In Gremmie’s Reef–a 1964 science fiction short story in the anthology Gremmie’s Reef: Classic Sci-Fi Short Stories from the 1950s and 1960s (formerly titled Reawakened Worlds) by (John) Hayden Howard–a teen surfing off the Santa Barbara, California coast finds something bizarre.
Previously published in If Worlds of Science Fiction, October 1964 (illustrated by Finlay) the story Gremmie’s Reef puts us in the flip-flops of a young teenager. He is an eager surfer, but desperate for his older teen brother’s attention. We first meet young Ted at the beach:
A strange new sight off the Santa Barbara coast . . .
Then Ted sees, offshore, some terrific new swells. It’s strange–as if giant waves are over a submerged reef he knows can’t be there. Still, he gets excited about trying to surf. He has some success. That is, despite getting clobbered in the process and getting something oddly purple on his skin.
Ted rushes home to tell his brother David. Maybe, finally, his brother will pay attention to him.
David gets very annoyed at Ted bothering him. He keeps calling him a “gremmie. ” (That’s 1960s slang for an inexperienced and objectionable surfer.) He finally goes with Ted to the beach, though David doesn’t believe there are any strange new swells at Chalk Cliff.
Then they both encounter something even more bizarre, and the story takes an ironic and subtly humorous intergalactic twist.
As I review what I like about this story, I think Hayden Howard showed well what it can be like for a teen in any era to feel ignored and sometimes bullied by a sibling. The author himself only had a sister. Yet perhaps when young he had peers bully him, so might have known what that felt like. (He had an ear deformity he hid most of his life under long hair, but when he was a child long hair was not in style.)
That human element, mixed into an entertaining science fiction tale, gives Howard’s characters depth. Meanwhile, slang throughout the story immerses me in the 1960s.
Here’s a copy of the cover of the 1964 science fiction magazine in which this story by (John) Hayden Howard was originally published. Other authors in this publication included Robert A. Heinlein. Below that is the first anthology of Howard’s works, formerly titled Reawakened Worlds, Vol 1, now Gremmie’s Reef. In that book is the full story of Gremmie’s Reef, including its surprise ending.
In John Hayden Howard‘s vintage sci-fi anthology, Reawakened Worlds, Vol One (WildBlue Press, 2023) Henry and Hank share an strange and untenable bond.
This novelette by John Hayden Howard, written in 1951, kicks off the Reawakened Worlds series with a bang. Or I should say, with a headset.
Here’s the gist of the Diddoh story (the first of eight stories in the book):
Henry is a professor, leading an extremely predictable and somewhat boring life. He’s considering a few life-changing options. Suddenly a third, more macabre choice presents itself:
(Image links to Reawakened Worlds paperback.)
Henry opts to connect his brain to the body of that once-a-cadaver. The idea is to allow him to be in two places at the same time–to accomplish more. I think that could be useful– what if I could write a book at home while also being with my grandchildren in another state? What would you do if you could be in two places at the same time?
At first, for Henry, it seems exciting:
(Image links to Reawakened Worlds on Kindle.)
But as the story progresses, Henry’s bizarre attempt to manipulate Hank’s brain becomes problematic. Hank desperately wants to be independent–to be his own person and have his own family. Yet the two men are inexorably tied together.
(Image links to Reawakened Worlds audiobook.)
As this vintage sci-fi story progresses, I find myself rooting for Hank, although he does commit a murder in self-defense. (The stories in Reawakened Worlds are clean, but yes, some people die.) And being permanently tied to Henry is impossible, leading to a dramatic ending to the story.
To truly immerse yourself in the story and enjoy Howard’s unique storytelling skills, you can find the full story, along with seven other stories, in the anthology in Volume One. But if you’ve already read “The Tragedy of Henry Diddoh,” can you tell me what you liked about it in a comment below?
As compiler and editor of this anthology series, I’ve gone over all the stories multiple times. Yet with each read I end up pondering a different aspect of this story. I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Laurie
All stories in the Reawakened Worlds Series were written between 1950 and 1977, including some previously published stories. Copyright of the author’s stories belongs to the Estate of John Hayden Howard.
Here’s a fun little teaser for Volume One of Reawakened Worlds: Vintage Dystopian and Sci-Fi:
This Reawakened Worlds video is for the first collection of short stories and novelettes by John Hayden Howard. I enjoyed compiling his vintage works as his literary estate executor, and writing the Foreword and Afterword.
The second set of stories, VOL 2, is in the works, with publisher deadlines this week. Aaaack! WildBlue Press, my publisher, created this trailer, which I appreciate. I hope you enjoy it!
Reawakened Worlds: Vintage Dystopian and Sci-Fi VOL One is currently in eBook, Audible audiobook, paperback, and hardcover formats.
The Kindle version is available internationally, in English, and can be read on any device (any type of computer, phone, tablet, or Kindle reader) via the Kindle App in Google Play or Apple. Read more about John Hayden Howardhere.
In REAWAKENED WORLDS Vol. One, 1950s university professors & archaeologists, 1940s boxers, and 1960s teen surfers all have mysterious encounters.
Well, I must admit I was thrilled to see Reawakened Worlds was listed on Amazon for nearly a month as the #1 New Release in Classic Science Fiction eBooks! And the hardcover is a beauty to behold.
Would you believe that after my compiling and editing it umpteen times, on receiving the hardcover I sat up all night reading it? Some clever turns of phrases jumped out at me like never before.
I must admit, I’ve become hooked on Hayden.
But before I tell you why, let me give you the list of the eight stories in this book, Vol One. (Vol. Two, releasing next year, will have eight more!) After my Foreword, where I introduce Hayden, in Part One: WHAT IF, is:
The Tragedy of Henry Diddoh: In a university town in a secret laboratory, a Frankenstein-esque experiment enables a professor to be in two places at the same time. Disastrous consequences ensue. Written in St. Augustine, FL, in 1951.
Ten Rounds for the All-Time Champ: A late 1940s boxer goes ten rounds against a stranger, with an even stranger audience, in hopes of remaining the champ. Written in St. Augustine, FL in 1951.
We Specialists: In a large city in the future, everyone takes comfort in their designated roles. That doesn’t end well when the victim, KittyG3, can’t find the right person to call for help. Written in Santa Barbara, CA in 1967.
Part Two: STRANGE ENCOUNTERS ON EARTH
Gremmie’s Reef: A young teen surfing off the coast of Santa Barbara, California, makes an unusual discovery. Written in Santa Barbara, CA and previously published in If, October 1964.
The Butcher: Students working an archaeological dig in the New Mexico find something unearthly. Written in St. Augustine, FL in 1951.
Arctic Invasion: In the Canadian Arctic, a group of indigenous people suspiciously appear to have been taken over by an alien presence. Dr. West, who has been researching them, tries to escape while snow-blinded. Bear attack included. Written in Santa Barbara, CA in 1966. Previously titled “The Eskimo Invasion,” in Galaxy Science Fiction, June 1966, Galaxy Magazine (UK) Jan/Feb 1967, with an Italian translation in 1967. Nominated for a Hugo award. This story later became part of the novel The Eskimo Invasion, nominated for the 1967 Nebula Award: Best Novel.
Part 3: INTERPLANETARY TALES
Haranu: On Mars, an Earthman settler’s innocent dog nearly gets his master killed. The man finds a more peaceful solution with the help of a Martian, but the dog now must choose between two masters. Written in Miami, FL in 1950.
Mutiny in the Orbit of Uranus: In outer space a spaceship crew attempts a takeover, culminating in a massive anti-gravity battle. Written in Santa Barbara, CA in the mid-1950s-60s. A female navigator is the heroine of this story.
AFTERWORD: Hidden Facts About Hayden
John Hayden Howard’s literary style:
What impressed me, while compiling these fiction short stories, was realizing how the author’s writing reaches readers (myself, included) who don’t ordinarily read sci-fi. Perhaps that’s because he had a literary style using clever wordplay with subtlety, humor, vivid descriptions, and unusual, strong characters. I simply enjoy a good story. But I enjoy too the little twists at the end of many of his stories that make me smile. Satisfying endings which often revealed his sense of humor, capping the stories off perfectly.
I also like that his stories make me think. His vocabulary was broader than mine, so I confess to looking up a few words, but am glad to now know them. He also used 1950s and 1960s slang, but not in a forced look-what-I-did way, because he actually wrote the stories in those time periods and likely used that slang himself.
One story in Reawakened Worlds Vol One–The Tragedy of Henry Diddoh–made me think: What might happen if I could actually be two places at the same time? In that story, a literary professor, Henry, tries to accomplish twice what he might otherwise, by sharing his mind with a once-cadaver via a science experiment. His double–dubbed Hank–longs to separate from Henry and be an independent person and even falls in love. But sadly, he is inexorably linked to Henry, for good and bad. Many of Hayden’s stories provoke what-if thoughts and feelings for the characters.
Jack the Pro-Writer
Also impressing me was John Hayden Howard’s stellar level of professionalism as a writer. Even his 1950s manuscripts, typed on a typewriter (so of course retyped, retyped, retyped) were in perfect manuscript format, ready to send his literary agent who placed many of his stories (he sold his works 73 times). Yes: in the 1960s, agents handled short stories, for the many pulp magazines looking for stories before television affected the decline of fiction magazines.
By now, many of you already realize I always knew Hayden simply as “Jack,” who married my mother when I was a young adult. So yes, I loved him for the person he was before I ever knew he wrote so much and so well. But now I’m his fan, too. Heavens, this almost sounds like a book review for Reawakened Worlds. I guess it is, since I didn’t write his stories, can I boast about them. After all, I never would have invested years of time in getting his stories in print now had I not thought they are terrific. I actually have a book of my own I’m also eager to get back to writing, but here I am, raving about Jack.
If you’ve already read stories in this book, I would love to know which ones are your favorites and why, either in a comment here or a review of the book.
If you haven’t read it yet, here’s a link to the Kindle version of Reawakened Worlds (9/7/2023 ranking, today, #164 in Classic Science Fiction eBooks.) It’s also in paperback and hardcover, with the audiobook being released soon with a fantastic narrator.
