In its third printing, Spores from Sharnoth and Other Madnesses, truly fulfils reviewers' comments it is a masterful professional debut collection from leading Australian weird literary figure, Leigh Blackmore.  The collection "establishes Blackmore as one of the leading weird poets of our time, fit to be mentioned with the likes of Bruce Boston, G. Sutton Breiding, Ann K. Schwader ..." -S. T. Joshi. "It belongs on the same shelf with August Derleth's Dark of the Moon and Lin Carter's Dreams from R'lyeh, to be treasured for its elegant lines, spooky sonnets, cosmic vistas, and, since Blackmore is a genuine poet and not just a pastichist, occasional departures from all expectations." -Darrell Schweitzer. "Magnifique! Sobresaliente! Mumtaaz! [Blackmore] definitely has the touch ..." -Richard L. Tierney.  Within are devotions to H. P. Lovecraft and the Cthulhu Mythos, Clark Ashton Smith, Arthur Machen, and paeans to the gods of Poetry. Wonderful poetry of fantasy, the supernatural and dark imagination abounds within this fine Antipodean collection. Sheila Merritt reflects, "In his evocative embracing of American horror authors ... poet Blackmore shows that writers' influences know no boundaries. Lands may separate, but literature unites."  Through their P'rea Press offerings, Blackmore and fellow Australian poet Kyla Lee Ward (The Land of Bad Dreams, 2011) are surely one with the international weird poetry universe.  Scott E. Green observes, Blackmore "has no hesitation to go beyond Lovecraft and sonnets in writing excellent poetry of the weird." Poetic forms represented include the sonnet, haiku, quatrain, and blank narrative verse. Donald Sidney-Fryer notes the collection's "Outstanding technical quality ... deeply felt and well-crafted poems."  The third reprint has an updated bibliography; includes the 2nd reprint's revisions by Blackmore, making these the definitive texts. The cover has fantastic new coloring by artist, Gavin O'Keefe, and the always superb interior book-designing of David E. Schultz. With a Foreword by US critic and scholar S. T. Joshi, and an introduction by the editors of P'rea Press, Spores from Sharnoth and Other Madnesses' third printing is an essential acquisition for enthusiasts of weird and dark fantastic verse.

Spores from Sharnoth and Other Madnesses

Literature & Fiction

Blackmore, Leigh

Joshi, Author S T

Poetry

P'rea Press

Emperors of Dreams: Some Notes on Weird Poetry

S.T. Joshi

Emperors Of Dreams

<p>In Kyla Lee Ward's The Land of Bad Dreams, are discovered valuable truths and dark poetry revealing a beauty inaccessible both to reason and to daylight. Praised by the US Rhysling Poet 2010, Ann Schwader, as "a rich, eccentric miscellany ... skilfully crafted and strangely wrought," the twenty-two poems and three prose vignettes showcased here display Ward's mastery of contemporary and traditional poetic forms, and her rare consciousness of fantasy, ancient, medieval, gothic and current dark themes. Editorial direction by Australia's Charles Lovecraft achieves high quality presentation with an Introduction, Interview with Ward, Alphabetical List of Titles, Index of First Lines, Glossary and Selected Bibliography of the poet. Ward's fourteen atmospheric illustrations and brilliant cover art, with cover design by David Schembri Studios, and book design by Milwaukee's David E. Schultz confirm this as a collector's piece. Published by P'rea Press of Sydney, Australia in September 2011 and reprinted in February 2016 in impressive larger paperback format. www.preapress.com</p>

The Land of Bad Dreams

Ward, Kyla Lee

Poetry readers and fantasy connoisseurs the world over have treasured "A Wine of Wizardry" and "The Hashish-Eater" for almost a century. Written by George Sterling in 1904 and Clark Ashton Smith in 1920 respectively, these poems have been the supporting lintel and threshold to a fantastic doorway of the imagination for generations of enthralled readers. Now at last there is a contemporary response to these masterworks from poets as diverse and distinguished as Richard L. Tierney, Bruce Boston, Alan Gullette, Leigh Blackmore, Michael Fantina, Wade German, Earl Livings, and Kyla Lee Ward. Their magnificent poems evoke the enduring, timeless qualities of Sterling's and Smith's masterpieces and rework the spell to enthral a new generation. "We seem to be in the midst of a renaissance of fantastic poetry, as the present volume attests. The poets in this book have found in their work the inspiration to weave a tapestry of weirdness that stands as a substantial contribution to the fantastic verse of our own time. Connoisseurs of poetry know what aesthetic pleasures are in store for them when they read vivid, meticulously crafted work such as is contained in this book." S. T. Joshi (author Supernatural Literature of the World, I Am Providence, H. P. Lovecraft: A Comprehensive Bibliography) "Inspired by George Sterling and Clark Ashton Smith, yet fueled by the twenty-first century talents of celebrated poets from both hemispheres, this collection of vintages has something for every rarefied taste. From hashish dreams to psychic expeditions through deep space-time, here are experiences not to be found elsewhere. Sip slowly, and revel in the flight." Ann K. Schwader (author Twisted in Dream, In the Yaddith Time, Wild Hunt of the Stars, Dark Energies) "A feast of fantastic verse, a special delight for Klarkash-tonians who need no further reassurance that the stately, cosmic tradition represented by such masterpieces as 'The Star-Treader' and 'The Hashish-Eater' is alive and well." Darrell Schweitzer (author Pathways to Elfland, Windows of the Imagination, Exploring Fantasy Worlds)

Avatars of Wizardry: Poetry Inspired by George Sterling's A Wine of Wizardry and Clark Ashton Smith's The Hashish-Eater

Smith, Clark Ashton

Sterling, George

The Macabre Modern and Other Morbidities

Award-winning poet Kyla Lee Ward invites you to whistle past the graveyard and get on your dancing shoes! Inspired by the fourteenth century “Danse Macabre” (the Dance of Death), The Macabre Modern transcends time and updates for contemporary readers the allegorical, medieval concept of the universality of death. Defy death with the doctor. Mourn with the soldier. Indulge in the rich, weird traditions of Ancient Egypt and the Victorians, as you trip over the unspeakable at your own front door. Chuckle at the grotesque and the fallible but remember—the last laugh will be on you! With a sharp wit, compelling satire, and fervent, feverish imagination, Ward generates fiendishly compelling vignettes of the human drama, and offers a profound reflection on life. “Have your absinthe glass and your favourite memento mori at hand as you savour this, Ward’s breathtaking new volume of vers fantastique.” Leigh Blackmore, editor Terror Australis. “What a great collection, fantastically illustrated by the author.” Marge Simon, Science Fiction Poetry Association (SFPA) Grand Master. “Kyla Ward’s poetry is accessible, immediate, gripping. And she is bold enough to use traditional rhyme.” Peter Cannon, Senior Reviews Editor Publishers Weekly (New York). “Kyla Lee Ward puts satisfying meat on the Gothic’s bones. A must for aficionados of literary dark verse.” Ann K. Schwader, SFPA Grand Master, Rhysling winner, and HWA Bram Stoker finalist. “With each new work she produces, Kyla Lee Ward makes clear why she should be regarded as one of the preeminent exemplars of contemporary weird poetry.” S. T. Joshi, multiple award-winning literary critic, author I Am Providence, and editor Supernatural Literature of the World.

Arts & Photography

JOSHI, S.T.

POLACK

History & Criticism

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