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Horrer Howce
A short story by Margaret St. Clair
14 pages, Paperback
Published July 1, 1956
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About the author
Margaret St. Clair
156 books60 followersMargaret St. Clair (February 17, 1911 Huchinson, Kansas - November 22, 1995 Santa Rosa, CA) was an American science fiction writer, who also wrote under the pseudonyms Idris Seabright and Wilton Hazzard.
Born as Margaret Neeley, she married Eric St. Clair in 1932, whom she met while attending the University of California, Berkeley. In 1934 she graduated with a Master of Arts in Greek classics.
She started writing science fiction with the short story "Rocket to Limbo" in 1946. Her most creative period was during the 1950s, when she wrote such acclaimed stories as "The Man Who Sold Rope to the Gnoles" (1951), "Brightness Falls from the Air" (1951), "An Egg a Month from All Over" (1952), and "Horrer Howce" (1956). She largely stopped writing short stories after 1960. The Best of Margaret St. Clair (1985) is a representative sampler of her short fiction.
Apart from more than 100 short stories, St. Clair also wrote nine novels. Of interest beyond science fiction is her 1963 novel Sign of the Labrys, for its early use of Wicca elements in fiction.
Her interests included witchcraft, nudism, and feminism. She and her husband decided to remain childless.
Born as Margaret Neeley, she married Eric St. Clair in 1932, whom she met while attending the University of California, Berkeley. In 1934 she graduated with a Master of Arts in Greek classics.
She started writing science fiction with the short story "Rocket to Limbo" in 1946. Her most creative period was during the 1950s, when she wrote such acclaimed stories as "The Man Who Sold Rope to the Gnoles" (1951), "Brightness Falls from the Air" (1951), "An Egg a Month from All Over" (1952), and "Horrer Howce" (1956). She largely stopped writing short stories after 1960. The Best of Margaret St. Clair (1985) is a representative sampler of her short fiction.
Apart from more than 100 short stories, St. Clair also wrote nine novels. Of interest beyond science fiction is her 1963 novel Sign of the Labrys, for its early use of Wicca elements in fiction.
Her interests included witchcraft, nudism, and feminism. She and her husband decided to remain childless.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
November 16, 2018
I didn’t know what to expect from Margaret St. Clair. I understood that her reputation was for humorous science fiction stories, but I’ve since learned that her forte was fantasy. If anything I guess this tale could be classified as a science-horror story.
A lot of it didn’t make logical sense for me. When Freeman kept insisting that loud noises would disturb his delicate equipment, I kinda of knew that the equipment wasn’t the issue. Freeman had to have been living with his head in the sand to think he could sell demons to a haunted mansion and NOT have screaming all the time.
In the end it seems more likely that Freeman was doing all this to torture demons rather than make money from sales to carnivals.
So here we have another sick scientist along the lines of Kidder from "Microcosmic God” content to experiment on living things (I’m sure the Voom were not actual demons, but I could be wrong). No wonder the mad scientist trope is such a strong one. It’s been used repeatedly ever since Doctor Frankenstein. I wonder if he was the first.
A lot of it didn’t make logical sense for me. When Freeman kept insisting that loud noises would disturb his delicate equipment, I kinda of knew that the equipment wasn’t the issue. Freeman had to have been living with his head in the sand to think he could sell demons to a haunted mansion and NOT have screaming all the time.
In the end it seems more likely that Freeman was doing all this to torture demons rather than make money from sales to carnivals.
So here we have another sick scientist along the lines of Kidder from "Microcosmic God” content to experiment on living things (I’m sure the Voom were not actual demons, but I could be wrong). No wonder the mad scientist trope is such a strong one. It’s been used repeatedly ever since Doctor Frankenstein. I wonder if he was the first.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 16, 2022
It's a great book😀😀
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews