The Collected Fantasies of Clark Ashton Smith, Volume 4: The Maze of the Enchanter Book

This fourth volume of Smith's Collected Stories is something of a mixed bag. Although some of his best and best known tales are here (Genius Loci, The Dark Eidolon) the strain of economic necessity shows through more than it did in volume 3. Smith was forced to crank out tales, too many and too fast, to take care of his ailing parents. Unlike H.P. Lovecraft, who resisted editorial meddling, Smith was all too willing to make editorial changes to his stories in order to make them more saleable. This is certainly forgivable but also lamentable since Smith is at times such a fine writer of the truly weird tale when he isn't meddled with. Too many of the stories here exhibit a sameness that dulls the better ones. Take it in small bites and it will taste better.