FORGOTTEN READING: JDM

Today is Donald Westlake Day at Patti Abbott's Friday's Forgotten Books project.  I had planned to do Westlake's quicky biography Elizabeth Taylor (Monarch, 1961, as "John B. Allen"), by my copy is hiding somewhere among a gazillion books.  So...

     Just to be contrary, my post is about John D. MacDonald.  I can't really call any of MacDonald's books forgotten, nor can I call JDM a forgotten writer.  MacDonald has been a staple for me since high school.  I have read all but six (three fiction and three nonfiction) of his books -- and five of the six are in my backyard shed waiting for me; the sixth is actually a 26-page pamphlet he wrote for the Library of Congress to promote reading.

     What I thought I would do today is direct you to some of John D. MacDonald's fiction that is available on the web -- including some that has never been reprinted.  The major source of these stories is unz.org, a site recommended last month by Juri Nummelin on his always interesting blog Pulpetti.  This site has scans of many old magazines and pulps; be warned:  once you start on the site you may not want to log off.

     Anyway, just go to unz.org follow the links to the magazine issues.  There are eight stories by John D. MacDonald from the general-interest magazine Collier's:

     Dead on Christmas Street.  December 20, 1952.  Never reprinted.
     Elimination Race.  September 13, 1952.  Never reprinted.
     Flight of the Tiger.  A three-part serial.  March 5, March 19, and April 2, 1952.  Never reprinted.
     Looie Follows Me.  August 27, 1949.  This story was included in JDM's collection The End of the Tiger (1966).
     My Brother's Widow.  A five-part serial.  March 15, March 22, March 29, April 5. and April 12, 1952.  This was the magazine version of JDM's novel Area of Suspicion (1954).
     The Men Women Marry.  June 8, 1956.  A short-short story (that's Collier's version of flash fiction).  Never reprinted.
     The Unsuitable Girl.  February 3, 1956.  Another short-short story.  Never reprinted.
     Who's the Blonde?  August 9, 1952.  Never reprinted.

     There's one story here from Fantastic Adventures:

     Vanguard of the Lost.  May 1950.  This story was reprinted in Amazing Stories, December 1966.

     And three from Startling Stories:

     Shenadun.  September 1948.  Never reprinted.
     The White Fruit of Bandalas.  September 1951.  This story was reprinted in Dangerous Vegetables, edited by Keith Laumer, Martin H. Greenberg, and Chalres G. Waugh (1998)
     Wine of the Dreamers.  May 1950.  This was the magazine version of JDM's science fiction novel of the same name (1951); it was later reprinted as Ballroom of the Skies (1953).

     Two more SF stories from Thrilling Wonder Stories:

     Amphiskios.  August 1949.  This story was reprinted in Time Wars, edited by Poul Anderson, Martin H. Greenberg, and Charles G. Waugh (1986).
     Like a Keepsake.  June 1949.  Never reprinted.

     And, finally, two stories from the venerable Weird Tales:

     But Not in Death.  May 1949.  This story was reprinted in JDM's collection Other Times, Other Worlds (1978).
     The Great Stone Death.  January 1949.  This story was reprinted in Tales of Dungeons and Dragons, edited by Peter Haining (1986).

     The second site I found comes with a caveat:  I have not used the site and have no idead what is required.  The site -- openlibrary.org -- allows to "borrow" books in e-format.  (If anyone has experience with this site, I'd love to hear about it.)  Anyway, five of JDM's novels appear to be available:

     The Crossroads
     Deadly Welcome
     The Deceivers
     The End of the Night  (This novel has been highly recommended by Stephen King, among others.)
     Soft Touch

      The web is a large place and there are probably more stories by MacDonald lurking out there.  If you know of any, please let me know in your comments.  In the meantime, give the stories I have listed a try.

     (This particular post is dedicated to Harold Keane, my late father-in-law, who could never get enough of Travis McGee.)

     As usual, Patti will have reviews and links to other revues at her site, Pattinase.

MS. VIKKI

A few days ago, Bill Crider mentioned Vikki Dougan in a post on his blog.  He wanted to post the Limelighters song about her but was unable to find it.

Here's Bill's original post:

http://billcrider.blogspot.com/2012/02/does-no-one-remember-vicki-dugan.html

And here is The Song That Could Not Be Found (because both Bill and I both mispelled her name):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hie9muEMWEw

And here is Vikki in a tight dress:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Umkrzmuzjw

Blogs can be educational, you know.

OVERLOOKED TELEVISION: THE CISCO KID - GHOST STORY

One of my favorite shows, and with this episode titled Ghost Story, I couldn't resist.  Enjoy.

http://www.archive.org/details/Cisco_Kid_-_Ghost_Story

For more overlooked stuff for today, go to Sweet Freedom, where Todd Mason will have all the links.

INCOMING

• Brian Aldiss, Supertoys Last All Summer Long and Other Stories of Future Time.  Collection with 21 stories.  Is there a writer who has been more consistantly inventive as Aldiss?  I'm in awe of the guy.
• Analog Science Fiction and Fact, January-February 2001.
• Mike Ashley, editor, The Mammoth Book of Extreme Science Fiction.  Nineteen stories.
• Jim Baen, editor, New Destinies, Volume One/Spring 1987.  The first issue of the paperback SF magazine.  Nine stories and articles.  Oddly, this one contains Part 2 of a Poul Anderson stories the was begun in another anthology series.
• Michael Bishop, editor, Light Years and Dark:  Science Fiction and Fantasy of and for Our Time.  Anthology with 44 stories and four poems.
• Ben Bova, The Return.  SF.  Book IV of the Voyagers series.
• Leigh Brackett, The Halfling and Other Stories.  SF collection of seven stories.  No one did planetary adventure like Brackett.
• Keith R. A. DeCandido, Supernatural:  Bone Key.  TV tie-in novel.
• Lester del Rey, editor, The Best Science Fiction Stories of the Year:  Third Annual Collection.  Fifteen stories from 1973.
• Gardner Dozois, editor, The Year's Best Science Fiction:  Eighth Annual Collection.  Twenty-five SF stories from 1990.
• David Drake, Patriots.  SF.
• J. T. Edson, The Justice of Company 'Z'.  Adult western in the Alvin Fog series.
• Roger Elwood, editor, Future Corruption.  SF anthology with twelve stories.
• Steve Fisher, Saxon's Ghost.  Supernatural novel from one of the mainstays of the old detective and western pulps.
• Christopher Golden, Prowlers:  Laws of Nature.  Horror novel, the second in a series.
• Martin H. Greenberg, editor, A Taste for Blood.  Anthology with fifteen vampire novellas.  Copyright page adds Stefan R. Dziemianowicz and Robert Weinberg to Greenberg's name.
• Justin Gustainis, Black Magic Woman.  Dark fantasy, the first in the Quincey Morris/Libby Chastain series.
• Peter Haining, editor, The Mammoth Book of Haunted House Stories and Vintage Science Fiction.  Anthologies with 35 stories (and one poem) and 20 stories, respectively.
• Peter F. Hamilton, The Temporal Void.  SF.  Second in the Void series.
• Harry Harrison, editor, Nova 2, The Outdated Man (a.k.a. Nova 3), Nova 4, and SF:  Authors' Choice 4.  SF anthologies with fourteen, thirteen, twelve, and fifteen stories respectively.  Nova 4 also has an informative autobiographical article by Alfred Bester.
• "Alfred Hitchcock," editor, Alive and Screaming.  Fourteen stories (from 1959 through 1972) from Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine.
• Janet Hitchman, Such a Strange Lady.  Biography.  Originally published with the subtitle An Introduction to Dorothy L. Sayers (1893-1957).
• Carla Jablonski, The Books of Magic:  Consequences.  Number 4 in the YA fantasy series based on the graphic novels created by Neil Gaiman and John Bolton.
• Laurence M. Janifer, Bloodworld.  SF.
• Stephen Jones, editor, The Mammoth Book of Vampire Stories by Women.  Thirty-four stories.
• Stuart Kaminsky, CSI:  NY:  Blood on the Sun, CSI:  NY:  Dead of Winter, and CSI:  NY:  Deluge.  TV tie-in novels.
• Brian Keene,  Dead Sea and Urban Gothic.  Horror novels.
• Marc Laidlaw, The Third Force.  SF.
• Louis L'Amour, Westward the Tide.  Western.
• Robert N. Lee and David T. Wilbanks, editors, Damned Nation.  Horror anthology with 22 stories.
• Jeff Mariotte, Supernatural:  Witch's Canyon.  TV tie-in novel.
• John McCarty, Thrillers:  Seven Decades of Classic Film Suspense.  Nonfiction.
• Ayn Rand, The Early Ayn Rand:  A Selection from Her Unpublished Fiction.  Eleven pieces, edited by Rand disciple Leonard Peikoff.  While not a fan of Rand's philosophy, I'd thought it would be interesting to check this one out.
• Tony Richards, Dark Rain.  Dark fantasy.
• John Ringo & Julie Cochrane, Cally's War.  SF.
• Todd Robinson, editor, Thuglit Presents Sex, Thugs, and Rock & Roll.  Twenty-four neo-noir stories.
• Jonathan Strahan, editor, The Best Science Fiction and Fantasy of the Year, Volume One.  Twenty-four stories from 2006.
• Chris Steinbrunner and Burt Goldblatt, Cinema of the Fantastic.  Nonfiction focusing on fifteen films.
• Neal Stephenson, Odalisque.  You can pick your own catagory for this one.  Book 3 of the Baroque Cycle.
• J. R. R. Tolkien, The Lost Road and Other Writings.  Posthumous collection of background writings, notes, and details; this is Volume 5 of The History of Middle-earth.
• Roy Torgeson, editor,  Other Worlds 2.  Fantasy anthology with ten stories and an exerpt from a Poul Anderson novel.
• John Varley, Mammoth.  SF.

HYMN TIME

Here's Johnny!

Mathis, that is.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMkpJKPPpzQ

OBITUARIES

I am an invenerate obituary reader and the local papers in my area usually offer interesting ones.  I read obituaries not because I am morbid but because it allows me to celebrate lives well lived and to mourn those lives that have not achieved their purpose.  One of this week's local papers offered both.

     Joseph America -- love that name -- passed away last week at age 91.  A World War II veteran, he was a Master Tool and Die Maker at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing.  When his beloved wife passed away in 1974, he retired from his job and assumed the role of parenting the seven of his fourteen children who were still living at home.  All but one of his fourteen children survive him.  He loved to spend time fishing, crabbing and boating with his family and friends.

     I have no idea what type of parent or person he was, but I strongly suspect -- in both cases -- he was a good one.  A life well lived.  A person I would have liked to have known. 

     Brenn Carter was only 18 when she died.  Her favorite pastimes were drawing, getting her nails done, applying make-up, and changing her hair color and style.  In other words, she was a teen-aged girl who should have had a lifetime of promise and opportunity ahead of her.  Whoever wrote her obituary knew her and loved her and tried desperately to describe the person she was:  "From the start it was clear to see that she was a force to be reckoned with.  Forthright, energetic, funny, and creative, her charm went before her like a torch, illuminating those she was around with joy.  Her gregarious nature was infectious; her smile brilliant; her eagerness for life made it vividly apparent that Brenn would leave an indelible imprint on those with whom she came into contact.  Naturally artistic, Brenn possessed a distinct flair for expression.  Drawing was her passion, ambition her palette, audacity her paint, life her canvass, and what remains is a work of art."

     It is unjust that young people die.  It happens, but I don't like it.  It may sound corny, but a part of me is diminished whenever I read about a young person's death, whether from accident or disease, war or violence.  So today I mourn Breen Carter, a young lady I have never met, as much as I celebrate Joseph America, another stranger to me.

     There were other obituaries this week:  Judith Bell, 66.  Pauline Chase, 51.  Joan Davis, 78.  William Ewaski, Sr., CMSgt, Ret., 90.  Gordon Harris, 53.  Beverly Harwood, 79.  John Lloyd, 84.  Clarence Parker, 91.  Gene Schwallenberg, Jr., 48.  Some passed before their time; some had full lives.  All had gone through life touching others.  I hope that all had lives well spent.

     I read obituaries because they connect me with humanity.

     What about you?

FORGOTTEN BOOK: BRIEF CANDLES

Brief Candles by Manning Coles (1954)

Neighbors Cyril Coles and Adelaide Oke Manning decided one day over tea to write a spy novel, thus giving birth to both "Manning Coles" and Tommy Hambleton, the hero of twenty-five novels.  While best known for  that series, the pair also went on to write three novels about cousins James and Charles Latimer and Ulysses, Charles's alcohol-loving monkey.  All three happen to be ghosts.

     The series starts with Brief Candles, in which the cousins James (an Englishman) and Charles (an American) are in a French village near the end of the Franco-Prussian War in 1870.  The French have been defeated and are on the run from the German army.  The Latimers (with Ulysses) are the only customers in a restaurant.  They have been drinking heavily, as has their waiter, a patriotic old Frenchman.  The waiter decides to fight the oncoming army -- something that, through their alcoholic haze, seems to be a good idea to the cousins.  Armed with rifles, they confront the army and are killed.  To the outside world they have vanished.

     Fast forward 83 years.  The cousins -- as ghosts -- reappear one evening, with out-of-date beards and dressed in out-of-date clothing.  They pilfer modern clothes, then enter a bank to "borrow" some money.  The bank, however, was in the midst of being burgled.  The cousins "borrow" their money and leave the would-be thieves locked in the bank's vault.  Later that night they shave off their beards -- something I find very interesting.  Who knew ghosts could shave?

     All of this is preparatory to meeting a newly married couple, Jeremy and Sally Latimer.  Sally, it turns out, is the great-granddaughter of James.  She had met and fell in love with her distant cousin, the great-grand nephew of Charles.  It seems that James and Charles appear when relations are nearby -- and are in trouble.  Jeremy and Sally's trouble is money.  Sally's family is broke and is about to lose the family estate, Oakwood Hall.

    The cousins get a ride to Paris with Jeremy and Sally, where they meet up with Ulysses, who had appeared near the Paris zoo.  Adventures ensue.

    Anthony Boucher has called this series "as felicitously foolish as a collaboration of Wodehouse and Thorne Smith."  More Smith than Wodehouse, I'm afraid.  From a prism of 68 years, Brief Candles seems a little dated.  While still good fun (and funny in parts), the writing and episodic plotting can also wear thin.  I like it enough to seek out the other two books in the series, Happy Returns (also published as A Family Affair) and Come and Go., but it pales in the memory of the Tommy Hambleton books I read back in the day.

     The three-book series was published in England as by "Francis Gaite" and under the Coles pseudonym in the United States.

     For more of this Friday's Forgotten Books and links to still more, check in at Patti Abbott's blog, Pattinase.