SOURCE: "The Abonimations of Yondo" by Clark Ashton Smith (1960) Arkham House, though probably written earlier.

DESCRIPTION: "More startling even than that diabolic chuckle was the scream that rose at my very elbow from the salt-compounded sand -- the scream of a woman possessed by some atrocious agony, or helpless in the grip of devils. Turning, I beheld a veritable Venus, naked in a white perfection that could fear no scrutiny, but immersed to her navel in the sand. Her terror-widened eyes implored me and her lotus hands reached out with beseeching gesture. I sprang to her side -- and touched a marble statue, whose carven lids were drooped in some enigmatic dream of dead cycles, and whose hands were buried with the lost loveliness of hips and thighs..."

NOTES: The Venus lures its victims to their death with her beauty. May be related to the Luring Plant of Weinbaum's "A Martian Odyssey".

HISTORY: Clark Ashton Smith created several bizarre creatures for this story which is little more than an exercise in monster-making. Also see: The Chuckler, The Shadow, The Soldier and the Mummy-King of Yondo.

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