Today, October 15, marks two more birthdays. James Schmitz (1911-1981) and E. C. Tubb (1919-2010).
Schmitz wrote space opera in the 1950s and 1960s, although he sold his first story, “Greenface” to Unknown in 1943.
Most of Schmitz’s work is set in the Hub. While there are a variety of characters, the two principle recurring characters are Telzey Amberdon, a young woman with psi powers who tends to find herself in a jam on a regular basis, and Trigger Argee, an agent for the government.
Neither lady is a damsel in distress. Both are competent and keep their heads in a crisis. They are usually able to rescuse themselves. If they can’t, they can at least hold out until help arrives.
The Hub wasn’t the only universe Schmitz wrote about. His best known novel is The Witches of Karres, about a group of sisters escaping from slavery. Eric Flint and some of his coauthors have written at least one sequel.
Schmitz quit writing in the early 70’s. I’m not sure why. I read somewhere years ago that when Ben Bova took over the editorial reigns of Analog after John Campbell’s death, he told Schmitz he would publish anymore Telzey stories. I don’t know if that’s true or not. Can anyone verify that, or show that it’s not true?
Regardless of the reason Schmitz hung up his typewriter, he was writing strong, competent women at a time where that wasn’t the norm. In this regard he was a pioneer.
So why don’t we hear more about him and his works?
It’s been nearly two decades since I last read Schmitz. Time to correct that. Schmitz’s works are available in inexpensive ebook editions from Baen.
Next, the author of the Dumarest of Terra series, E. C. Tubb. Tubb was a British author who was quite prolific. Here in the US, he’s remembered as the author of the Dumarest series, and the rest of his work is pretty much unknown.
I read the first of this series shortly after I finished graduate school. I liked it and intended to read more in the series. Another thing I’m going to need to correct.
Dumarest believes he was born on a mythical planet named Earth. He stowed away on a spaceship when he was a boy, and now he wants to return home. Only he has no idea where home is. The series concerns his search for this allegedly mythical planet. Opposing him in this is a group called the Cyclan, who seem to want Earth’s location hidden.
The series ran to 31 books. The series was initially published by Ace. DAW picked up the books at some point (probably when Wollheim left Ace) and published all but the final volume here in the States. I’m not sure why DAW didn’t publish the last book in the series.
The premise lends itself to some good space opera, and I keep intending to read more of it. The books are currently available electronically, both individually and in omnibus editions.
Maybe, Schmidt wanted to de-emphasize psi stories, one of Campbell’s hobby-horses, as being more magic than speculative science?
Rumor has it that Tubb’s Dumarest character was inspired by Brackett;s Eric John Stark. To me, Dumarest is not nearly feral enough to be another EJS, but your mileage may vary.
I’d heard Bova wanted to de-emphasize psi. Schmidt I’m not so sure about. He seemed to have a good thing going. It wouldn’t make sense to just stop.
I’ve heard the same about Dumarest, but I haven’t read enough to say for sure if I buy that.
I was turned on to Dumarest by John Maddox Roberts who commented that Dumarest was Conan in space. Instead of a sword, he had a knife in his boot.
I feel that Dumarest is a bit more cold-blooded when killing–almost like James Bond.
I have a handful of Dumarest titles on the shelf. Need to get to them, of course.
https://paulmcnamee.blogspot.com/2013/01/recent-reads-gath-and-garrett.html
https://paulmcnamee.blogspot.com/2015/09/recent-read-nectar-of-heaven.html
I’m going to have to work these books in. Fortunately they’re short, and I have the first dozen or so, at least. I don’t think I have the entire set. If the DAW editions I’m missing prove too hard to come by, there are ebook omnibuses availabe.
Thanks for the links.
I don’t think DAW published the entire Dumarest run; so, you will have to get some of the e-omnibi if you want to go the distance.
Brackett was a fan of Howard’s work. (Notice the nom de guerre of the protagonist of “Lorelei of the Red Mist”.) So, Dumarest is second-generation Conan-inspired, if not directly inspired (and anyone who liked Brackett would probably be reading Howard as well; so, directly inspired is a good bet).
I think I have paperback copies of the first dozen or so of the Dumarest series. It’s the later ones I need to organize and catalogue.
You’re right, that is a good bet.
Schmitz and Tubb were both quite good. Schmitz’s tales of the Hub and Tubb’s Dumarest are great reads and were an influence (especially Tubb) on early rpgs such as Traveller.
Thanks for the post!
You’re welcome. I never played Traveler, but I had friends who did. From what I recall, you’re right, they were an influence on the game.
Tubb also wrote the “Cap Kennedy” series under the name Gregory Kern. I’ve read a couple of these, and they are full of brutal, efficient action. And absolutely no emotional angle. I don’t think I’ve even seen a female character mentioned, for instance. Space James Bond as an autistic sociopath, maybe. Good thing he’s on the side of humanity in a hostile universe.
I’ve heard of those but haven’t read any of them. I’ll try to track one down.