Was writer Clark Ashton Smith a secret member of a deranged alchemical brotherhood who sought to create the Philosopher’s Stone? Were his strange sculptures merely discarded examples of that endeavour, leached of their divine spark ? No. He wasn’t, they weren’t, and we’re very sorry.

However, Smith was credited with the creation of the legendary Book of Eibon, used in stories by both him and H P Lovecraft, and the invention of the monstrous Ubbo-Sathla. Both of these are relevant to today’s little exploration of The Arte Mephitic a new project by author and poet Phil Breach and artist and illustrator Russell Olson.

Continue reading How to Survive Mephitis: Clark Ashton Smith & The Arte Mephitic →