Fredric Brown is one of those unique writers who can write equally well in multiple genres. I grew up reading many of Fredric Brown’s mystery short stories. And, later, read many of Brown’s Science Fiction stories. With Rogue in Space (1957) you get the best of both worlds.
Rogue in Space is a fix-up novel. Brown expanded two earlier novelettes, “Gateway to Darkness”–published in Super Science Stories in 1949 and “Gateway to Glory” published in Amazing Stories in 1950–to form the novel.
A smuggler named Crag is arrested and awaits trial. A Judge offers Crag his freedom and a million dollars if he will agree to steal a McGuffin from a protected facility on Mars. So first there’s a prison escape, next a flight to Mars, then the heist, then the double-cross, and then the First Contact. Yes, Fredric Brown packs a lot into such a slim book! If you’re looking for that old fashioned Sense of Wonder, check out Rogue in Space. Are you a Fredric Brown fan? GRADE: B
The first two SF paperbacks I ever bought were Asimov’s I, Robot and Fredric Brown’s The Mind Thing. I was all of thirteen. I read all of Brown’s short story collections and most of his SF novels. Later I read a few of his mystery novels. Somehow this one I don’t remember reading.
Steve, I’m sure you’ve read ROGUE IN SPACE. This is the 1971 edition with a different cover from the older edition. I’ll add the older edition cover to my post and maybe it will jog your memory.
Unsurprisingly, I first read Brown’s horror fiction, along with some of his happier fantasies, suspense fiction and sf mixed in, in “Hitchcock” anthologies and other related volumes, and NIGHTMARES AND GEEZENSTACKS was the first Brown volume I picked up. Still mean to read his contemporary/mimetic novel THE OFFICE, no relation to the sitcoms of recent decades. Along with any number of his crime-fiction and sf novels…still haven’t read THE LIGHTS IN THE SKY ARE STARS nor THE FAR CRY yet, for example. But his “Don’t Look Behind You” and “Too Far” and “Come and Go Mad” were happy early memories, among many others.
Todd, THE LIGHTS IN THE SKY ARE STARS is my favorite SF novel by Brown, while I consider THE FAR CRY his best mystery. Get thee hence and read them; you won’t be disappointed.
Jerry, I totally agree with your assessments that THE LIGHTS IN THE SKY ARE STARS and THE FAR CRY are Fredric Browns best SF and mystery novels.
Thank for the nudge…I’ve had a copy of THE FAR CRY for some years in the Unicorn Mystery Book Club omnibus with three other interesting-seeming novels. I’ll need to pick up a oopy of LIGHTS.
THE MIND THING began serialization in the last issue of FANTASTIC UNIVERSE. There’s a teaser.
Todd, one of the most popular episodes of the original STAR TREK series was “Arena” where Kirk has to battle a hostile alien while another set of aliens sit in judgement. The events in the episode had aspects similar to Fredric Brown’s story so he got credit…and got paid.
Yeah, that one was pretty blatant. I’ve read all of the short stories I could find (a lot of them) but only a couple of his mysteries – including the Edgar winning Best First Novel THE FABULOUS CLIPJOINT, first in the Ed & Am Hunter series.
Jeff, I still have some HAFFNER PRESS editions of Fredric Brown’s short stories to read. But, they are Big Fat Books so I may just have to chip away at them instead of binging.
Yes, and the ST episode, because of the humanoid lizard and several other factors, was ludicrous. Read “Arena” when very young.
George, Fredric Bown was one of my early obsessions. I’ve read all his books with the exceptions of several of the Dennis Macmillan and Haffner Press collections. Brown was a major highlight of my early reading career.
Jerry, I read a lot of Fredric Brown in the 1960s, both SF and his mysteries. Wonderful writer!
I seem to remember reading a goodly number of his short stories in my early SF days in the 50s, but no novels that I recall, and don’t believe I was even aware of his mystery novels at that time. Later I read some of the mysteries and still have several unread on my Kindle. One of these days……
Michael, you’ll find those Fredric Brown works on your Kindle are well worth reading!
Brown is excellent! Just reread the Black Gat edition of “Madball,” classic carny noir story. I love the Haffner Press books, too, and the old paperbacks. And Chad Calkins put out a very interesting memoir by Brrown’s wife, Elizabeth. I’ve also got his book on proofreading but I haven’t built up enough excitement to read it yet.
Rick, welcome back! We’ve missed you! And we’re all eager to see Bullets and Other Hurting Things: A Tribute to Bill Crider that you edited!
Yeah, I got the ebook edition and I’m enjoying it.
Thank you, George. I’ve got medical stuff I have to deal with. Thanks for mentioning the Crider book. Lots of great writers in there and I hope people find it and remember Bill, a sweetheart of a man.
Rick, I hope to post a review of your Bill Crider book soon! Good luck with the medical stuff!
I got the ebook right away, am almost finished reading it. I started with Patti’s story, which is terrific , then at the beginning. A wonderful anthology.
Rick, I’m looking forward to reading Patti Abbott’s story in the Bill Crider anthology!
And I’m glad, Jeff….
I started reading ROGUE IN SPACE after enjoying THE MIND THING, MARTIANS GO HOME, and sundry short stories.
I had no idea Brown could write so bad.
Dan, ROGUE IN SPACE is one of those fix-up novels made up of SF stories cobbled together. Anthony Boucher didn’t like ROGUE IN SPACE, either.
Oh, forgot the fun NIGHT OF THE JABBERWOCK.
OK, you guys convinced me, Just bought THE LIGHTS IN THE SKY ARE STARS and ROGUE IN SPACE Kindle editions for $1.99 each.
Jeff, George the Tempter (and his trusty friend Jerry House) strike again! You’ll enjoy THE LIGHTS IN THE SKY ARE STARS. Your mileage may vary with ROGUE IN SPACE.
Hey, at that price, how wrong can I go?
Well, well. I read this one (with this cover) a week ago and was planning on doing an FFB on it for today, but the power outage prevented that happening. Your plot summary is accurate, and I’d give it the same score. it was quick reading, but a so-so SF novel.
Rick, Great Minds Think Alike. Glad your power is back on!
Obviously, we are too!
I also preferred Brown’s short stories – the shorter the better …
But he really was a great author – where did he find all his ideas?
Wolf, Fredric Brown used to specialize in short-short stories. His most famous is: “The last man on Earth sat alone in room. There was a knock at the door…”
A bit of a retelling of a famous micro-vignette by Thomas Bailey Aldrich, “A Woman Alone with Her Soul”…I don’t think Brown claimed credit for the version you quote in the opening lines of his story “Knock”…
Brown was one the first writers I discovered who worked in both SF and crime fiction. I think his crime fiction is a bit better but his MARTIANS GO HOME is a complete delight.
Richard, I need to reread MARTIANS GO HOME. I remember loving it the first time I read it!
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