Detour to Otherness – (1/75 Limited Edition)
Foreword by Frederik Pohl
Introduction by Robert Silverberg
Cover Art by Richard Powers
ISBN-13 9781893887190
588 pp. Hardcover
SPECIAL CONTENTS
- 1/75 copies
- Signed by Robert Silverberg & Frederik Pohl
- Othernesses, a 94-page chapbook available only with this edition
- Matching Brillianta EcoFibers Sierra 5172 cloth slipcase
Limited to 75 copies, this “grandmaster edition” of Detour to Otherness is signed by the author of the introduction Robert Silverberg and the author of the afterword Frederik Pohl on a full-bleed plate of the Richard Powers cover artwork (the original image was cropped for use on the dustjacket).
This edition is also an extra special treat for admirers of both Henry Kuttner and C.L. Moore: housed in the slipcase is a 94-page chapbook, OTHERNESSES.
This chapbook boasts an introduction by Barry N. Malzberg and contains three stories:
- “The Old Army Game” by Henry Kuttner (the “lost” Hogben tale!)
- “Piggy Bank” by Henry Kuttner
- “Prisoner in the Skull” by Heny Kuttner & C.L. Moore as “Lewis Padgett”
The chapbook is also signed by Malzberg.
In 1961, Ballantine Books published Bypass to Otherness, a paperback collection of some of Henry Kuttner’s (and C. L. Moore’s) best short stories. Several selections were drawn from Kuttner’s popular series such as the “Hogbens” (comedic otherworldly hillbillies living in America), “Gallegher Galloway” (scientist who invents technical marvels only when intoxicated), and the “Baldies” stories eventually collected in Mutant. Bypass was projected as the first of three “Otherness” collections of Kuttner’s short fiction. Return to Otherness followed in 1962 with 8 more stories. And then . . . nothing. The third “Otherness” collection never appeared. Now, almost fifty years later, Haffner Press announces DETOUR TO OTHERNESS: a massive hardcover assembling the contents of both Bypass to Otherness and Return to Otherness, and adding 8 additional stories selected for their scarcity, quality, and sheer entertainment value. Grand Masters Robert Silverberg and Frederik Pohl provide introductory and afterword materials to the book, and the whole affair is decorated with an unpublished painting by Richard Powers.
Introduction by Robert Silverberg
Bypass to Otherness
Cold War
Call Him Demon
The Dark Angel
The Piper's Son
Absalom
The Little Things
Nothing but Gingerbread Left
Housing Problem
Return to Otherness
See You Later
This Is the House
The Proud Robot
Gallegher Plus
The Ego Machine
Android
The Sky Is Falling
Juke-Box
Detour to Otherness
Open Secret
All Is Illusion
Rite of Passage
Baby Face
Happy Ending
The Children's Hour
Dream's End
Near Miss
Afterword by Frederik Pohl
Table of Contents - OTHERNESSES
"Introduction" by Barry N. Malzberg
"The Old Army Game" by Henry Kuttner (Thrilling Adventures, Nov "41)
"Piggy Bank" by Henry Kuttner (Astounding Science-Fiction, Dec '42)
"The Prisoner in the Skull" by Lewis Padgett (Astounding Science Fiction, Dec '49)
"Hallelujah! I’ve been looking forward to Detour since I first saw the dust jacket at Steve Haffner’s table at the Windy City Pulp & Paper show in April. It collects twenty-four stories of science fantasy and terror by the legendary husband and wife team, with a new intro by Robert Silverberg and an afterword by Frederik Pohl.
"DETOUR TO OTHERNESS shows the usual care and craftsmanship of all of Haffner’s titles. The core of the book is the 1961 Bypass to Otherness, the famous paperback collection of many of Kuttner and Moore’s finest stories, drawing from Kuttner’s popular “Gallegher Galloway” series, featuring a quirky scientist who invents technical marvels only while drunk, his comedic “Hogbens” stories of otherworldly hillbillies, and the “Baldy” tales about mutant telepaths. It was followed by Return to Otherness in 1962, containing eight more stories. Both paperbacks are valuable collector’s items today. DETOUR TO OTHERNESS assembles both Bypass to Otherness and Return to Otherness, plus eight additional stories “selected for their scarcity, quality, and sheer entertainment value.
"Kuttner’s “Gallegher Galloway” stories were collected by Paizo inRobots Have no Tails (reviewed for us by James Enge), and Paul Di Filippo recently reviewed Moore’s seminal collection Judgment Night for us . . . But both books are dwarfed by this thick new volume. If you’re a fan of science fantasy, you’ll want to add this to your collection. It’s available . . . for just $40 for an archival-quality hardcover packed with 568 pages of classic fiction."
—John O'Neill, www.blackgate.com
"1961, I bought Ballantine Books Bypass to Otherness, a paperback collection of some of Henry Kuttner’s and C. L. Moore’s best short stories. I loved it! Some of my favorite stories were selections from Kuttner’s popular series such as the “Hogbens,” funny otherworldly hillbillies living in America, “Gallegher Galloway,” the scientist who invents incredible machines only when intoxicated (whose adventures have been collected inRobots Have No Tails), and the “Baldies” stories eventually collected in another Ballantine Book: Mutant. Bypass to Othernesswas projected as the first of three “Otherness” collections of Kuttner’s short fiction. Ballantine published Return to Otherness in 1962. Another great collection! The third “Otherness” collection never appeared. Now, 50 years later, Haffner Press has publishedDETOUR TO OTHERNESS: a grand collection that includes bothBypass to Otherness and Return to Otherness, with eight additional stories. Robert Silverberg provides an informative Introduction and Frederik Pohl writes a nostalgic Afterword. If the cover looks unfamiliar, it’s because this is a formerly unpublished painting by Richard Powers that matches the striking Powers covers on Bypass to Otherness and Return to Otherness. It’s great that Haffner Press has brought these wonderful forgotten stories out in such an attractive package. All in all, DETOUR TO OTHERNESS is one of the best books published in 2010. . . . You will love this grand volume . . . It’s everything a small press book should be."
—George Kelley
"As regular readers of this blog know, one of my favorite writers is the late Henry Kuttner. And of course you can't mention Henry without mentioning his wife and writing partner (Catherine) C.L. Moore. Good as they were individually they were great as a team. In his fine introduction to this volume Robert Silverberg relates a story that shows just how indivisible they were. For lovers of science fiction, fantasy and the type of story only the Kuttners wrote, this is one of the most important books of the year, a large, beautifully made book that celebrates the writers who had such direct influence on the careers of writers such as Ray Bradbury and Richard Matheson, to name just a few. As usual congratulations to publisher Stephen Haffner for producing a masterful book."
—Ed Gorman, author of Stranglehold and Different Kinds of Dead
