Edgar Hoffmann Price, a man of manifold talents and insatiable curiosity, lived a life as varied and colorful as the stories he penned. From his early years as a soldier to his later life as a celebrated author, Price's journey was marked by adventure, intrigue, and a deep love for the written word. This biography delves into the life and works of Price, exploring his contributions to the realm of speculative fiction and his enduring legacy in the annals of weird fiction.
Edgar Hoffmann Price, born in the sun-drenched town of Fowler, California, on July 3, 1898, was a man of manifold talents and insatiable curiosity. His life, as varied and colorful as the stories he penned, was marked by adventure and a thirst for knowledge that knew no bounds. Price's early years were spent in the service of his country, as a soldier in the American Expeditionary Force during the Great War, and later in the far-flung locales of Mexico and the Philippines. These experiences, fraught with danger and intrigue, would serve as the crucible for his future literary endeavors (Williamson, 1984).
Originally intending to be a career soldier, Price graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point. He was a champion fencer and boxer, an amateur Orientalist, and a student of the Arabic language. His friend and fellow science-fiction author Jack Williamson described him as a "real live soldier of fortune" (Fantastic Fiction).
Upon his return to the shores of his homeland, Price found solace in the written word, crafting tales of the fantastical and the macabre for the readers of Argosy, Terror Tales, and other pulp publications. Yet it was his association with Weird Tales, and his collaborations with the likes of H.P. Lovecraft and Otis Adelbert Kline, that would secure his place in the pantheon of speculative fiction. His tales, filled with exotic locales and shadowy horrors, resonated with the readers of the time, earning him a place of honor among his contemporaries (Fantastic Fiction).
In 1934, Price published his most famous work, "Through the Gates of the Silver Key." This story was co-written with Lovecraft, and it is considered to be one of the most important works in the Cthulhu Mythos. The story tells the tale of Randolph Carter, a man who travels through time and space in search of forbidden knowledge.
His literary output was prodigious, spanning multiple genres and decades. Among his most notable works are the "Operation" series, comprising four books, and his standalone novels "The Devil Wives of Li Fong" and "The Jade Enchantress". His non-fiction piece, "H.P. Lovecraft and the Stars", offers a unique insight into the mind of his friend and collaborator, further cementing his place in the annals of weird fiction (Fantastic Fiction).
Price continued to write and publish throughout his life. He won numerous awards for his work, including the World Fantasy Award for Life Achievement in 1984. He died in 1988, at the age of 89. His works, a testament to his adventurous spirit and boundless imagination, continue to captivate readers, drawing them into the shadowy realms of the unknown.
List of most famous publications:
- "Through the Gates of the Silver Key" (1934, co-written with H. P. Lovecraft)
- "The Case of the Curious Coffin" (1929)
- "The Adventure of the Cowl" (1932)
- "The Tomb of the Beast" (1933)
- "The Adversary" (1946)
References:
- Fantastic Fiction. (n.d.). E Hoffmann Price. Retrieved June 27, 2023, from https://www.fantasticfiction.com/p/e-hoffmann-price/
- Williamson, J. (1984). Wonder's Child: My Life in Science Fiction. Bluejay Books.
- Joshi, S. T., and David Schultz. An H. P. Lovecraft Encyclopedia. Hippocampus Press, 2004.
- Carter, Lin. Lovecraft: A Look Behind the Cthulhu Mythos. Ballantine Books, 1974.
- "An Interview with E. Hoffman Price." The Diversifier 4, no. 3 (1988). Interviewer: Fredrick J. Mayer.
- Murray, Will. "The Late E. Hoffman Price." Studies in Weird Fiction 4 (Fall 1988): 32-33.
