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  Collected Fiction

  Kris Neville

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  Title Page

  About Kris Neville

  “Introducing the Author”

  Bibliography

  Short Fiction Bibliography: chronological

  Short Fiction Bibliography: alphabetical

  Fiction Series

  1949

  THE HAND FROM THE STARS

  COLD WAR

  1950

  EVERY WORK INTO JUDGMENT

  SATELITE SECRET

  IF THIS BE UTOPIA . . .

  DUMB SUPPER

  FORBIDDEN FRUIT

  ONE LEG IS ENOUGH

  THE FIRST

  WIND IN HER HAIR

  TAKE TWO QUIGGIES

  1951

  FRANCHISE

  CASTING OFFICE

  SEEDS OF FUTURITY

  HUNT THE HUNTER

  OLD MAN HENDERSON

  YES AND NO

  HOLD BACK TOMORROW

  BETTYANN

  1952

  SPECIAL DELIVERY

  FRESH AIR FRIEND

  THE OPAL NECKLACE

  UNDERGROUND MOVEMENT

  THE TOY

  1953

  THE MAN WITH THE FINE MIND

  EARTH ALERT!

  AS HOLY AND ENCHANTED

  BIG TALK

  MISSION

  SHE KNEW SHE WAS COMING

  IT PAYS TO ADVERTISE

  MARGINAL ERROR

  GRATITUDE GUARANTEED

  DUST THOU ART . . .

  WORSHIP NIGHT

  1954

  PERIL OF THE STARMEN

  GOING HOME

  OVERTURE

  1957

  MORAL EQUIVALENT

  IN THE BEGINNING

  1961

  CLOSING TIME

  1962

  POWER IN THE BLOOD

  THE WINNING OF THE MOON

  TOO MANY EGGS

  GENERAL MAX SHORTER

  1963

  VOYAGE TO FAR N’JURD

  NEW APPLES IN THE GARDEN

  1964

  SHAMAR’S WAR

  THE OUTCASTS

  1966

  THE PRICE OF SIMERYL

  1967

  BALLENGER’S PEOPLE

  FROM THE GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE

  THE FOREST OF ZIL

  THE NIGHT OF THE NICKEL BEER

  1968

  THYRE PLANET

  1970

  THE REALITY MACHINE

  1971

  DOMINANT SPECIES

  1972

  PATER FAMILIAS

  MEDICAL PRACTICES AMONG THE IMMORTALS

  1974

  SAM AND THE LIVE AND THE NOT-ALIVE THINGS

  SURVIVAL PROBLEMS

  THE MAN WHO READ EQUATIONS

  1976

  MILK INTO BRANDY

  KRIS OTTMAN NEVILLE was born on May 9, 1925 in Carthage, Missouri who wrote mostly science fiction. He primarily worked for many years as a technical writer specializing in plastics technology, and through his connection with the Epoxylite Corporation co-authored several texts on epoxy resins.

  Neville’s first science fiction work was published in 1949. His most famous work, the novella Bettyann, is considered a classic of science fiction.

  Well known science fiction writer and critic, Barry N. Malzberg, wrote the following biographical note about Kris Neville in his introduction to Neville’s story “Ballenger’s People” in the 1979 Doubleday collection Neglected Visions:

  Kris Neville could have been among the ten most honored science fiction writers of his generation; instead, he virtually abandoned the field after conquering it early on and made himself the leading lay authority in the world on epoxy resins, collaborating on a series of specialized texts that have become the basic works in their field. I can hardly blame him for this decision, and it was in any case carefully thought out. Neville, who sold his first story in 1949 and another fifteen by 1952, concluded early on that the perimeters of the field in the 1950s were simply too close to contain the kind of work he would have to do if he wanted to grow as a writer, and accordingly he quit. A scattering of stories has appeared over the last quarter of a century, and a couple of novels, but except for one abortive attempt to write full-time in the mid-1960s (the field simply could not absorb the kind of work he was doing), Neville has been in a state of diminished production for a long time. Nowadays a short-short story shows up once a year or so in a magazine or original anthology; sometimes written in collaboration with his second wife, Lil, and always so astonishingly above the run of material surrounding it as to constitute an embarrassment to the other writers. Neville, whom I do not claim to know well at all but with whom I did correspond prolifically some years ago, may be among the most intelligent of science fiction writers (only A.J. Budrys seems to have his eclecticism and his breadth) and strikes me as among the few contented people I have ever known . . . Neville has done some extraordinary political satire—The Price of Simeryl, published way back in 1966, is an early, savage anti-Vietnam piece—and in work like New Apples in the Garden manifests an extraordinary range of subject and character.

  Kris Neville’s comparative silence for two decades before his death, a silence obscured by the book publication of old material—most of it revamped, like The Mutants, Special Delivery and Peril of the Starmen—was to be regretted, for his intelligence was acute and his artistic control over his material was always evident. He was one of the potentially major writers of Genre SF who never came to speak in his full voice.

  Kris Neville died on December 23, 1980, in Los Angeles, California.

  Introducing the AUTHOR

  «

  Kris Neville

  «

  I was born in Carthage, Missouri. I’m rather proud of the town. If you stand in the cupola of the courthouse you stand on the highest point in Jasper County, and I’ve heard it said you can see three states from there. The biggest battle in the Civil War before Bull Run was fought in the vicinity, and in 1865 so thoroughly had the war decimated the citizens nothing moved in the streets but an occasional deer.

  I was born in 1925. By that time civilization had pushed the deer back into the upstate forests. A few years later—t his is one of my first memories—the city built a swimming pool in Central Park. I went over to watch the construction, and one of the workmen gave me two lumps of the concrete. One was black and one was red. I remember being very excited about the gift. Not everyone, I realized, had samples of the Carthage swimming pool for his very own . . .

  When I was six or so I went with my father to Center Creek to catch a few soft-shelled crawfish for bass bait. We arrived around midnight and ignited the carbide light. In hot pursuit of soft-shells we innocently trespassed upon private property within fifteen minutes. And shortly we spotted a tall, thin female hurrying through the darkness toward us. She wore a breeze whipped white nightgown and carried an old fashion lantern. When she drew close enough, she asked politely, “Have you gentlemen lost something in my brook?”

  It’s really surprising how writing this down serves to remind me of numerous things I haven’t thought about for some time. I remember the day I got in a fight with a boy named John; I was eight or nine years old. I remember telling my father I’d taken up smoking; I was a sophomore in high school. And I remember talking Charlie into waiving his ten day grace period so he could go into the army the same time I did.

  And more recently, after I got out of the a
rmy and was living in Pasadena, I recall drinking beer at Sharkey’s with Gus and Nieson and Lou and Dale and O.K. Smith and God knows how many other science fiction fans while meetings were in progress at the LASFS.

  And after that, I remember playing hours of bridge in the student lounge of Joplin Junior College; being sea sick on my first trip to Hawaii with the Merchant Marine; drinking coffee at the UCLA cafeteria with Herb and Glen in preference to attending my American Lit course . . .

  And I remember selling my first story. Super Science bought it. I was, as you can imagine, quite elated. Until the next day, when I got back an English examination upon which the professor had noted, “You write like an illiterate.” None the less, having sold a story, I kept telling myself in a wee small voice, “Well, Neville, you’re a writer. You sold a story.” . . .

  I can’t say—after looking back over my disconnected assortment of memories—why I decided to try to write. Perfectly normal people have come from the Same environment I did. But I am sure why, after deciding to write, I write science fiction. I’ve been reading it for the last twelve years!

  —Kris Neville

  Originally appeared in Imagination, January 1952

  BIBLIOGRAPHY

  Novels

  The Unearth People (1964)

  The Mutants (1966)

  Invaders on the Moon (1970)

  Bettyann (1970)

  Run, the Spearmaker (unpublished) with Lin Neville

  Magazine-published Novels

  Special Delivery, Imagination, January 1952

  Earth Alert!, Imagination, February 1953

  Peril of the Starmen, Imagination, January 1954

  Anthologies

  The Flame of Iridar/Peril of the Starmen (1967) with Lin Carter

  Special Delivery/Star Gladiator (1967) with Dave Van Arnam

  Special Delivery/No Time for Toffee (2011) with Charles F. Myers

  The Virgin of Valkarion/Earth Alert (2016) with Poul Anderson

  Chapbooks

  General Max Shorter (2007)

  New Apples in the Garden (2009)

  Earth Alert! (2010)

  She Knew He Was Coming (2010)

  Shamar’s War (2016)

  Fresh Air Fiend (2016)

  Voyage to Far N’jurd (2016)

  Hunt the Hunter (2016)

  Moral Equivalent (2016)

  Collections

  Mission: Manstop (1971)

  The Science Fiction of Kris Neville (1984)

  Earth Alert!: And Other Science Fiction Tales (2010)

  The 33rd Golden Age of Science Fiction Megapack (2016)

  Omnibus

  Peril of the Starmen/The Strange Invasion (2011) with Murray Leinster

  SHORT FICTION BIBLIOGRAPHY

  CHRONOLOGICAL

  1949

  The Hand from the Stars, Super Science Stories, July 1949

  Cold War, Astounding Science Fiction, October 1949

  1950

  Every Work Into Judgment, The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, Winter/Spring, January 1950

  Satellite Secret, Amazing Stories, April 1950

  If This Be Utopia . . ., Amazing Stories, May 1950

  Dumb Supper, The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, Summer, July 1950

  Forbidden Fruit, Out of This World Adventures, July 1950

  One Leg Is Enough, Amazing Stories, July 1950

  The First, Super Science Stories, September 1950

  Wind in Her Hair, Imagination, October 1950

  Take Two Quiggies, The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, December 1950

  1951

  Franchise, Astounding Science Fiction, February 1951

  Casting Office, Astounding Science Fiction, March 1951

  Seeds of Futurity, Ten Story Fantasy, Spring 1951

  Hunt the Hunter, Galaxy Science Fiction, June 1951

  Old Man Henderson, The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, June 1951

  Yes and No, Marvel Science Fiction, August 1951

  Hold Back Tomorrow, Imagination, September 1951

  Bettyann, New Tales of Space and Time, November 1951

  1952

  Special Delivery, Imagination, January 1952

  Fresh Air Fiend, Galaxy Science Fiction, February 1952

  The Opal Necklace, Fantastic, Summer, June 1952

  Underground Movement, The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, June 1952

  The Last Wobbly, Fantastic Worlds, Fall-Winter 1952

  The Toy, Imagination, December 1952

  1953

  The Man with the Fine Mind, Fantastic, January/February, January 1953

  Earth Alert!, Imagination, February 1953

  As Holy and Enchanted, Avon Science Fiction and Fantasy Reader, April 1953

  Big Talk, Manhunt, April 1953

  Mission, The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, April 1953

  She Knew He Was Coming, If, May 1953

  It Pays to Advertise, The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, June 1953

  Marginal Error, Thrilling Wonder Stories, June 1953

  Gratitude Guaranteed, The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, August 1953

  Dust Thou Art . . ., Future Science Fiction, September 1953

  Worship Night, The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, November 1953

  1954

  Peril of the Starmen, Imagination, January 1954

  Going Home, Spaceway, February 1954

  Overture, 9 Tales of Space and Time, May 1954

  1955

  Experimental Station, Science Fiction Adventures in Mutation, 1955

  1957

  Moral Equivalent, Galaxy Science Fiction, January 1957

  In the Beginning, Nebula Science Fiction #24, September 1957

  1961

  Closing Time, The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, July 1961

  1962

  Power in the Blood, The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, June 1962

  The Winning of the Moon, If, September 1962

  Too Many Eggs, If, November 1962

  General Max Shorter, Galaxy Science Fiction, December 1962

  1963

  Voyage to Far N’Jurd, Galaxy Science Fiction, April 1963

  New Apples in the Garden, Analog Science Fact -> Science Fiction, July 1963

  1964

  Shamar’s War, Galaxy Science Fiction, February 1964

  The Outcasts, Riverside Quarterly, November 1964

  1966

  The Price of Simeryl, Analog Science Fiction -> Science Fact, December 1966

  1967

  Ballenger’s People, Galaxy Science Fiction, April 1967

  From the Government Printing Office, Dangerous Visions, October 1967

  The Forest of Zil, Amazing Stories, December 1967

  The Night of the Nickel Beer, Escapade, December 1967

  1968

  Jeweled City, Riverside Quarterly, August 1968

  Thyre Planet, Galaxy Science Fiction, October 1968

  1970

  Pacem Est, Infinity One, January 1970

  The Reality Machine, The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, December 1970

  1971

  Dominant Species, Orbit 9, October 1971

  Mission: Manstop, Mission: Manstop, October 1971

  Experimental Station, Mission: Manstop, October 1971

  1972

  Pater Familias, The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, March 1972

  Medical Practices Among the Immortals, Galaxy Science Fiction, September/October, September 1972

  1973

  Human Error, Eternity SF #2, 1973

  Bettyann’s Children, Demon Kind, March 1973

  The Quality of the Product, Saving Worlds, July 1973

  1974

  Sam and the Live & the Not-Alive Things, Perry Rhodan #47: Shadow of the Mutant Master, June 1974

  Survival Problems, Universe 5, October 1974

  The Man Who Read Equations, The Magazine of
Fantasy and Science Fiction, December 1974

  1976

  Arleen, Perry Rhodan 95: The Plasma Monster, May 1976

  Milk into Brandy, Amazing Stories, June 1976

  1981

  Another Creator, Fantasy Book, October 1981

  1983

  The Bull Fights, Fantasy Book, August 1983

  1984

  Object D’Art, Fantasy Book, June 1984

  SHORT FICTION BIBLIOGRAPHY

  ALPHABETICAL

  A

  Another Creator, Fantasy Book, October 1981

  Arleen, Perry Rhodan 95: The Plasma Monster, May 1976

  As Holy and Enchanted, Avon Science Fiction and Fantasy Reader, April 1953

  B

  Ballenger’s People, Galaxy Science Fiction, April 1967

  Bettyann, New Tales of Space and Time, November 1951

  Bettyann’s Children, Demon Kind, March 1973

  Big Talk, Manhunt, April 1953

  The Bull Fights, Fantasy Book, August 1983

  C

  Casting Office, Astounding Science Fiction, March 1951

  Closing Time, The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, July 1961

  Cold War, Astounding Science Fiction, October 1949

  D

  Dominant Species, Orbit 9, October 1971

  Dumb Supper, The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, Summer, July 1950

  Dust Thou Art . . ., Future Science Fiction, September 1953

  E

  Earth Alert!, Imagination, February 1953

  Every Work Into Judgment, The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, Winter/Spring, January 1950

  Experimental Station, Mission: Manstop, October 1971

  Experimental Station, Science Fiction Adventures in Mutation, 1955

  F

  The First, Super Science Stories, September 1950

  Forbidden Fruit, Out of This World Adventures, July 1950

  The Forest of Zil, Amazing Stories, December 1967

  Franchise, Astounding Science Fiction, February 1951

  Fresh Air Fiend, Galaxy Science Fiction, February 1952

  From the Government Printing Office, Dangerous Visions, October 1967

  G

  General Max Shorter, Galaxy Science Fiction, December 1962

  Going Home, Spaceway, February 1954

  Gratitude Guaranteed, The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, August 1953

  H

  The Hand from the Stars, Super Science Stories, July 1949