FORGOTTEN BOOK: MAN DROWNING

 Man Drowning by Henry Kuttner (1952)

Firstly, this may not be a Henry Kuttner novel.  There are strong indicsations that it might have been ghost-written by Cleve Cartmill (1908-1964), who is mainly remembered as a science fiction and fantasy writer.  Cartmill's most famous story, "Deadline" (Astounding Science Fiction, March 1944), gave a detailed description of the creation of a nuclear weapon similar to that the United States was creating with the Manhattan Project, and caused the FBI to raid the editorial offices of magazine editor John W. Campbell to investigate a possible breach of security.  But Cartmill had extrapolated his story from scientific information readily available to the public -- the FBI ended uo with egg on its face and Campbell was able to later use the episode to promote the idea that science fiction could lead to science fact.  Outside of the science fiction field, Cartmill ghost wrote mystery novels for Leigh Brackett, Gypsy Rose Lee, and George Sanders, as well as ghosting several Saint stories for Leslie Charteris.  So it is certainly possible that Cartmill wrote Man Drowning.  Kuttner may have been swamped by other obligations and handed over an outline or a synopsis to Cartmill.

Secondly, it is also entirely possible that the book is Kuttner's work, either by himself or with his wife, the talented Catherine L. Moore.   Kuttner was an extremely talented author who could evoke many styles and moods  -- a trait shared by his wife and frequent collaborator.  The fact that much of their work was hastily written and floridly pulpish cannot detract from the magnificent talent both had.

Thirdly, in an alternate universe, Man Drowning, could easily have been written by Jim Thompson.  Or perhaps, James M. Cain.  It's that good and that claustrophobic.

The protagonist is Nick Banning, a man who walked out of the Arizona desert to the isolated home of Count Leopold De Anza and his wife, both of whom had settled there a few years before from Spain, their past life being wrapped in mystery.  De Anza and his wife are surrealism personified:  she, appearing with a live king snake around her neck, had been institutionalized in a mental facilty in Spain years before for rasons we are never given; he, slathered with ointment to make his face wrinkle-free and wearing makeup to give him the appearance of youth, would suddenly spent months at a time in bed, playing the invalid.  Their live-in help consists of a Mexican couple -- the husband outgoing and incompetent, the wife, efficient and self-contained.  The De Anzas have also had a rotating roster of assistants, each leaving after a few months for no discernable reason.  Banning, who appeared on their doorstep with only his torn and filthy clothes, thirsty and hungry, is persuaded to become the couple's next assistant.

This suits Banning well because the desert house is only a few miles outside of Phoenix, where Banning's ex-wife Sherry lives.  Banning is still very much in love with -- perhaps obsessed by is a better description -- with Sherry.  The marriage failed because of Banning's fierce bouts of rage.  When  his anger boiled up (and it frequently did), he lashed out.  Never at Sherry.  Never.  But at anyone else, as well as at inanimate objects.  Sherry divorced him when she could not take living in fear any more.  Now in Phoenix, she's working in a bar, trying to get enough money to restart her singing career in Chicago.  Banning has avoided Sherry for the past year., but now he believess he has been able to control his anger and he wants another chance with Sherry.  Although Sherry loves him, she cannot afford to get involved with Banning again.

And in the background is the Arizona desert.  Hot, merciless, and wonderfully evoked.  In one of the dryest places on earth, a man is still at risk of drowning -- drowning in his own emotions and failures.  A drowning man can still try to reach for a lifeline.  Banning's lifeline was Sherry, the woman he had to have,  And obsession can lead to violence and brutal death...

A taut, psychological thriller with no happy ending, Man Drowning is a powerul read that deserves to be far better known.

No matter who wrote it.