Manly Wade Wellman (1903–1986)

For such a short book, this was a real slog. I kept at it because of Wellman's reputation as a writer. But this volume did not hold up to that. Not much character development. Abrupt expositions. Long, slow-paced passages that didn't really advance the plot. All that coupled with a general inability to engage my suspension of disbelief. And to make matters worse, it seems this e-book was generated from a scan of a print edition and I would swear that no one paid for a copy editor to review the results. The text is rife with spelling errors, missing quote marks, quirky line endings, etc. Shame on the publishers for putting out such shoddy work!… (more)

Ol’ John he was a wanderer,
Not a penny to his name.
Seeking country shelter,
Not glory or his fame.

Entertained his hosts would he,
With guitar of silver string.
Regaling forgotten country lore,
And wisdom he did sing.

Many queer encounters,
Did Silver John face down.
From other worldly horrors,
And an ugly avian frown.

But, nay a man of action,
He fought not with his fists.
Instead he tricked away the spirits,
Back into Appalachian mists.

So next time you hike the trails,
Spare a thought for John.
Singing his age old ballads,
And ensuring the horrors were gone.

A true masterwork of folk fantasy, the heartwarming tales of John the Balladeer stretch from the 1950’s to the 1980’s and are perhaps some of the great unsung classic stories of the genre. There are vague comparisons to The Witcher here as the supernatural collide with ordinary lives in rural lands, but whereas Geralt fights in dreary, imaginary lands with alchemy and blades of silver and steel, John is grounded in a more familiar world (free of modern trappings), relying on his wits and fireside stories—using these old tales to outsmart and trap ghosts or monsters and lay to rest any curses upon the damned.

It’s this lack of action and emphasis on old folk tales and a ready supply of catchy songs that make this such a refreshing and upbeat read. The stories appear to read mostly sequentially, often referring to previous adventures of John and gradually expanding his world with its own unique folklore.

There is no doubt that this collection deserves a higher place of recognition, with Silver John endearing himself to be the equal of any iconic literary hero.
Thanks to Valancourt, these are stories that can be handed down all over again. John would be proud.… (more)

I expected as I drilled down further into 1951 science fiction novels to find a marked decrease in quality, but after reading Wellman's Twice in Time this is not the case. He claimed to be the author of some 500 stories of which over 80 were in the fantasy and science fiction genre. Many of his stories were originally published in the pulp magazines of the 1940's 50's and 60's and in 1956 his nonfiction historical work Rebel Boast was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize: with a legacy such as this, there is no doubt that he was a competent writer.

Twice in Time is a fantasy time travel novel. Leo Thrasher in 1957 has invented a time travel laser disc that he uses to transport himself back in time. He has a workshop just outside Florence in Italy and succeeds in transporting himself back to the mid 15th century at the time of Lorenzo de Medici the Magnificent. Leo unfortunately at once finds himself under the power of a sorcerer in the black arts, however his skills as an artist and fencing master enable him to adapt into the society of the high Italian renaissance. He rapidly becomes an adviser to Lorenzo the Magnificent being able to suggest and then detail in diagrams, practical examples of inventions from the 20th century that can aid the enlightened despot.

Manley Wade Wellman wrote many young adult stories and this novel soon turns into an adventure story that fits with the known historical events of that period, for example Leo finds himself involved in the Pazzi conspiracy of 1478. Leo's struggle with the sorcerer and his own knowledge of the future explains some of the mysteries of the advancement of science during the Medici reign. It is historical fantasy fiction, brought to life with some skilful writing and a reasonable feel for the period. It hasn't got the depth of a novel like Mark Twains much earlier 'A Yankee in King Arthur's Court', but it is a page turner of a story with some nice ideas. 3.5 stars… (more)