The California poet and fantaisiste Clark Ashton Smith (1893-1961) created many imaginary worlds, but none so imbued with terror and strangeness as the realm of Averoigne, set in medieval France. In the dozen tales of this cycle, Smith found a convenient means to indulge his taste for some of the venerable motifs of supernatural fiction-the witch, the sorcerer, the lamia, the quest for eternal life-while also incorporating elements of anti-religious satire and eroticism.

"A Night in Malnéant" introduces the cycle, where a traveler to Averoigne finds himself falling under the sway of the dead Lady Mariel. "The Holiness of Azedarac" features the Bishop of Nimes, who in spite of his impiety becomes a saint. "The Maker of Gargoyles" tells of gargoyles that may come to life and wreak havoc on the populace.

"The Disinterment of Venus" is a pungent satire on the sexually inexperienced monks of Périgon. "Mother of Toads" exhibits the loathsome Mère Antoinette, a witch who commands legions of toads. "The Beast of Averoigne" and other tales incorporate elements of H. P. Lovecraft's Cthulhu Mythos in ingenious and innovative ways.

This volume also inclu*es Smith's poems and prose poems relating to Averoigne. All the texts have been corrected from previous editions, and the striking artwork of David Ho is also inclu*ed. Introduced by Gahan Wilson, and with an afterword by Donald Sidney-Fryer, The Averoigne Chronicles is a rich feast of terror and seduction for all devotees of weird fantasy.