"Up in Smoke" by "Tigrina" (Edythe Eyde) (according to the copyright notice, this was apparently published in an unknown fan or amateur publication in July 1949 -- or perhaps just written on that date; the actual date of copyright is 2001 for the anthology Rainbow Fantasia: 35 Spectromatic Tales of Wonder, edited by the author's friend, Forrest J. Ackerman; no further publication known)
It's 1947 and immature and petulant Carolynne Devereaux has just started her college career, meeting her "newest and best" friend Zelda Troyer only two weeks before. Carolynne is 17 and is no longer a baby; she should be able to do what see likes, including smoking cigarettes. After all, she had been smoking for the last three months of the elite Finishing School for Gentlewomen before her recent graduation! But her parents object to her smoking in no uncertain terms, saying that smoking is immoral, un-Christian, bad for one's health, and could lower one's resistance to worldly wickedness. They had even gone so far as to threaten to take away the car they gave her for graduation, making her promise to give up that wicked habit. Carolynne resented this because, as stated, she was not a baby!
While driving through town with Zelda, who was two years older than Carolynne and oh-so-sophisticated, Carolynne borrowed an unusual cigarette from her friend, bright red in color and strangely shaped. Zelda explained that they were made specifically for her by a mysterious man known as Morloq (rhymes with "Warlock"). The red color of the cigarette matched Zelda's dress perfectly. Zelda need to order more cigarettes, so the two stopped at Morloq's odd establishment: "Morloq -- Cigarettes and Perfumes of Distinction."
Morloq welcomed the two to his shop with its display of individually shaped and colored cigarettes. He offered to show them around the shop, including a back room where he kept his perfumes, where each scent was rare and bottle in unique containers. One wall held intricate and delicately beautiful bottles that Morlock forbid them to touch because they were so fragile. Carolynne was particulaly attracted to one -- a strange white cloisonne container. While Carolynne relaxed in a chair, *sipping a small glass of a rare Asiatic liquor Morloq had offered the two, her friend went with Morloq to the front of the store to order her cigarettes. Carolynne could not resist examining the white bottle. accidently dropping it to the floor. Luckily the bottle did not break, but the top came off. Was that a faint, whote mkist that came from the bottle, exiting through th8e window? No, it must have been Carolynne's imagination, spurred on by the rare liquor. Carolynne replaced the bottle where she had found it and sat back in her chair just as Zelda and Morloq returned. Before leaving the shop, Carolynne ordered perfume for herself, and was told it would take several days to prepare.
That Saturday, her perfume was ready and Carolynne and Zelda returned to the small shop. Morloq gave Carolynne a strangely pleasant black cigarette while he went to the front of the shop to wait on customers. Zelda went with him. This particular cigarette had a strange effect on Carolynne. Suddenly she found herself standing in the middle of the room, all her senses sharpened, but at the same time she was still seated in the chair. Carolynne was insubstantial with a pale string connecting her standing self to her seated self. She could float in the air. When Zelda and Morloq returned to the room, they were carrying large fans and could see the insubstantial Carolynne. Morloq took a knife and sevred the cord between the ethereal Carolynne and her physical self. Morloq and Zelda began waving the fans, drawing Carolynne closer to the open white cloisonne bottle. Morloq explained that Zelda was his aide, bringing victims to him and that the Egyptian god Og Manankh, the Imprisoner of Souls, demanded souls be brought to Him. When Carolynne dropped the bottle a few days before, she released an important soul that could never be recaptured, so Carolhnne -- despite having a soul of lkittle depth and character -- would have top replace it. The black cigarette was a means to release Carolynne's ka in order to be trapped in the bottle. And -- whoosh! -- Carolynne was sucked into the bottle.
The next day the entire college was talking about Carolynne, who was found found wandering downtown, completely devoid of intelligence. No one could understand what happened, least of all her parents. Why, they said, she didn't even smoke.
Edtythe Eyde (1921-2015) was an actress, editor, songwriter, and active science fiction fan. She created the first known lesbian publication in North America, Vice Versa (nine issues, June 1947 through February 1948). Writing as "Lisa Ben," she began publishing regularly for The Ladder. the first nationally distributed lesbian magazine Also as Ben, she recorded a number of songs, often sapphic takes on well-known pieces; she had a very sweet voice. The early lesbian organization Daughters of Bilitis proclaimed her "the first gay folk singer." Active in science fiction fandom since 1941 under the name "Tigrina," she was an early member of the Los Angeles Science Fiction Society, eventually becoming that group's secretary. She gained som0e notoriety proclaiming her interest in satanism. As Tigrina, she was known to nave published at least four fantasy stories (two of them in collaboration with Ackerman) and three poems. She has been lauded as an important pioneer in the lesbian movement. She was inducted in 2010 into the National Gay and Lesbian Journalists Association Hall of Fame. Despite her acclaim, when she died at age 96, her death was unannounced and no obituaries published.
Forrest J. Ackerman (1916-2008) was known as "Mr. Science Fiction." A writer, editor, and collector of science fiction memorabilia, Ackerman founded Famous Monsters in Filmland magazine and named and wrote the origin story for the comic book character Vampirella. He was also responsible for bringing the German juvenile series Perry Rhodan to America. He had over 50 cameos roles in science fiction movies. Ackerman in person was bright, charming, and open. (He and Kkitty once broke into a sppontanious rendition of "42nd Street" at a convention, earning her lifelong approval.) He edited a number of science fiction anthologies, many of them filled with creaky and minor stories of the past, and many with gimmicky titles such as Martianthology, Womanthology, and Ackermanthology. Rainbow Fantasia: 35 Spectromatic Tales of Wonder collects stories that mention a color in their titles: black, gray, smoke, brown, purple, violet, blue, green, yellow, golden, orange, red, scarlet, white, and rainbow -- a pretty weak basis for an anthology. The stories range from pretty good to clunky and amateurish. A noble, albeit unfocused, attempt.
"Up in Smoke" is an amusing, predictable, and far from great story. Its main interest is in the author. Still, it may be worth the few minutes of your time to read it.
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