours," complete, which falls in the same category of weird poetry as Lovecraft's "Fungi from Yuggoth" and proves as enjoyable. Anthony Boucher, Leah Bodine Drake, Mary Elizabeth Counselman, and Duane W. Rimel, all well-known to the fan and the "Weird Tales" reader, are present. August W. Derleth treats us to a selection of his own work. Of all the present-day weirdists present, Derleth more than any other follows the modern style popularized by Carl Sandburg, which becomes evident even in an episodic poem like "Bart Hinch" which follows the line of Lovecraft's "Fungi" and Wandrei's "Sonnets," which, while patterned similarly, retains distinctively Derleth's own style. Derleth has shown a good deal of Boston's proverbial "Moxie" in presenting this collection, which I recommend unqualifiedly. I only hope that the stubbornness of viewpoint and purpose which has exasperated many fans in the past sets its mind upon a series of complete fantastic or related poetry by individual poets, such as Clark Ashton Smith, Frank Belknap Long, Robert E. Howard, etc., for that would satisfy my equally tenacious viewpoint as to what constitutes books worth collecting. --Sam Moskowitz ****
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