Pulp Fantasy Library: Naturally

Gary Gygax's Appendix N serves two very useful purposes in my opinion. First, and most obviously, the list reveals the authors and works that "were of particular inspiration" to Gygax in creating his particular version of Dungeons & Dragons. Second, and just as important in my opinion, the list introduces younger readers – or those simply new to the genres of fantasy and science fiction – to the significant writers of earlier generations with whom they might otherwise be unfamiliar. I know I learned a great deal, not just about the literary origins of Gygaxian D&D, but also about literary history more generally by seeking out the names Gygax cited at my local library.

In a few cases, it was difficult, because, by even the early 1980s, these writers, who had been so prominent and influential in their day, had faded into obscurity. Such was the case of Fredric Brown, an author whose name meant nothing to me when I first came across it in Appendix N – though it should have. The eighteenth episode of the first season of the original Star Trek series is "Arena," written by Gene L. Coon, and it might have been inspired by Brown's 1944 short story, also entitled "Arena," leading to his being given a story credit and payment. The episode memorably features the reptilian Gorn and was a favorite of mine as a child, so it's quite likely I saw Brown's name in the credits many times and yet it would be years before I made the connection between him and Gygax's Appendix N.

Eventually, I was able to locate a collection of Brown's fiction called Honeymoon in Hell and devoured it. Though Brown did write several mystery and science fiction novels, his preferred medium was the short story – and by "short," I mean really short. Brown was the master of what was known at the time as "short short fiction" and is now often called "flash fiction." Many of his yarns are no more than three pages long, with a significant number being even shorter. This short format enabled Brown to refine his characters and ideas into their purest form, which led to fiction with remarkable bite. That his stories, regardless of their length, also included wry or black humor only added to the overall effect. It's little wonder, then, that Gygax regarded Brown so highly that he simply recommended him as an author in Appendix N rather than as an author of a particular work or works.

"Naturally" is a perfect example of Brown's skills as a writer. Originally appearing in the September 1954 issue of Beyond Fantasy Fiction, it tells the tale of Henry Blodgett, a college student who is so anxious over his upcoming geometry test that he is unable to sleep. Henry is terrible at all types of mathematics, including, it seems, geometry and fears failing the test. If he doesn't pass, the college will expel him and his dreams will turn to ashes. In desperation, Henry turns to magic as a solution.

The occult had always interested him. He had books on it and he’d often read the simple instructions on how to conjure up a demon and make it obey his will. Up to now, he’d always figured that it was a bit risky and so had never actually tried it. But this was an emergency and might be worth the slight risk. Only through black magic could he suddenly become an expert in a subject that had always been difficult for him.

From the shelf he quickly took out his best book on black magic, found the right page and refreshed his memory on the few simple things he had to do.

"Naturally" being a fantasy story, Henry's incantation works, summoning a demon into his dorm room, but things don't quite work out the way he had hoped. I won't say any more about the conclusion of this story consisting of only nine short paragraphs except that I laughed out loud, something I rarely do when reading, upon reaching its penultimate paragraph. It's a great story and I urge everyone who's never read it to seek it out. For that matter, seek out any of Brown's fiction you can find. He was an imaginative writer, with a keen sense of humor and it's a crime he's not more well known and celebrated today. In a world overrun with phonebooks masquerading as fantasy novels, we could use more of Brown's short short stories.