‘The Deep Fix’

In a similar preface to this one — for the first appearance of ‘The Deep Fix’ in Science Fantasy magazine in 1964 — editor John Carnell said: “This is one of those rare stories which requires reading a second time to fully appreciate the working of the author’s plot. Let us say that none of the events depicted are what they really are—and leave it to you to work them out if you can.” All these years later, I am not sure a lot has changed. ‘The Deep Fix’ was first published under the pseudonym James Colvin, a name adopted by Moorcock for some of his more experimental stories, often with less than conventional structures.

First appearance: Science Fantasy Vol. 22 No. 64
London: Nova Publications digest, 1964 (April);
edited by John Carnell;
price: 3/-;
124 pages;
cover artist: none.

**‘The Deep Fix’** (illustrator unknown) **as by** “**James Colvin**”**: pp. 47**–99.

First collected appearances: The Deep Fix
London: Compact Books, 1966 mass-sized paperback (q.v.);
as by “James Colvin”;
original price: 3/6;
159 pages;
I.S.B.N.: none (code: F305);
cover artist: unknown.

**‘The Deep Fix’ **as by** “**James Colvin**”**: pp. 5**–68**.

The Time Dweller
London: Rupert Hart-Davis, 1969 (July) hardcover (q.v.);
as by Michael Moorcock;
original price: 30s;
176 pages;
I.S.B.N.: 246-98597-6;
cover artist: David Stone.

**‘The Deep Fix’ as by** Michael Moorcock: pp. 54–110.

First anthologised appearances: Weird Heroes Volume Eight
New York: Jove/HBJ Books, 1977 (November) mass-sized paperback;
edited by Byron Preiss;
original price: $1·75;
288 pages;
I.S.B.N.: 0-515-04257-9;
cover artist: Stephen Hickman.

**‘The Deep Fix’ (as “Seward”** [the story’s main character] **on contents page) (illustrated by Howard [V.] Chaykin): pp. 12–75**
(pp. 12/13: story title pages;
pp. 14/15: [editor’s] Introduction;
pp. 16–74: ‘The Deep Fix’;
p. 75: [author’s] Afterword).

Spaced Out
London: Panther/Granada, 1977 (November 24th) mass-sized paperback;
edited by Michel Parry;
original price: 75p;
192 pages;
I.S.B.N.: 0-586-04167-2;
cover artist: Brian Froud.

**‘The Deep Fix’ (illustrated by Jim Pitts): pp. 13–75.**

Other (collected) appearances:-

*Earl Aubec And Other Stories*
London: Millennium, 1993 (November 11th) hardcover and simultaneous trade-sized paperback (*q.v.*);
as “Earl Aubec” only, on cover & spine;
original prices: £14·99 (h/c), £10·99 (p/b);
xii + 591 pages;
I.S.B.N.s: 1-85798-047-6 (h/c) & 1-85798-048-4 (p/b);
cover artist: Yoshitaka Amano;
illustrated by James Cawthorn (uncredited: title page);
**‘The Deep Fix’: pp. 283–331.**

**The Best Of Michael Moorcock**;
**San Francisco: Tachyon, 2009 (May 15th) trade-sized paperback (*q.v.*);**
**edited by John Davey with Ann & Jeff VanderMeer;**
original price: $14·95;
403 pages;
I.S.B.N.: 978-1-892391-86-5;
cover artist: Ann Monn;
**interior design: John Coulthart;**
introduction (+ notes) by John Davey;
afterword by Ann & Jeff VanderMeer;
**‘The Deep Fix’: pp. 263–314**; see also *The Very Best Of Michael Moorcock*.

*My Experiences In The Third World War And Other Stories*
London: Gollancz, 2014 (October 23rd) trade-sized paperback (*q.v.*);
sub-titled “The Best Short Fiction of Michael Moorcock Volume 1” on title page;
edited by John Davey;
original price: £8·99;
xxii + 307 pages;
I.S.B.N.: 978-0-575-11505-7;
cover artist: Michael Heslop;
‘The Deep Fix’: pp. 91–152.

Foreign (i.e. non-English language) editions:-

The Time Dweller as Der Zeitbewohner, Germany (1987).

The Time Dweller also in Призрачный Город, Russia (1992, but omits ‘The Deep Fix’); Бегство Из Сумерек, Russia (1996); Семья Фон Бек, Latvia (2019).

Other foreign-language appearance of ‘The Deep Fix’:-

In Le Livre D’Or De La Science-Fiction: Michael Moorcock, France (1981) a.k.a. Le Cavalier Chaos (1990).