Shambleau by C.L. Moore is a collection of science fiction and fantasy stories, originally published in 1953, that centers on the adventures of Northwest Smith, one of early pulp fiction’s most iconic antiheroes. The title story, “Shambleau,” first appeared in Weird Tales in 1933 and was Moore’s breakout work.
Set in a romanticized, decadent version of the future solar system—particularly on Mars and Venus—the stories follow Northwest Smith, a grim, gun-slinging outlaw with a mysterious past. Though Smith often operates at the edges of civilization, each tale pulls him into contact with ancient alien forces, often mythic or supernatural in tone.
The title story, “Shambleau,” tells of Smith rescuing a strange, beautiful woman from a Martian mob, only to discover she is an ancient, seductive, and horrifying predator—a creature of myth and psychic vampirism. Themes of desire, horror, and alien otherness drive the story’s powerful blend of science fiction and erotic nightmare.
Throughout the collection, Moore’s vivid, lyrical prose and psychological depth set her apart from other pulp writers of the time. The stories combine space opera, weird horror, and mythic resonance, making Shambleau not just a genre classic, but a landmark in early speculative fiction.
This book is celebrated for its atmosphere, its emotionally complex protagonist, and its pioneering role in establishing science fiction as a space for both thrilling adventure and deeper literary exploration.
