Leigh Brackett

Scroll down for comprehensive reviews and ratings: ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- "All the Colors of the Rainbow" © Venture, Nov 1957 The Halfling and Other Stories, 1973 ---------------------------------------------- "Alpha Centauri or Die!" (nv) (exp. from "The Ark of Mars" and "Teleportress From Alpha C") © Planet Stories, Sep 1953 novel: Ace Double, 1963 --/ cool space sf novel --/ wonder award --/ adventure award --/ emotion award I am not sure in what way the original story "The Ark of Mars" (see review) got expanded into a novel - maybe the psychedelic esp cuddly aliens got added - but the overall impression now is of conflict between technology (robotic spaceships) and nature - and the final wish is "to live in peace" - overall a harmonious whole. Brackett at a good example of her more-feminine style of writing. Still, the first part of a novel (and a shorter novella) has way better suspense. + Holds the dubious award of one of the silliest titles for a good novel in sf. review: 30-Jun-06 (read in 2006) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- "The Ark Of Mars" (exp. into "Alpha Centauri or Die!") © Planet Stories, Sep 1953 novel: Ace Double, 1963 --/ fourth place space sf novella --/ wonder award --/ adventure award --/ emotion award --/ style award Last manned spaceship is launched by free men, hunted by sinister robotic spaceships; great adventure and atmosphere; the first part (chase to the nearest star) simply sizzles, desperation mixes with hope, great emotion there. The second part after the landing is a bit of a let-down, but still contains big depictions of truly alien mind processes, cuddly ESP alien herd, and pretty cool people politics. Solid novella, enjoyed it. review: 30-Jun-06 (read in 2006) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- "The Beast-Jewel of Mars" © Planet Stories, Win 1948 The Coming of the Terrans, 1967 --/ fourth place space sf novella --/ wonder award --/ adventure award --/ style award Classic stuff, look at the cover on the left! Great for espresso reading. After reading such novellas, the good cloud lingers in the mind. review: 30-Jun-06 (read in 1992) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- "The Big Jump" (nv) © Space Stories, Feb 1953 Ace Books, 1955 --/ third place space sf novel --/ wonder award --/ adventure award --/ style award "Black Amazon of Mars " (also as "People of the Talisman") © Planet Stories, Mar 1950 --/ fourth place space sf novella --/ wonder award "Child of the Sun" © Planet Stories, Spr 1942 --/ third place space sf story --/ wonder award --/ adventure award --/ idea award --/ style award --/ rare find "Child of the Green Light" © Super Science Stories, Feb 1942 Super Science Stories (Can), Aug 1942 Super Science Stories, Apr 1951 --/ cool sf story --/ idea award --/ wonder award "The Citadel of Lost Ages" © Thrilling Wonder Stories, Dec 1950 The Halfling and Other Stories,1973 --/ fourth place space sf novella --/ wonder award --/ style award "Citadel of Lost Ships" ©  Planet Stories, Mar 1943 --/ third place space sf novella --/ wonder award --/ adventure award --/ style award "City of the Lost Ones" (also as "Enchantress of Venus") (Eric John Stark) ©  Planet Stories, Fll 1949 The Halfling and Other Stories, 1973 --/ fourth place space sf novella --/ wonder award --/ style award --/ adventure award "The Coming Of The Terrans" (coll) © Ace Books, 1967 --/ fourth place sf collection --/ wonder award --/ adventure award --/ style award "The Dancing Girl of Ganymede" © Thrilling Wonder Stories, Feb 1950 The Halfling and Other Stories, 1973 --/ fourth place space sf novella --/ wonder award --/ adventure award "The Dragon-Queen of Jupiter" © Planet Stories, 1939 --/ cool sf story --/ wonder award --/ rare find "Empire Strikes Back" (nv) (Star Wars # 2) © 1980, Ballantine Books --/ third place space sf novel --/ adventure award --/ wonder award "Enchantress of Venus" (also as "City of the Lost Ones") (Eric John Stark) ©  Planet Stories, Fll 1949 The Halfling and Other Stories, 1973 --/ fourth place space sf novella --/ wonder award --/ style award --/ adventure award "The Galactic Breed" (nv) (also as "The Starmen") (exp. as "The Starmen of Llyrdis") © Startling Stories, Mar 1951 novel: Gnome Press, 1952 Ace Double Edition, 1955 --/ third place space sf novel --/ wonder award --/ adventure award --/ romance award --/ style award --/ awesome scale "The Halfling" © Astonishing Stories, Feb 1943 The Halfling and Other Stories, 1973 --/ cool sf story --/ wonder award "The Halfling" (coll) © Ace Books, 1973 --/ third place sf collection --/ wonder award --/ adventure award --/ style award "The Hounds Of Skaith" (nv) (Skaith Series) © 1974, Ballantine Books "The Jewel of Bas" (Mouse) © Planet Stories, Spr 1944 The Best of Leigh Brackett, 1977 --/ third place space sf novella --/ adventure award --/ wonder award ---------------------------------------------- "The Lake of The Gone Forever" © Thrilling Wonder Stories, Oct 1949 The Halfling and Other Stories, 1973 --/ third place space sf novella --/ wonder award --/ adventure award --/ style award I love colorful planetary adventures, and Leigh Brackett was the foremost provider of such outings; however all too often they seemed to have the flavour of Edgar Rice Burroughs or steeped in some steamy sword-n-sorcery. I particularly speak of her Mars & Venus series, which (as exotic as they admittedly are) can not provide true alien environment experience and only massage your romantic adventure nerve - So... come to "Brackett's SF Parlor" for some fictional spa work: rejuvenate your sense of outre, tickle your "hot" points of grotesque and sojourn in a land of perfect male heroes and super-sensuous females... for a while. No regrets, too - you know, it's good for you. That being said, this novella differs from the usual vein: it has a significantly more interesting planetary ecology, more realistic adventures and a toned-down plot (rooted in the way people actually behave). Thus, it reminds me more of Edmond Hamilton fiction (maybe he played a hand in this, you never know with such husband-wife writing teams) "The Lake of Gone Forever" is one of the most visually exciting pieces that Brackett ever wrote: much of it is placed among understated Antarctic-like landscapes, but there is no lack of cool alien stuff, either: mysterious cities, weird alien legends and serene warriors skillfully scattered throughout the plot. Essentially, this is a story of a haunted man, wandering the streets of a strange city, love-struck or love-doomed (depending on the emotional stance you're in). Brackett always wrote best about the "lone ranger" characters; here, too, she transcends the simple pulp approach, giving it a noir, foreboding air - all among the stunning planetary landscapes and sizzling adventure. What more could you possibly ask for a dark misty evening with a book in one hand and spiced rum in another? One word - "Intense". ---------------------------------------------- "Interplanetary Reporter" © Startling Stories, Mar 1941 --/ third place space sf story --/ wonder award --/ adventure award --/ style award --/ romance award --/ awesome scale --/ rare find "The Last Days of Shandakor" © Startling Stories, Apr 1952 The Coming of the Terrans, 1967 --/ cool sf story "The Long Tomorrow" (nv) © 1955, Doubleday Books --/ cool apocalyptic sf novel --/ idea award ---------------------------------------------- "Lorelei of the Red Mist" (with Ray Bradbury) © Planet Stories, Sum 1946 --/ third place space sf novella --/ adventure award --/ wonder award --/ style award --/ emotion award Undiluted, guilty pleasure of the vintage pulp adventure... full of dark (somber and even macabre) tones, bathed in rays of soaring, brittle light - a heady brew, an experience not unlike a pint of complex English stout (paired with an aged cheese), enjoyed on the stepstones of a looming cathedral, not far away from an ancient cemetery, watching the purple haze and glorious golden-lined clouds of a dying sunset. The plot is not that important; the intensity of the narrative is. One of the most "sword-and-sorcerish" tales of Brackett develops into an underwater ghost story, complete with weird ocean-tree gardens and hallucinogenic seascapes. Half-way through the story Ray Bradbury takes the reins and steers this incredible novella to even loftier poetic and heroic heights. review: 28-Jul-06 (read in 1999) ---------------------------------------------- "Mars Minus Bisha" © Planet Stories, Jan 1954 The Coming of the Terrans, 1967 --/ cool sf story --/ wonder award ---------------------------------------------- "Mommies And Daddies" © Crisis, ed. R. Elwood, 1974 "The Moon that Vanished" © Thrilling Wonder Stories, Oct 1948 The Best of Leigh Brackett, 1977 --/ cool space sf novella --/ wonder award "The Nemesis from Terra" (nv) © Ace Books, 1961 --/ fourth place space sf novel --/ adventure award --/ wonder award --/ style award "No-Man's Land In Space" © Amazing Stories, Jul 1941 --/ third place space sf story --/ wonder award --/ adventure award --/ rare find "The Other People" (also as "The Queer Ones") © Venture, Mar 1957 The Best of Leigh Brackett, 1977 --/ cool sf story "Outpost on Io" © Planet Stories, 1939 --/ fourth place space sf story --/ adventure award --/ wonder award --/ rare find "People of the Talisman" (nv) (also as "Black Amazon of Mars") (Eric John Stark) © Planet Stories, 1950 book: Ace Books, 1964 --/ fourth place space sf novella --/ wonder award --/ adventure award --/ style award "Purple Priestess of the Mad Moon" © F&SF, Oct 1964 The Coming of the Terrans, 1967 --/ cool space sf novella --/ wonder award "Queen of the Martian Catacombs" (Eric John Stark #1) (also as "The Secret of Sinharat") © Thrilling Wonder Stories, 1949 book: Ace Books, 1964 --/ fourth place space sf novella --/ wonder award --/ adventure award "The Queer Ones" (also as "The Other People") © Venture, Mar 1957 The Best of Leigh Brackett, 1977 --/ cool sf story ---------------------------------------------- "Quest Of The Starhope" © Thrilling Wonder Stories, Apr 1949 --/ THIRD place space sf story --/ wonder award --/ adventure award --/ emotion award --/ style award --/ shock value --/ rare find One of the most treasured finds: a supreme quality planetary story by Brackett (with "Star Wars" feel written all over it) which was never reprinted!! (outside of recent Haffner Press limited-run hardcover edition). In other words, this is as rare as they come - and unbelievably delicious! Full-on poetry of mystical landscapes, larger than life conflicts and characters and even kawaii-cute lovable sidekick (with ESP powers, a lovesick alien). The brutal and greedy alien zoo hunter guy is perhaps too bloodthirsty, but all this plays out against Western-Gold-Rush-like exploitation of the Noble Natives, so such conflicts I'm sure existed in our past - now transported into shocking planetary adventure, as human nature basically remains the same. The ephemeral winged people are gorgeous and the whole ending is totally poetic. Bravo! review: 06-Mar-21 (read in 2021) ---------------------------------------------- "Rio Bravo" (nv) © Bantam Books, 1959 --/ awesome western "The Road to Sinharat" © Amazing, May 1963 The Coming of the Terrans, 1967 --/ cool space sf novella --/ wonder award ---------------------------------------------- "The Sea-Kings Of Mars" (also as "The Sword Of Rhiannon") © Thrilling Wonder Stories, Jun 1949 --/ cool space sf novella --/ wonder award --/ style award There is a sense of lost empires and beauty, the sense of bitter-sweet world, much like Bradbury's Mars, but with sword-and-sorcery elements. I enjoyed this colorful concoction, even though I do not remember the details of the plot. Very well crafted tale. review: 07-Jul-06 (read in 1995) ---------------------------------------------- "The Secret of Sinharat" (nv) (also as "Queen of the Martian Catacombs") (Eric John Stark #1) © Thrilling Wonder Stories, 1949 book: Ace Books, 1964 --/ fourth place space sf novella --/ wonder award --/ adventure award "The Shadows" © Startling Stories, Feb 1952 The Halfling and Other Stories, 1973 --/ cool sf story --/ wonder award "Shannachthe Last" © Planet Stories, Nov 1952 The Best of Leigh Brackett, 1977 --/ cool sf story --/ wonder award "The Starmen" (nv) (also as "The Galactic Breed") (exp. as "The Starmen of Llyrdis") © Startling Stories, Mar 1951 novel: Gnome Press, 1952 Ace Double Edition, 1955 --/ third place space sf novel --/ wonder award --/ adventure award --/ romance award --/ style award --/ awesome scale "The Starmen of Llyrdis" (nv) (also as "The Starmen") (exp. as "The Galactic Breed") © Startling Stories, Mar 1951 novel: Gnome Press, 1952 Ace Double Edition, 1955 --/ third place space sf novel --/ wonder award --/ adventure award --/ romance award --/ style award --/ awesome scale ---------------------------------------------- "The Sword of Rhiannon" (also as "Sea-Kings of Mars") © Thrilling Wonder Stories, Jun 1949 novel: Ace Double, 1959 --/ cool space sf novel --/ wonder award --/ style award There is a sense of lost empires and beauty, the sense of bitter-sweet world, much like Bradbury's Mars, but with sword-and-sorcery elements. I enjoyed this colorful concoction, even though I do not remember the details of the plot. Very well crafted tale. review: 07-Jul-06 (read in 1995) "Expentante", Painting by Jorge de Oliveira (1949) ---------------------------------------------- "Teleportress of Alpha C" (also part of "Alpha Centauri or Die!") © Planet Stories, Win 1954 novel: Ace Double, 1963 --/ cool space sf novella --/ wonder award This novella ended up to be part of Brackett's "Alpha Centauri or Die" novel, but it does not measure up with opening story "The Ark of Mars" (see review). The robots, taking over human space flights, are like Jack Williamson's "humanoids", but perhaps more ambiguous here. Plus the girl with ESP powers is trying to find out alien mind capabilities...Overall impression is a bit slack. review: 07-Jul-06 (read in 2006) ---------------------------------------------- "Terror Out of Space" © Planet Stories, Sum 1944 --/ fourth place space sf story --/ adventure award --/ wonder award --/ rare find Vintage and wonderful. Lots of sense-of-wonder, great adventure. Read the title and shudder... taste Brackett's narrative and enjoy the atmosphere of intense and colorful action. It's a pity it hasn't been reprinted in a while. You can find it in the "Hidden Planet" anthology. review: 07-Jul-06 (read in 2003) ---------------------------------------------- "The Truants" © Startling Stories, Jul 1950 The Halfling and Other Stories, 1973 "The Tweener" © F&SF, Feb 1955 The Best of Leigh Brackett, 1977 "The Vanishing Venusians" © Planet Stories, Spr 1945 The Best of Leigh Brackett, 1977 --/ third place space sf novella --/ adventure award --/ wonder award --/ style award "The Veil of Astellar" © Thrilling Wonder Stories, Spr 1944 The Best of Leigh Brackett, 1977 --/ third place space sf novella --/ adventure award --/ wonder award --/ style award --/ romance award --/ emotion award "The Woman from Altair" © Startling Stories, Jul 1951 The Best of Leigh Brackett, 1977 --/ cool sf story ---------------------------------------- (art credit: John Pitre) BRACKETT, LEIGH Info ================= STORIES Planet Stories WIN 1940 - The Stellar Legion SUM 1941 - The Dragon Queen of Jupiter WIN 1942 - Biographical Sketch FEB 1942 - Child of the Sun NOV 1942 - Outpost on IO MAR 1943 - Citadel of Lost Ships MAY 1943 - Blue Behemoth FAL 1943 - Thralls of the Endless Night SPR 1944 - Jewel of Bas SUM 1944 - Terror out of Space SPR 1945 - The Vanishing Venusians SUM 1946 - Lorelei of the Red Mist (with Ray Bradbury) WIN 1948 - Beast Jewel of Mars FAL 1949 - Enchantress of Venus SUM 1949 - Queen of the Martian Catacombs MAR 1951 - Black Amazon of Mars NOV 1952 - Shannach-the Last SEP 1953 - The Ark of Mars JAN 1954 - Mars Minus Bisma WIN 1955 - Teleportress of Alpha C SUM 1955 - Last Call From Sector 9G Startling Stories JAN 1941 - The Demons of Darkside MAR 1941 - Interplanetary Reporter FEB 1944 - Shadow Over Mars FAL 1944 - Biographical Sketch with Photo JUL 1950 - The Truants MAR 1951 - The Starmen of Llydris JUL 1951 - The Woman From Altair FEB 1952 - The Shadows APR 1952 - The Last Days of Shandakar SPR 1954 - Runaway Thrilling Wonder Stories SPR 1944 - The Veil of Astellar OCT 1948 - The Moon that Vanished APR 1949 - Queen of the Starhope JUN 1949 - Sea Kings of Mars OCT 1949 - The Lake of the Gone Forever FEB 1950 - The Dancing Girl of Ganymede DEC 1950 - Citadel of the Lost Ages Astonishing Stories NOV 1941 - Retreat to the Stars JUN 1942 - Out of the Sea FEB 1943 - The Halfling Super Science Stories JAN 1941 - Water Pirate FEB 1942 - Child of the Green Light AUG 1942 - Cube From Space Astounding Science Fiction FEB 1940 - Martian Quest APR 1940 - Treasure of Ptakuth FEB 1942 - The Sorcerer of Rhiannon Science Fiction JUN 1941 - Lord of the Earthquake Comet Stories JUL 1941 - A World is Born Amazing Stories JUL 1941 - No Man's Land in Space MAY 1963 - The Road to Sinharat Space Stories FEB 1953 - The Big Jump Venture Science Fiction MAR 1957 - The Queer Ones NOV 1957 - All the Colours of the Rainbow The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction FEB 1955 - The Tweener OCT 1964 - Purple Priestess of the Mad Moon ----------------------------- NOVELS 1951 - Shadow Over Mars (Fall 1944 Startling Stories) 1951 - The Nemesis From Terra 1952 - The Starmen (also as The Galactic Breed and The Starmen of Llydris) (From Startling Stories Mar 1951) 1953 - The Sword of Rhiannon (originally The Sea-Kings of Mars from June 1949 Thrilling Wonder Stories) 1955 - The Big Jump (from Space Stories Feb. 1953) 1955 - The Long Tomorrow 1963 - Alpha Centauri or Die (enlarged version of Teleportress of Venus from Planet Stories Win. 1955) 1964 - The Secret of Sinharat (from Planet Stories Sum. 1949 originally titled Queen of the Martian Catacombs) 1964 - People of the Talisman (revised version of Black Amazon of Mars from Mar. 1951 Planet Stories) 1967 - The Coming of the Terrans (contains The Beast Jewel of Mars, Mars MinusBisha, The Last Days of Shandakar, Purple Priestess of the Mad Moon, The Road to Sinharat) from Planet Win. 1948, Planet Jan. 1954, Startling  Apr. 1952, Mag of F©SF Oct. 1964 and Amazing May 1963) -----------------------------

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