George O. Smith’s Hellflower was originally published in the pulp sci-fi magazine Startling Stories, May 1952, then republished as a standalone hardcover by Abelard Press in 1953. Pyramid Books then took the reins, republishing it twice in paperback: a first printing arrived November 1957, with a second printing in February 1969.

What we Heathens love most about this story is that it’s most certainly a product of its time: the main character Charles Farradyne, even when things look dire, never misses an opportunity to kick back, smoke a cigarette, and sip a Scotch highball while trying to sort out the who’s who of an intergalactic drug smuggling cadre. And that highball is nonalcoholic, by the way. He’ll also smack a woman around when he deems it necessary, then kiss her and call her “baby.”

Hellflower is like film noir meets Mad Men in space.

What’s not to love?

It’s just a good old-fashioned sci-fi romp.

Now, as for the text, surprisingly, (or not,) considering its age, we’ve kept our usual Heathening to the bare minimum. Our only changes being a few instances of adding Oxford commas (which we do with most of our books), and removing some hyphens.

The majority of our attention, therefore, was focused on the annotations, and we’ve furnished the text with over 70 footnotes, mostly to clarify certain terms, phrases, and quoted sources utilized by Smith.

Additionally, as a preface of sorts, we have included a short biographical introduction that Smith penned for the March 1955 edition of Imagination: Stories of Science and Fantasy — because who better to tell you about the author than the author himself?

Finally, we’ll leave you with this Hellflower introduction as printed by Startling Stories:

Bad space opera has been the plague of science fiction—good space opera may be its savior. In a very real sense, space opera is science fiction at its best, utilizing fully the terrific concepts of space and time and immensity which is science fiction’s greatest asset. It affords the greatest scope for imagination, the most color and movement. And within its framework, any kind of additional sub-plot may fit. It can embody that other controversial child of science fiction—the purely cerebral story, the story of complex ideas. Or it may offer relief from it.

From any standpoint, a good space opera is a thing of beauty and a joy forever. And Hellflower is a good one. No blonde priestesses, no BEMs,¹Acronym for Bug-Eyed Monsters. no intelligent insects sending short waves from their antennae—but plenty doing, and some characters you’ll wish you had met before.

—The Editor

Also, check out what Smith has to say about his writing career: Meet the Author: George O. Smith

“When he keeps the horseplay within bounds and really bends to his task, Smith can produce a highly readable book. He has done just this in Hellflower, perhaps the swiftest-moving story of interstellar conspiracy ever written. It is well-plotted and packed with surprises . . . In short, despite a few shortcomings, it’s a lot of fun to read.” —Fantastic Universe

“George O. Smith’s big beautiful space novel.” —Startling Stories

“Hellflower, by George O. Smith, is a piece of pure ‘space opera’ — and what an end!” —Richard Preston, The Sydney Morning Herald

“A thrill-packed story of unscrupulous men—and women—at war in an age when inter-planetary travel has become commonplace.” —Nebula Science Fiction

“This new book by the author of Venus Equilateral will fascinate the fans. George Smith started writing in the early days of the war. Scientist as well as writer, the science part of his fiction is unimpeachable.” —O. Gartrell, Tulsa World

“Hellflower, by George O. Smith, is a fast, exciting story that manages to miss all the opportunities the plot gives for space opera — and increases in value accordingly.” —Authentic Science Fiction

“Swash-buckling, fast-moving, a melodramatic novel that keeps going all the way through. Here is a yarn for those who want something different.” —R.G., The Montgomery Advertiser

“Along with romance of faraway planets, George O. Smith chooses an exotic theme in Hellflower, which succeeds Venus Equilateral, his first science fiction novel . . . Scientific-slant literature devourers, here are the sky trails. More space travel awaits you. Contact!” —The Cedar Rapids Gazette

Hellflower