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The Night of the Long Knives and Other Works
I was one hundred miles from Nowhere—and I mean that literally—when I spotted this girl out of the corner of my eye. I'd been keeping an extra lookout because I still expected the other undead bugger left over from the murder party at Nowhere to be stalking me.
94 pages, Kindle Edition
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About the author
Fritz Leiber
1,332 books1,055 followersFritz Reuter Leiber Jr. was one of the more interesting of the young writers who came into HP Lovecraft's orbit, and some of his best early short fiction is horror rather than sf or fantasy. He found his mature voice early in the first of the sword-and-sorcery adventures featuring the large sensitive barbarian Fafhrd and the small street-smart-ish Gray Mouser; he returned to this series at various points in his career, using it sometimes for farce and sometimes for gloomy mood pieces--The Swords of Lankhmar is perhaps the best single volume of their adventures. Leiber's science fiction includes the planet-smashing The Wanderer in which a large cast mostly survive flood, fire, and the sexual attentions of feline aliens, and the satirical A Spectre is Haunting Texas in which a gangling, exo-skeleton-clad actor from the Moon leads a revolution and finds his true love. Leiber's late short fiction, and the fine horror novel Our Lady of Darkness, combine autobiographical issues like his struggle with depression and alcoholism with meditations on the emotional content of the fantastic genres. Leiber's capacity for endless self-reinvention and productive self-examination kept him, until his death, one of the most modern of his sf generation.
Used These Alternate Names: Maurice Breçon, Fric Lajber, Fritz Leiber, Jr., Fritz R. Leiber, Fritz Leiber Jun., Фриц Лейбер, F. Lieber, フリッツ・ライバー
Used These Alternate Names: Maurice Breçon, Fric Lajber, Fritz Leiber, Jr., Fritz R. Leiber, Fritz Leiber Jun., Фриц Лейбер, F. Lieber, フリッツ・ライバー
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
July 6, 2017
What if the denizens of Mel Gibson's film, Mad Max, formed a support group called murderer's anonymous?
"Hi, everyone, my name is Mongo."
"HI, MONGO!"
"Thanks, I'm a little nervous, but it's been 12 days since my last murder, no ... wait, sorry, it's been 4 days".
Set in a post apocalyptic wasteland, the Deathlands and inhabited by Deathlanders, this takes dystopian science fiction fantasy to its extreme. Grotesque, gritty and dark, but not without some humor, this is entertaining and provocative and was certainly well ahead of its time.
"Hi, everyone, my name is Mongo."
"HI, MONGO!"
"Thanks, I'm a little nervous, but it's been 12 days since my last murder, no ... wait, sorry, it's been 4 days".
Set in a post apocalyptic wasteland, the Deathlands and inhabited by Deathlanders, this takes dystopian science fiction fantasy to its extreme. Grotesque, gritty and dark, but not without some humor, this is entertaining and provocative and was certainly well ahead of its time.
July 9, 2012
Originally posted at FanLit. Just "Night of the Long Knives" (not "Other Works")
3.5 stars
"Murder, as you must know by now, I can understand and sympathize with deeply. But war? No."
After a nuclear holocaust, America is unrecognizable. There are a few cities left on the coasts, but most of America is now the Deathlands, where radioactive dust hazes the skies and radiation-scarred survivors try to stay alive another day. Besides devastating the land, the catastrophe has somehow warped the minds of the few remaining citizens of the Deathlands; they have all turned into murderers. They can’t help it — it’s a drive that can only be released by killing someone. Even when they band together for companionship, it always ends up in a bloodbath.
Ray has been on his own for a long time when he meets Alice, a woman who’s just as tough as he is. When the two of them decide, just for a while, not to kill each other, they come upon an old man and a hovercraft that seems to offer a way out of the Deathlands. Instead, they get caught up in a war between the sophisticated city dwellers.
The Night of the Long Knives, a novella by Fritz Leiber (one of my favorite writers), is totally absorbing. It vividly describes a horrifying possible future America where nuclear war has ravaged the land and the human brain. Leiber’s characters are pathetic guilt-ridden people who’ve learned that the only way to eke out a wretched existence is to kill anyone who gets close. There is no goal but survival, and those who’ve managed have their methods. Ray wears sharp metal dental implants, a lead-lined hat, and a knife he calls “Mother.” Alice, who is missing a hand, screws a knife into her stump and hides weapons in her hair. They circle each other warily, knowing that it can’t be long before one of them can’t deny the urge to kill the other.
Leiber uses his story to examine the mind of the murderer and to ask what it would take for a serial killer to change his ways. What are the influences of community, culture, and religion? How can a reformed killer get rid of guilt, make reparation, and help reform others? Another obvious theme, which was especially popular at the time Leiber wrote this novella, is the danger of nuclear war. The Night of the Long Knives is a grim story, but it doesn’t leave us in despair. I liked the note of hope at the end.
The Night of the Long Knives, which was originally published in Amazing Science Fiction Stories in 1960, feels surprisingly current — the character names are the most dated-feeling aspect of the story. The novella is now in the public domain, so you can get it free on Kindle, but I want to recommend the audio version which is 3 hours and 17 minutes long and is read by Matt Armstrong.
3.5 stars
"Murder, as you must know by now, I can understand and sympathize with deeply. But war? No."
After a nuclear holocaust, America is unrecognizable. There are a few cities left on the coasts, but most of America is now the Deathlands, where radioactive dust hazes the skies and radiation-scarred survivors try to stay alive another day. Besides devastating the land, the catastrophe has somehow warped the minds of the few remaining citizens of the Deathlands; they have all turned into murderers. They can’t help it — it’s a drive that can only be released by killing someone. Even when they band together for companionship, it always ends up in a bloodbath.
Ray has been on his own for a long time when he meets Alice, a woman who’s just as tough as he is. When the two of them decide, just for a while, not to kill each other, they come upon an old man and a hovercraft that seems to offer a way out of the Deathlands. Instead, they get caught up in a war between the sophisticated city dwellers.
The Night of the Long Knives, a novella by Fritz Leiber (one of my favorite writers), is totally absorbing. It vividly describes a horrifying possible future America where nuclear war has ravaged the land and the human brain. Leiber’s characters are pathetic guilt-ridden people who’ve learned that the only way to eke out a wretched existence is to kill anyone who gets close. There is no goal but survival, and those who’ve managed have their methods. Ray wears sharp metal dental implants, a lead-lined hat, and a knife he calls “Mother.” Alice, who is missing a hand, screws a knife into her stump and hides weapons in her hair. They circle each other warily, knowing that it can’t be long before one of them can’t deny the urge to kill the other.
Leiber uses his story to examine the mind of the murderer and to ask what it would take for a serial killer to change his ways. What are the influences of community, culture, and religion? How can a reformed killer get rid of guilt, make reparation, and help reform others? Another obvious theme, which was especially popular at the time Leiber wrote this novella, is the danger of nuclear war. The Night of the Long Knives is a grim story, but it doesn’t leave us in despair. I liked the note of hope at the end.
The Night of the Long Knives, which was originally published in Amazing Science Fiction Stories in 1960, feels surprisingly current — the character names are the most dated-feeling aspect of the story. The novella is now in the public domain, so you can get it free on Kindle, but I want to recommend the audio version which is 3 hours and 17 minutes long and is read by Matt Armstrong.
Read
July 6, 2022Unintentionally funny but that's about it sadly
May 13, 2021
Not sure
Did not enjoy the story until 3/4 done. Characters kind of flat with odd dialogue. The point of the story might be don’t blow up civilization and if you do don’t give up trying to bring it back.
Did not enjoy the story until 3/4 done. Characters kind of flat with odd dialogue. The point of the story might be don’t blow up civilization and if you do don’t give up trying to bring it back.
June 12, 2021
Fantasy listening 🎧
Due to eye issues and damage Alexa reads to me.
A classic sci-fi/fantasy will written novella with interesting characters in a world after war. This is a story of relationships in a sad world. I would recommend to readers of fantasy. Enjoy the adventure of reading 2021
Due to eye issues and damage Alexa reads to me.
A classic sci-fi/fantasy will written novella with interesting characters in a world after war. This is a story of relationships in a sad world. I would recommend to readers of fantasy. Enjoy the adventure of reading 2021
November 24, 2017
I
t's Fritz Leiber, of course it gets five stars. One two three f o u r five s i x.
t's Fritz Leiber, of course it gets five stars. One two three f o u r five s i x.
October 7, 2021
Most unusual
Made me sick at the stomach, at first. The premise is a bit much. But, relying on his reputation, alone, I finished it. Turned out much better than I expected.
Made me sick at the stomach, at first. The premise is a bit much. But, relying on his reputation, alone, I finished it. Turned out much better than I expected.
July 7, 2012
The Tale of the Night of the Long Knives by Fritz Leiber is a tale of men and women at the end of the world. (The book was written in 1960 and published in Amazing Science Fiction Stories.) The story takes place in a world remade by Nuclear Holocaust.
"I was one hundred miles from Nowhere—and I mean that literally—when I spotted this girl out of the corner of my eye. I'd been keeping an extra lookout because I still expected the other undead bugger left over from the murder party at Nowhere to be stalking me."The main character, Ray Baker, is a self justified murder and survivalist in the anarchic land. His weapon he relies on he has named "Mother." He walks in a land where only the strong can survive, but one always has to watch their own back. Baker's Deathland Psychology is focused on the aesthetics of homicide. "we talk, mostly to ourselves, about the aesthetics of homicide; we occasionally admit, but only each to himself alone, that we're just plain nuts." Fritz Leiber. The Night of the Long Knives (Kindle Locations 129-130).
But then Baker finds a beautiful girl Alice, and the urge for sex is driving him in new directions.
Leiber asks the reader to consider: "Is murder ever justified?" "Where is civility when the civilized institutions have been destroyed?" "Where is the higher level of self in a land gone to crap?"
"I was one hundred miles from Nowhere—and I mean that literally—when I spotted this girl out of the corner of my eye. I'd been keeping an extra lookout because I still expected the other undead bugger left over from the murder party at Nowhere to be stalking me."The main character, Ray Baker, is a self justified murder and survivalist in the anarchic land. His weapon he relies on he has named "Mother." He walks in a land where only the strong can survive, but one always has to watch their own back. Baker's Deathland Psychology is focused on the aesthetics of homicide. "we talk, mostly to ourselves, about the aesthetics of homicide; we occasionally admit, but only each to himself alone, that we're just plain nuts." Fritz Leiber. The Night of the Long Knives (Kindle Locations 129-130).
But then Baker finds a beautiful girl Alice, and the urge for sex is driving him in new directions.
Leiber asks the reader to consider: "Is murder ever justified?" "Where is civility when the civilized institutions have been destroyed?" "Where is the higher level of self in a land gone to crap?"
July 25, 2011
This was a pretty entertaining--and fast--read, but I can't quite wholeheartedly recommend it. The beginning: excellent apocalyptica. No dialog, just lengthy narration from one wanderer of the devastated wastelands as he meets another, female wanderer. The Deathlanders, as they're called, have two urges that dominate their savage existences: murder and sex, usually in that order.
The way that the main character justifies his own actions to himself is fascinating and startlingly immediate considering the story is 50 years old. Even the other main character is well-rendered despite not speaking until the 40% mark.
Unfortunately, after that point, the story is, if decent, less fascinating. The characters have an unsurprising and unconvincing series of revelations and the story takes a more action-oriented turn that is a far cry from its dark beginnings. Disappointing.
Even so, I'd recommend it to hardcore science fiction and post-apocalyptic fans just for that uncompromising beginning, and the story is so short you might as well finish it.
The way that the main character justifies his own actions to himself is fascinating and startlingly immediate considering the story is 50 years old. Even the other main character is well-rendered despite not speaking until the 40% mark.
Unfortunately, after that point, the story is, if decent, less fascinating. The characters have an unsurprising and unconvincing series of revelations and the story takes a more action-oriented turn that is a far cry from its dark beginnings. Disappointing.
Even so, I'd recommend it to hardcore science fiction and post-apocalyptic fans just for that uncompromising beginning, and the story is so short you might as well finish it.
July 14, 2012
While I was on my way over here to write my review, I tripped over the fact that this book was actually written in 1960, and I was absolutely astounded. I could've sworn it was written last year. It's post-apocalyptic, and pulls in just enough civilization to convince me that it was recently written while also relying on imagination for so much of the rest of the book that I never noticed that it came out of the Cold War.
It's extremely imaginative and there are a number of really interesting ideas in it. However, the writing is choppy (especially when it comes to the dialogue) and the end feels a little bit too "ahh! my dear Watson, here is how I figured this out". Still not a bad quick read.
It's extremely imaginative and there are a number of really interesting ideas in it. However, the writing is choppy (especially when it comes to the dialogue) and the end feels a little bit too "ahh! my dear Watson, here is how I figured this out". Still not a bad quick read.
March 25, 2012
Murderers Anonymous in the Age of Apocalypse. Werewolves thrown in for good measure. God, what a great SF story. And it's public domain — free to download. BRILLIANT. (Referring to THE NIGHT OF THE LONG KNIVES, specifically)
April 25, 2012
Interesting science fiction, nuclear apocalypse style. Reminded me so much of fallout 1 and 2 and wasteland that I think they may have been inspired by this story. A scary view of what total destruction could do to a society.
February 1, 2016
Dystopian sci/fi from a master!
Fritz Leiber was master of fantasy and science fiction. This 1960 novella is a terrific read. In an age where something like "The Walking Dead" is popular it is nice to see how this sort of apocalyptic fiction is handled by a master story teller.
Fritz Leiber was master of fantasy and science fiction. This 1960 novella is a terrific read. In an age where something like "The Walking Dead" is popular it is nice to see how this sort of apocalyptic fiction is handled by a master story teller.
September 13, 2019
Who would think that the same guy who wrote those incredibly dull Fahfrd and Grey Mouser books could write such an entertaining and suspenseful tale as this!
November 22, 2010
Very dark story with lots of mystery and hope at the end. Will probably read again.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews