Set in the Solar System, the narrative introduces Northwest Smith, a proto-Han Solo character, as he embarks on adventurous escapades. Originally published in 1933 in Weird Tales, this story marks the beginning of a series that showcases the imaginative world of science fiction. Catherine L. Moore, a pioneering female author in the genre, crafted this tale, establishing herself as a significant and award-winning figure in science fiction and fantasy literature.
Set on the mysterious planet Mars, the story follows Northwest Smith as he encounters a terrifying monstrosity that lures victims from distant realms. The narrative explores themes of fear and the unknown, immersing readers in a gripping adventure filled with suspense and cosmic horror. Smith's journey reveals both the dangers of the Martian landscape and the darker forces at play, making for a compelling and atmospheric tale.
Jirel of Joiry, the first of the great female warriors, the beautiful commander of the strongest fortress in the kingdom, would face any danger to defend her beloved country. She wielded her bright sword against mighty armies, the sinister magic of evil sorcerers and fearsome castles guarded by the dead, even daring to descend into Hell itself... Northwest Smith, the scarred and weathered outlaw, the legendary hero of the spaceways, forced to confront the terrible mysteries, the terrifying, mythic monsters of the universe... Jirel of Joiry and Northwest Smith are C.L. Moore's greatest creations and she used them not only to spin spellbinding tales but also to explore the mysteries of the human psyche.
Contents: 5 • Introduction (Chessboard Planet and Other Stories) • essay by Peter Pinto 9 • Note on "Fairy Chess" • essay by Peter Pinto 11 • Chessboard Planet • novella by Henry Kuttner and C. L. Moore (variant of The Fairy Chessmen 1946) 116 • Camouflage • (1945) • novelette by Henry Kuttner and C. L. Moore 148 • Android • (1951) • novelette by Henry Kuttner and C. L. Moore 179 • Or Else • (1953) • shortstory by Henry Kuttner and C. L. Moore
Four different worlds. Five different tales of conflict and discovery. All of them the unique visions of science fiction master C.L. Moore, presented here in her first published book - Judgment Night. Released in 1952 from Gnome Press, Judgment Night collects five Moore novellas from the pages of editor John W. Campbell, Jr.'s Astounding Science Fiction magazine. Chosen by the author herself as the best of her longer-form writing, these stories show a gifted wordsmith working at the height of her talents: "Judgment Night" (first published in August and September, 1943) balances a lush rendering of a future galactic empire with a sober meditation on the nature of power and its inevitable loss; "The Code" (July, 1945) pays homage to the classic Faust with modern theories and Lovecraftian dread; "Promised Land" (February, 1950) and "Heir Apparent" (July, 1950) both document the grim twisting that mankind must undergo in order to spread into the solar system; and "Paradise Street" (September, 1950) shows a futuristic take on the old western conflict between lone hunter and wilderness-taming settlers. Except for "Judgment Night," all of these pieces were originally published under the pen name Lawrence O'Donnell. Moore's marriage to fellow author Henry Kuttner yielded both a prodigious amount of collaborative writing and a bewildering variety of pen names. However, it is known that - with a few recognized exceptions - the O'Donnell name was used for work that Moore wrote with a minimum of collaboration (if any), and this is reflected in the sole author's credit that graces this collection. About the Author: Catherine Lucille Moore was born in Indianapolis, Indiana in 1911, and from an early age she proved to be a prolific storyteller. Moore discovered the world of science fiction in 1930 through the seminal pulp magazine Amazing Stories, and was inspired to try her hand at this exciting new literary form. In 1933 she succeeded with the sale of her first story, "Shambleau," to Weird Tales, where it ran as the lead in the November issue. "Shambleau" was an immediate success, winning praise from readers and writers alike (including horror legend H.P. Lovecraft). Moore became a mainstay of Weird Tales throughout the 1930s, turning out fourteen more stories for the magazine by the end of the decade (as well as contributing to several other publications). In 1940 she married science fiction writer Henry Kuttner and began an extended period of collaboration with him. The couple moved to Hastings-on-Hudson, just north of the pulp magazines' headquarters in New York City, and unleashed a torrent of creativity on the genre's ever-growing audience. In addition to work signed with their own names, Moore and Kuttner wrote under at least 17 assumed names, of which Lewis Padgett and Keith Hammond were probably the most renowned. After 10 years in New York, Moore and Kuttner moved back to Kuttner's native California to earn college degrees and investigate the screenwriting market. With aid from the G.I. Bill, Kuttner graduated from the University of Southern California in 1954, and Moore followed in 1956. They succeeded in breaking into scriptwriting for both radio and television, but their collaboration ended sadly with Kuttner's death from a heart attack in 1958. Moore continued to work, writing scripts for television shows like Maverick and 77 Sunset Strip and branching into the mystery genre, but she never again wrote science fiction. She remarried in 1963 to Thomas Reggie, and spent the rest of her life in Hollywood before passing away in 1987. Moore's groundbreaking contributions to the medium she helped to define, however, were never forgotten. In 1981 she was presented with the World Fantasy Award for Lifetime Achievement, and in 1998 she was inducted into the Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame.
Short stories by a pioneering female author who went on to become a member of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame. This anthology includes some of C.L. Moore's best-known and most beloved tales, including: "Shambleau" First published in Weird Tales, Moore's bizarre, imaginative, and wildly acclaimed debut features space outlaw Northwest Smith and his meeting on Mars with a strange young lady whose turban hides a terrifying secret . . . "Black God's Kiss" The debut of Jirel of Joiry, one of the classic heroes of sword and sorcery and fantasy's first true strong female protagonist. As cunning as she is fierce, Jirel descends into a nightmarish land beneath her castle to find the instruments of her revenge . . . "The Bright Illusion" One man's journey to a mind-bending, terrifying planet of blinding colors and impossible angles, filled with unutterable horrors and strange temptations . . . With these and seven additional stories that evoke the enduring spirit of sci-fi and fantasy's early days, The Best of C.L. Moore is a treasure that belongs on the shelf of any reader of speculative fiction. "Her contributions to the field are instrumental in the formation of the modern face of science fiction." — Kirkus Reviews
