Inside was a small blue animal, some twenty centimeters long, regarded him comatosely” (43). “Idris’ Pig” (variant title: “The Sacred Martian Pig”) (1949), novella, 3/5 (Average): Published originally in Startling Stories, “Idris’ Pig” tells a comical story of a mostly immobile unusual pig-like creature with a rank smell… George, on his friend’s death bed, is bequeathed the object and the mission of its original courier: “he was greeted by a fishy smell and a feeble oink. (Uncredited cover for the December 1950 issue, ed.
Standard pulp fair with little to distinguish it from its dime-a-dozen Thrilling Wonder Stories brethren. The story soon devolves into a chaotic quest to find the boy. Soon Pamir runs away with their half-Venusian son. Initially all seems well, Pamir smiles (an empty smile) but claims she no longer needs to eat. Of course, as is often the case with telepathy in pulp SF/F, the ability to the non-telepathic is beyond basic comprehension (7). The result is catastrophic for Pamir loses her “Seeing” (6) ability. Richard Dekker, Earth-born, employed as a oceanographer on Venus chooses a controversial surgery to save his native Venusian (an “almost-mytheical Sanedrin”) wife Pamir Dekker. “The Everlasting Food” (1950), novelette 2.5/5 (Bad): Published originally in Thrilling Wonder Stories, “The Everlasting Food” is a mostly forgettable story with some intriguing, and turbulent imagery. Somewhat recommended for fans of pulp (of which I am obviously not). I suspect one could make a case that her characters do not fit neatly into the pulp mode. Clair’s stories are men, women scientists and pilots (etc) populate the pages. Also, although most of the main characters in St. Most of the stories contain evocative imagery although the delivery rarely transfixes. Clair’s willingness to tackle controversial subjects. Although the majority do not rise above their fellow pulp ilk, “The Rages” (variant title “The Rations of Tantalus” 1954, revised 1964) shows a measured and incisive feminist inspired vision and the unusual subject matter of “Roberta” (1962) suggests St. Three Worlds of Futurity contains five stories from her most prolific period-the late 40s-early 60s. However, I thought I would give her short fiction a try and snagged a copy of the 1964 Ace Double #M-105 that contained her collection Three Worlds of Futurity (1964) and her best known novel Message from the Eocene (1964) (which I might read sometime in the future). Previously, I found myself disenchanted with her work as I struggled through the Wicca-inspired ramblings of Sign of the Labrys (1963). Clair (1911-1995) was a mainstay of the major pulp magazines and maintained a prolific career from 1946 to the late 60s (between the 70s and early 80s she produced only one novel and a handful of stories). (Jack Gaughan’s cover for the 1964 edition)
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