Vol(taire Molesworth) was one of Australia's pulp writers, producing sf numerous novels in the 1940's. He also wrote Lovecraftian stories. While one of them, "Blinded They Fly" was recently reprinted in Marty Young's and Angela Challis' MACABRE anthology (Brimstone Press, 2010), most of his Lovecraftian tales have never been gathered - until now. With the assistance of Leigh Blackmore and James Doig, Graeme Phillips has produced a highly attractive Vol Molesworth Special Issue of his zine Cyaegha.
The issue includes Molesworth's tales "Let There Be Monsters!", "Arkaroo", and "Blinded They Fly", reprinted from the obscure sf periodicals where they first appeared. Additionally, Molesworth's article on Lovecraft, "A Modern Master of the Macabre", written for a 1949 issue of Arna, the literary journal of Sydney University, is included; and James Doig's overview on Molesworth, "Vol Molesworth's Lovecraftian Tales" (previously printed in Australian Studies in Weird Fiction) rounds out the issue. There is a cover portrait of Molesworth by Tom Hubble and a phoo of him inside the front cover, while the inside back and back covers reproduce the covers of various of Molesworth's books.
A figure little-known outside of Australian wartime sf, Molesworth deserves his place in history for these ventures into Lovecraftian horror. The 64-page staple-bound booklet will certainly appeal to Lovecraftian collectors.
Available by emailing Graeme Phillips at:cyaegha@live.co.uk.
See also cyaegha's webpage at: http://www.freewebs.com/batglynn/cyaegha.htm
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