Indie publishers New Pulp Press get into the reissue game this week with their release of Gil Brewer’s 1952 novel Flight to Darkness. It’s the story of Eric Garth, a Korean War vet and newly freed mental patient still suffering from nightmares wherein he murders his shit-heel brother, Frank. His sexy vamp nurse is leaving the asylum with him, though whether her interest is in Eric’s charm and good looks or the inheritance he stands to gain from his dying mother in Florida remains to be seen. But on their trip back to his hometown, Eric is implicated in a hit-and-run that he doesn’t remember. Is Eric still crazy, or is it a frame-up?
If you’re a fan of classic film noir (if you’re not, get some fucking taste already), you can see where this shit is going pretty quickly. The plot itself goes down some interesting avenues, but the outcome is basically what you’d expect. But you shouldn’t be going into Flight to Darkness expecting it to fuck with the form or anything like that. It’s a very solid take on a classic story; enjoy the ride and don’t fret about the destination.
Besides, if you skip this beast, you’re missing out on a zippy story and some great pulpy, over-sexed prose. Brewer makes you believe that Eric would be such a clueless dope over the smoking hot Leda, practically every page bursting with descriptions of her boobs and butt, the way she fills out a pair of shorts or a low-cut dress. Turn off your political correctness radar on page one, because the females in Flight to Darkness are all either virgins, whores, or mothers. It’s simply the reality of what was coming out of the era, and kudos to NPP for not pussing out like other imprints have when reissuing the old masters.
So if you’re looking for a fine example of shit from the Gold Medal days, pick up Flight to Darkness. Just imagine you’re watching an old John Garfield or Edmond O’Brien movie from the late forties or early fifties, and the ride will be fast and fun as fuck. If you don’t know who either of those dudes I just mentioned are, beef up your Netflix queue toot-fucking-sweet.
