Good breeding simply doesn't pay the rent anymore.And while Miss Melville has bucketloads of breeding, she finds herself somewhat...lacking, shall we say, when it comes to finances. Distinctly lacking. Her rich friends are no help; they think "broke" means having to buy a smaller yacht. What is an impoverished gentlewoman to do?Become a killer for hire, of course. But Miss Melville (who prefers the term "hitwoman") doesn't take just any job, no matter how w...

There was something subtly different about them. Old Mrs. Danko sensed this, and muttered about the evil eye. A number of people have suggested that extra-terrestrials live among us. Here is a different kind of story suggesting just this possibility, written from the standpoint of the alien, faced with the necessity of adjusting to a (to him—to her) strange and even distasteful culture. Evelyn E. Smith is best known as the author of the Miss Melville mysteries. From 1952 to 1969 she wrote ...

Nobody knew where the weegil came from, why it came or what it was made for. It was just a piece of furniture in the room—until one day something unusual happened.Evelyn E. Smith is best known as the author of the Miss Melville mysteries. From 1952 to 1969 she wrote dozens of science fiction and fantasy short stories that appeared in magazines such as The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, Galaxy, Super Science Fiction, and Fantastic Universe. Her stories were witty, well wri...

Once these irritating farewells were over with, he could begin to live as he wished and as he’d dreamed.

"My Fair Planet" is set in a future society where Earth is visited by aliens known as the Cynthians. These aliens are humanoid in appearance but possess advanced technology and a highly evolved sense of aesthetics. The Cynthians are intrigued by Earth's natural beauty but are appalled by the ugliness and disorderliness of human civilization.To remedy this, the Cynthians propose a radical solution: they will use their technology to beautify Earth and impose their own sense of order and aest...

"The Ignoble Savages" is a science fiction novel that explores themes of cultural clash and the nature of civilization through a speculative lens. The story is set in a future where humanity encounters an alien species with a radically different way of life.The plot centers around the interactions between humans and these alien beings, who are perceived as "savages" by the human characters. As the story unfolds, it challenges preconceived notions of savagery and civilization, highlighting ...

"The Man Outside" is a science fiction novel that revolves around a mysterious figure who appears to have a significant impact on the lives of the people he encounters. The story often explores themes of alienation, identity, and the nature of humanity.The central plot usually involves the protagonist or a group of characters trying to understand the intentions and origins of the enigmatic "man outside." The novel delves into the psychological and philosophical implications of his presence...

"Once a Greech" is set on the planet Kish, where the Greeches, a race of highly intelligent and technologically advanced beings, reside. The Greeches have a strict caste system that determines each individual's role and occupation in society. The protagonist of the story is a young Greech named Zog, who is dissatisfied with his assigned role as a technician and dreams of becoming an artist.Despite his lack of formal training, Zog possesses a natural talent for painting and sculpture. He sp...

"The Venus Trap" is set in a future where humans have colonized Venus. The story follows the protagonist, Dr. Myra Walden, a botanist stationed on Venus, who discovers a mysterious and deadly plant species. The plant, dubbed the "Venus Trap," has evolved to mimic harmless vegetation, but it is actually carnivorous and capable of ensnaring and consuming living creatures.As Dr. Walden investigates the Venus Trap, she becomes increasingly fascinated by its unique properties and evolutionary a...

When you consider the varieties of people who will in all probability populate the near future the irrepressible George Gannett of this utterly delightful excursion into the star-bright realms of unorthodox fantasy should not too greatly surprise an Evelyn-Smith-enchanted-reader. For the lady waves a Prospero wand here, with a whimsical magic all her own.

Manhattan's art scene in the 1980s is full of backstabbers, but Miss Melville regards this as needlessly messy. She prefers to use a gun—and she uses it well, in this darkly funny series perfect for fans of Richard Osman's Thursday Murder Club.Life is full of surprises. Susan Melville, for example, was raised to marry well, but when the Melville millions went South, she turned to...let's call it freelance problem-solving in order to pay the rent. Bluntly? She becam...

"The Princess and the Physicist" is a science fiction novel that combines elements of romance and speculative fiction. The story features a unique blend of fantasy and science fiction, where a physicist and a princess find themselves entangled in an adventure that bridges their worlds.The plot often involves a physicist who is drawn into a fantastical situation involving a princess. This could include travel to other dimensions or worlds, encounters with strange technologies or magic, and ...