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Yonder: Stories of Fantasy and Science Fiction
(From the inside cover):
“There is a place beyond the rainbow of consciousness, a place without time or space or even long-nosed Freudian critics. There, anything is possible because just thinking makes it so. Charles Beaumont calls that place Yonder.
“Opening this book constitutes a trip to Yonder. Come as you are – because where you’re going there are millions of things and people more bizarre-looking than you. Not only that, but they’ve got worse troubles – or maybe more fun…”
“There is a place beyond the rainbow of consciousness, a place without time or space or even long-nosed Freudian critics. There, anything is possible because just thinking makes it so. Charles Beaumont calls that place Yonder.
“Opening this book constitutes a trip to Yonder. Come as you are – because where you’re going there are millions of things and people more bizarre-looking than you. Not only that, but they’ve got worse troubles – or maybe more fun…”
184 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1958
2 people are currently reading
98 people want to read
About the author
Charles Beaumont
208 books171 followersCharles Beaumont was born Charles Leroy Nutt in Chicago in 1929. He dropped out of high school in the tenth grade and worked at a number of jobs before selling his first story to Amazing Stories in 1950. His story “Black Country” (1954) was the first work of short fiction to appear in Playboy, and his classic tale “The Crooked Man” appeared in the same magazine the following year. Beaumont published numerous other short stories in the 1950s, both in mainstream periodicals like Playboy and Esquire and in science fiction and fantasy magazines.
His first story collection, The Hunger and Other Stories, was published in 1957 to immediate acclaim, and was followed by two further collections, Yonder (1958) and Night Ride and Other Journeys (1960). He also published two novels, Run from the Hunter (1957, pseudonymously, with John E. Tomerlin), and The Intruder (1959).
Beaumont is perhaps best remembered for his work in television, particularly his screenplays for The Twilight Zone, for which he wrote several of the most famous episodes. His other screenwriting credits include the scripts for films such as The Premature Burial (1962), Burn, Witch, Burn (1962), The Haunted Palace (1963), and The Masque of the Red Death (1964).
When Beaumont was 34, he began to suffer from ill health and developed a baffling and still unexplained condition that caused him to age at a greatly increased rate, such that at the time of his death at age 38 in 1967, he had the physical appearance of a 95-year-old man. Beaumont was survived by his wife Helen, two daughters, and two sons, one of whom, Christopher, is also a writer.
Beaumont’s work was much respected by his colleagues, and he counted Ray Bradbury, Harlan Ellison, Richard Matheson, Robert Bloch, and Roger Corman among his friends and admirers.
-Valancourt Books
His first story collection, The Hunger and Other Stories, was published in 1957 to immediate acclaim, and was followed by two further collections, Yonder (1958) and Night Ride and Other Journeys (1960). He also published two novels, Run from the Hunter (1957, pseudonymously, with John E. Tomerlin), and The Intruder (1959).
Beaumont is perhaps best remembered for his work in television, particularly his screenplays for The Twilight Zone, for which he wrote several of the most famous episodes. His other screenwriting credits include the scripts for films such as The Premature Burial (1962), Burn, Witch, Burn (1962), The Haunted Palace (1963), and The Masque of the Red Death (1964).
When Beaumont was 34, he began to suffer from ill health and developed a baffling and still unexplained condition that caused him to age at a greatly increased rate, such that at the time of his death at age 38 in 1967, he had the physical appearance of a 95-year-old man. Beaumont was survived by his wife Helen, two daughters, and two sons, one of whom, Christopher, is also a writer.
Beaumont’s work was much respected by his colleagues, and he counted Ray Bradbury, Harlan Ellison, Richard Matheson, Robert Bloch, and Roger Corman among his friends and admirers.
-Valancourt Books
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
July 30, 2020
Charles Beaumont, one of the main writers behind the success of the original Twilight Zone TV series, passed away at a young age due to early-onset Alzheimer's Disease. He left behind a wealth of short stories showing his wide range of interest and ability, not to mention a surprising maturity in theme and style for his tender age. This collection spans a period in which Beaumont was stretching himself as a writer and the variety of styles and themes is astonishing. As usual, the list of stories and ratings are below, along with some song lyrics that may be amusing or insightful or clever, or not.
You Can't Have Them All - 3/5 - I knew she was gonna meet her connection
Fritzchen - 4/5 - mama, life had just begun
Last Rites - 3/5 - would it be the same, if I saw you in heaven?
Place of Meeting - 3/5 - it was many years ago that I became what I am
A World of Differents - 4/5 - communication breakdown
Anthem - 2/5 - it's the end of the world as we know it
In His Image (The Man Who Made Himself) - 3/5 - I'm starting with the man in the mirror
The Jungle - 3/5 - it's gonna bring you down...huh
The Quadriopticon - 2/5 - oh the movie never ends, it goes on and on and on and on
Hair of the Dog - 4/5 - I whip my hair back and forth
The Beautiful People - 4/5 - hey, you, what do you see? something beautiful or something free?
The Last Caper - 3/5 - you know he knows just exactly what the facts is
Mother's Day - 3/5 - word to your moms, I came to drop bombs
Traumerei - 3/5 - I've just closed my eyes again
The Monster Show - 3/5 - you're face to face with the man who sold the world
The New Sound - 3/5 - hello darkness my old friend
You Can't Have Them All - 3/5 - I knew she was gonna meet her connection
Fritzchen - 4/5 - mama, life had just begun
Last Rites - 3/5 - would it be the same, if I saw you in heaven?
Place of Meeting - 3/5 - it was many years ago that I became what I am
A World of Differents - 4/5 - communication breakdown
Anthem - 2/5 - it's the end of the world as we know it
In His Image (The Man Who Made Himself) - 3/5 - I'm starting with the man in the mirror
The Jungle - 3/5 - it's gonna bring you down...huh
The Quadriopticon - 2/5 - oh the movie never ends, it goes on and on and on and on
Hair of the Dog - 4/5 - I whip my hair back and forth
The Beautiful People - 4/5 - hey, you, what do you see? something beautiful or something free?
The Last Caper - 3/5 - you know he knows just exactly what the facts is
Mother's Day - 3/5 - word to your moms, I came to drop bombs
Traumerei - 3/5 - I've just closed my eyes again
The Monster Show - 3/5 - you're face to face with the man who sold the world
The New Sound - 3/5 - hello darkness my old friend
June 7, 2024
My first time reading Charles Beaumont, at least I think so. After learning more about him, I found out how prolific he was back in the late 50s through the 70s. Twilight Zone, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, and even some movies. He was on par with Matheson for a while. Anyways, he’s a good story teller. Many of his tale have that surprise ending that makes you smile once he does the big reveal. There’s some gems in Yonder, a short story collection from Beaumont. There’s also some slogs to get through. The ones that didn’t work for me were mainly due to the writing style. Beaumont throws everything but the kitchen sink in here. I commend him for not being a one-trick pony, but the kitschy delivery in some of them didn’t do it for me. Also, like many weird-tales writers from this era, you have plenty of sci-fi sprinkled in. Okay, lets jump into it:
You Can’t Have Them All - A scientist justifies his womanizing through a “calculated” program (i.e. early computer, probably the size of a bus). I was about to rate this story a 1 or 2 star because of how cringeworthy it is (roofies, anyone?), but the ending was brilliant.
4.5 stars out of 5
Fritzchen - A pet store owner discovers a strange-looking critter while out on a family hike. His bratty, and somewhat psychotic son calls it a fritzchen. He’s not sure what a fritzchen is, but he knows that it’s rare and unique, which equals money in his eyes. If only he knew more about the fritzchen. I’m two stories in and I’m already learning that Beaumont likes to hold his cards close to his vest. He drops the unexpected ending better than most any other writer out there.
4.5 stars out of 5.0
Last Rites - A dying man calls over his priest friend and wants to have an ethical discussion on who can receive last rites. Even though the ending appeared through the cracks, it was still a fun tale.
4.0 stars out of 5.0
A World of Differents - A stream of consciousness story that feels like one big run-on sentence from the mind of a lunatic. Where’s the Advil?
1.0 stars out of 5.0
Anthem - A movie manuscript of a story about I haven’t a clue. If you’re going to add this to a collection, shouldn’t it at least be entertaining/make a lick of sense? Can you OD on Advil?
1.0 stars out of 5.0
In His Image - A man brings back to his hometown a girl he just met to marry her. The only problem, his hometown isn’t what he remembers. Everything is wrong here. Finally, back on track after those other two disasters.
4.0 stars out of 5.0
The Jungle - The creator of a utopia in the jungle is facing his just rewards for not heeding the natives warnings.
3.5 stars out of 5.0
The Quadriopticon - When movie technology advances to the point where you can’t tell what’s the movie and what’s real.
3.5 stars out of 5.0
Hair Of The Dog - The deal with the man south of heaven with a little twist.
4.0 stars out of 5.0
The Beautiful People - At 18, everyone goes through the Transformation to become beautiful. But Mary doesn’t want to. She’s happy with the way she looks. This throws the doctors for a loop. Everyone wants the Transformation, impatient to get the Transformation. No one has ever not wanted it. It must be from those old books Mary read.
3.5 stars out of 5.0
The Last Caper - Private Orb (get it?), Mike Mallet is hired to find The Chocolate Maltese Falcon. A intergalactic Humphrey Bogart tale that didn’t do much for me.
2.5 stars out of 5.0
Mother’s Day - Gavin McCreigh, a condemned man is given one chance to get off Death Row. All he as to do is marry a Martian and have a family. Oh how you can’t outrun your past, no matter how much of a gilded tongue you have.
4.5 stars out of 5.0
Traumeri - A condemned man warns his executioners that he is actually dreaming and if they execute him, all of them in his dream world will die. Such a fun premise.
4.5 stars out of 5.0
The Monster Show - The Monster Show will be the greatest show on earth. So much old showbiz slang used in this one made it clunky and uninteresting.
1.5 stars out of 5.0
The New Sound - Collecting every sound imaginable turns more macabre as Mr Goodhew is determined to complete his collection.
3.0 stars out of 5.0
Overall: 3.3 stars out of 5.0
Yonder is a hard collection to find. If you happen to run into at some used book store or garage sale, pick it up. When Beaumont is good, he’s really good. But I won’t blame you if you skip over the turkeys.
You Can’t Have Them All - A scientist justifies his womanizing through a “calculated” program (i.e. early computer, probably the size of a bus). I was about to rate this story a 1 or 2 star because of how cringeworthy it is (roofies, anyone?), but the ending was brilliant.
4.5 stars out of 5
Fritzchen - A pet store owner discovers a strange-looking critter while out on a family hike. His bratty, and somewhat psychotic son calls it a fritzchen. He’s not sure what a fritzchen is, but he knows that it’s rare and unique, which equals money in his eyes. If only he knew more about the fritzchen. I’m two stories in and I’m already learning that Beaumont likes to hold his cards close to his vest. He drops the unexpected ending better than most any other writer out there.
4.5 stars out of 5.0
Last Rites - A dying man calls over his priest friend and wants to have an ethical discussion on who can receive last rites. Even though the ending appeared through the cracks, it was still a fun tale.
4.0 stars out of 5.0
A World of Differents - A stream of consciousness story that feels like one big run-on sentence from the mind of a lunatic. Where’s the Advil?
1.0 stars out of 5.0
Anthem - A movie manuscript of a story about I haven’t a clue. If you’re going to add this to a collection, shouldn’t it at least be entertaining/make a lick of sense? Can you OD on Advil?
1.0 stars out of 5.0
In His Image - A man brings back to his hometown a girl he just met to marry her. The only problem, his hometown isn’t what he remembers. Everything is wrong here. Finally, back on track after those other two disasters.
4.0 stars out of 5.0
The Jungle - The creator of a utopia in the jungle is facing his just rewards for not heeding the natives warnings.
3.5 stars out of 5.0
The Quadriopticon - When movie technology advances to the point where you can’t tell what’s the movie and what’s real.
3.5 stars out of 5.0
Hair Of The Dog - The deal with the man south of heaven with a little twist.
4.0 stars out of 5.0
The Beautiful People - At 18, everyone goes through the Transformation to become beautiful. But Mary doesn’t want to. She’s happy with the way she looks. This throws the doctors for a loop. Everyone wants the Transformation, impatient to get the Transformation. No one has ever not wanted it. It must be from those old books Mary read.
3.5 stars out of 5.0
The Last Caper - Private Orb (get it?), Mike Mallet is hired to find The Chocolate Maltese Falcon. A intergalactic Humphrey Bogart tale that didn’t do much for me.
2.5 stars out of 5.0
Mother’s Day - Gavin McCreigh, a condemned man is given one chance to get off Death Row. All he as to do is marry a Martian and have a family. Oh how you can’t outrun your past, no matter how much of a gilded tongue you have.
4.5 stars out of 5.0
Traumeri - A condemned man warns his executioners that he is actually dreaming and if they execute him, all of them in his dream world will die. Such a fun premise.
4.5 stars out of 5.0
The Monster Show - The Monster Show will be the greatest show on earth. So much old showbiz slang used in this one made it clunky and uninteresting.
1.5 stars out of 5.0
The New Sound - Collecting every sound imaginable turns more macabre as Mr Goodhew is determined to complete his collection.
3.0 stars out of 5.0
Overall: 3.3 stars out of 5.0
Yonder is a hard collection to find. If you happen to run into at some used book store or garage sale, pick it up. When Beaumont is good, he’s really good. But I won’t blame you if you skip over the turkeys.
February 1, 2008
It is pretty amazing that Charles Beaumont is not better known today (I had to manually add this book to goodreads, mawkish description and all). I came across him as part of my current obsession with sci-fi/fantasy of the 1950’s and 1960’s, and was happily surprised. His range is impressive – capable of slowly building tension over pages of nicely rhythmic and flowing prose, and an ability to create fascinating three-dimensional characters more by indirect reference than by straight narration. "The Jungle" is one of the best, and more frightening, stories of the collection.
In addition to writing good, straight sci-fi/horror fantasy, Beaumont writes bitingly, sarcastically funny stories. "A World of Differents" is a first person narrative by an alien who learned English entirely by reading Finnegan’s Wake. Beaumont also gets a lot of juice out of lampooning the Hollywood cliche's and peccadilloes of the 1950’s in stories that subvert the formulaic space opera and hard boiled detective flicks of his day into absurdly funny fanstasias.
In addition to writing good, straight sci-fi/horror fantasy, Beaumont writes bitingly, sarcastically funny stories. "A World of Differents" is a first person narrative by an alien who learned English entirely by reading Finnegan’s Wake. Beaumont also gets a lot of juice out of lampooning the Hollywood cliche's and peccadilloes of the 1950’s in stories that subvert the formulaic space opera and hard boiled detective flicks of his day into absurdly funny fanstasias.
February 26, 2012
having just read the hunger and other stories, i was expecting a lot from yonder, and while i liked it, i felt the stories weren't as consistently strong as they were in beaumont's first collection. there are some really fine stories here, but some of the longer ones are just too long. i agree with an earlier review that pointed out that the shorts are often the best this book has to offer. i'm going to give it a 4 rating on the strength of "the new sound", "fritzchen", "place of meeting", "traumerai",and "last rites"
March 2, 2008
John gave me this collection of 1960's sci-fi short-stories a few weeks ago. Most of them are quite good, and Beaumont hits a slightly different note from most of his contemporaries (Bradburry, Asimov, etc.); he's a bit funnier, a bit odder, and yet darkly paranoid all at once. Many of his themes seemed to strongly foreshadow Philip K. Dick, yet then the next story would be a first-person narrative told by an alien who had learned English by reading Finnigan's Wake. His shorter pieces work best (some are only three or four pages long), with the longer stories dragging somewhat. Certainly interesting reading, especially considering I had never heard of Beaumont before.
Want to read
February 9, 2018You Can't Have Them All • (1956)
Fritzchen • (1953)
Last Rites • (1955)
Place of Meeting • (1953)
A World of Differents • (1958)
Anthem • (1958)
In His Image • (1957)
The Jungle • (1954)
The Quadriopticon • (1954)
Hair of the Dog • (1954)
The Beautiful People • (1952)
The Last Caper • (1954)
Mother's Day • (1958)
Traumerei • (1956)
The Monster Show • (1956)
The New Sound • (1955)
Fritzchen • (1953)
Last Rites • (1955)
Place of Meeting • (1953)
A World of Differents • (1958)
Anthem • (1958)
In His Image • (1957)
The Jungle • (1954)
The Quadriopticon • (1954)
Hair of the Dog • (1954)
The Beautiful People • (1952)
The Last Caper • (1954)
Mother's Day • (1958)
Traumerei • (1956)
The Monster Show • (1956)
The New Sound • (1955)
July 10, 2013
more clunkers than the last Beaumont story collection I read but still worth reading. I'd recommend starting with "The Howling Man" instead as the best stories from this collection are there as well.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews