The Second Fritz Leiber Read online

  Contents

  COPYRIGHT INFO

  A NOTE FROM THE PUBLISHER

  The MEGAPACK® Ebook Series

  A PAIL OF AIR

  WHAT’S HE DOING IN THERE?

  APPOINTMENT IN TOMORROW

  KREATIVITY FOR KATS

  A BIT OF THE DARK WORLD

  THE DREAMS OF ALBERT MORELAND

  COMING ATTRACTION

  NICE GIRL WITH 5 HUSBANDS

  YESTERDAY HOUSE

  A BAD DAY FOR SALES

  TIME IN THE ROUND

  THE LAST LETTER

  BULLET WITH HIS NAME

  THE BIG ENGINE

  RECOGNITION OF DEATH (poem)

  COPYRIGHT INFO

  The Second Fritz Leiber MEGAPACK® is copyright © 2016 by Wildside Press, LLC. All rights reserved.

  * * * *

  The MEGAPACK® and MINIPACK ebook series name is a trademark of Wildside Press, LLC. All rights reserved.

  * * * *

  “A Pail Of Air” was originally published in Galaxy Science Fiction, December 1951.

  “What’s He Doing in There?” was originally published in Galaxy Magazine, December 1957.

  “Appointment in Tomorrow” was originally published in Galaxy Science Fiction, July 1951.

  “Kreativity for Kats” was originally published in Galaxy Magazine, April 1961.

  “A Bit of the Dark World” was originally published in Fantastic Stories of Imagination, February 1962

  “The Dreams of Albert Moreland” was originally published in The Acolyte #10 (Spring, 1945)

  “Coming Attraction” was originally published in Galaxy Science Fiction, November 1950.

  “Nice Girl with 5 Husbands” was originally published in Galaxy Magazine, April 1951.

  “Yesterday House” was originally published in Galaxy Science Fiction, August 1952.

  “A Bad Day for Sales” was originally published in Galaxy Science Fiction, July 1953.

  “Time in the Round” was originally published in Galaxy Science Fiction, May 1957.

  “The Last Letter” was originally published in Galaxy Science Fiction, June 1958.

  “Bullet with His Name” was originally published in Galaxy Science Fiction, July 1958.

  “The Big Engine” was originally published in Galaxy Magazine, February 1962.

  “Recognition of Death” was originally published in The Acolyte #10 (Spring 1945)

  A NOTE FROM THE PUBLISHER

  Fritz Leiber (1910-1992) has long been a favorite author of mine. As a teenager, I thrilled to the adventures of his sword & Sorcery heroes, Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser. And his science fiction. And his fantasy, and his horror stories. Was there nothing beyond his talents?

  Unfortunately, his work is largely forgotten these days. Wildside Press released a collection of some of his classic fiction, The Fritz Leiber MEGAPACK®, about a year ago. Here is a follow-up volume with 14 more (plus a rare poem), including two of my favorites: “A Pail of Air” (a global disaster story...to say too much would spoil it) and “Kreativity for Kats,” one of his “Gummitch” series (Gummy is also the hero of “Spacetime for Springers” and several other great tales).

  Enjoy!

  —John Betancourt

  Publisher, Wildside Press LLC

  www.wildsidepress.com

  ABOUT THE SERIES

  Over the last few years, our MEGAPACK® ebook series has grown to be our most popular endeavor. (Maybe it helps that we sometimes offer them as premiums to our mailing list!) One question we keep getting asked is, “Who’s the editor?”

  The MEGAPACK® ebook series (except where specifically credited) are a group effort. Everyone at Wildside works on them. This includes John Betancourt (me), Carla Coupe, Steve Coupe, Shawn Garrett, Helen McGee, Bonner Menking, Sam Cooper, Helen McGee and many of Wildside’s authors…who often suggest stories to include (and not just their own!)

  RECOMMEND A FAVORITE STORY?

  Do you know a great classic science fiction story, or have a favorite author whom you believe is perfect for the MEGAPACK® ebook series? We’d love your suggestions! You can post them on our message board at http://wildsidepress.forumotion.com/ (there is an area for Wildside Press comments).

  Note: we only consider stories that have already been professionally published. This is not a market for new works.

  TYPOS

  Unfortunately, as hard as we try, a few typos do slip through. We update our ebooks periodically, so make sure you have the current version (or download a fresh copy if it’s been sitting in your ebook reader for months.) It may have already been updated.

  If you spot a new typo, please let us know. We’ll fix it for everyone. You can email the publisher at [email protected] or use the message boards above.

  The MEGAPACK® Ebook Series

  If you enjoyed this ebook, check out Wildside Press’s MEGAPACK® series…

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