The Black Gondolier

Rating:
Summary: Fine collection of rare weird tales by this master of genres
Review: This edition is a trade paperback reprint of a hardback titled THE BLACK GONDOLIER & OTHER STORIES published in a limited numbered edition of 460 by Midnight House in 2000, now out of print, difficult to find and quite expensive; it's a treat finding this reasonably priced version.

Co-editor John Pelan writes "...Leiber belongs to that pantheon of great writers that have shaped and molded the field of fantastic literature in the latter half of the twentieth century." As far as I'm concerned, Fritz Leiber reposes at the pinnacle of this literary hierarchy: he is a writer of major importance whose long career is awe inspiring. Whether it's science fiction, fantasy or horror, his writing is of the highest order: cliche free, varied and fine to the point of being prose poetry. Such a shame that so little of his short fiction remains in print. Another reason to rejoice at the publication of this book.

In it you'll find the following stories:

"The Black Gondolier"-A story set in Venice California about the diabolic plans for humanity being hatched by petrolium.

"The Dreams of Albert Moreland" - The tale of a chess master engaged in a match against a dark power.

"Game for Motel Room" - In which a man finds that the "woman" with whom he has a tryst isn't what she seems and whose jealous husband's revenge could be world shattering.

"The Phantom Slayer" - A man inherets his dead ex-cop uncle's boarding room and belongings which includes a police uniform and the files from an unsolved serial killer case; in his dreams the man wanders the streets in his uncle's uniform and witnesses murders.

"Lie Still, Snow White"-a necrophiliac ruminates about his obsession to his next victim.

"Mr. Bauer and the Atoms" - Mr. Bauer fears that the atomic powers contained within his body could destroy the world.

"In the X-ray" - A girl's evil twin sister gives her a final embrace.

"Spider Mansion" - How has the midget Malcolm Orme become a giant? What is the mysterious rustling and clicking that comes from the closed living room and why does it so frighten Mr Orme's servants and wife?

"The Secret Songs" - Two drug addicts visit their interior worlds: he in his slumber and she via TV, glue and glitter.

"The Man Who Made Friends with Electricity" - Mr. Leverett is delighted to rent a house next to high tension electric transmission lines because he THINKS electricity is his friend until he discover that it, or is it they, isn't/aren't true blue American/s.

"The Dead Man" - A love triangle involving a doctor, his wife and his expeiment's subject who possesses the ability to manifest diseases through hipnosis.

"The Thirteenth Step" - A twelve step meeting has an unexpected visitor.

"The Repair People" - Welcome to the repair shop where two "Repair People", a journeyman and an apprentice, extract, rearrange and reinsert the dream wrapped souls into blobs. Or is is slobs?

"Black Has Its Charms" - An alcoholic wife castigates her husband and tells him why he should murder her.

"Schizo Jimmy" - Are modern witches merely persons who are carriers of insanity; typhoid Marys spreading pshchosis?

"The Creature from Cleveland Depths" (Erroneously titled "The Lone Wolf" in the table of contents.) - Gusterson a surface dwelling inventor/novelist dreams up "ticklers" which prove to be more "helpful" to dwellers down under than expected.

"The Casket Demon" - Film star Vivian Sheer is fading and only the notoriety given by fighting her family's demon will substantiate her.

"Mr. Adam's Garden of Evil" - Taggart Adams, publisher of "Kitten" skin magazine, has a sinister secret in his subterranian garden.

My brief "high concept" renderings of these stories does them little justice because the manner of Leiber's story telling and the variety of voices and approaches he uses are so much more that can be described in one sentence synopsis.

Buy this book and be amazed and delighted.