Keeban

INTRODUCTIONChicago-born Edwin Balmer (1883-1959) is best remembered these days as the co-author (with Philip Wylie) of the classic science fiction novels When Worlds Collide—made into George Pal’s 1951 movie of the same title—and its sequel, After Worlds Collide. But he was a prolific author and editor, primarily in the mystery genre, with numerous novels to his credit. He also edited Redbook (before it became a women’s-interest magazine) from 1927 to 1949. His 1923 solo novel, Keeban, is a mystery-adventure-romance, billed as “a novel of the Underworld and the Upper”—meaning, of course, that it has High Society clashing with the criminal classes. It’s a good read and has been unjustly neglected. Science fiction readers (who only know him for his two classic novels) are not likely to track it down. Mystery readers favor his 12-story series about Luther Trant, an early scientific detective armed with psychoanalysis to help track down crooks. (The Trant series was co-written with William B. MacHarg, Balmer’s brother-in-law, also a prolific pulp author.) So here’s your chance to explore some unknown territory...the dark side of 1920s Chicago! —John Betancourt Cabin John, Maryland