The Far Side of Nowhere

Few names in the world of fantasy fiction evoke such instant recognition as that of Nelson Bond, master of the quirky story--the unusual, the bizarre--which he always wraps in delectable, deliciously lean prose, and a delightful skewing of the English language. In twenty-nine stories grouped under five sections, you’ll meet not-so-ordinąry people unexpectedly caught up in strange and unbelievable circumstances that only the mind of Nelson Bond can conjure up, as they encounter wizards, weird magic, elixirs, forces from Hell, snowmen in summer, uncharted dimensions of space and time, see into the future, the past, or find themselves weighing minus twelve pounds. Yet Bond shows that he is equal to the task of being a straight-man with such calculated tales of horror as "Pipeline to Paradise" and "The World Within," a chilling journey into the human body; and thought-provoking heroic fantasy in "Magic City," a chapter in the adventures of Meg and Daiv. Of course, no Bond collection would be complete without a sampling of such favorite characters as Lancelot Biggs: Spaceman, who defies the forces of the universe, con-man Squaredeal Sam McGhee, and the irrascible Lobblies. In addition, Bond's ageless mind provides short, entertaining commentaries through-out the book. Written more than a half-century ago for the pages of Blue Book, Amazing Stones, Thrilling Wonder Stories, Argosy, Esquire, and others, these stories are indelible proof that good writing and imaginative storytelling transcend the boundaries of time and literary fads. So, welcome to The Far Side of Nowhere and the mad, wacky, literary worid of Nelson Bond--a most unforgettable reading experience. CONTENTS It's About Time 1. Command Performance • (1951) • short story 2. Parallel in Time • (1940) • short story 3. Time Exposure • (1951) • short story 4. Private Line to Tomorrow • (1951) • short story 5. The Castaway • (1940) • short story 6. The Message from the Void • (1939) • short story Odds Without End 7. The Battle of Blue Trout Basin • (1937) • short story 8. The Unusual Romance of Ferdinand Pratt • (1940) • short story 9. The Ballad of Blaster Bill • (1941) • poem 10. Case History • (1958) • short story 11. Herman and the Mermaid • (1943) • short story 12. Double, Double, Toil and Trouble • (1943) • short story 13. Proof of the Pudding • (1999) • short story 14. Pawns of Tomorrow • (1957) • novelette Family Circle 15. Magic City • [Meg the Priestess #3] • (1941) • novelette 16. The Masked Marvel • [Pat Pending] • (1943) • short story 17. The Scientific Pioneer Returns • [Lancelot Biggs #6] • (1940) • novelette 18. Miracles Made Easy • [The Lobblies] • (1942) • short story In Uffish Thought 19. The Amazing Invention of Wilberforce Weems • (1939) • short story 20. Brother Michel • (1942) • short story 21. Pipeline to Paradise • (1955) • short story 22. The World Within • (1942) • short story 23. The Geometrics of Johnny Day • (1941) • short story Wild Talents 24. Mr. Snow White • (1941) • short story 25. The Unpremeditated Wizard • (1951) • short story 26. The Secret of Lucky Logan • (1942) • novelette 27. The Fertility of Dalrymple Todd • (1940) • short story 28. The Man Who Weighed Minus Twelve • (1940) • short story 29. Occupation: Demigod • (1941) • short story Epilogue * One interior illustration by Edd Cartier Jacket art by Alan Fore