Cave of a Thousand Tales
Milt Thomas
Arkham House, 288 pages, $33.95, ISBN: 0870541838
reviewed by Barry Hunter

Milt Thomas spent a lot of time with Cave and his wife Peg while getting the facts from Cave himself to make this as accurate and complete as he could. Cave has led a very active and unusual life and there is a lot more to him than the horror writer that most of us were familiar with.

Cave’s early years with his family could have lead to a much different future had he let it affect him adversely. His first marriage also allowed him to do things others might only dream about. He was able to be a war correspondent in the Pacific during World War II. He lived in Haiti and gained first hand experience for his voodoo stories. He was responsible for the rebirth of Jamaican Blue coffee and the Jamaican lumber industry.

His books and stories rang from fishing tales, stories for children, South Seas adventures, war stories, science fiction, and of course, horror. He was a well rounded writer that can not be pigeon holed as strictly one type of writer. He was published in the pulps, the slicks, novels, and newspapers.

This biography shows a unique look at a very unique man whose adventures and accomplishments could fill several lifetimes. In this book, Thomas has presented us with a biography of a man who has lived life to its fullest. There are also 12 pages of photos, an index, and a bibliography to fill out this excellent volume. It is a fine tribute to a wonderful man who contributed more than most of us would have ever known