Publication History |
Bruce Byfield's "Witches of the Mind: A Critical Study of Fritz Leiber" in one of
a very small list of bona fide critical works on speculative fiction in general and
Fritz Leiber in particular. Byfield is clearly an adoring fan of Leiber, but not a
slavishly so. He provides a "warts and all" approach to reviewing Leiber's work,
covering not only his sword and sorcery masterpieces, the Fafhrd and the Gray
Mouser stories, but other work (both award-winning and lesser known) as well.
Byfield divides Leiber's works into four chronological periods: Lovecraftian
Period (1936-1949), Gravesian Period (1949-1958), Early Jungian Period
(1958-1974), and Late Jungian Period (1975-present). These periods are
named after three of the chief influences on Leiber's writing: H.P. Lovecraft,
Robert Graves, and Carl Jung. Other influences that Byfield discusses include
Henrik Ibsen, Shakespeare, and Joseph Campbell. Certainly some background
in psychology, philosophy, mythology, and literature would be helpful to the
reader, although it's not necessary because Byfield does spend time explaining
the various concepts in "Witches of the Mind."
Should the reader wonder whether "Witches of the Mind" is an example of
over-analysis, remember that Byfield had the input, blessing, and praise of
both Leiber and his son, Justin Leiber. Additionally, though not all Byfield's
arguments or observations are compelling (in other words, there are other
interpretations of Leiber's work that are supportable by the data included in
"Witches of the Mind"), they are certainly intriguing and astonishingly well
researched. Further, Byfield is clear about the limits of his analysis-—a level of
honesty that not all critics bother with.
This book is geared toward devotees of Leiber; certainly fans will find much to
mull over. However, even relative newcomers to Leiber's body of work can
find satisfaction here, as Byfield provides handy summaries of many of Leiber's
stories. Further, aspiring writers may be fascinated to watch how one writer's
struggles with substance abuse, family deaths, and a nontraditional upbringing
combine with philosophical, psychological, and mythological exploration to
create an award-winning, unforgettable, and profoundly influential body of
work.
Although it can be a difficult read, I rate "Witches of the Mind" a 9 out of 10.
a very small list of bona fide critical works on speculative fiction in general and
Fritz Leiber in particular. Byfield is clearly an adoring fan of Leiber, but not a
slavishly so. He provides a "warts and all" approach to reviewing Leiber's work,
covering not only his sword and sorcery masterpieces, the Fafhrd and the Gray
Mouser stories, but other work (both award-winning and lesser known) as well.
Byfield divides Leiber's works into four chronological periods: Lovecraftian
Period (1936-1949), Gravesian Period (1949-1958), Early Jungian Period
(1958-1974), and Late Jungian Period (1975-present). These periods are
named after three of the chief influences on Leiber's writing: H.P. Lovecraft,
Robert Graves, and Carl Jung. Other influences that Byfield discusses include
Henrik Ibsen, Shakespeare, and Joseph Campbell. Certainly some background
in psychology, philosophy, mythology, and literature would be helpful to the
reader, although it's not necessary because Byfield does spend time explaining
the various concepts in "Witches of the Mind."
Should the reader wonder whether "Witches of the Mind" is an example of
over-analysis, remember that Byfield had the input, blessing, and praise of
both Leiber and his son, Justin Leiber. Additionally, though not all Byfield's
arguments or observations are compelling (in other words, there are other
interpretations of Leiber's work that are supportable by the data included in
"Witches of the Mind"), they are certainly intriguing and astonishingly well
researched. Further, Byfield is clear about the limits of his analysis-—a level of
honesty that not all critics bother with.
This book is geared toward devotees of Leiber; certainly fans will find much to
mull over. However, even relative newcomers to Leiber's body of work can
find satisfaction here, as Byfield provides handy summaries of many of Leiber's
stories. Further, aspiring writers may be fascinated to watch how one writer's
struggles with substance abuse, family deaths, and a nontraditional upbringing
combine with philosophical, psychological, and mythological exploration to
create an award-winning, unforgettable, and profoundly influential body of
work.
Although it can be a difficult read, I rate "Witches of the Mind" a 9 out of 10.
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| Witches of the Mind: A Critical Study of Fritz Leiber (Bruce Byfield) By SC Bryce |
First Printing:
SwordandSorcery.org (Oct. 9, 2006).
SwordandSorcery.org (Oct. 9, 2006).
Second Printing:
SCBryce.com (Dec. 23, 2006).
SCBryce.com (Dec. 23, 2006).
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