I’ve read some of Brian Aldiss’s SF anthologies (you can read my review of Space Opera here and Galactic Empires here). The centerpiece of Evil Earths is Henry Kuttner’s “Time Trap,” a 100 page novella from 1939 with action and adventure. Kent Mason is an archaeologist hopelessly lost in the desert. When he stumbles into the ruins of the ancient city of Al Bekr, he unknowingly steps into a time portal and finds himself flung into into danger, excitement, and thrills.
Aldiss includes a number of classic SF stories like William Tenn’s “Down Among the Dead Men” where dead human soldiers are reconstituted to fight an alien insect race. “Later Than You Think” is one of Fritz Leiber’s best stories.
Philip K. Dick’s “The Golden Man” captures the essence of what Aldiss writes about in his introductions to these stories: that Earth is in trouble and action needs to be taken…NOW!
Do you remember these stories? GRADE: B+
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
- Evil Earths • (1976) • interior artwork by Frank R. Paul
- vii • Introduction (Evil Earths) • (1975) • essay by Brian W. Aldiss
- 3 • “What Is Wrong? What Is Right? Anyway, We’re Here…” • (1975) • essay by Brian W. Aldiss
- 5 • The Last Word • [Claude Adams] • (1955) • short story by Charles Beaumont and Chad Oliver
- 17 • Film of Death • (1948) • short story by John Scott Campbell [as by J. Scott Campbell]
- 32 • The Wound • (1970) • short story by Howard Fast
- 47 • Three Green Blades of Grass • (1975) • essay by Brian W. Aldiss
- 51 • The Golden Man • (1954) • novelette by Philip K. Dick
- 84 • Guest Expert • (1951) • short story by Allen Kim Lang [as by Allen K. Lang]
- 87 • The Valley • (1954) • short story by Richard Stockham
- 107 • Dark They Were and Golem-Eyed • (1975) • essay by Brian W. Aldiss
- 110 • Down Among the Dead Men • (1954) • novelette by William Tenn
- 136 • Among the Hairy Earthmen • (1966) • short story by R. A. Lafferty
- 149 • Later Than You Think • (1950) • short story by Fritz Leiber
- 159 • Yesterday, Tomorrow, and the Desert • (1975) • essay by Brian W. Aldiss
- 161 • The Time Trap • (1938) • novella by Henry Kuttner
- 271 • Towards the Fall of Night • (1975) • essay by Brian W. Aldiss
- 274 • The Men Return • (1957) • short story by Jack Vance
- 284 • Heresies of the Huge God • (1966) • short story by Brian W. Aldiss
- 296 • “If I Forget Thee, Oh Earth …” • (1951) • short story by Arthur C. Clarke
- 301 • Night • [Twilight • 2] • (1935) • short story by John W. Campbell, Jr.
Oddly enough, I am struggling to remember the several of these stories I know I have read, including Aldiss’s own. I know I didn’t read this anthology, though “The Time Trap” was apparently once seen (apparently by those who only heard about it, or judged it by subsequent Kuttner stories in the more Spicy-esque MARVEL TALES issues to come, as it apparently wasn’t reprinted till this Aldiss anthology, unless they were able to find a copy of the issue) as an example of Kuttner’s Selling Out disreputably…that and his writing for more explicitly shudder pulps, I suppose (though I suspect the latter were all under pseuds).
It does look like a fine anthology, and I’m sorry I missed it when it and I were new…
Todd, I’ve been impressed with the Brian Aldiss anthologies I’ve read. I’m sure Kuttner had to pay some bills and wrote THE TIME TRAP for economic reasons.
Frederik Pohl’s line about writing shudder was, close paraphrase, One liked to challenge one’s self in new forms of literature, and one liked to eat. However, the snottiness toward Kuttner was typical fannish log-rolling.
Todd, I’ve always considered Kuttner an underrated writer. And, he died too soon.
I don’t remember this collection at all. Of the stories, the ones by Aldiss, Clarke, Dick, Leiber, and John W. Campbell (“Don A. Stuart”?) are familiar, but none of the others. Aldiss was always an interesting critic and writer.
Fred, I agree with you: Aldiss was an interesting critic and writer. I remember my head exploding when I first read Aldiss’s “The Hothouse” series in 1962!
As you may guess I have not read these. Other than Bradbury and LeQuin I have read no science fiction. Except a few time travel novels.
Le Guin and Bradbury aren’t the worst starting places, and neither is Jack Finney. But it is a bit like starting and stopping with Margaret Millar, Raymond Chandler and Anthony Boucher, if one does cease at that point.
Patti, Brian Aldiss is a canny SF writer and editor. His work, both in fiction and anthologizing, is First-Rate.
I’ve read a few of these but don’t really remember them, other than the Leiber perhaps.
Jeff, I love that Fritz Leiber story!
Good author. Some pretty good stories, the type that got me hooked on SF — including the late 30s gosh-wow stuff like “The Time Trap.”
Just about everything I have read by Aldiss (novels, stories, criticism, nonfiction, anthologies) has been impressive. I understand that Aldiss is not everyone’s cup of tea but for me he is the finest quality Darjeeling.
Jerry, you’re right about some of the stories of Aldiss’s behavior being troubling. But, much of his work is at Award-winning levels.
I think I read most of them in the early 70s when I often went to London, at least three times a year, to get second hand SF magazines on the markets.
I really liked that pulp style.
And of course the New Wave that Aldiss started in England.
Wolf, I liked Aldiss’s brand of New Wave SF. Others…not so much.
Wolf, same here! I’ll read pulp fiction–whether it’s SF or mysteries–anytime!
Hm. Pulp style. Not so much in evidence in ’70s magazines.
I know the Dick, Tenn, Lafferty and a couple of others. Never had this anthology. Was very impressed as a teenager with Aldiss’s Hothouse stories in F&SF. Than reread them as The Long Afternoon of Earth in the pb edition. Have reread it several times over the years and it holds up well.
Steve, like you I was blown away by the Hothouse stories! I need to reread it!
When I first read this post this morning I thought it was a book of short stories by Brian Aldiss. Now I see it is an anthology, which makes it even more appealing. I will put it on a list to buy, but it looks like the only option is paperback and I worry about the size of the print. But at least there are inexpensive copies.
Tracy, the print in the paperback edition is a standard font size.
Thanks for that feedback, George. I will look for a copy.
It’s unusual for an anthology editor to include so many of his own, but Aldis was nothing if not self-proclaiming. I think he was better at novel length. The best stories here are – if memory serves – probably the Kuttner and Vance.
Rick, Kuttner’s “The Time Trap” is the star attraction of EVIL EARTHS.
Rick, Aldiss only included one of his own stories in the book. The rest are credited as “essays,” which IIRC are introductions to the different sections of the anthology.