The Star-Treader and Other Poems


Read by LibriVox Volunteers

(3.4 stars; 7 reviews)

The Star-Treader and Other Poems marks the debut collection of Clark Ashton Smith, a pivotal figure in the realm of weird fiction and poetry. At just 19 years old, Smith showcases his romantic style and vivid imagination, drawing readers into a world where the ethereal and the bizarre intertwine.

In this collection, Smith's poetry reflects his deep appreciation for the natural world, mythology, and the cosmic. His verses evoke a sense of wonder and exploration, often delving into themes of love, loss, and the mysteries of existence. As one of the last great West Coast Romantics, Smith's work resonates with the influences of his contemporaries, including H.P. Lovecraft, while establishing his unique voice.

Each poem invites listeners to traverse landscapes both familiar and fantastical, offering a glimpse into the mind of a poet who was not only a master of language but also a visionary of the unknown. Experience the haunting beauty and imaginative depth of Smith's early work in this captivating collection.

Chapters

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Nero 6:09 Read by Rosslyn Carlyle
Chant to Sirius 1:46 Read by Ken Masters
The Star-Treader 7:27 Read by MaryAnn
The Night Forest 2:29 Read by Ken Masters
The Mad Wind / The Morning Pool / The Soul of the Sea 2:57 Read by Ken Masters
Song to Oblivion 1:22 Read by Ken Masters
Medusa 3:29 Read by Ken Masters
Ode to the Abyss 4:06 Read by James Koss
The Butterfly 4:48 Read by Rosslyn Carlyle
The Price / The Maze of Sleep / The Mystic Meaning 1:45 Read by Rosslyn Carlyle
Ode to Music 4:07 Read by Jairus Amar
The Last Night 1:10 Read by Jairus Amar
Ode to Imagination 3:40 Read by Jairus Amar
The Wind and the Moon 1:40 Read by Jennifer Dallman
Lament of the Stars 6:46 Read by Shakira Searle
The Winds 2:03 Read by Shakira Searle
A Sunset / The Snow-Blossoms / The Summer Moon 1:50 Read by Rosslyn Carlyle
The Cloud-Islands 1:41 Read by Rosslyn Carlyle
The Return of Hyperion 1:42 Read by Rosslyn Carlyle
Lethe 1:13 Read by Rosslyn Carlyle
Atlantis 1:12 Read by Rosslyn Carlyle
The Unrevealed 1:10 Read by Rosslyn Carlyle
The Eldritch Dark 1:39 Read by Shakira Searle
The Cherry-Snows / Fairy Lanterns 1:10 Read by Jennifer Dallman
Nirvana 1:14 Read by Rosslyn Carlyle
The Nemesis of Suns 1:19 Read by Rosslyn Carlyle
White Death 1:09 Read by drsxj
Retrospect and Forecast 1:15 Read by drsxj
Shadow of Nightmare 1:12 Read by drsxj
The Song of a Comet 3:16 Read by Rosslyn Carlyle
The Retribution 1:15 Read by Rosslyn Carlyle
To the Darkness 2:44 Read by Jordan Heron
A Dream of Beauty 1:12 Read by Rosslyn Carlyle
The Dream-Bridge / The Fugitives 1:20 Read by Rosslyn Carlyle
A Live Oak-Leaf / Pine Needles 1:11 Read by Jennifer Dallman
To the Sun 2:38 Read by Rosslyn Carlyle
Averted Malefice 1:14 Read by Rosslyn Carlyle
The Medusa of the Skies 1:17 Read by Rosslyn Carlyle
A Dead City 1:11 Read by Rosslyn Carlyle
The Song of the Stars 4:46 Read by Shakira Searle
Copan 1:12 Read by Rosslyn Carlyle
A Song of Dreams 2:45 Read by Rosslyn Carlyle
The Balance 1:12 Read by Rosslyn Carlyle
Saturn 17:17 Read by Rosslyn Carlyle
Finis 2:37 Read by Shakira Searle
The Masque of the Forsaken Gods 9:16 Read by LibriVox Volunteers

Reviews


(0.5 stars)

dreadful readers. no poetry. terrible accents.


(5 stars)

Most CAS fans read his poetry as a supplement of his great short stories written mostly a decade after his poetry flourished--and many prefer Ebony and Crystal to this poetry collection. His poetry and even his prose is deeply incluenced by the romantics, the decadents, and the fin de siecle aesthetes much more than the midernists. As a result, critics often pan his work, his word choice, and his themes in his poetry and prose. (The writer of the intro to a Bison collection of his tales told readers why CAS was a bad writer--way to prepare a reader) But readers who appreciate the skilled use of tradutional meter and believe poetry should embrace the fantastic and macabre fir their own sake have tended to ignore the critics. CAS later made a living as a sculptor specializing in the fantastic and macabre