A Valuable Work, Somewhat Shy of Perfection
L. Sprague de Camp was a major figure in 20th century science fiction and fantasy, and as such his autobiography is one to be welcomed by fans of both genres.
The work itself is not all that it could or should have been. While his previous non-fiction demonstrated he could write engagingly on both himself and any number of other topics, he is not in his best form here. There is much less coverage of his working life and peer relationships than his fan audience would expect. The narrative is somewhat choppy, as if cut from a longer manuscript. The chronological arrangement of material inhibits the discussion of some topics that cry out for topical treatment. The chapter titles are mere datelines, uninformative as to content. The index and bibliography are poorly done and riddled with errors. The text itself suffers from an unusual number of typos.
Many of these problems are minor, and likely due to bad editing, others may be inherent. Cumulatively, they lessen the value and enjoyment of the work.
The material itself remains both informative and fascinating, and a must-have for those interested in the man, his work, and the genres in which he worked. Not only does it treat his own career and body of work, but those of other important authors with whom he is associated either as collaborator, promoter, biographer, or both, most notably Robert E. Howard and H. P. Lovecraft. It details some of the life experiences that inspired or went into his fiction, and the world travels that enriched much of his non-fiction. It fills in aspects of his life students of his work would have been unfamiliar with, and in general enriches our knowledge -- which, together with entertainment, were a large part of what his life's writings were about.
Recommended.
