Solar Pons Versus the Devil's Claw

AUTHOR’S NOTE

Though written some twenty-five years ago, my only Solar Pons novel has never before been published, so this is its first time in print.

I am not writing NEW Solar Pons stories. My Solar Pons material was authorised and commissioned by Arkham House Publishers, Inc., back in the 1970s, and was written then but, owing to changes at Arkham House, they were never published by that imprint. The tales remained in limbo for something like twenty years before the originals began to be published by Fedogan and Bremer of Minneapolis. All date from the 1970s and early 1980s so perhaps original copyright lines should have been printed together with the new publication dates which would have obviated all misunderstandings. So, the present volume and all other Pons tales from my pen were commissioned and authorised by the then editorial and legal personnel at Arkham House (who, incidentally, were hoping that I would write the 12 volumes I had originally promised them) and by the estate of the late August Derleth who was a great friend of mine and very enthusiastic about my work.

Basil Copper