Originally presented in the Sept 1952 issue of Mister Mystery #7
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
The Brain Bats of Venus
I’m sure this Basil Wolverton classic has been posted elsewhere on the web numerous times over the years, but what’s any pre-code horror blog worth if it doesn’t bother to also include it at some point or another as well. This is without a doubt one of the greatest, most influencial, horror / sci-fi stories of all time.
Originally presented in the Sept 1952 issue of Mister Mystery #7
Originally presented in the Sept 1952 issue of Mister Mystery #7
A TRUE CLASSIC! YOU CAN SEE HOW THIS INFLUENCED ALIEN. I WAS ACTUALLY GOING TO REQUEST A WOLVERTON STORY A COUPLE WEEKS AGO BUT FORGOT. THANKS FOR THE AMAZING POST!!
ReplyDeleteI'll have to check this out, I haven't heard of this storie before, but that's what makes blogs like this great. It opens my eyes to great things like this classic story.
ReplyDeleteone of my all time faves too!!! looks like it was slightly re-colored though to me......
ReplyDeletemore basil!!!!!
Wow! A classic indeed.
ReplyDeleteAlso just noticed the Pan Horror book. I remember seeing that cover for sale among the more or less sleazy paperbacks on display at our local newsagent's, many years ago. I always thought the head was in a bucket, but it's some sort of case, maybe a leather hatbox. Hmmm, is that more or less horrific?
>looks like it was slightly re-colored though to me
ReplyDeleteYou are correct, this was recolored by Steve Oliff for the 1987 reprint version featured in Mr. Monster's Weird Tales of the Future #1.
>the Pan Horror book is that more or less horrific?
ReplyDeleteAll of the Pan Horror Stories books are alot of fun and moderately frightening, I mostly remember as a kid how this cover scared me to death just sitting over on my bookshelf.
brilliant! the detail here is amazing- this story has always creeped me out-
ReplyDeletebut I think Wolverton's art in general just creeps me out. Always something just 'not quite right' about it to me. I love it.
Wolverton was obviously way ahead of his time. I read this story years ago in the same reprint you mention and it's just as great now as I remember it the first time I discovered it.
ReplyDeleteTruly,a notorious story,see it listed all the time in price guides,plus,it's great to see Wolverton art,how about "Where Monsters Dwell",sometime in November?.also,whats REALLY so bad about the brain bats?,i'd love one for a hat...
ReplyDeleteBrain Hats From Spencer's Gifts.
ReplyDeleteOr how about Brain Bat textured condoms? (insert joke here about the little head doing all the thinking instead of the big head...)
ReplyDelete>Where Monsters Dwell
ReplyDeleteNot sure I have it, I may still have the Curse of the Weird reprint version though I'll have to check... and I'm always taking submissions as usual.
Utterly amazing...there's no mistaking Wolverton for anyone else.
ReplyDeleteIt can't get any better than this.
ReplyDeleteNever noticed before how much BRAIN BATS OF VENUS is influenced by Clark Ashton Smith's pulp classic THE VAULTS OF YOH-VOMBIS... but it's pretty clearly a "haircut" of the earlier CAS story.
ReplyDeleteFor a 1950s story, when the SF was full of awful pulp rubbish, this is exceptional. Go brain bats go! I have zero sympathy for the protagonist. Nobody asked him to start murdering the Venusians on sight, right?
ReplyDelete