Beyond Bedlam

by Wyman Guin

•7 • A Man of the Renaissance • (1964) • novelette by Wyman Guin
•47 • My Darling Hecate • (1953) • novelette by Wyman Guin
•65 • The Delegate from Guapanga • (1964) • novelette by Wyman Guin
•94 • The Root and the Ring • (1954) • novelette by Wyman Guin
•114 • Trigger Tide • (1950) • shortstory by Wyman Guin
•128 • Volpla • (1956) • novelette by Wyman Guin
•150 • Beyond Bedlam • (1951) • novella by Wyman Guin
•206 • The Evidence for Whooping Cranes • shortstory by Wyman Guin

Genres: Science Fiction, Short Stories, Fiction

206 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1967

About the author

Wyman Woods Guin (pseud: Norman Menasco) (March 1, 1915 – February 19, 1989) was a pharmacologist and advertising executive best known for writing science fiction.

Born in Wanette, Oklahoma, he started publishing in 1950, but gained attention the following year with Beyond Bedlam. He is most known as a short story writer and was strongly associated with Galaxy Science Fiction. He produced only one novel, The Standing Joy.

Reviews

[Ira (SF Words of Wonder) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Check out my full, spoiler free, video review HERE.
This is a collection of 7 interesting, weird short science fiction stories from the 1950’s and 1960’s. Guin seemed to be a great writer with a different take on science fiction. A lot of the stories have to do with humans on alien worlds with unique societal structures. There are also some stories that feel contemporary to the times and have a magical realism feel. Overall, the stories seemed a bit better than average but the Ron Walotsky cover art is fantastic.
My favorites were; The Delegate from Guapanga, Beyond Bedlam, A Man of the Renaissance and The Root and the Ring.

[Joachim Boaz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full review: https://sciencefictionruminations.com...

"Wyman Guin produced eight short stories and one novel between 1950 and 1973 [see his entry on SF encyclopedia]. A pharmacologist/advertising executive by profession, his SF output demonstrates a mature satirical bent touching on topics of sociology, psychology, and psychiatry. Best known for the often anthologized “Beyond Bedlam” (1951), the collection is worth tracking down for “A Man of the Renaissance” (1964), “Volpla” (1956), “The Delegate from [...]"

[Manny · Rating 2 out of 5]

He's got two separate personalities inhabiting his body on a time-share basis. It all works out fine until he falls in love with his other personality's wife. Don't you just hate it when that happens?

[Bill Plott · Rating 3 out of 5]

Armchair Fiction out of Medford, Oregon reprints novels from pulp fiction magazines that are now in public domain. Most are offered in a double novel format similar to what Ace Books did in the '60s and '70s. "Beyond Bedlam" originally appeared in Galaxy Science Fiction in August 1951. In the 29th century war has been eliminated and everyone lives in peace through the use of miracle drugs. The problem is there is a side effect. Everyone is schizophrenic. Each human body holds two personalities who use it in five-day shifts. While living two lives with separate families is not unusual, having both husbands married to a single woman's dual personalities is not. This works for Bill Walden/Carl Manz and Helen Walden/Clara Manz. That its, until Bill Walden decides to have an affair with his wife's alter ego. This is one strange story, but I found it compelling enough to navigate the occasional confusion of multiple personalities. The flipside is "Escape From Doom" by John Wilstach.

[Purrltea · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first few stories were pretty tedious and difficult to get into. The final story, "Total Bedlam," was by far better than any of the others. I almost wish I'd just skipped to the end and only read that one--but I think there was value to take from the other stories.

"Total Bedlam" takes place in a society where everyone has two personalities on separate schedules living separate lives. They're on a strict drug regimen to maintain this structure and emotional distance. This was developed to create a better society and prevent all the needless wars of the past, of course. As in all dystopian tales, the status quo is in jeopardy when an aberration occurs in the system...

[Ranmaru · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book, quirky idea. Nice read.

[Naomi Washburn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this story YEARS ago, and it was so unique and interesting that it stayed with me. Highly recommended.