The writings of twentieth-century author Jack Finney are classic contributions to the genres of science fiction and suspense thrillers in American literature. Two of Finney’s novels, The Body Snatchers and Good Neighbor Sam, became the basis of popular films, but it was his time-travel story Time and Again (1970) that won him a devoted following. The novel about an advertising artist who travels back to the New York of the 1880s quickly became a cult favorite, celebrated especially by New Yorkers for its rich descriptions of life in the city at that time. The year of his death, Finney finished the sequel, From Time to Time (1995). In 1955 he published The Body Snatchers, a chilling tale of aliens who emerge from pods in the guise of humans. Many critics interpreted the insidious infiltration by aliens as a cold war allegory that dramatized America’s looming fear of a communist invasion, and the 1956 film Invasion of the Body Snatchers was remade twice. Over the course of his career, Finney wrote ten novels, more than 50 short stories, two plays, and a work of nonfiction, all of which are presented and discussed in this book. Also, reproduced in full and analyzed is a series of letters exchanged between Finney and various persons associated with his alma mater, Knox College. These letters give rare insight into Finney’s character and demonstrate his personal interest in some of the themes that recur in his fiction. This work begins with an overview of Finney’s life and career, presents a complete assessment of the author’s works, and concludes with a look at the various ways that Finney’s works have been adapted for the stage, television, and film. Also included is the first comprehensive list of Jack Finney’s writings ever published.

Stealing Through Time: On the Writings of Jack Finney

Literature & Fiction

Seabrook, Jack

Genre Fiction

McFarland

"In my dream I was reaching right through the glass of the window of a hock shop. It was the hock shop on North Clark Street, the west side of the street, half a block north of Grand Avenue. I was reaching out a hand through the glass to touch a silver trombone..." So begins The Fabulous Clipjoint, winner of the 1948 Edgar Award for best first mystery novel. In that and more than 20 other novels, Fredric Brown spun a web of intrigue and imagination that has made him one of the most popular and respected authors of mystery and science fiction of the middle decades of the twentieth century. In Martians and Misplaced Clues, the first full-length book devoted to the work and life of Fredric Brown, Jack Seabrook discusses The Fabulous Clipjoint in depth, as well as Martians, Go Home, The Screaming Mimi and all of the other classic Brown novels. He also provides careful analysis of the author's many short stories and poems, tracking his work from the early days as a writer for trade magazines, through the years of the pulp magazines and science fiction digests, up to and including the final years of increasingly respectable slick magazines. Along with the discussion of the work are details of the author's unusual life, from his early years in Cincinnati through the Depression years in Milwaukee, then to a bohemian life living in various towns in the Southwest. Brown's career as a writer was colorful and varied, and Martians and Misplaced Clues places him squarely in the middle of the most irresistible and consistently enjoyable writers of his time.

Martians and Misplaced Clues: The Life and Work of Frederic Brown

History & Criticism

Popular Pr of Bowling Green State

Jack Seabrook discusses The Fabulous Clipjoint in depth, as well as Martians, Go Home, The Screaming Mimi, and all of the other classic Fredric Brown novels. He provides a careful analysis of the author's short stories and poems, tracking his work from the early days, through the years of the pulp magazines and SF digests, up to and including the final years with respectable magazines. Along with the discussion of the work are details of the author's unusual life, from his early years in Cincinnati through the Depression in Milwaukee, to a bohemian life in the Southwest.

Martians And Misplaced Clues: Life Work Of Fredric Brown

Biographies & Memoirs

Popular Press 1

The loosely autobiographical novel, The Office, Brown's only work of "straight" fiction, was first published in 1958. A pet project of over ten years, it's Brown's most personal, and certainly one of his most moving novels. He completely revised and polished a first draft, unheard of for the prolific author. Unfortunately, because Brown had already established himself as a top-notch mystery and science fiction writer, the novel quickly fell out of print. The past decade has seen a great resurgence in Brown's work; however, fans interested in this unique entry in his bibliography have been turned away by the price of the limited first printing. This special 60th Anniversary Edition of The Office includes an introduction, a newly illustrated cover, a list of Brown works currently in print, and an afterword by Brown biographer Jack Seabrook.

The Office: 60th Anniversary Edition

BROWN, FREDRIC

Independently published

Bare Bones #18: Spring 2024

Humor & Entertainment

Swierczynski, Duane

Schow, David J.

Enfantino, Peter

Zahler, S. Craig

Schoell, William

Blamire, Larry

Scoleri, John

Bradley, Matthew R.

Kuriawa, Bryan

Movies

Bare Bones #20: Fall 2024

Dziemianowicz, Stefan

Krauss, Richard

Lucas, Tim

Bare Bones #11: Summer 2022

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