The just published Shannach–The Last Farewell to Mars collects some of Leigh Brackett’s best short fiction. As always, Haffner Press has produced an attractive package featuring a great Frank Kelly Freas cover (there’s plenty of Freas and EMSH artwork from the original magazines included, too). This 572-page tome will give you reading pleasure for hours. If you’re a Leigh Brackett fan, her previous Haffner Press collection, Lorelei of the Red Mist: Planetary Romances, is still available. Order now!
Table of Contents
“Introduction” by Anne McCaffrey
The Truants (Startling Stories Jul ’50)
The Citadel of Lost Ages (Startling Stories Dec ’50)
The Woman from Altair (Startling Stories Jul ’51)
The Shadows (Startling Stories Feb ’52)
The Last Days of Shandakor (Startling Stories Apr ’52)
Shannach—the Last (Planet Stories Nov ’52)
Mars Minus Bisha (Planet Stories Jan ’54)
Runaway (Startling Stories Spr ’54)
The Tweener (The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction Feb ’55)
Last Call from Sector 9G (Planet Stories Sum ’55)
The Queer Ones (Venture Mar ’57)
All the Colors of the Rainbow (Venture Nov ’57)
The Road to Sinharat (Amazing Stories May ’63)
Purple Priestess of the Mad Moon (ss) F&SF Oct ’64)
Come Sing the Moons of Moravenn (The Other Side of Tomorrow, ed. Roger Elwood, 1973)
How Bright the Stars (Flame Tree Planet, ed. Roger Elwood, 1973)
Mommies and Daddies (Crisis, ed. Roger Elwood, 1974)
“Afterword” by Leigh Brackett
Another title I need to get!
You can’t go wrong with Leigh Brackett and Haffner Press, Scott. I’ve ordered those SF caper novels by Walter Jon Williams. Thanks for the recommendation!
Great cover indeed!
Leigh Brackett is definitely an underrated, almost forgotten writer.
I love the Kelly Freas cover on SHANNACH, Jeff. The interior artwork is great, too.
Though, Jeff, if anything film buffs are doing a better job than fiction readers in keeping her name alive…given THE BIG SLEEP, THE LONG GOODBYE and THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK.
I like that the Haffner folks tapped the Freas painting off the last issue (Summer ’55) of PLANET STORIES, fittingly with a Brackett cover story, for the cover here. I did a story by story matchup review of two issues each of PLANET and ASTOUNDING from the ’50s once, and PLANET had nothing to be ashamed of (Jerome Bixby wasn’t as important nor influential an editor as John Campbell, Campbell’s as well as the Futurians’ influences as well as those of such contributing writers as Brackett were felt on the ’50s PLANET, but in terms of choosing fiction, Bixby had no reason to feel ashamed…except when he published Stanley D. Mullen, whose stories in PLANET were as bad as Hubbub’s ’50s stories in ASTOUNDING).
Jerome Bixby is another forgotten writer and editor, Todd. I hadn’t heard or read about that name in decades! I agree: PLANET STORIES had comparable story quality with ASTOUNDING.
This is a lovely way to start a Friday morning. I’ve read a fair number of the stories listed here, and am glad to see such delights back in print.
And that is a fine Freas painting.
Haffner Press really does a nice job packaging their books, Drongo. A quality operation.
This is from this evening’s electronic update from Haffner Press:
1) SHANNACH—THE LAST: FAREWELL TO MARS
We now hold all the copies of this brand new release—and it’s be-yoo-tee-full! With Kelly Freas’ vintage cover art, this is a really great looking book. And the contents are equally awesome. Of course, with all this “keen-ness” something went wrong. The original dustjacket had an intolerable typo (my bad) on the spine, so we’ve gone ahead and printed a corrected second-state dustjacket. All copies ordered direct from Haffner Press, and select retailers, will ship with the first-state jacket wrapped to the book and shrinkwrapped, with a rolled and bagged copy of the second state jacket. $40 gets it to you with free shipping in the Continental USA.
Great news, Stephen! I love SHANNACH. You’ve outdone yourself with this one! Keep up the good work!
Curses, George, you’ve cost me more money. Just bought – ordered in the case of this one – the two books direct from Haffner. Is it too early to say Merry Christmas to myself?
You’re stimulating the economy, Rick! Sure, count those lovely Haffner books as Christmas presents. You’ve been a good boy in 2011! You deserve it.
Leigh Brackett is my favourite writer.
Some of her stories i even read both in original as in French or German translation.
And i have dedicated a Pinterest page on her.
It is a pity she is more or less forgotten.
And i heard even her estate is in limbo; she had no children.
But her tales are a great legacy, jehanbosch
Johan, Leigh Brackett is still read and respected on this blog!