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Martian Quest: The Early Brackett

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Martian Quest: The Early Brackett is the first of three volumes collecting the short "sword & planet" tales of Leigh Brackett (the other two being Lorelei of the Red Mist and Shannach - The Last). The contents are the first stories Brackett had published, in the pulps of the day:

"Martian Quest" (Astounding Stories, Feb '40)
"The Treasure of Ptakuth" (Astounding Stories, Apr '40)
"The Tapestry Gate" (Strange Stories, Aug '40)
"The Stellar Legion" (Planet Stories, Win '40)
"The Demons of Darkside" (Startling Stories, Jan '41)
"Water Pirate" (Super Science Stories, Jan '41)
"Interplanetary Reporter" (Startling Stories, May '41)
"The Dragon-Queen of Venus" (Planet Stories, Sum '41)
"Lord of the Earthquake" (Science Fiction, Jun '41)
"No Man's Land in Space" (Amazing Stories, Jul '41)
"A World is Born" (Comet, Jul '41)
"Retreat to the Stars" (Planet Stories, Nov '41)
"Child of the Green Light" (Super Science Stories, Feb '42)
"The Sorcerer of Rhiannon" (Astounding Stories, Feb '42)
"Child of the Sun" (Astonishing Stories, Spr '42)
"Out of the Sea" (Astonishing Stories, Jun '42)
"Cube from Space" (Super Science Stories, Aug '42)
"Outpost on Io" (Planet Stories, Win '42)
"The Hal'ing" (Astonishing Stories, Feb '43)
"The Citadel of Lost Ships" (Planet Stories, Mar '43)
Meet the Author­­ by Leigh Brackett (Amazing Stories, Jul '41)

The stories are generally what we would call today science-fiction - although that's not quite right, either. Some stories are space opera, some horror, some "fantasy". Often the tales are Westerns set in space - or at least on Mars or Venus. Brackett's heroes are hardbitten and tough, and the heroines beautiful and capable both. The style is cinematic - you can see why Lucas chose her to write the script for The Empire Strikes Back (even if, to be fair, not a lot of that made it to screen). For instance, the description of the Dragon Queen of Venus is lushly written - and one immediately thinks "hey, that's the girl on the cover" - and it is, painted by Virgil Finlay no less (go have a look). As well, that same story produces the interior cover line art - and it is immediately apparent that this is the story you have already seen in your mind's eye.

All of these stories are good; some are better than good. The science side of it is a little strained these days - and probably was in the 40's as well - but really, who cares. Leigh Brackett was, with C.L Moore, one of the great female pulp authors of the golden age of sci-fi, and should be more widely read today. This volume is probably not the vehicle for that - its an expensive limited edition - but it remains true nonetheless.