Books
How could I refuse to review a book by the most underrated writer of mystery in collaboration with the most overrated writer of science fiction?

Fredric Brown is one of the very best writers that ever published in the mystery field. It's a shame that he isn't a household name. For my money is the the equal, if not better than, Chandler, Hammett and Spillane.

For years the covers of Mack Reynolds books made this bold proclamation: VOTED THE MOST POPULAR WRITER OF SCIENCE FICTION BY THE READERS OF GALAXY AND IF. I wish I had some of what the readers of Galaxy and If were smoking. It's not that Reynolds was a terrible writer. I enjoyed some of his books. I especially remember being amused by one called Section G: United Planets. But the very best writer? When you consider others like Bester, Sturgeon, Clarke, Farmer, Ellison, Pangborn, etc.? It's really rather ludicrous.

Anyway, I've always wanted to read one of the collaborations between these two guys and now, thanks to Aegypan Press, I have been able to do so. Happy Ending is really kind of a hardcover chapbook, and it's a pretty cool edition. Sure, the cover art stinks and it's a POD edition, but I'm just glad that it is available in physical media form for today's readers to enjoy.

Originally published in the September 1957 issue of Fantastic Universe, Happy Ending is the story of a military leader who is alone on Venus, licking his wounds after a crushing defeat. Humanity didn't fare well in the conflict, but little is really told about that. The story focuses on the man's willful efforts to survive on the planet against its lifeforms. In a turn of ghastly irony, the former dictator learns what it is like to be on the direct receiving end of an invading army.

The science fiction market was hot at the time, but Happy Ending could have just as easily been about a white man alone and at the mercy of Native Americans. It's a well-written story of morals and customs, and I was happy to obtain a copy of the book for my collection. The Nook edition of Happy Ending goes for a mere ninety-nine cents. Or, if you look around, you can find it for free on the internet.

Aegypan Press has done some other books like this one, and I'd like to get some more. The back cover of Happy Ending says that it is An Alan Rodgers Book. Rodgers, as you should know, is a Stoker-winning horror writer and the former editor of Night Cry Magazine.

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