Scribblings

{{Short description|1972 collection of writings by L. Sprague de Camp}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}

{{Infobox book |

| name = Scribblings

| title_orig =

| translator =

| image = Scribblings.JPG

| caption = first edition of Scribblings

| author = L. Sprague de Camp

| illustrator =

| cover_artist = M.H. Keith

| country = United States

| language = English

| series =

| genre = Science fiction

| publisher = NESFA Press

| release_date = 1972

| english_release_date =

| media_type = Print (hardback)

| pages = 95 pp

| preceded_by =

| followed_by =

}}

Scribblings is a 1972 collection of writings by American author L. Sprague de Camp to celebrate his appearance as Guest of Honor at Boskone IX, a convention sponsored by the New England Science Fiction Association. The Association served as publisher.{{cite book | last=Laughlin | first=Charlotte |author2=Daniel J. H. Levack | title=De Camp: An L. Sprague de Camp Bibliography | location=San Francisco | publisher=Underwood/Miller | year=1983 | pages=89–90}}"[http://www.nesfa.org/press/Books/deCamp-0.html]" - publication information at NESFA Press

The book contains short works of fiction, poetry, non-fiction, and aphorisms. Among the stories are the complete set of de Camp's four short "Drinkwhiskey Institute" series of tall tales.

Contents

  • "A Word of Explanation" (introduction)
  • Probability Zero
  • "The Effects of Time Travel" (story in the "Drinkwhiskey Institute" series)
  • "The Negative Wugug" (story in the "Drinkwhiskey Institute" series)
  • "The Moveable Ears" (story in the "Drinkwhiskey Institute" series)
  • "The Lusts of Professor Adams" (story in the "Drinkwhiskey Institute" series)
  • Jingles
  • "Preferences" (poem)
  • "Carnac" (poem)
  • "The Elephant" (poem)
  • "Leaves" (poem)
  • "The Trap" (poem)
  • "The Newt" (poem)
  • "African Night" (poem)
  • "A Night Club in Cairo" (poem)
  • "Xeroxing the Necromonicon" (poem)
  • It Might Interest You to Know
  • "How to Hunt Dinosaurs" (essay)
  • "Pfui on Psi" (essay on psychic powers)
  • "Lost Cities" (essay)
  • "Government Bug-Hunter" (essay on Clinton Hart Merriam)
  • "Three Thirds of a Hero" (poem)
  • "Books That Never Were" (essay on lost and imaginary books)
  • "Aphorisms" (aphorisms)

Notes