Clark Ashton Smith

1893–1961

1 series 3 books in order

Clark Ashton Smith (1893–1961) was an American writer and artist known for his poetry and fiction. He gained early recognition through the support of George Sterling, and was associated with the West Coast Romantics, including Joaquin Miller, Nora May French, and Sterling. He was referred to as "The Last of the Great Romantics" and "The Bard of Auburn." Smith was part of the "big three of Weird Tales" alongside Robert E. Howard and H. P. Lovecraft. His work was praised by contemporaries, including Lovecraft, who called him "perhaps unexcelled" in "daemonic strangeness and fertility of conception," and Ray Bradbury, who noted Smith's imaginative worlds. Smith was a member of the Lovecraft circle and maintained a literary friendship with Lovecraft from 1922 until Lovecraft's death in 1937. His writing featured a rich vocabulary, a cosmic perspective, and a sardonic or ribald sense of humor. Smith described his style as using "verbal black magic" to create an illusion of the impossible.

Born: 1893
Known for: Ballantine Adult Fantasy series

Series by Clark Ashton Smith

Ballantine Adult Fantasy series

22 books in order · 1922–1973

Don Rodriguez: Chronicles of Shadow Valley

1922 · Lord Dunsany

Don Rodriguez: Chronicles of Shadow Valley is a fantasy novel by Lord Dunsany. It was first published in 1922 in the United States under this title…
Read more →
Buy on Amazon
Dragons, Elves, and Heroes

1969

Dragons, Elves, and Heroes is an American fantasy anthology edited by Lin Carter. It was first published in October 1969 by Ballantine Books as the…
Read more →
Buy on Amazon
The Young Magicians

1969

The Young Magicians is an American anthology of fantasy short stories edited by Lin Carter. It was first published in October 1969 by Ballantine…
Read more →
Buy on Amazon
Golden Cities, Far

1970

*Golden Cities, Far* is an anthology of fantasy short stories edited by American writer Lin Carter. It was first published in October 1970 as a…
Read more →
Buy on Amazon
Double Phoenix

1971 · Edmund Cooper

Double Phoenix is an anthology containing two fantasy novellas by Edmund Cooper and Roger Lancelyn Green, edited by Lin Carter. It was published in…
Read more →
Buy on Amazon
New Worlds for Old

1971

New Worlds for Old is an anthology of fantasy short stories edited by Lin Carter. It was first published in September 1971 by Ballantine Books as the…
Read more →
Buy on Amazon
Great Short Novels of Adult Fantasy I

1972

"Great Short Novels of Adult Fantasy I" is an anthology of fantasy novellas edited by American writer Lin Carter. It was first published in September…
Read more →
Buy on Amazon
Discoveries in Fantasy

1972 · Lin Carter

Discoveries in Fantasy is an anthology of fantasy short stories edited by American writer Lin Carter. It was first published in March 1972 as a…
Read more →
Buy on Amazon
Great Short Novels of Adult Fantasy Volume II

1973

Great Short Novels of Adult Fantasy Volume II is an anthology of fantasy novellas edited by American writer Lin Carter. It was first published in…
Read more →
Buy on Amazon
Imaginary Worlds – the Art of Fantasy

1973 · Lin Carter

Imaginary Worlds: the Art of Fantasy is a study of the modern literary fantasy genre written by Lin Carter. It was first published in 1973 as the…
Read more →
Buy on Amazon

Frequently asked questions

How many books has Clark Ashton Smith written?

We list 3 books by Clark Ashton Smith across 1 series, published between 1922–1973 — each shown in full reading order.

What order should I read Clark Ashton Smith's books?

Read each series in publication order. A good place to start is “Don Rodriguez: Chronicles of Shadow Valley.” Open any series above for its complete numbered reading order.

Where can I buy Clark Ashton Smith's books?

Every title links to Amazon from its series page — see our affiliate disclosure in the footer for how that supports the site.

Bibliography and reading orders compiled from verified bibliographic data. Spotted an error? We continuously correct the catalog.