tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8525415828746712027.post3487203982117386911..comments2024-03-27T22:39:08.396-04:00Comments on Sweet Freedom: FFB: THE UNKNOWN edited by D. R. Bensen (Pyramid 1963)Todd Masonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01815516018079824802noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8525415828746712027.post-71543033509826038372012-07-15T16:24:18.570-04:002012-07-15T16:24:18.570-04:00Thanks for the reminder, Jerry! I should put that ...Thanks for the reminder, Jerry! I should put that in the body.Todd Masonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01815516018079824802noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8525415828746712027.post-81922310335944130962012-07-15T09:06:51.302-04:002012-07-15T09:06:51.302-04:00For those unfamiliar with the magazine (and for th...For those unfamiliar with the magazine (and for those who are), twenty-eight issues, plus the FROM UNKNOWN WORLDS anthology, are available online at unz.org.Jerry Househttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09482856733981933159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8525415828746712027.post-13880245626697638362012-07-13T20:07:58.238-04:002012-07-13T20:07:58.238-04:00I can beat that for a bargain, but I lucked into i...I can beat that for a bargain, but I lucked into it...the two copies of the two issues of UNKNOWN WORLDS I own, both in g/vg condition, were purchased at a magazine store for $5 each, in 1998. Insane. But not upsetting.<br /><br />I think F&SF during certain periods averages even better than UNKNOWN, and BEYOND and CRANK! and WHISPERS might as well, but relatively few magazines have left such a legacy in such a short run (39 issues).Todd Masonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01815516018079824802noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8525415828746712027.post-88854008475463159242012-07-13T19:32:11.504-04:002012-07-13T19:32:11.504-04:00UNKNOWN is a big favorite of mine and I have all t...UNKNOWN is a big favorite of mine and I have all these collections. I've owned several sets of the magazine over the years and at present I have a loose set of the 39 issues in nice condition and also a bound set that was owned by George Scithers. It's signed by Campbell in the first volume.<br /><br />When I first received a set of the magazine in 1960 from Gerry de la Ree, I paid $50 for it. I then read all 39 issues, every story. I don't believe that I can say that about any other magazine.Walker Martinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16089880902426182100noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8525415828746712027.post-72525243873594498592012-07-13T18:48:21.742-04:002012-07-13T18:48:21.742-04:00Indeed, a whole lot of the best work in those two ...Indeed, a whole lot of the best work in those two Derleth athologies is, oddly, the non-WT stories...they probably had to glow brighter for him to want to include them...Todd Masonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01815516018079824802noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8525415828746712027.post-25336176076235984172012-07-13T18:45:50.592-04:002012-07-13T18:45:50.592-04:00...and I missed the misspelling of Fredric Brown&#......and I missed the misspelling of Fredric Brown's name in the contents listing there. Wow. Well, they got Frederik Pohl right, anyway.Todd Masonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01815516018079824802noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8525415828746712027.post-85281088825891412062012-07-13T18:42:38.490-04:002012-07-13T18:42:38.490-04:00Oh, all the decent anthologies from WEIRD TALES (e...Oh, all the decent anthologies from WEIRD TALES (even Sam Moskowitz ghosting for Leo Margulies slipped and did the job right on THE UNEXPECTED...but don't give his/their WEIRD TALES or WORLDS OF WEIRD to anyone you want to convert)<br />(THE UNEXPECTED:<br />Intoduction - Leo Margulies<br /><br />Theodore Sturgeon - The Professor's Teddy Bear<br />Isaac Asimov & Frederik Pohl - Legal Rites<br />Robert Bloch - The Strange Island Of Dr. Nork<br />Margaret St. Clair - Mrs. Hawk<br />Fritz Leiber - The Automatic Pistol<br />Mary E. Counselman - The Unwanted<br />Manly Wade Wellman - The Valley Was Still<br />Anthony Boucher - The Scrawny One<br />Frederic Brown - Come And Go Mad<br />E. F. Russell - The Big Shot<br />Ray Bradbury - The Handler<br /><br />Read more: http://vaultofevil.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=shudderpulp&action=display&thread=53#ixzz20XnOiYUK)<br /><br />...give a sense of the magazine, but all of them fail to get across all the magazine could be at its best, and the essential flavor of the original run as it shifted and changed (much less the revivals, which add several new wrinkles). The NOT AT NIGHT series of UK anthos and Dashiell Hammett's CREEPS BY NIGHT also reprint heavily but not exclusively from WT, but they don't quite get it down, either.<br /><br />And I did miss one notable UNKNOWN anthology:<br /><br />Title: Hell Hath Fury<br />Editors: George Hay<br />Year: 1963-10-00<br />Publisher: Neville Spearman<br />Price: 15/-<br />Pages: 240<br />Binding: hc <br />Contents <br /> 7 • Preface (Hell Hath Fury) • (1963) • essay by George Hay<br /> 9 • Hell Hath Fury • (1943) • novella by Cleve Cartmill<br /> 129 • The Bleak Shore • [Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser] • (1940) • shortstory by Fritz Leiber<br /> 142 • The Frog • (1942) • shortstory by P. Schuyler Miller<br /> 157 • The Refugee • (1943) • shortstory by Jane Rice<br /> 175 • The Devil's Rescue • (1940) • shortstory by L. Ron Hubbard<br /> 197 • The Cloak • (1939) • shortstory by Robert Bloch<br /> 216 • The Extra Bricklayer • (1940) • shortstory by A. M. PhillipsTodd Masonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01815516018079824802noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8525415828746712027.post-67462133990540669132012-07-13T18:04:55.573-04:002012-07-13T18:04:55.573-04:00"though if no anthology has managed to quite ..."though if no anthology has managed to quite represent WEIRD TALES..." Really?<br /><br />I think two of the August Derleth edited collections (SLEEP NO MORE and WHO KNOCKS?) do a fine job of capturing <i>Weird Tales.</i> They even include artwork by WT regular Lee Brown Coye. Granted they also include non-WT writers and stories, but the bulk of them debuted in the pulp.<br /><br />Thanks for making the UNKNOWN anthology bibliographies easily accessible on one interweb page.J F Norrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06473487417479127354noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8525415828746712027.post-592749220791434762012-07-13T17:56:58.250-04:002012-07-13T17:56:58.250-04:00The Bond, as I remember, not having re-read it, is...The Bond, as I remember, not having re-read it, is a pretty low point in the book...but not insufferable nor painful to read. The Brown (the one attributed to Brown!) has always struck me as overblown, if clever enough.Todd Masonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01815516018079824802noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8525415828746712027.post-11217922753761529992012-07-13T17:50:18.285-04:002012-07-13T17:50:18.285-04:00I have this one, or had it, bought new at the smal...I have this one, or had it, bought new at the small book store that had tons of SF paperbacks not too far from where I lived. Or maybe I got it at that used book store near another town I lived in... I can't recall. Anyway it's been read, and enjoyed most but not all. Can't say which was which at this distance, though.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8525415828746712027.post-60639890241535688552012-07-13T14:17:21.123-04:002012-07-13T14:17:21.123-04:00From ISFDb (it took 3 comments):
Title: Rivals of...From ISFDb (it took 3 comments):<br /><br />Title: Rivals of Weird Tales<br />Editors: Robert Weinberg , Stefan R. Dziemianowicz , Martin H. Greenberg<br />Year: 1990-05-00 <br />Contents (view Concise Listing)<br /> xiii • Introduction (Rivals of Weird Tales) • (1990) • essay by Stefan Dziemianowicz [as by Stefan R. Dziemianowicz ]<br /> Oscar • (1941) • interior artwork by Edd Cartier<br /> 1 • Cool Air • (1928) • shortstory by H. P. Lovecraft<br /> 9 • The Return of the Sorcerer • [Cthulhu Mythos] • (1931) • shortstory by Clark Ashton Smith<br /> 22 • Wolves of Darkness • (1932) • novella by Jack Williamson<br /> 81 • The Cairn on the Headland • (1933) • shortstory by Robert E. Howard<br /> 98 • Imp of Satan • (1935) • shortstory by Hugh B. Cave<br /> 114 • Cursed Be the City • (1939) • novelette by Henry Kuttner<br /> 134 • Logoda's Heads • (1939) • shortstory by August Derleth<br /> 140 • Miracle in Three Dimensions • (1939) • shortstory by C. L. Moore<br /> 153 • For Fear of Little Men • (1939) • shortstory by Manly Wade Wellman<br /> 172 • Spawn of Blackness • (1939) • shortstory by Carl Jacobi<br /> 185 • Me and My Shadow • (1940) • shortstory by Eric Frank Russell<br /> 199 • Doomed • (1940) • shortstory by Seabury Quinn<br /> 210 • The Coppersmith • (1939) • shortstory by Lester del Rey<br /> 223 • Johnny on the Spot • (1939) • shortstory by Frank Belknap Long<br /> 226 • Warm, Dark Places • (1940) • shortstory by H. L. Gold<br /> 241 • But Without Horns • (1940) • novella by Norvell W. Page<br /> 323 • Philtered Power • (1940) • shortstory by Malcolm Jameson<br /> 336 • Armageddon • (1941) • shortstory by Fredric Brown<br /> 341 • Oscar • (1941) • shortstory by Cleve Cartmill<br /> 345 • Shottle Bop • (1941) • novelette by Theodore Sturgeon<br /> 370 • Mr. Arson • (1941) • novelette by L. Sprague de Camp<br /> 391 • The Hill and the Hole • (1942) • shortstory by Fritz Leiber<br /> 402 • The Refugee • (1943) • shortstory by Jane Rice<br /> 414 • The Weird Doom of Floyd Scrilch • [Lefty Feep] • (1942) • shortstory by Robert Bloch<br /> 429 • The Abyss • (1941) • shortstory by Robert A. W. Lowndes<br /> 436 • The Words of Guru • (1941) • shortstory by C. M. Kornbluth [as by Cyril M. Kornbluth ]<br /> 443 • The Anomaly of the Empty Man • [Dr. Verner] • (1952) • shortstory by Anthony Boucher<br /> 458 • Underground Movement • (1952) • shortstory by Kris Neville<br /> 470 • Expendable • (1953) • shortstory by Philip K. Dick<br /> 476 • Sorry, Right Number • (1953) • shortstory by Richard MathesonTodd Masonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01815516018079824802noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8525415828746712027.post-59837965192560070722012-07-13T14:16:54.534-04:002012-07-13T14:16:54.534-04:00Title: From Unknown Worlds
Editors: John W. Campbe...Title: From Unknown Worlds<br />Editors: John W. Campbell, Jr.<br />Year: 1948-00-00<br />Publisher: Street & Smith<br />Price: $0.25<br />Pages: 130 <br />Contents (view Concise Listing)<br /> 3 • Foreword (From Unknown Worlds) • essay by John W. Campbell, Jr.<br /> 6 • The Enchanted Weekend • (1939) • novella by John MacCormac<br /> 30 • The Refugee • (1943) • shortstory by Jane Rice<br /> 36 • Nothing in the Rules • (1939) • novelette by L. Sprague de Camp<br /> 48 • The Cloak • (1939) • shortstory by Robert Bloch<br /> 54 • Yesterday Was Monday • (1941) • shortstory by Theodore Sturgeon<br /> 61 • Lurani • (1940) • poem by Robert A. W. Lowndes [as by Paul Dennis Lavond ]<br /> 62 • Trouble with Water • (1939) • shortstory by H. L. Gold<br /> 70 • Black Cats • (1940) • poem by Cristel Hastings<br /> 71 • Anything • (1939) • shortstory by Lester del Rey [as by Philip St. John ]<br /> 77 • The Compleat Werewolf • (1942) • novella by Anthony Boucher<br /> 97 • The Dawn of Reason • (1939) • poem by James H. Beard<br /> 98 • One Man's Harp • (1943) • shortstory by Babette Rosmond<br /> 102 • The Devil We Know • (1941) • novelette by Henry Kuttner<br /> 112 • The Psychomorph • (1940) • shortstory by E. A. Grosser<br /> 118 • The Hexer • (1939) • shortstory by Howard Wandrei [as by H. W. Guernsey ]<br /> 123 • The Summons • (1939) • shortstory by Don Evans<br /> 128 • Jesus Shoes • (1942) • shortstory by Allan R. Bosworth<br /> 130 • Fiction • (1941) • poem by Alan Grant (?-) <br /><br />British hardcover variation:<br />Title: From Unknown Worlds<br />Editors: John W. Campbell, Jr.<br />Year: 1952? (though it says 1954 inside, apparently)<br />Publisher: Atlas Publishing<br />Pages: 128<br />Binding: hc <br />Contents (view Concise Listing)<br /> The Dawn of Reason • (1939) • poem by James H. Beard<br /> The Compleat Werewolf • (1942) • novella by Anthony Boucher<br /> The Cloak • (1939) • shortstory by Robert Bloch<br /> Nothing in the Rules • (1939) • novelette by L. Sprague de Camp<br /> Lurani • (1940) • poem by Robert A. W. Lowndes [as by Paul Dennis Lavond ]<br /> Jesus Shoes • (1942) • shortstory by Allan R. Bosworth<br /> Foreword (From Unknown Worlds) • (1948) • essay by John W. Campbell, Jr.<br /> Fiction • (1941) • poem by Alan Grant (?-)<br /> Black Cats • (1940) • poem by Cristel Hastings<br /> Anything • (1939) • shortstory by Lester del Rey [as by Philip St. John ]<br /> The Devil We Know • (1941) • novelette by Henry Kuttner<br /> The Enchanted Weekend • (1939) • novella by John MacCormac<br /> The Hexer • (1939) • shortstory by Howard Wandrei [as by H. W. Guernsey ]<br /> The Psychomorph • (1940) • shortstory by E. A. Grosser<br /> The Refugee • (1943) • shortstory by Jane Rice<br /> The Summons • (1939) • shortstory by Don Evans<br /> Trouble with Water • (1939) • shortstory by H. L. Gold<br /> Yesterday Was Monday • (1941) • shortstory by Theodore SturgeonTodd Masonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01815516018079824802noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8525415828746712027.post-46418490980063191522012-07-13T14:16:17.144-04:002012-07-13T14:16:17.144-04:00From ISFDb:
Title: Unknown
Editors: Stanley Schmid...From ISFDb:<br />Title: Unknown<br />Editors: Stanley Schmidt<br />Year: 1988-10-00 <br />Contents (view Concise Listing)<br /> 1 • Introduction (Unknown) • essay by Stanley Schmidt<br /> 5 • The Compleat Werewolf • (1942) • novella by Anthony Boucher<br /> 69 • The Coppersmith • (1939) • shortstory by Lester del Rey<br /> 89 • A God in a Garden • (1939) • shortstory by Theodore Sturgeon<br /> 113 • Even the Angels • (1941) • shortstory by Malcolm Jameson<br /> 129 • Smoke Ghost • (1941) • shortstory by Fritz Leiber<br /> 149 • Nothing in the Rules • (1939) • novelette by L. Sprague de Camp<br /> 187 • A Good Knight's Work • (1941) • novelette by Robert Bloch<br /> 217 • The Devil We Know • (1941) • novelette by Henry Kuttner<br /> 247 • The Angelic Angleworm • (1943) • novelette by Fredric Brown <br /><br />Title: Unknown Worlds: Tales from Beyond<br />Editors: Stanley Schmidt, Martin H. Greenberg<br />Year: 1988-00-00 <br />Contents (view Concise Listing)<br /> [8] • Introduction (Unknown Worlds: Tales from Beyond) • essay by Stanley Schmidt<br /> 1 • Trouble with Water • (1939) • shortstory by H. L. Gold<br /> 17 • The Cloak • (1939) • shortstory by Robert Bloch<br /> 30 • The Gnarly Man • (1939) • novelette by L. Sprague de Camp<br /> 46 • The Misguided Halo • (1939) • shortstory by Henry Kuttner<br /> 59 • Two Sought Adventure • [Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser] • (1939) • novelette by Fritz Leiber<br /> 85 • When It Was Moonlight • (1940) • shortstory by Manly Wade Wellman<br /> 96 • The Pipes of Pan • (1940) • shortstory by Lester del Rey<br /> 108 • It • (1940) • novelette by Theodore Sturgeon<br /> 126 • Fruit of Knowledge • (1940) • novelette by C. L. Moore<br /> 150 • The Wheels of If • [Park Alister] • (1940) • novella by L. Sprague de Camp<br /> 204 • The Bleak Shore • [Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser] • (1940) • shortstory by Fritz Leiber<br /> 212 • They • (1941) • shortstory by Robert A. Heinlein<br /> 224 • Armageddon • (1941) • shortstory by Fredric Brown<br /> 228 • Mr. Jinx • (1941) • shortstory by Fredric Brown and Robert Arthur [as by Robert Arthur ]<br /> 241 • A Gnome There Was • (1941) • novelette by Henry Kuttner and C. L. Moore [as by Henry Kuttner ]<br /> 260 • Hereafter, Inc. • (1941) • shortstory by Lester del Rey<br /> 271 • Snulbug • (1941) • shortstory by Anthony Boucher<br /> 283 • The Refugees • (1942) • shortstory by Frank Belknap Long<br /> 291 • Hell Is Forever • (1942) • novella by Alfred Bester<br /> 353 • The Hag Séleen • (1942) • novelette by Theodore Sturgeon and James H. Beard (aka The Hag Sèleen) [as by Theodore Sturgeon ]<br /> 367 • The Witch • (1943) • novelette by A. E. van Vogt<br /> 385 • Conscience, Ltd. • (1943) • shortstory by Jack Williamson<br /> 402 • Greenface • (1943) • novelette by James H. Schmitz<br /> 423 • Hell Hath Fury • (1943) • novella by Cleve Cartmill<br /> 492 • Blind Alley • (1943) • novelette by Malcolm JamesonTodd Masonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01815516018079824802noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8525415828746712027.post-25358945087169668842012-07-13T14:15:31.354-04:002012-07-13T14:15:31.354-04:00John--thanks, but that's the Rowena Morrill Jo...John--thanks, but that's the Rowena Morrill Jove cover for that sequel anthology, THE UNKNOWN 5 (which they uncleverly reworked as THE UNKNOWN FIVE)...the Jove cover for THE UNKNOWN was similar but Worse. Yes.<br /><br />Meanwhile, while Bensen in his two anthologies does a good job in avoiding the previously reprinted (and THE UNKNOWN 5 includes an Asimov story that had been in inventory when UNKNOWN WORLDS folded, and hadn't been published till that book was issued in 1964), other anthologies from UNKNOWN have not been afraid of including the widely-reprinted, to their benefit...though if no anthology has managed to quite represent WEIRD TALES, none has managed to definitively capture UNKNOWN, either...Aside from a good selection of UNKNOWN fiction in THE RIVALS OF WEIRD TALES, Stanley Schmidt's two anthologies, the short Baen paperback UNKNOWN and the instant remainder hardcover, edited with Martin Harry Greenberg, UNKNOWN WORLDS: TALES FROM BEYOND, have more of the actually best stories from the magazine...as well as overlapping heavily with each other and the Bensens, and with the Street & Smith magazine-format newsstand antho they issued after WW2 (1948), FROM UNKNOWN WORLDS, edited by JWC, who clearly hoped to relaunch the title. (The Brit edition of that, from Atlas, was issued in hardcover as well as paperback, apparently, four years later). TOCs in next comment (or 2), as they make this comment too long for Blogspot parameters!<br /><br />George: sadly, too much of Gold's fiction was simply too artificial, though his best aside from "Trouble" is further evidence of a man who, as Algis Budrys once noted, knew too many tricks of the trade. "The Man with English" and a few others were nearly as good as "Trouble," but too often he'd publish slick, relatively empty stories...of his own, I mean, as opposed to the more minor work his later issues of GALAXY might feature.Todd Masonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01815516018079824802noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8525415828746712027.post-28921965147559120362012-07-13T13:34:33.574-04:002012-07-13T13:34:33.574-04:00I used to have a few of the revamped and final UNK...I used to have a few of the revamped and final UNKNOWN pulp magazines from the 40s before I was forced to sell them out of finanicial need. I'm glad to know some of the best stories are in this anthology which I will go hunting for very soon.<br /><br />BTW - I found the Jove paperback cover, Todd. Ludicrous! If you want to lift it and add the image, go <a href="http://imagehost.vendio.com/a/1148578/view/unknown-jove.jpg" rel="nofollow">here.</a>J F Norrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06473487417479127354noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8525415828746712027.post-10115244984999841992012-07-13T10:57:43.470-04:002012-07-13T10:57:43.470-04:00Like Jerry, THE UNKNOWN was one of the first books...Like Jerry, THE UNKNOWN was one of the first books I read that introduced me to fantasy. I loved the cover on that paperback. It jumped out at me from the book spinner (remember them?). I agree with you on Gold. An underrated writer.Georgehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04546161337366365635noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8525415828746712027.post-14495461528967593352012-07-13T10:37:21.240-04:002012-07-13T10:37:21.240-04:00How'd you come across it, Jerry? What made it ...How'd you come across it, Jerry? What made it stand out for you on the drugstore rack, or where you found it? Did you ever read the story notes Gold wrote about his, in that collection I haven't yet obtained, but Damon Knight quoted wistfully, wishing Gold might invest more of his work with the sense of life demonstrated there?Todd Masonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01815516018079824802noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8525415828746712027.post-84600380732626627712012-07-13T10:31:15.844-04:002012-07-13T10:31:15.844-04:00One of my first introductions to the field. The L...One of my first introductions to the field. The Leiber and the Gold stories knocked me out. The book sent me searching of more works by all the authors there.Jerry Househttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09482856733981933159noreply@blogger.com