Old School Science Fantasy?

[Guttersnipe]

I'm looking for stories, preferably short, if not, to novella length, from the mid-20th to late-20th century, that could be classified as science fantasy. I know that Robert Heinlein and Margaret St. Clair wrote a lot of stories like this. I'm looking for a story with similar genre subversions like Jack William's Darker Than You Think. The story (pseudo-)scientifically explains werewolves, and is also a horror. So maybe a mix of dark fantasy and sci-fi, or Weird fiction. Perhaps some of the better ones from Unknown (Worlds) magazine?

 

[beccabear67]

I'm thinking Fritz Leiber strongly for some reason... perhaps people more familiar with his work can name some names?

 

[paranoid marvin]

First thought was the short story 'The Nine Billion Names of God' by Arthur C. Clarke. For me the most memorable ending of any book ever.

 

[Parson]

I thought immediately of one of Fritz Leiber's great ones: "A Pail of Air." --- Surprisingly, I read it because one of my grandkids was having trouble understanding their Jr. High literature assignment of that very story. I feel it fits both the short story and Science Fantasy qualifications. I'm sure you can find it somewhere, but if you're interested there's a $.99 Kindle book which goes by the Name "A Pail of Air" and it contains the following stories:

A Pail of Air (1951)
The Beat Cluster (1961)
The Foxholes of Mars (1952)
Pipe Dream (1959)
Time Fighter (1957)
The 64-Square Madhouse (1962)
Bread Overhead (1958)
The Last Letter (1958)
Rump-Titty-Titty-Tum-TAH-Tee (1958)
Coming Attraction (1950)
Nice Girl with Five Husbands (1951)

Kindle Collection

 

[BAYLOR]

The Moon Pool by Abraham Merritt
The Dark World by Henry Kuttner
Black Gods Kiss by C l Moore
Lest Darkness Fall by L Spargue De Camp
The Coming of the Terrans by Leight Bracket
Day of the Giants by Lester del Rey
Ptath by A E Van Vogt

 

[Randy M.]

Black Gods Kiss by C l Moore

I kind of think more Northwest Smith for science fantasy.

 

[Guttersnipe]

The Moon Pool by Abraham Merritt
The Dark World by Henry Kuttner
Black Gods Kiss by C l Moore
Lest Darkness Fall by L Spargue De Camp
The Coming of the Terrans by Leight Bracket
Day of the Giants by Lester del Rey
Ptath by A E Van Vogt

Nice! Do you know any vintage short stories that might fit the bill as well?

 

[BAYLOR]

Nice! Do you know any vintage short stories that might fit the bill as well?

The Coming of The Terrans by Leigh Bracket might fit your requirements given that it's comprised of short stories and rather good ones. As has bee mentioned by Randy M., You might also look at C L Moores Northwest Smith stories. The most well known being Shambleau. A few years back, there e was published and another Northwest of Earth which contains all of her Northwest stories , I think you'd enjoy them . Also, her collection Black Gods Kiss is worth checking out. There exists story in it thin which you have Northwest Smith Meeting Jirel of joiry.

 

[BAYLOR]

A Martian Odyssey by Stanley G Weinbaum
Born of the Sun by Jack Williamson

 

[BAYLOR]

The Ship of Ishtar by Abraham Merritt