The Golden Anaconda and Other Strange Tales of Adventure by Elmer Brown Mason, introduction by John Locke, [Off-Trail Publications, 2009 trade paper, 269 pages] – pulp reprint –
Five short stories featuring Wandering Smith (from The Popular Magazine) and five more with various heros in various locations.
Officially, Elmer Brown Mason was an entomologist for the United States Government, his beat, the swampy backwaters of the South. Privately, he journed to the dangerous corners of the world in seach of adventure. For a brief but intense period, his experiences inspired thrilling stories of exploration and wonder.
The ten fascinating—and fantastic—stories collected here are set in the Everglades, the Louisiana bayous, the Amazon jungle, Borneo, and other dangerous placed known to few people of his era. These appeared in The Popular Magazine, this collection features the South American epic, “The Golden Anaconda.” Also included are five tales from All-Story Weekly, topped by the horror-laden two-part saga, “Black Butterflies” and “Red Tree-Frogs.” All ten stories were published from 1915 to 1916, when the world was much younger than today.
Tip the Wink 
This author is new to me, and the settings for the stories sound very good. Especially the Everglades and the bayous of Louisiana. It is good to see a new short story post from you.
Simple, straightforward adventure stories, come across by accident. I’ve been reading short stories and a novel or two.
Don’t know him but sounds interesting. I’ve tried to mix in older stories like these with the newer stuff I read most of the time
This was sitting around for a while, but was a quick book.
I like the settings but adventure stories never seem to work for me. Although I have not read very many when I think of it.
It’s a tricky genre, Patti, I think the classics are best, such as Kipling and Stevenson.
Of course, Bill Crider was a big fan of the genre and even wrote a couple himself, which were a lot of fun.
True, he wrote some good ones!
I’ll have to track down a copy of The Golden Anaconda and Other Strange Tales of Adventure. Jeff’s right about Bill Crider’s love for stories like this.
Bill and James Reasoner were/are big fans of this type of fiction. I heard of this from James.
Test
Potentially a relative!