Tag Archives: sci-fi

Posted on

We Specialists: a sci-fi story in the Reawakened Worlds, Vol. 1 anthology

by

(John) Hayden Howard wrote his fictional short story We Specialists in 1967: three years after a horrific crime had been reported in the newspapers. Sixty years later, that case–and its reported “bystander effect”–is still discussed in countless psychology classes.

Page 60 of Reawakened Worlds, with the story We Specialists, by John Hayden Howard. Story written in 1967,

While Hayden couldn’t possibly have known that specific case would still be discussed sixty years later, it’s obvious it impacted him at the time. I know I never forgot the story from my own psych classes in the late 1970s. Imagine my surprise when I found something similar among Hayden Howard’s yellowing manuscripts.

I nearly missed the association with his character’s futuristic name: Kitty G-3, because he makes no mention of any news story. As with Hayden’s usual subtle style, he simply tells a story and lets readers experience their own “ah-hah!” moments.

For those of you unfamiliar with the original crime and hate spoilers, of course avoid Googling it. You can read John Hayden Howard’s sci-fi story in Reawakened Worlds Vol 1 before exploring the related news story. In the meantime, I’ll share no more details of the original crime previously mentioned!

Let’s focus instead on the underlying message in Hayden’s story:

Even in the distant future, no matter how high-tech that may be, I hope people will learn to all look out for each other. That, I’m sure, is the message Hayden meant to convey in We Specialists. That we can’t make excuses for not helping strangers, even if the government (as in his fiction story) were to attempt to box us into specific roles. That we should never become so desensitized to violence that we focus only on ourselves or on rules or laws.

Yes, this brief short story is one of violence. I’m not a fan of anything truly gory, but I’d give this short story a PG 13 rating for violence, as he focused more on the ridiculousness of allowing ourselves to be confined by roles that exclude helping others. Showing that ridiculousness, his last line referring to a Homicide Specialist is a real kicker.

About John Hayden Howard:

John Hayden Howard was well-known in the 1960s for his science fiction writing (see the International Science Fiction Database) but also had published many mysteries and detective stories, in magazines including Ellery Queen’s (originally called Ellery Queen) mystery magazine. Perhaps Hayden saw “We Specialists” as a bit of a crime and sci-fi genre merge. Here’s where you can find the story (one of eight):

To read descriptions of some of his other stories in Volume One, see my former posts on:

The Tragedy of Henry Diddoh: a 1950s Frankenstein-ish story in Reawakened Worlds

Gremmie’s Reef: in Reawakened Worlds Vol 1

Hayden Howard: Short Stories with Creative Wordplay (featuring “Ten Rounds for the All-Time Champ”)

More stories to come!

Volume Two of Reawakened Worlds, MORE Dystopian and Sci-Fi Short Stories, is slated for release in September, with pre-ordering soon! Here’s a sneak peek at the cover of book 2! Contact me (or Subscribe) to know the moment it’s released. And as always, I’d love to read your comment below. Let me know if you’ve read Volume One and how it grabbed you!

Posted on

Vintage Science Fiction: New classic sci-fi collection by John Hayden Howard, 1960s author

by

Out July 25, 2023, for vintage science fiction fans: Reawakened Worlds: Vintage Dystopian and Sci-Fi Stories, VOL 1, by John Hayden Howard.

Book cover: Reawakened Worlds: Vintage Dystopian and Sci-Fi from a Master Storyteller, by John Hayden Howard
Reawakened Worlds: Vintage Dystopian and Sci-Fi from a Master Storyteller, by John Hayden Howard

At last! After a year of my sneezing through oodles of John Hayden Howard’s original 1950s-1960s dusty musty manuscripts, choosing the best, digitizing, and editing, the first book in this vintage science fiction collection is now available. Hurray! WildBlue Press has done a fabulous job making Vol. One shine, with Vol. Two scheduled for 2024.

I enjoyed writing the Foreword, describing how I knew Hayden (my stepfather) and ended up with his manuscripts. I also wrote the Afterword, telling of his life after the 1960s.

Those who already know me as an author of inspirational and historical books and articles may be saying, “Whaaaat? Science fiction?” It’s certainly a departure from my usual fare. I’ll soon be back working in my other genres. Then again, this editing project has been great fun–so who knows?

Straightforward, fast-paced, and fun.” —ROBERT SCHERRER, Professor of Physics and Astronomy at Vanderbilt University and Sci-fi Writer, published in ANALOG Science Fiction and Fact

Vol. One of Reawakened Worlds: Vintage Dystopian and Sci-Fi includes these stories:

Part One: WHAT IF

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, Florida in 1951.

Ten Rounds for the All-Time Champ
A 1950s boxer goes ten rounds against a stranger with an even stranger audience, in hopes of remaining the champ. (Written in St. Augustine, Florida in 1951-52.)

We Specialists:
In a large city in the future, everyone takes comfort in their designated roles. That doesn’t end well when the victim 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 1964. Previously published in IF, Worlds of Science Fiction, October 1964.)

The Butcher
Students working an archaeological dig in the Southwest discover something unearthly. (Written in St. Augustine, Florida 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 1966 in Santa Barbara, California. Previously in Galaxy Science Fiction (under another title) June 1966; Galaxy Magazine (UK) Jan/Feb 1967; Italian translation in 1967. Nominated for a Hugo.

Part 3: INTERPLANETARY TALES

Haranu
On Mars, an Earth-man’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, Florida in 1950.)

Mutiny in the Orbit of Uranus
A spaceship crew attempts a takeover, culminating in a massive anti-gravity battle. (Written in Santa Barbara, California, in the mid-1950’s-60s.)

Note: the only other collections from Hayden Howard currently in print include stories within Public Domain. None of the stories in Reawakened Worlds have been seen for over half a century, so his old fans are in for a brand new treat.

Learn more about the Reawakened Worlds and John Hayden Howard at WildBlue Press. Book will be available in Kindle and in paperback and hardcover in various bookstores.

Posted on

Secret Stashes: Old Family Papers

by

Old family papers may hold hidden historical gems. These documents were from a Seattle woman living in British Raj India, 1926-1933.

Bins of musty papers, inherited from deceased family members, can be a nuisance to deal with. Yet fascinating historical details and stories may be nestled inside.

Just call me Paper Girl. Somehow, through every branch of my family tree, vintage papers from parents, grandparents, even great-great grandparents, trickled their way to my attic. Well, now to my closet–I’ve downsized. That makes it urgent to use, lose, or carefully store them for the next curious generation.

It certainly requires intense curiosity to want to mess with musty old family papers. Other family members have thrown hands up in despair, eager for me to take custody of anything paper.

Thankfully I’m the right person for that, as I’m finding an abundance of historical clues. And as a writer, my imagination is fueled. I’m seeing wonderful details for articles and books — even plots for historical fiction as well as nonfiction.

It’s also helping me decide what papers to save and organize for my own grown kids and grandchildren, to avoid overwhelming them in the future.

Some papers I can digitize. But in a frenzy to digitize everything, we can lose historical significance. We may only see that significance by physically holding a vintage passport or letter in our hands and noting small details. The feel of the paper, the embossing within it.

One story I wrote for Nostalgia Magazine was sparked by an old letter from my great-grandfather to my grandmother. It’s truly a wonder to hold that original letter in my hands! Legacy of a Walla Walla Pioneer: John Martin Gose (1825-1919) describes my great-grandfather’s journey on the Oregon Trail, including how his wife Hannah was a bit overwhelmed juggling five children in their covered wagon. You may enjoy reading that article to see what I did with the information from the letter, coupled with research I did through ancestry.com and newspapers.com. In case you’re curious about how I figured out how old the children were on the Oregon Trail, see my post Calculating Characters in Family History.

My husband shudders when he opens closets with bins of papers threatening to fall out. But here’s what gold I know those closets contain:

  • Letters from a 19-year-old Marine who fought at Iwo Jima, my husband’s father — and a related WW2 scrapbook and diary.
  • Documents and photos of a U.S. Consul and Foreign Service officer, working in Embassies around the world, 1920-1943: my paternal grandfather. His father-in-law was also a consul and a reporter who witnessed the Wright Brothers practicing their first flights.
  • Letters, diaries, passports, photos and even movie reels from a Seattle couple who lived in the jungles and islands of British India between 1923 and 1933: my maternal grandparents. (See my Jungle Diaries page.)

Feeling overwhelmed by family papers passed down to you? Don’t be in too much of a hurry to toss them or even digitize all of them. There may be gold in them thar bins. If you’ve found interesting historical tidbits, tell me about them! Encourage others to be curious, too.

Laurie

Posted on

Hugo Awards 1967 Sci-Fi Nominees

by

When Hayden Howard was a nominee for the Hugo Awards in 1967 for his novelette, he was in good company. 1966 nominees included Frank Herbert, for Dune, and J.R.R. Tolkien for Lord of the Rings. Isaac Asimov and Edgar Rice Burroughs were also nominees. Star Trek won best Dramatic Presentation.

That certainly was an exciting era in science fiction. It’s still exciting with the revival of so many of those titles in film, including the 2021 Warner Bros. Pictures film Dune. It’s amazing to realize it was released 56 years after the novel was written.

The movie trailer for Dune on YouTube has a whopping 30,222,421 views today, February 3, and no doubt will have more tomorrow. I suspect that author Frank Herbert’s mind would have been blown about that; hopefully he’d have been pleased with the film adaptation.

As for 1967 Hugo award-nominated science fiction magazines: those were the same pubs Hayden wrote for: If, Analog, and Galaxy. Hayden also had many of his stories illustrated by great sci-fi illustrators, including the Hugo 1967 award-winning artist, Jack Gaughan.

Here’s the cover of one Galaxy issue I own, giving you a taste of sci-fi art in the 60s. The image within the cover illustration looks strikingly like a smartphone, doesn’t it?