Synopsis
John Milwarp takes a drug that allows him to remember and see his past lives.
History
First publication: Weird Tales, December 1935
Review
An interesting story and my first taste of Clark Ashton Smith. This story seems like a combination of the horror of Lovecraft with the magic and monsters of Howard. Of course the three did talk a lot so you would expect some similiarities. I want to know where these types of stories evolved from. They are not fairy tales and are different from Arabian Nights and also different from the stories of Greek and Norse mythology and the heroic stories of Arthurian legends, yet all of those seem combined here. Plus some science fiction thrown in. Smith had been writing for Wonder Stories as well as Weird Tales so he was familiar with what was going on in science fiction in the 1930s. This particular story is interesting, yet leaves me wanting more in the way of world-building and character. Even just knowing more about the magic and gods of this story would be nice, but all we get is a glimpse. A good story, and recommended if you love Lovecraft and Howard, but not great.
