Northwest of Earth is a science fiction short story collection by C.L. Moore, first published in 1954 by Gnome Press. The stories originally appeared in the pulp magazine Weird Tales during the 1930s and 1940s.
The collection features Northwest Smith, one of the earliest and most influential antiheroes in science fiction. Smith is a rugged, gun-slinging outlaw who roams the solar system—especially the more dangerous and exotic parts of Mars and Venus—often accompanied by his strange and silent companion, the Venusian Yarol. Clad in worn leather and armed with a heat-ray gun, Northwest Smith is equal parts cowboy, smuggler, and cosmic drifter.
These stories blend space opera with weird fiction, infusing planetary adventure with eerie supernatural and mythological elements. Moore’s prose is rich and poetic, with a noirish tone and a moody, atmospheric style that was unusual and influential for its time.
Some of the standout stories in the collection include:
- “Shambleau” – the first and most famous Northwest Smith story, a haunting blend of science fiction and horror involving a mysterious, seductive alien woman.
- “Black Thirst” – a tale set on Venus, dealing with twisted beauty and vampiric terror.
- “Scarlet Dream” – a surreal narrative involving a cursed Martian tapestry that traps Smith in a dreamscape.
Northwest of Earth is notable for its groundbreaking portrayal of a morally ambiguous hero and for its richly imagined settings, making C.L. Moore one of the few prominent female voices in the early pulp era of science fiction and fantasy.
