Abraham Merritt

A. Merritt (1884–1943) was one of the most popular and lushly imaginative fantasists of the pulp era. The Moon Pool, The Ship of Ishtar and Dwellers in the Mirage conjure hidden civilisations, ancient powers and dreamlike beauty in richly ornamented prose. A highly paid newspaper editor who wrote fiction on the side, he was idolised by later writers from Jack Williamson to Richard Shaver, and helped define the lost-race and science-fantasy traditions.