In 1961, I bought Ballantine Books Bypass to Otherness, a paperback collection of some of Henry Kuttner’s and C. L. Moore’s best short stories. I loved it! Some of my favorite stories were selections from Kuttner’s popular series such as the “Hogbens,” funny otherworldly hillbillies living in America, “Gallegher Galloway,” the scientist who invents incredible machines only when intoxicated (whose adventures have been collected in Robots Have No Tails), and the “Baldies” stories eventually collected in another Ballantine Book: Mutant. Bypass to Otherness was projected as the first of three “Otherness” collections of Kuttner’s short fiction. Ballantine published Return to Otherness in 1962. Another great collection! The third “Otherness” collection never appeared. Now, 50 years later, Haffner Press has published DETOUR TO OTHERNESS: a grand collection that includes both Bypass to Otherness and Return to Otherness, with eight additional stories. Robert Silverberg provides an informative Introduction and Frederik Pohl writes a nostalgic Afterword. If the cover looks unfamiliar, it’s because this is a formerly unpublished painting by Richard Powers that matches the striking Powers covers on Bypass to Otherness and Return to Otherness. It’s great that Haffner Press has brought these wonderful forgotten stories out in such an attractive package. All in all, DETOUR TO OTHERNESS is one of the best books published in 2010.
Table of Contents
Introduction by Robert Silverberg
Bypass to Otherness
Cold War
Call Him Demon
The Dark Angel
The Piper’s Son
Absalom
The Little Things
Nothing but Gingerbread Left
Housing Problem
Return to Otherness
See You Later
This Is the House
The Proud Robot
Gallegher Plus
The Ego Machine
Android
The Sky Is Falling
Juke-Box
Detour to Otherness
Open Secret
All Is Illusion
Rite of Passage
Baby Face
Happy Ending
The Children’s Hour
Dream’s End
Near Miss
Afterword by Frederik Pohl
For other excellent FORGOTTEN BOOKS check out these contributors: (Patti Abbott will return next Friday to be the “hostess with the mostest”)
Joe Barone
Paul Brazill
David Cranmer
Bill Crider
Scott Cupp
Martin Edwards
R,J. Ellory
Glenn Harper
Randy Johnson
Rob Kitchin
B.V. Lawson
Evan Lewis
Steve Lewis
Todd Mason
James Reasoner
Richard Robinson
Kerrie Smith
Paul Bishop
Kevin Tipple
I’ll have to compare this to the Ballantine BEST OFs (the Kuttner volume reissued clumsily to cash in on THE LAST MIMZY movie)…a pity, if the photo of the cover isn’t misleading thus, that Haffner couldn’t afford the full color for the Powers painting.
Thanks for doing the roundup.
I’m always happy to help Patti Abbott out by hosting FORGOTTEN BOOKS, Todd.
Hi George
My FFG is The Cutting Crew by Steve Mosby and it’s here:
http://pdbrazill.blogspot.com/2010/09/fridays-forgotten-books-cutting-crew-by.html
Cheers
Paul
I have you linked, Paul!
This is on my wish list already. I enjoyed the two Otherness books as I did most Kuttner when I read them before and will be anxiously looking for this one.
DETOUR TO OTHERNESS is a gem, Scott. Haffner Press does good work.
I have the two paperbacks and the Ballantine “best of” and the huge collection from a few years ago. It’s good to see Kuttner and Moore being remembered again.
I think Subterranean Books is bringing out a big collection of Kuttner’s work, too, Bill. Yes, it’s good to have Kuttner and Moore’s work available again.
So by cleverly waiting 50 years I can get all the stories in one volume?
Cool.
😉
Timing is everything, Jeff.
OK, I ordered a couple of Kuttner’s collections. Gotta keep that economy stimulated.
You will love this grand volume, Jeff. It’s everything a small press book should be.
“The scientist who invents incredible machines only when intoxicated” is something I will have to check into. Sounds like a hoot.
David, you can check out my review of ROBOTS HAVE NO TAILS which collects all those wacky stories of “the scientist who invents incredible machines only when intoxicated” at http://georgekelley.org/?p=1511
Currently, Paul Brazill’s link has colonized (and et!) Bish’s link…and it won’t lead to either’s book.
TWO-HANDED ENGINE, btw, is the big retrospective of Moore-Kuttner work Bill mentions.
The WORDPRESS gremlins are at it again, Todd. I’ll try to fix those links.
My entry this week is The Concrete Maze by Steven Torres.
Your link is up and running, Kevin.
I agree with Todd about the cover not being in full color. I have one of the earlier collections, RETURN, and I have ROBOTS HAVE NO TAILS, but will probably buy this one too. I surely am glad to see Kutner getting some attention, his work deserves it.
I’m also glad to see C. L. Moore being credited on the cover of DETOUR TO OTHERNESS, Rick. She and Kuttner collaborated on most of these stories. Moore wasn’t credited on the Ballantine paperbacks.
Yep Brazil’s link goes to a “nonexistent” page on Bish’s blog…
George: Thanks for the kind words on DETOUR. This book was originally announced for release back in 2000, so it’s nice to finally see it in print.
Todd Mason: The Powes artwork used on dustjacket for DETOUR is produced in full-color. Powers painted the piece in purples, black, and whites. Jane Frank has a digital copy of the full piece and she may reproduce it in one of her future art books.
I love your wonderful books, Stephen! DETOUR TO OTHERNESS is just the latest triumph. Keep up the good work!
Thanks, George.
Good news, then: Next week I take the mechanicals to the printer for the 712-page monster that is TERROR IN THE HOUSE: THE EARLY KUTTNER, VOLUME *ONE*. 🙂
I also plan on taking the third volume of COLLECTED EDMOND HAMILTON, THE UNIVERSE WRECKERS as well. At least one of them should be ready in time for World Fantasy in Columbus.
Next month work begins in earnest on Silverberg’s TALES FROM SUPER-SCIENCE FICTION. At 360 pages (and sized like a 1950s Fantasy Press book), it’s slight compared to the other HP releases, but it looks like a lot fun.
Great news, Stephen! I’ll be ordering that TALES FROM SUPER-SCIENCE FICTION when it becomes available. I’m also considering your 4-pack deal. I admire your hard work and the wonder books you produce!