Martian Quest: The Early Brackett by Leigh Brackett

(hb; 2002: science fiction story anthology. "Introduction" by Michael Moorcock.)

From the inside flap

“Martian Quest: The Early Brackett is a long-overdue collection of the twenty earliest stories by the undisputed ‘Queen of Space-Opera.’

“On a Venus that never was, on a Mars that can never be (but should have been), Leigh Brackett’s early stories laid the foundation for her later classic adventures, The Sword of Rhiannon, The Nemesis from Terra, and the 'Eric John Stark' series.

“Other stories in this collection draw inspiration from such diverse sources as the lost-race novels of H. Rider Haggard, the lush fantasies of A. Merritt, and the planetary romances of Edgar Rice Burroughs. With an appreciation for Raymond Chandler and James M. Cain, Brackett’s prose is a unique display of vigorous swashbuckling adventure tempered with a harsh, hard-boiled economy.”

Overall review

Brackett’s Forties-era science fiction adventure stories largely stuck to a few basic western genre-born templates: a man of action with a troubling or mysterious past finds himself in dire, violent situations with aliens and (usually) a female romantic interest who may or may not be true to him or his aims. While the female characters are firmly envisioned in the male gaze, Brackett keeps them palatable with knowing winks.

Brackett, an excellent, cut-to-it author, keeps it lean, sometimes twisty─depending on the length of the work─and genre-true. Springing from these early, formulaic beginnings, she would go on to write expanded, more complex works, earning her reputation as a stellar science fiction writer.

Stories

“Martian Quest” [Astounding Science Fiction, February 1940]: A young Earthling (Martin Drake), poor and further saddled with self-doubt, uses his knowledge of chemicals to fend off Khom, giant creatures that devour impoverished Martian settlers’ homes.

“The Treasure of Pkatuth” [Astounding Science Fiction, February 1942]: On Mars, competing adventurerers (Terence Shane, Thaldrek of Ved) seek a legendary, forbidden city (Pkatuth) while contending with a barbaric tribe (the Shunni) and their beautiful leader (Zenda Challoner)─who may be the daughter of a wise, mad god. This is an excellent retelling of the Fountain of Youth story.

“The Tapestry Gate” [Strange Stories, August 1940]: A supernatural tapestry preys on a couple’s mutual loathing.

“The Stellar Legion” [Planet Stories, Winter 1940]: A military group made up of mixed aliens fend off a horde of Nahali (“six-foot, scarlet-eyed swamp dwellers”) while a traitor schemes within their ranks.

“The Demons of Darkside” [Startling Stories, June 1941]: A murder suspect (Barry Garth) steals a ship to Mercury in order to save his girlfriend (Alice Webster) from state execution. This thinly plotted story is especially action oriented.

“Water Pirate” [Super Science Stories, January 1941]: In 2418, a man (Jaffa Gray) and a girl (Lhara) go after whoever is hijacking life-giving water transports, in order to stop them.

“Interplanetary Reporter” [Startling Stories, May 1941]: When Jupiter declares war on Venus, cynical reporter Chris Barton is compelled by a beautiful, hard woman (Kei Volhan) and her idealistic fiancé (Bobby Lance) to further investigate what’s going on─which means that all is not as it seems. Especially exciting, romantic standout work.

“The Dragon-Queen of Venus” [Planet Stories, Summer 1941]: Desperate, starving soldiers try to hold back swamp people and life-draining serpents from their alien outpost fort. If they do not succeed in defeating the invasive creatures, their efforts to colonize Venus means the death of their home-planet people.

“Lord of the Earthquake” [Science Fiction, June 1941]: In this ambitious, tightly plotted Robert E. Howard-esque tale, two submariners travel 12,000 years into the past, just before an ancient civilization (Mu) is shaken into ruins by tremblors, music and treachery.

“No Man’s Land in Space” [Amazing Stories, July 1941]: Monsters and stalk and kill the citizens of Sark, an outlaw town on fragile asteroid. Wartime intrigue, a rogue scientist, Lunar creatures and cynical humor highlight this fast-moving work.

“A World is Born” [Comet Stories, July 1941]: On Mercury, a civilization-building prisoner plots his escape, a scheme hastened when an opportunistic capitalist (Caron of Mars) arrives to use the planet and its inhabitants for his own ends.

Like many of the lead characters in preceding stories, Mel Gray─”World” protagonist─is a hard, cynical antihero with a sense of decency, honor. Fun tale.

“Retreat to the Stars” [Astonishing Stories, November 1941]: A spy for the State is torn between his lust for a rebel soldier (Marika) and fulfilling his cold-hearted mission. Okay read, would’ve been better at a shorter length.

“Child of the Green Light” [Super Science Stories, February 1942]: Son, an energy-born creature with telepathic powers, fends off space-suited invaders who are trying to kill the source light that not only made him, but is slowly killing them. Especially good read.

“The Sorcerer of Rhiannon” [Astounding Science Fiction, February 1942]: A treasure hunter (Max Brandon) is caught between two warring aliens with superior technology (Tobul, Lord of the Seven Kingdoms and Kymra). His professional rival, a deadly Venusian named Dhu Kar, also complicates Brandon’s trek through a Martian desert. Lots of action in this one.

“Child of the Sun” [Planet Stories, Spring 1942]: On-the-run outlaws land on a planet where an illuminated alien life form holds power. Good, character-twisty read.

“Out of the Sea” [Planet Stories, Spring 1942]:The Japanese use science to direct giant sea creatures to attack US beaches, and it’s up to Webb Fallon (an alcoholic reporter) and Einer Bjarnsseon (a scientist with a submarine) to save the day.

Fun storyline and setup for this, with a parodic tone (making fun of tough guys and sexism).

“Cube from Space” [Super Science Stories, August 1942]: An outlaw is trapped by parasitic aliens (the Rakshi) and forced to help them find new bodies─until he is able to break free and help his fellow humans fight back. Good read.

“Outpost on Io” [Planet Stories, Winter 1942]: On an alien moon, a prisoner (MacVickers) tries to foment revolt among his fellow alien prisoners against their Europan guards.

“The Halfling” [Astonishing Stories, February 1943]: Jade Greene, a carny boss-man, hires a new performer (Laura) who brings dangerous secrets and violent problems into Greene’s traveling show.

“The Citadel of Lost Ships” [Planet Stories, March 1943]: A man (Roy Campbell) helps a Venusian tribe evade the Government patrols who mean them harm.