Robert William Chambers

The stories feature a man who searches for lost species -- animals not seen for centuries -- and as we follow him on these journeys we're introduced to a variety of amazing creatures including the half-man, half-amphibian called "the harbor master".

Robert W. Chambers' engaging spy tale In Secret brings together a dizzying array of ideas and insights, but somehow weaves them together into a harmonious and wholly unique tapestry. The fast-paced story is.

The book is named after a fictional play with the same title which recurs as a motif through some of the stories. The first half of the book features highly esteemed weird stories, and the book is described by S.T. Joshi as a classic in the field of the supernatural. There are 10 stories, the first four of which, "The Repairer of Reputations", "The Mask", "In the Court of the Dragon" and "The Yellow Sign", mention The King in Yellow, a forbidden play which induces despair or madness in those who read it. "The Yellow Sign" inspired a film of the same name released in 2001

"Between earth and outer space-between Creator and created, confusing and confounding their identities, -a rushing darkness grew-the hurrying wrack of immemorial storms heralding whirlwinds through which Truth alone survives. "Awaiting the inevitable re stablishment of such temporary conventions as render the incident of human existence possible, the brooding Demon which men call Truth stares steadily at Tengri under the high stars which are passing too, and which at last shall pass away and leave the Demon watching all alone amid the ruins of eternity.

Give me no gold nor palaces Nor quarts of gems in chalices Nor mention me in Who is Who I'd rather roam abroad with you Investigating sky and land, Volcanoes, lakes, and glacial sand I'd rather climb with all my legs To find a nest of speckled eggs, Or watch the spotted spider spin Or see a serpent shed its skin Give me no star-and-garter blue I'd rather roam around with you. Flatten me not with flattery Walk with me to the Battery, And see in glassy tanks the seals, The sturgeons, flounders, smelt and eels Disport themselves in ichthyic curves- And when it gets upon our nerves Then, while our wabbling taxi honks I'll tell you all about the Bronx, Where captive wild things mope and stare Through grills of steel that bar each lair Doomed to imprisonment for life- And you may go and take your wife. Come to the Park 1] with me; I'll show you crass stupidity Which sentences the hawk and fox To inactivity, and locks The door of freedom on the lynx Where puma pines and eagle stinks. Never a slaver's fetid hold Has held the misery untold That crowds the great cats' kennels where Their vacant eyes glare blank despair Half crazed by sloth, half dazed by fear All day, all night, year after year. To the swift, clean things that cleave the air To the swift, clean things that cleave the sea To the swift, clean things that brave and dare Forest and peak and prairie free, A cage to craze and stifle and stun And a fat man feeding a penny bun And a she-one giggling, "Ain't it grand " As she drags a dirty-nosed brat by the hand.

One evening in May, 1888, the Caf des coles was even more crowded and more noisy than usual. The marble-topped tables were wet with beer and the din was appalling. Someone shouted to make himself heard. "Any more news from the Salon?" "Yes," said Elliott, "Thaxton's in with a number three. Rhodes is out and takes it hard. Clifford's out too, and takes it - " A voice began to chant: Je n'sais comment faire, Comment concillier Ma maitresse et mon p re, Le Code et Bullier. "Drop it Oh, drop it " growled Rhodes, and sent a handful of billiard chalk at the singer.

It appears to the writer that there is urgent need of more "nature books"-books that are scraped clear of fiction and which display only the carefully articulated skeleton of fact. Hence this little volume, presented with some hesitation and more modesty. Various chapters have, at intervals, appeared in the pages of various publications. The continued narrative is now published for the first time; and the writer trusts that it may inspire enthusiasm for natural and scientific research, and inculcate a passion for accurate observation among the young. THE AUTHOR. April 1, 1904.

Tressa Norne, an American-born girl, has been held in bondage in the Temple of Erlik, an devil-god of Central Asia. Tressa, after many years of captivity escapes to America, knowing that a worldwide organization of murderous black magicians, made up of Yezidees and Hassani, are plotting to take over and enslave the world. Victor Cleves, a secret agent, protects and loves Tressa, and with his support, Tressa battles the black magicians who are trying to kill her.