Back in 1967, E. C. Tubb’s Winds of Gath introduced an adventurer who was looking for his home planet. The adventurer was Earl Dumarest and his homeworld is Earth. The problem was that mysteriously almost all evidence of Earth had been expunged. For 33 books, Tubb described Dumarest’s search for his home across a galaxy of planets. Here and there, Dumarest would find clues that pointed the way to Earth’s secret location. Of course, there has to be a bunch of Bad Guys trying to stop Dumarest. Tubb chose the cyborgs called the Cyclan who hunt Dumarest to prevent him from finding Earth. In addition, Dumarest also possesses the affinity twin, a way to control the mind of anyone he comes in contact with. The Cyclan want the affinity twin to help them achieve galactic domination.
Yes, the writing is formulaic. Yes, some of the middle volumes don’t advance Dumarest’s search very much. But, all in all, the Dumarest series is satisfying space opera.
I felt sorry to see the series end. DAW Books dropped the Dumarest series in 1985. Volume 32, The Return, was published by a small press in 1997. Since then, I’ve dreamed about completing the series. But now Tubb has done that for me. I have mixed feelings about Child of Earth. It concludes the series, but leaves plenty unexplained. At 89, I’m guessing E. C. Tubb isn’t going to do much more writing so this final volume will have to suffice.
Congrats on your first post!
Congratulations, George. And what a way to start. I love the Dumarest series. In fact I like a lot of Tubb’s work. He was my kind of pulp writer. Ed Gorman
I’ve read a number of Tubb’s non-Dumarest work. You’re right, Tubb is a pro.
I read some of these many years ago. I may have to find this and read the end.
Homeworld plans to publish the entire Dumarest series in omnibus volumes starting in Summer 2009.
I enjoyed the book, which I guess is all you can ask, but it was slightly different to normal Dumarest books and not what I was expecting. Basically instead of a big adventure story spread over the planet Earth we had a more small scale battle-of-minds which did allow for filling in all of the backstory.
I did visit Mr Tubb many years ago, to do an interview, and he wasn’t doing any more writting at that stage. So I obviously asked him about ‘what-would-have-happened-next’ and he did briefly describe the starting chapters exactly as they have now appeared, so I guess this was always the story plan he had?
I thought the book was nicely printed, but I have to say that I prefer the more colourful and often nonsense 1970s type covers.
You’re right about this last Dumarest book being slightly different than the normal formula plot. I found this to be the case in Jack Vance’s last novel, Lurulu, too. Maybe as authors age, their abilities are affected and they have to make do with compressed plots.
In this often ageist world that we live I’m pleasantly surprised to see someone of nearly 90 still able to produce this at all. He wrote another Space: 1999 script novel a few years ago and it read just like the ones he did in the 1970s, which amazed me.
I certainly hope that he’s still got a good few years left in him but I’m not sure if there will ever be another Dumarest novel – still you never know, I never expected to see this one.
Tubb may have some outlines or rough drafts of novels or scripts to work from. Like you, I never expected to see this “final” Dumarest novel.
Apparently the opening of “Child of Earth” was already written when DAW cancelled the series.
I was very impressed with the writing for a guy in his late 80’s, I thought there was no drop-off at-all.
Sure, the format was untypical for the series, but enabled the backstory to be filled in and closure supplied to the main “quest for earth” element of the series. So I don’t think anything should be read into that.
btw, I have heard there will be a Dumarest 34.
I’m not surprised that Child of Earth was written in the 1980s. Prolific writers like Tubb worked books ahead when writing a series. If there is a DUMAREST #34 I’ll buy it.
…..and 35 and 36. lol
So what are everyones favourites?
Personally I’m still very fond of the early ones, The Winds of Gath, Toyman & The Jester at Scar being the high ones on my list. Although I also really like the journey-into-the-unknown type stories of Jack of Swords, Web of Sand and Symbol of Terra.
I’m with you on Toyman and Jester at Scar. I also like Dumarest #18, Incident on Ath and Dumarest #20, Web of Sand. Both books have knock-out covers!
Dear George,
I am E.C.Tubb’s agent (since 1997) and I sold CHILD OF EARTH to Homeworld. It was NOT, repeat NOT, written or plotted or anything else back in the 1980s as you or your respondents suggested. I’m amazed such keen fans completely missed my own pb/magazine FANTASY ADVENTURES, wherein in issues 1 and 2 (2002) I first published two short stories extracted from the first half of the brand new novel Ted had just written to my commission. My hope was that some publisher would see and like these “samples” and commission Ted to COMPLETE the second half of the novel. There was some publisher interest, but Ted and I both deemed their offers to be unsuitable, and so the novel remained uncompleted. It wasn’t until Charles Pelto recently contacted me about reprinting the earlier Dumarests that he learned of the new novel. He made a suitable offer for the new novel, and so Ted sat down and wrote the second half in 2008. So the book is essentially a new novel, written in two instalments in 2002 and 2008 and has nothing whatever to do with the Daw days. It was Dumarest 32 THE RETURN , that had been written when Daw pulled the plug, NOT this new one. as to whether there will be new ones, that again depends on whether the sales of this one justify Ted’s sacrifice of precious time at 89 to complete it. He has plenty of ideas and is still writing at the top of his form. It’s up to the fans of Dumarest to spread the word and make this one a success. Many thanks for doing your part, and for the kind words expressed. PS You may like to know that revisions and reprints of many of Ted’s classic novels, including his earliest are being published here in the UK by Ulverscroft Large print in their Linford Mystery Series. Go to http://www.ulverscroft.co.uk. It includes many first thus editions. Best Regards, Phil Harbottle
Thank you for clearing up how Child of Earth came to be published! I, and the many Dumarest fans, hope there are more new works to come from E. C. Tubb. And I’ll be buying those reprints you suggested.
I was very pleased to read here on your site that Mr. Tubb was able to complete Earl Dumarest’s return to Earth. I remember back when he was writing the series, my brother and I used to wait for the most recent installment to turn up at the single bookstore in our rural Arizona town. We were both voracious SF fans but there was something about the Dumarest series that was unique even for SF. I have reread the series less the last two books twice since then. The saga of Earl Dumarest touches upon something very deep in the human psyche – there is a time in our lives when we are eager to forsake home and hearth to travel far and see and experience things beyond our imagination. Earl had good reason but lured too far from his home he kept going when he could have yet found his way back. One can imagine Odysseus lashed to the mast, listening to the song of the sirens. Mr. Tubb catches this sense of wonder with his stories of stars thick near the center of the galaxy with curtains of luminescence and wild radiations that make us into what we are not and perhaps even lead us to forget who we have been. Certainly Earl has inadvertently drunken the waters of Lethe running from his own Terror. When we have gone far enough we reach a point where we remember home, certainly as it was with all its shortcomings, but still home for all those shortcomings. Whether stranded on Calypso’s isle or on the desolate eternal twighlight of Gath we come to a certain pass and we know it is time to turn our steps back to where we began. I am curious to see what Earl does in Child of Earth (on order) how he disposes of the wicked suitors and finds what he has lost.
I have never corresponded with Mr. Tubb and do not know what he thinks of when he writes his books, but I have always been impressed with his subtle treatment of the post diasporan galaxy as a kind of Renaisance Italy writ large with its balkanized planets, sadistic depsotic rulers, its fanststically wealthy traders, its honor and vendetta obsessed great houses, the slave driven states to the east, the carnival with its garish costumes, fortune tellers, gamblers, freaks and cons (the Dumarest saga at times gives one the unmistakeable feel of the Comedia dell’Arte in a way I think even Edgar Alan Poe would find entertaining), its witches (“Kalin really was a witch” may be Tubb’s most delicious line) its gypsies, its mercenaries, its free trader ships, its pirates, its isolated sages and seekers for knowledge hidden away in slums or fortresses, its patchwork of different races and societies, its heretical sects and secret societies, its treason, treachery, and passion and the thinly veiled conflict between Jesuit and Franciscan that can be found in the rival orders of the Cyclan and Universal Brotherhood and through it all wanders the Tubb’s own wanderer who is when you look at him from a different angle an unsung atavism to the great Renaissance philospher Macciavelli whose insatiable devotion to rationalism (and in Dumarests case it was rational to survive) was, as is often true with Earl, mistaken by men much later for cruelty and a lack of compassion. That Dumarest transcends other men should not surprise the reader. Who but its owner could string and pull the bow of Odysseus? How many of Dumarest’s women have played the characteristic roles of Helen, of Circe, of Calypso and of Penelope and all but the last to disappear into well deserved destruction or sad and poignant memory.
Were the novels formulaic? Of course. So are the verses of the Oddysey. But readers for millenia have been enthralled by Homer’s repeated calling of our attention to the beauty of the wine dark seas. Earl’ wine dark seas are endless expanses of blackness studded with the beautiful colored illumination of the clustered stars amidst curtains of luminsescence. The kind of beauty that drives starship captains riding middle eventually into madness. Earl’s siren songs were the winds of Gath. The grey of Oddyseus’ guileful warrior goddess muse Athena’s eyes, the color of the traveler’s atire. For Homer each verse spoke something subltly differenct and distinct from others similar to it and I think the same may be said of the installments in Mr. Tubb’s series though to what extent he may have intended any such effect I know not. And as with the Oddysey, Earl eventually through guile and sheer luck, something the ancient Danae had a deep appreciation for, he evades his own version of an all pervasive force set against him, and alone at last, he finds his way home. I think, as with the Oddysey, if I may stretch the Homeric analogy just a little further, one must consider the entire epic to truly appreciate it.
If Mr. Tubb elects to continue or further fill out the Dumarest series, I know his efforts will be met with well deserved appreciation.
Best Regards
Grady Loy
What a wonderful post! I agree with everything you say. There’s magic in the Dumarest series. I especially like the evil Cyclan. It’s great that the Dumarest series is being reprinted so a new generation can discover its delights!
I’ve followed Dumarest for decades now, and hope to see a few more in the future. #33 was a bonus though – I never thought Mr Tubb was still writing.
I agree about Grady’s post. Quite wonderful, expressing a lot of things I feel myself about the series.
I’m currently writing an article for Dark Horizon on the Dumarest series. I have been collecting information and have arranged an interview with the great man. I am hoping to attack the general ‘mind candy’ criticism laid at Tubb’s door. In fact, I find it rather disturbing that Grady seems to have read my mind. I am delighted though that he has and wonder if I might have permission to take some quotes from this site in support of my argument?
I wrote to Tubb in 1990 and he was kind enough to reply with an outstanding, professional summary of his craft and approach. I remain grateful to him for that but more so for the absolutely endless hours of reading pleasure the Dumarest series has given me.
Sure, you can quote whatever you like from these comments on Tubb. Tubb is a wonderful storyteller and should be rediscovered by a new generation of readers. Hopefully, when Tubb’s works are made available for HOMEWORLD, the situation will improve.
Interesting post from Mr Harbottle – thanks for clarifying the situation. So, I wonder if anyone heard any more about sales of Dumarest 33 / commissioning for Dumarest 34 in the meantime? …
Grady’s post is great!
Finally, in response to the earlier question, I personally overall tend to prefer the later books in the series. Personal favourites off the top of my head:
Jester at Scar
Technos
Quillian Sector
Terra Data
World of Promise
Melome
Angado
HOMEWORLD seems to be open to publishing new Dumarest novels as well as the old ones.
Thanks regarding the quotes.
I should add that I found Child of Earth remarkable. It was a polished novel, mostly unexpected in its approach, yet still retaining the Dumarest stamp. Still lots of questions unanswered but then do we need them all answered? I thought before I’d read Return that it might be more appropriate to leave Dumarest still searching – a kind of symbol of human endeavour. But of course, I’d love a few more…
If Grady has returns here could he contact me on my email address.
There’s still more to the Dumarest saga I’d like to read about. Dumarest has to deal with the Cyclan. That should be fun.
I read at last the Child of Earth. It was fairly evident from an early volume (I forget if it was Derai or the Winds of Gath) that the Cyclan was on Earth and Mr. Tubb just sort of gently let us forget it. The new information about Earth’s inhabitants is quite fascinating. I wondered briefly if this was not part of the reason that Earl began to have a bad reaction in Prison of Night and its sister novel (The dying navigator on whom Earl used Kalin’s symbiote died in space but appeared to have been suspended at the moment of death with the extreme cold. The hive creatures inhabiting the planet Earl was living on in Prison of Night effected a cure of Earl and apparently the symbiote there had not been reabsorbed entirely but was causing Earl trouble. The Cyclan noted that if Earl was on that planet, his sanity would have become questionable and though it was not evident at the time this appears to have been some sort of understanding that the symbiote interacts badly to homochon tissue either in grafts or in the orignal donor. Certainly cyber Avro ended badly after having spent time as a symbiote. It is of course then not clear why Earl had no bad results from the use of the symbiote at the Temple of Truth (unless he had to be considerably reeingineered in his recovery from the nuclear blast). One can dwell overmuch on these things.
One can also now imagine what happened to Earl’s parents. There are some very enigmatic questions raised by the new book and I have to agree with others in the hope that Mr. Tubb writes yet another installment.
George, my thanks for your site and the opportunity it provides to learn and share.
Grady
E. C. Tubb is a more subtle writer than he gets credit for. There are clues in Prison of Night that impact Child of Earth. I agree with you that Tubb leaves some pretty strong hints in the early books that the Cyclan are located on Earth (which explains why Earth has been removed from most star charts). If there is a sequel to Child of Earth I hope it deals with the Cyclan.
That was always the paradox. It was apparently clear that the cyclan were concealing Earth from Dumarest and the natural conclusion was that they inhabited it. Therefore, why not simply force the information from the cyclan somehow rather than continually avoid them.
But I really liked the way Tubb introduced this twist of Earth as the harvest planet – In the run up to this final book he also managed to convey that the monks also wanted Earth to remain hidden – thus blurring and confusing a nuber of theories I’ve always held about the conclusion.
A part of the success of the series was this repetition of familiar themes and scenarios coupled with tiny hints and progression. Any author that can maintain interest and excitement over 33 books by giving away mere tidbits of information is a real master
I never really understood why the monks would want to keep the location of Earth a secret. More for Tubb to explain in his next book, perhaps.
Cyclan on Earth: Back in the 70’s, Tubb stated that the Cyclan was *not* on Earth, because the gravity would be too high for the brains. The moon was hinted at, but the actual location was left open.
I always figured the main Cyclan base was on the moon, but the Cyclan still had to dominate the governments on Earth.
Steve and George:
From the Winds of Gath. Ace Books Inc. 1967 (Ace double together with Crisis on Cheiron by Juanita Coulson) p. 124-125
Earl using Slowtme has entered the night zone of Gath, killed the Prince of Emened, found kidnapped Seena and is being held at laser point by Cyber Dyne who has said he will kill Dumarest –
“Why?” Dumarest took a slow and cautious step aside and away from the girl. “Why must you kill me? Because I exposed your plot? I thought you regarded the past as irredeemable.” He took another slow step. “Or is there another reason? Is it because I come from a planet called Earth?”
“What do you know of Earth?”
“I lived there. I spoke of it and you must know that. I think that you want me dead because of it. What is so important about Earth that noone must speak of it?” He took another cautious step.
Dyne followed him with the gun.
“You are trying to distract me,” he said. “You hope to approach and then, suddenly, attack. You have confidence in the speed of your reflexes but they will not save you. When you reach a certain position I shall fire.”
Dumarest drew a deep breath.
“Earth,” he said. “A lonely world with a strange form of life. Underground life, cyber, do you understand? I escaped on a ship serving that life and it bore a device similar to that you carry on your breast. The Cyclan seal.”
“So?”
“I think you could tell me how to find that world. You or others of your breed.”
“You are talking to gain time,” said Dyne. “The reason eludes me. There seems to be neither logic nor sense in your actions and yet you must have a motive. I can only be that-” His eyes widened. His fingers closed on the trigger of his weapon.
Dumarest dropped as he fired.
Three guesses how that ended – at least Seena did not get toasted. And Earl is halfway to 00 status (cyberwise).
That is probably QED as far as the “canonical” location of the Cyclan headquarters. Earlier in thebook Dyne muses on the Cyclan brain vault being located “Buried beneath miles of rock, deep in the heart of a lonely planet,” p. 35. Here he both reuses the reference to “lonely” and notes that the Cyclan brainvalt is on a planet (which is different from a moon as the recent loss of planetary status for Pluto must attest)
So tough Tubb may have said something about the moon – e sems to have placed the cyclan on Earth originally.
Now there is a divergence in the force between Gath and Children of Earth.
In Children of Earth we find Homochon elements from a mutation in th original Earth stock humans. In Gath p. 79 we find “Such grafting had been accomplished with the Homochon elements but they had been taken from formless creatures brooding in eternal night, locked in darkness beneath the miles of their ebony atmosphere.” So there is some variation (Unless one assumes that the homocons were from these creatures and planted like grafts or symbiotes in receptive earth humans who relicated them generation after generation??)
All for now
Regards
Grady
What a great post! Yes, there are plenty of clues that the Cyclan headquarters is on Earth although the Cyclan brain vault might be somewhere else (like Mars). There are still more questions for E. C. Tubb to answer in future Dumarest books.
I must apologize about the spelling in the last post (I did not realize until later a lot of keys were skipping). Over 40 years it will be hard to match all the details in all the books for course and an author (particularly when he does not yet realize how iconic and popular his series is going to become) may be excused for introducing a new or improved idea that conflicts with what appeared in an earlier installment as the development of the explanation of the homochon element indicates. I just wanted you all to know I will do my best to be more careful about the information I share with you than my recent spelling performance would perhaps otherwise indicate. In any case it was interesting because that detailed account of the Cyclan’s presence on Earth is disclosed in Gath, completely disappears in Derai and as far as I know does not reappear in any form until The Return.
Best Regards
Grady
E. C. Tubb set his Dumarest quest in motion and then cleverly planted clues in various volumes in the series to tantalize us.
So good to see another Dumarest novel, even though the poor chap is still on the run. If Ted manages to finish the real final volume, I hope Dumarest finds the Cyclan headquartes and the gestalt of minds somewhere under the Earth, blows them up, and lives happily ever after with a nubile maiden who isn’t going to do a “Captain’s woman” and end up dead.
Reading Child of Earth has prompted me to start the whole series again, something I thought I’d never do. I’d forgotten how well written the first few are, full description and action that isn’t just gladatorial combat. I’m sure there would be a large readership out there for them today.
Why no films? Somebody has to realise there’s a neverending series of SF fantasy adventure movies here just crying out for a muscular hero, CGI monsters and a plethora of scantily clad heroines/wicked temptresses. Vin Deisel? A younger version of Arnie? Come on, they could be big box office for the next 30 years.
Fay.
HOMEWORLD is reprinting the Dumarest series with omnibus volumes starting in the Summer of 2009. Hopefully, sales will be strong so they can reprint the entire series. I have no idea why Dumarest hasn’t made it to the big or little screen. You would think that the SCI-FI NETWORK would be interested.
I have just finished reading Child of Earth (in one session), and I’m left with the feeling that the adventure has only just begun! Like others who have posted here, I have thought of ‘finishing’ the series myself, but am very glad that Mr. Tubb has done so himself; it would be lovely to think that he will write more.
As to filming the series – who could possibly play Dumarest? Maybe the late Michael Gothard could have attempted it? I can’t think of any current Hollywood actors who would do the role justice (and I can’t imagine Dumarest with an American accent somehow).
Fiona
Fiona, I’ve had the same feeling over the years about attempting to write an ending to the Dumarest series as you did. CHILD OF EARTH doesn’t quite solve all the plots E. C. Tubb has set up throughout the series. But, rumor has it that more Dumarests from Tubb might be published.
Dear Fiona:
You raise an interesting point about how Dumarest should sound. I think it is fair to say most of us imagine him British because his creator is British, but Earl is hardly speaking the Queen’s English which is of course much prettier than his spare oratory. Dumarest’s English is efficient, correct and a little on the minimalist side but with very little in the way of cultural references (I was just looking). That would be appropriate for a very determined and bright but self taught man who lives on the outside. Tubb’s rendition of his English reminds me of the accomodation we (including British, Americans, Irish etc) reach when we live in ex-pat communities for many years. As to which dialect Earl speaks (Britain has many more dialects than the US and Canada of course.) I myself tend to imagine him as Irish (Meath) speaking pretty good but very spare UK English. Some of Earl’s women over the years are unmistakeably English. I am not sure there are any “Americans” (though women like Neema and Ysanne could as easily be imagined American as English. Ysanne was perhaps supposed to have been descended of Native Americans). Derai I thought of as English. Kalin had to be Irish. She came from Solis, she had the sight, her home was a cool damp world with vast green fields, a gentile fading aristocracy and horses. Lallia could have been anything. The Cyclan are Americans. They already exist. They are presently called the IRS.
I assumed that Earl was living as a boy in what is now UK (I believe it is a literary SF convention to have your heroes come from the country you publish in unless you specify otherwise) But having driven through the West Country and Hampshire in early summer, I found the thought of the beautiful English countryside reduced to an arid waste populated only by hungry people, thorny bushes and scrawny birds, lizards and rats, very depressing (I thought about it while reading the books as opposed to driving). Now if it were Nevada or parts of Utah, Arizona or New Mexico, or perhaps the Outback, the change would not be so dramatic. Then Earl leaves all that and goes into space where he meets saints, sinners and scholars who intone to his inevitable exasperation “How can such diverse types come from the same planet. It is nonsense of course” (Mr. Tubb has clearly been to the ivory tower and if the experience amused him it must not have done so entirely) I am at a loss to think who would be suitable to play Earl in a movie (hough tI almost wonder if Daniel Craig couldn’t pull it off) and so would have to rely on your good judgment. I think it is a movie we fans would all enjoy but it would be dreadfully difficult to make.
Best Regards
Grady
I almost fell out of my chair when I read your assertion that the Cyclan was the IRS! Grady, you crack me up! In a week or two, I’m going to start reviewing some of E.C. Tubb’s non-Dumarest novels.
We are on the same wavelength or something of the sort as I just picked up copies of The Return and Child of Earth prompted by reading Spectrum of a Forgotten Sun (#15) in May. I loved the early books years ago and Spectrum renewed my interest. If I wait to read the many books between 15 and the final two, I’ll never reach them. So I’ll jump straight to The Return.
This was a great discussion of the series. Thanks George!
I’m surprised that the Dumarest books are still to be found at Library sales and used bookstores. And their prices are reasonable on the web, too, so they’re easy to track down. I enjoyed reading every one of them.
Dear George,
You and your bloggers might like to know that GATH is to be published here as a large Print paperback here in the UK in the Linford Mystery series, in February 2010. And Ive recently sold them THE DEATH ZONE, Ted’s retitling of DERAI. I’m preparing TOYMAN now and hope to follow with others in the series, along with more of Ted’s classsic 1950s novels, and also another brand new novel, STARSLAVE. This features Captain Kurt Varl, and is the sequel to STARDEATH. I’ve just submitted the latter, and if it’s taken, then I;ll try STARSLAVE. This is a great novel, and Varl is a real tough guy who makes Dumarest looks like a wimp!
Best Regards, Phil
Great news, Phil! Will the Linford series be available in the U.S. or Canada?
Dear George,
Yes, all the Linford titles are readily available to order on line, in the US and Canada. The publisher, whose web address is http://www.ulverscroft.co.uk have an on-line USA sales office. All the books are also available on the US Amazon.com too. Recently published Tubb titles include: FEAR OF STRANGERS (originally COD Mars), TIDE OF DEATH (originally World At Bay), FOOTSTEPS OF ANGELS, THE SPACE-BORN, SECRET OF THE TOWERS (originally The Tormented City), THE PRICE OF FREEDOM (originally Space Hunger), WORLD IN TORMENT (originally The Mutants Rebel), THE RESURRECTED MAN, THE GREEN HELIX (originally Alien Universe), THE FREEDOM ARMY (originally Debracy’s Drug), JOURNEY INTO TERROR (originally Alien Life), ESCAPE INTO SPACE, THE LUCK MACHINE, and forthcoming are SANDS OF DESTINY (his only Foreign Legion story) in October, and THE WALL in December. His many earlier Linford titles are probably out of print, but should pop up second hand on abebooks. Worth looking out for are his World First book editions of magazine serials DEAD WEIGHT and THE LIFE-BUYER. Prices for these two are set to rocket when the penny drops with dealers that they are first (and only) editions. Many of the above are slightly revised to remove any anachronisms. Linford are also doing all of Ted’s western novels, which should interest Dumarest fans, as they all feature a tough, capable hero, not at all unlike Dumarest!
Best Regards,
Phil
This is great news, Phil! I’ll go on AMAZON and order some of the Linford titles. You may see reviews of them on this blog in the coming months. Thanks for providing this information so promptly!
@Philip Harbottle, Thanks for all the info, Is there any more news on Homeworld’s Dumarest omnibuses or the sequel to Child of Earth?
“Is there any more news on Homeworld’s Dumarest omnibuses or the sewuel to Child of Earth.” In a word–no.
This is a new enterprise, and the publisher is pretty much a one-man operation, working part-time because he has to hold down a demanding full-time job. He also runs the previously established Classic Comics Press. Last time I heard, in April, he was about to move house, so I guess his schedules may have slipped. Whilst I’m happy to cut him slack and keep the options open, I’ve suggested to the author that he also works on a new non-Dumarest novel for his UK publisher (an expansion of a novella he wrote for me in 2002.)
Best Regards,
Phil
I’m ready to buy those Dumarest omnibuses as soon as they’re published, Phil!
I always seem to miss due to bad timing those parts of the convesation that Mr. Harbottle joins. Although as a die-hard Dumarest fan I will also be very happy to see these new works by Mr. Tubb. It would be nice if we are fortunate at some point to receive another or additional Dumarest works. It has to end somewhere I know. The poor man has made it back but I am sure many fans would like to see how he finally outwits or comes to terms with the Cyclan and whether he is able to restore the Earth. There was an added quality to the last book. I quite enjoyed it. I know everyone has their favourites. Most I think tend and to favor the earlier books and I am also quite fond of them. But it would be wonderful I think if we were to be fortunate enough to see the Cyclan brought low and Earth restored. Then I suspect we should be content (after all I gratefully acknowledge we have had 33) and Mr. Tubb continue with other things.
Best Regards
Grady
Grady, I like many of the early Dumarest books, too. But I find it remarkable that E. C. Tubb was able to sustain his vision for 33 books. I can’t think of a bad book in the bunch. Some are better than others, but the overall quality is good. I’m sure Mr. Harbottle will keep us informed of new releases of Tubb works, including any more Dumarest books.
I have always been partial to Kalin but after rereading number 33, Child of Earth, I think that may be my second favorite. After that it is hard to choose because as you say they were all good. Number 33 has a slower pace but the level of complexity and nuance are enhanced and we see a slightly different side of Mr. Tubb’s writing. It is the same old Dumarest but something is added.
Best Regards
Grady, your choice of KALIN is interesting since several of the Dumarest plot elements flow from that key book. TOYMAN holds some special appeal to me as well.
I’m reading the entire series (again) right through. KALIN is the pivotal book, really, given that this is when the Cyclan take a big interest in Earl. Each book is an essential element of the whole tale, and even if some are ‘better than others’, I wouldn’t want to change any of them. There are a few discrepancies that creep in, but just imagine trying to sustain a 100% accuracy over so many books!!!
I’ll make my choice of favourite when I’ve finished the last (for the moment, more please, Mr. Tubb) book, although I’m enjoying them all so much it will be a difficult task!
You’re right about KALIN being the pivotal book, Fiona. A friend of mine recently read the entire Dumarest Saga and said the odd numbered books are better than the even numbered books.
Bad news. Homeworld Press have cancelled their Dumarest omnibus project, after holding an option for two years. The publisher has written me to say that with sales going almost exclusively to dealers and Amazon.com at anywhere from 45 to 60 percent discounts on per copy sales, he can see no way to make this project profitable.
This is the curse of all well-meaning small presses. They simply can’t print enough copies for national distribution (even if they could get it), and without that they are in thrall to dealers and Amazon, and with their virtual online monopoly they are demanding greedier and greedier discounts forcing the small-press operators to fold their tents. Homeworld had been hoping to cut a co-production deal with the Science fiction Book Club–which might well have worked–but I guess the corporate massacre last year at SFBC scuppered anyone there taking a chance on Dumarest.
The timing of this pull-out is ironic: the Italian publishers Elala srl have recently published their second hardcover 4-novel Dumarest omnibus, and optioned novels 9 to 12, and the French publisher Soleil have just published their full-colour graphic album version of The winds of Gath. with volume 1 of “L’Aventurier des Etoiles.” Script adapter Richard Nolane tells me he expects to begin work on volume 2 shortly. And, as I previously reported here, Ted’s UK publisher F.A.Thorpe has taken the first two Dumarest novels, and has TOYMAN under consideration. Had Homeworld gone ahead, I’m sure I could have coaxed Ted to finish Dumarest 34. As things are, however, unless an established US publisher steps forward, I shall be advising Ted to concentrate on other work. So my advice to you and your correspondents wanting to enjoy Ted’s work is to invest in his recent and forthcoming Linford Mystery titles, whilst they remain in print–which they won’t for long. Be warned: many are out of print already. You indicated a while back you were going to try some, George, but I don’t know if you ever did. If not, maybe this news may tempt you!
Best Wishes, Phil harbottle
That’s disappointing news, Phil! I was so looking forward to those Homeworld omnibus editions! Yes, I ordered some of the Linford Mystery series. I’ll try to read some and post the reviews soon. The publishing world seems to be in complete turmoil and many projects are going to crater. It’s sad that the Dumarest reprints won’t be forthcoming. I wish you could coax Dumarest 34 out of Mr. Tubb, but I understand your position. Thanks for keeping us informed!
Mr. Harbottle,
Please can you try to persuade E. C. Tubb to write 34? I realise that the cancellation by Homeworld Press is a big disappointment, but hopefully someone else will pick up the series.
Could you also, when you next see Mr. Tubb, give him my thanks for writing 33?
Best wishes,
Fiona
I’m with you on urging Mr. Tubb to write #34 in the Dumarest series, Fiona.
What really sad news. But interesting that PHILIP HARBOTTLE says “I could have coaxed Ted to finish Dumarest 34”. Does that mean he already started and some is already written?
I sure hope Tubb writes Dumarest #34, Steve. I’d be first in line to buy it.
I hope that Tubb finishes 34 too.
I wonder if a fan organisation could be formed to fund it? Jack Vance’s fans managed to get his entire output printed in hardback a few years ago. Surely we Tubb fans can do something for one paperback?
I would sign up for such a fan organization, David. I can’t believe there isn’t a small publisher out there who would contract with Tubb for Dumarest #34. I had hopes for HOMEWORLD, but I guess that’s not going to work out.
I would also be up for it. Maybe if we each put in say 500 dollars, it should be quite possible to build up enough for a small print run?
First, E. C. Tubb would have to write the book, Steve. Next, his agent would have to find a small press that would be willing to do a small print run. Then, we would have to come up with enough subscribers to pay for the print run. Plenty of hurdles…
Yes, plenty of hurdles but surely nothing insurmountable – unless of course, the book is never finished!
What do you think Mr Harbottle?
I’d be up for some funding! It’s a great idea.
Clearly, there is a market for Dumarest #34, Fiona. Let’s hope E.C. Tubb writes it.
Dear George,
My thanks to you and your loyal correspondents for your recent kind remarks and the aspirations expressed re the possibility of a “fan-financed” Dumarest # 34. Alas, it wouldn’t work. Similar proposals were mooted by several individuals to me about nine years ago, but when I put them to Ted he turned them all down. He was unhappy working under the pressure of the possibility disappointing the fans. I don’t think he’ll have changed his views. and, as I tried to tell you last time, it is now impossible for a small press to recover its outlay. So okay, you and your friends donate an advance–but what about the publisher? He has to fork out a small fortne to print the book–only to discover, as Homeworld did, that they can’t sell it at a price to cover their outlay. No, what is needed is a straight forward offer from an established publisher–if one can be found. God knows I’m trying, and am always open to proposals.
Meantime, you might like to know that the French full colour graphic novels was published in France yesterday. I haven’t seen copies yet myself, but I’m told that it’s terrific. The French adapter, “Richard D. Nolane” has just put up a wonderful four page spread about it on his own blog. Check it out at:
http://millenaire.blogspot.com/2009/09/dumarest-en-bd-les-vents-de-gath.html
Yesterday I sold another two of Ted’s novels to his UK publisher, F.A.Thorpe (Ulverscroft). They now have twenty of his titles on their lists (not including all his westerns), and many more are to to come–including, hopefully, the Dumarest series, starting with GATH in February 2010.
Best,
Phil
Another wonderful post, Phil! I hope the French graphic novels find their way to this side of the pond. I, for one, would buy Ulverscroft LARGE PRINT editions of the Dumarest saga. Loved Nolane’s four-page spread!
Dear George,
The publisher just sent me copies of their first graphic album: DUMAREST–L’AVENTUIER DES ETOILES, Volume 1: Les Vents de Gath, by Richard F. Nolane and ChrysMillien. It’s truly stunning. Illustrated boards, Large size, 12.5 inches by 9 inches, around 10 panels per each of its 48 pages in gorgeous full colour throughout. It is a wonderful book. Dumarest is drawn (deliberately) as a Clint Eastwood lookalike. Ted told me that he deliberately never described Dumarest, so that readers of all creeds (and colours) could imagine their own image of him. I think Clint Eastwood is a perfectly good visulisation–Dumarest is an iconic tough guy, in the same vein as Eastwood’s film persona as The Man with No Name. Some people might gib at this–I say to hell with them. It works for me. This book has the added bonus that the adapter agreed ny suggestion of including a prologue of Dumarest as a boy (from the short story “Child of Earth”). The art here is superb–probably the highlight of the book. I do urge all Dumarest fans to invest in the book. If like me you can’t read French–no matter. We can all follow the story from the visuals. I’m told it is now available on Canadian Amazon, so US fans shouldn’t have any trouble.
Best,
Phil
I have it on order, Phil! Can’t wait to see it!
It’s fair enough that the reader doesn’t have a facial description of Dumarest – but we do know what he wears! So, has any illustrator ever drawn him in his grey pants, long tunic and knee-high boots?
What about publishing them direct by ebook? Where fans can download them from a sight?
This may be the wave of the future for books, Vonda. If the KINDLE and the SONY Reader and the rumored APPLE e-book gain market share, direct ebook sales may be the answer to giving the reading public access to these great out-of-print books.
Dear George,
I just had an e-mail from the director of Elara, Ted’s Italian publishers, confirming that following the success of their first two Dumarest omnibus volumes, they are planning to publish the third in time for Xmas. He adds: “We are also planning an operation to celebrate Mr. Tubb’s 90th birthday next 15 October. On our web site we have asked SF readers and fans to write and send us a few greeting lines for Mr. Tubb. We will collect, translate where necessary, and send all greetings messages to you so you can forward them to him.”
Best,
Phil
Great news, Phil! I guess I’ll have to brush up on my Italian…
Dear George,
Ted’s Italian publishers Elara have just sent me English translations of dozens of birthday tribute messages they have received from Italian readers, fans, authors and editors. I’d like to share them with you, but don’t know how to send an attachment (I have them in a Word File) using just your automatic blog reply feed. Do you have a simple e-mail I can use (assuming they are of interest).
Phil Harbottle
Sure, Phil! Send them to kelleyg@ecc.edu and I’ll post them to the blog as soon as I return from BOUCHERCON.
Just wondered: Did these tributes ever get uploaded somewhere, that we can see them? Thanks, Steve
Check the posting for November 2, 2009, Steve, and you’ll see those tributes.
Hello,
I haven’t visited for a while, and am a little confused. The posts seem to end on October 15th 2009, then a huge gap until January 19th 2010 which mentions the November 2nd 2009 posting. Am I missing a huge chunk somewhere?
Anyway, the reason for stopping by this site is that I have just finished reading SHAMBLEAU by C. E. Moore (according to the cover) who is actually C. L. Moore, an American woman writer. Her hero, Northwest Smith, and the tales he is at the centre of, bear a remarkable similarity with Dumarest. The short story entitled ‘Shambleau’ begins almost exactly as does KALIN, with a woman being pursued by a mob:
“Then into his range of vision flashed a red running figure, dodging like a hunted hare from shelter to shelter in the narrow street.”
The stories all contain beautiful women (I must say that Shambleau herself is unlike Kalin!), and Smith is the strong silent type (but not a patch on Dumarest!).
Worth a read, if you can find a copy. Mine is a Consul Book published in 1961.
Best,
Fiona
Welcome back, Fiona! We’ve missed you. PLANET STORIES recently published the entire NORTHWEST SMITH saga by C. L. Moore. “Shambleau” is included. I hadn’t realized the similarity in the openings of KALIN and “Shambleau” until you mentioned it. If you click on November 2009 in the ARCHIVES on the first page of my blog, it will take you to those entries you’re looking for.
For your interest an old interview with E C Tubb is now on-line here. It was for the Gerry Anderson fanzine so centred around his Space: 1999 books, but obviously Dumarest was mentioned.
http://homepages.tesco.net/d.sisson/ectubb.htm
Thanks, David! I’ll check it out!
Apparently E C Tubb died last week. Very sad news.
Not sure if anything of the proposed “Dumarest 34” was in the end written.
This is sad news, but not unexpected, Steve. E. C. Tubb lived a long, productive life. I’m guessing DUMAREST 34 is a myth.
I am very saddened to hear of Mr. Tubb’s passing away as I am sure we all are. His limitless and colorful imagination intrigued us with so many pleasant hours, and though it will continue to do so in the years ahead, we will be dependent upon old favorites and must forgo for now the thrill of new adventures. My most heartfelt and shamefully belated thanks to Mr. Tubb for the irreplaceable and fascinating gift of his dreams committed to writing and shared with us faithfully over so many years.
Well said, Grady! E. C. Tubb’s work will live on.
Sad news indeed.
E. C. Tubb was 91, David. He lived a long and productive life. His work will live on.
Dea Geirge,
On the morning of Friday 10 September, I replied to an e-mail from Ted’s UK publishers Ulverscroft, accepting their offer for his new novel TO DREAM AGAIN. I knew that Ted was extremely ill, and confined to bed, so instead of telephoning him with the good news, I sent him a postcard, and telephoned his granddaughter instead, so she scould pass it on. I told her my good news, and she told me her nad news. Ted had just died, in his sleep.
I immediately sat down and wrote an obituary, and half an hour later, the news had been sent via e-mail to LOCUS, UK newspapers, and prominent UK on line fans, and also to France, Germany and Italy. Within an hour the news had been spread world-wide. There are very few countries where Ted’s name is not known, and his stories read and loved.
I never thought to send the news to website, but only because I thought it had been long ago closed down. When last I’d checked, nothing had been addeed in a long while. It was only when i decided to surf the web to see what tributes were being paid, that i discovered your site was still active. I was delighted to see this, not least because your site is (judging by whay i found) just about the only Tubb site on the net that has any integrity and intelligent comment. I was dismayed to find numerous sites were just slip-shod unattributed plagiarisms of my own book and magazine published bibliographies and articles. Litte or nothing had been added, and such additions as there were were of no value whatever, and often any “new” material by the blogger was either inane or plain wrong. These errors were then picked up and passed on by another plagiarist, who then added his own fiction, compounding the errors…and so on. I know that some of these sites invite readers to respond, but frankly I do not see the point’ they’re not worth the candle. To paraphrase P.C. Plod: “Anything I might say will be taken down and plagiarized and used in evidence against me.”
Your site is an exception. However, I trust you will forgive me if I do not send you my personal thoughts on Ted’s passing. I have already done so to his family and, at their reuest to LOCUS–where they should be appearing in the next (October) issue. But what I CAN do is to offer you some FACTUAL information to counterbalance the inanities being circulated.
There never was and never will be a Dumarest 34. At least, not by Ted. If anyone wants to write such a novel, telling of how Dumarest locates and fights the Cyclan, they should contact me first with their outline and proposals, to seek the permission of Ted’s estate. But we will not entertain amateur fan rubbish, so only major talents need apply. Frankly, I don’t think anyone can ever fill Ted’s seven-league boots.
TO DREAM AGAIN will likely appear from Ulverscroft around August/Septemner 2011. The novel is a complete rewrite and expansion of a short novelette entitled “Full-Five” which Ted wrote especially for my magazine VISION OF TOMORROW in 1970. It’s a darkly disturebing dystopia, quite brilliant.
A second new novel, FIRES OF SATAN, is presently under consideration by the same publisher. This is entirely new and not based on any earlier story. It is also Ted’s greatest achievement, 72,000 words of real power and poignancy. When–not if–it is eventually published, its ending will make you weep (as it did me)–and not just because it will be Ted’s last.
Yet a third entirely new earlier novel, STARSLAVE, will be published by Ulverscroft in November 2010. It is a sequel to his novel STARDEATH–published by Del Rey years ago, and available in two reprints, by Wildside and Ulverscroift (just published). No Tubb fan can afford to miss this dynamic novel, which is even better than the first novel.
I enjoyed and appreciated the latest additional comments on your site, but I didn’t know whether to cheer and applaud Fiona’s “discovery” of Ted’s C.L.Moore influences, or to weep with frustration and tear out my remaining hair. as far back as Easter 1964 (sic; 46 years ago) I published the first ever study of Ted’s sf novels, “E.C.Tubb–An Evaluation.” Here I wrote:
Uh–oh! Something urgent’s came up. I have to break off now–I’ll complete this letter in an hour or so.
Best,
Phil
Dear George,
As I was saying 46 years ago:
“This is the sort of writing that flourished in the weird-scientific fantasies of WEIRD TALES in the thirties, notably by C.L.Moore and Frank Belknap Long. It seems a reasonable assumption that Tubb read, and was influenced by, the Farnsworth Wright coterie.
A case could perhaps be made out for the derivation of Tubb’s tall adventurers in their frontier town interplanetary setting, replete with saloons and dives, as coming from the ‘Northwest Smith’ sagas of C.L.Moore.
In 1973, I made my first agenting sale for Ted , selling his short story “Sword in the Snow” to Sam Moskowitz at WEIRD TALES. (I was not his agent then–and I would sell several more stories before I was–but how and why that happened is a story that may never be told). Sam Moskowitz blurbed the story thusly:
“…this very enjoyable story reminds us of a tremendous writer from the past of WEIRD TALES… who’ll ever forget C.L.Moore, certainly one of thre boblest writers this magazine ever published and whose hard-nosed Northwest Smith and pre-woman’s lib Jirel of Joiry are still remembered with great fondness.”
In 1999 I myself published two enture novels by Tubb, DEATH GOD’S DOOM and THE SLEEPING CITY both masterly and loving tributes to C.L.Moore, Robert E.Howard and Henry Kuttner et alia, imbued with Ted’s own unique sty;e and magic. Hardly anyone bought them.
Sigh…I’ve been telling the world about Ted for five decades now. A cynic might say it has taken his death for anyone to take any notice of me. But let me say this:
As his friend and agent, I am dedicated to ensuring that his ENTIRE literary heitage will be preserved and appreciated. And in this I have now been joined four square by his estate who share this goal.
And, together, we ARE going to do it. By God, we are!
Best,
Phil
What a moving set of comments, Phil! All of E. C. Tubb’s fans were saddened by his passing, but I firmly believe his work will live on. I know I’ll be buying those upcoming titles you mentioned. Given the trends in publishing, I hope the whole E. C. Tubb oeuvre will be available in ebook format someday. And I hope some major SF writer decides to continue the Dumarest series. The war against the Cyclan must go on!