FRIDAY’S FORGOTTEN BOOKS #628: ROGUE IN SPACE By Fredric Brown

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

37 thoughts on “FRIDAY’S FORGOTTEN BOOKS #628: ROGUE IN SPACE By Fredric Brown

  1. Steve Oerkfitz

    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.

    Reply
    1. george Post author

      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.

      Reply
  2. Todd Mason

    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.

    Reply
    1. Jerry House

      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.

      Reply
      1. george Post author

        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.

      2. Todd Mason

        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.

    2. george Post author

      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.

      Reply
      1. Jeff Meyerson

        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.

      2. george Post author

        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.

  3. Jerry House

    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.

    Reply
  4. Michael Padgett

    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……

    Reply
  5. Rick Ollerman

    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.

    Reply
    1. george Post author

      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!

      Reply
      1. Rick Ollerman

        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.

  6. Dan

    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.

    Reply
    1. george Post author

      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.

      Reply
  7. Jeff Meyerson

    OK, you guys convinced me, Just bought THE LIGHTS IN THE SKY ARE STARS and ROGUE IN SPACE Kindle editions for $1.99 each.

    Reply
    1. george Post author

      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.

      Reply
  8. Rick Robinson

    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.

    Reply
  9. wolf

    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?

    Reply
    1. george Post author

      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…”

      Reply
      1. Todd Mason

        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”…

  10. Richard A. Moore

    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.

    Reply
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