Poseidonis

Poseidonis is a 1973 collection of fantasy short stories, prose poems, and poems by Clark Ashton Smith, published as part of Ballantine's Adult Fantasy series. The collection features works originally published in magazines like Weird Tales during the 1930s and 1940s. The book is organized into four distinct sections: Poseidonis, Lemuria, Ptolemides, and Other Realms. The Poseidonis section centers on tales set in the last remnant of Atlantis, while other sections transport readers to mythical lands including the lost continent of Lemuria. Each section opens with an editor's note by Lin Carter, who curated this collection. The stories range from dark fantasy to mythological fiction, incorporating elements of sorcery, ancient civilizations, and otherworldly encounters. The collection showcases Smith's unique approach to fantasy literature, blending elements of the weird tale tradition with classical mythology and lost world narratives. His work explores themes of decay, immortality, and humanity's relationship with the supernatural.

Readers call this collection of Smith's Poseidonis tales atmospheric but uneven. Many note that it captures the author's signature poetic prose and otherworldly imagination. What readers liked: -Rich, ornate language and vivid descriptions -Unique blend of fantasy and horror elements -The decadent, dying civilization setting -Shorter length compared to other Smith works What readers disliked: -Stories can feel disconnected and fragmented -Dense writing style takes effort to parse -Some find the archaic vocabulary pretentious -Limited character development Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (126 ratings) Amazon: No ratings available One reader notes: "Smith's purple prose works better in these bite-sized stories than his longer works." Another comments: "Beautiful language but exhausting to read in large doses." The collection has limited reviews online, as it's one of Smith's more obscure works and has been out of print for extended periods.

The Dream-Quest of Unknown Kadath by H. P. Lovecraft A dreamlike journey through fantastical realms captures the same sense of mythological wonder and lost civilizations found in Poseidonis.

The King of Elfland's Daughter by Lord Dunsany The tale of a magical realm beyond mortal lands echoes Smith's treatment of mythical places like Poseidonis and Lemuria.

The Night Land by William Hope Hodgson This far-future tale of a dying Earth and ancient powers mirrors Smith's themes of decay and lost civilizations.

The Broken Sword by Poul Anderson The integration of Norse mythology and dark fantasy elements reflects Smith's approach to blending mythology with weird fiction.

The Well of the Unicorn by Fletcher Pratt The narrative of sorcery and forgotten kingdoms contains the same mix of mythology and dark fantasy present in Smith's work.

🌊 Smith wrote most of these tales while working as a fruit picker and gardener in Auburn, California, composing stories in his head during manual labor 📚 He was part of the "Weird Tales triumvirate" alongside H.P. Lovecraft and Robert E. Howard, though he never achieved their level of commercial success during his lifetime 🗺️ The name "Poseidonis" was inspired by Plato's dialogues about Atlantis, specifically referencing the god Poseidon who was said to rule over the legendary continent 🖋️ Unlike many of his contemporaries, Smith was first known as a poet, having published his first collection "The Star-Treader and Other Poems" at age 19 with help from George Sterling 🌟 The Ballantine Adult Fantasy series, which published this collection, was groundbreaking for its time (1969-1974) in bringing forgotten fantasy classics back into print for modern readers