Yargo (novel)

Lore & Background

Jacqueline Susann had long been interested in science fiction; her widower, Irving Mansfield, said that when they first met, she wanted to spend their dates at the Hayden Planetarium instead of at nightclubs. In the early 1950s, she began to write Yargo, originally called The Stars Scream. She finished the book in 1956, and gave it to MCA agent George Chasin, who attempted to sell the story to Hollywood. Unsuccessful, he put the manuscript aside, where it was forgotten until Chasin reportedly was cleaning out a filing cabinet after Susann's death.

Reader's Guide

Yargo is significant as a posthumous publication from Jacqueline Susann, best known for her bestselling novels like Valley of the Dolls. The novel represents her only foray into science fiction, a genre she had long admired. Despite negative critical notices—one critic wrote, 'It's awful, as usual, and it will sell, as usual'—Yargo became a best seller, spending seven weeks on the New York Times Mass Market Paperback list. Its legacy is as a curiosity: the Science Fiction & Fantasy Book Review stated it 'has no lasting value... except perhaps as a curiosity.' The blog The Sleaze Factor found it 'surprisingly effective' and 'a quick and satisfying—and yes, silly—read.' The novel also appeared in the February 1979 issue of Ladies' Home Journal, which had earlier success with Susann's novella Dolores.

Did You Know?

• Yargo was originally titled The Stars Scream.
• The manuscript was forgotten until agent George Chasin reportedly found it while cleaning a filing cabinet after Susann's death.
• It was published with a first printing of 1.5 million copies.