I've been tempted to dip into August Derleth's non-Mythos/non-genre fiction and was wondering where the best place to start would be? Which is best: his Wisconsin stories or his Sac Prairie stories? If so which ones are best and do they need to be read chronologically? I've Googled but there seems precious little about them or him that can find, which seems a shame.

Thanks in advance!

Sorry, E.A., can't help you in regards to Derleth's regional fiction. What I can recommend are his non-mythos supernatural stories, which, in my opinion are far more enjoyable to read than his extensions of Lovecraft.

Although I've never read any of them, I've always been interested in the Solar Pons adventures. I actually haven't read much Derleth (mainly due to not being totally wild over what I have read). I do find his book "Wisconsin Murders" very fascinating, in which Derleth's strong rather carelessly under-researched opinion booms very loudly.

Weird coincidence- my dad has a copy lying here of a non-fiction book by Derleth on Emerson: entitled Emerson, Contemporary. Collier Press, 1970. Hardcover w/ DJ, 168 pages. Ex.-library edition.

Some of Derleth's Sac Prairie works are very worth a look, and more interesting (to me) than his weird fiction. That said, it's been years since I've read them and they tend to get grouped in my mind as one massive work so I can't recommend this book or that.

Frank Utpatel illustrated several of them, and I always love his art. I have a book signed by Derleth & Utpatel (two of them actually) that I need to dig out and re-browse.

Thanks for the advice. I've picked up a cheap copy of When Graveyards Yawn on ebay to check on his non-mythos horror. I'll keep my eyes peeled for his non-genre stuff in general.