09-27-2017, 11:31 AM
At mention of Fritz Leiber, I recall a serialized story in Fantasy and Science Fiction Magazine that I read long ago, which I think was by him. What I remember is that this guy lives in a city and he goes for a long walk or drive, and he ends up on a hill looking through binoculars or a telescope at various things. On a whim, he tries to spot his apartment across town. Eventually he pins it down. Lo and behold, there's a strange figure in the window waving wildly at him. The first part ended at that point, and I waited anxiously for the next issue to see what would happen.
As I recall, I was greatly disappointed in the wrap-up to the story.
So I just researched it, and it was The Pale Brown Thing, indeed by Leiber, appearing in the first two issues of 1977 (I would have been 26). Surprisingly, it was the initial version of Our Lady of Darkness. The two versions are said to be notably different.
Anyway, I think I was put off reading more of Leiber by that poor showing -- though there are those who think The Pale Brown Thing is great. I thought the hook was wonderful, by the way. It's stuck in my mind all these years. I just didn't think the story delivered on that set-up.
As I recall, I was greatly disappointed in the wrap-up to the story.
So I just researched it, and it was The Pale Brown Thing, indeed by Leiber, appearing in the first two issues of 1977 (I would have been 26). Surprisingly, it was the initial version of Our Lady of Darkness. The two versions are said to be notably different.
Anyway, I think I was put off reading more of Leiber by that poor showing -- though there are those who think The Pale Brown Thing is great. I thought the hook was wonderful, by the way. It's stuck in my mind all these years. I just didn't think the story delivered on that set-up.