Author Archives: Calvin Lucido '24

Book Review: The Beyonders

For my book, I chose The Beyonders (1977) by Manly Wade Wellman, an American author born in Portuguese West Africa, who spent most of his adult life in North Carolina. The novel describes the attempted invasion/arrival of an alien race known as the “Beyonders” and the humans that fight against them. The Beyonders have a clan of allies on Earth, the Kimber family, who reminded me of the Cullen family in Twilight because of their reclusive habits and their comfort with the esoteric. At its heart, this novel is an alien invasion story, but there is the added layer of “invasion” by a slick out-of-towner (also an ally of the Beyonders) who wants to transform the poor, sleepy town of Sky Notch, North Carolina, into a wealthy hub for science and technology.

Wellman did a good job subtly discussing class in the apt dual invasion by both true aliens and the city-slicker who tries to turn the townspeople against each other for his own selfish gain. The author’s faith in humanity was an unexpected treat. On the other hand, he does glorify a stereotypical, tough, stoic masculinity that defends itself with guns; if you’re looking for a feminist story, this is not it. There is a female character with an important role, but they continually call her kind of a nickname that stems from not wanting to say her real name (“Slowly” instead of “Celola” because it’s “easier” to say); I’m not sure what to make of this.

I chose this story because I wanted to read a piece that had strong ties to its setting. Southern Gothic is one of my favorite genres of literature, and from the synopsis, The Beyonders appeared to borrow from that tradition. Michelle also helped me solidify my choice by recognizing him primarily as a horror writer—another indication that this might inherit from the genre. In general, the text matches those expectations. I would recommend this book, then, if you’re looking for a quick, fun read about defeating some aliens who want to exterminate an Appalachian town.

Wellman, Manly Wade. The Beyonders. Warner Books, 1977.

Cover of the first edition of Manly Wade Wellman’s novel The Beyonders

Aliens, God, and Country Music?!

This week, I write to bring you the song “Tippin’” by Dale Hollow and the Long Con.

I’ve always been a fan of southern gothic and the weirder side of country music, and this song brings the two together well. When I first discovered this song, I didn’t consider it a work of sf, but this course has made me reassess that. I’m still not sure how I would classify this song, but regardless, the lyrics present a non-traditional view of aliens and/or God. Set in the frame of a drunken dream, the song also leads me to consider the role of altered states of consciousness (both natural and substance-induced) in thinking about our past and our future.

Maybe this is all a big stretch, but even in that case, it’s a fun song and definitely worth the listen.

(Links: https://open.spotify.com/track/7bnHGhyE1aiw83mSrPax3a, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=692WeCngx1I)

LYRICS
I roved out in the field of the Lord
In my two s.k.’s and a Jim Beam getting loaded
For the task at hand, beast versus man
I’m going to tip a heifer over while the rest of the herd is out lowing
Out in the pasture, out in the land
I don’t know where the bull is but I think that I like my chances
As I made my approach the sky broke open and a voice said
“Dale what the hell do you think you’re doing?”
Well the voice was God and he said “Dale Hollow
You really gonna waste your whole life going out in the field going cow tipping?”
I said “You’re damn right, it’s a real good time
And if you don’t mind me I’m going to go and tip this cow…
Right now!”

And the lights came down from the sky
And I felt my body lifted up from the ground
And I went into the light
And I left the Earth behind me…
“Oh Lord, I’m so sorry… For everything that I’ve done
These aliens! They want to hurt me! But they’re not ready, for The Long Con!”

I woke up at three in the morning
Covered in sweat and a Jim Beam on the floor
Didn’t understand where I’d been
I was just in outer space but now I’m at home all alone
Well it’s hard to believe, but it’s safe to see
That everything that happened was only a dream
“Thank you Lord for saving me! It’s blessing that this was all just a dream.”
It was all a dream!