Shandy: Love, Jealousy, and a Shape-Shifting Companion

Shandy by Ron Goulart is a witty, offbeat science fiction story that showcases his trademark blend of humor and human insight. At its heart is Nancy Tanner and her unusual companion, Shandy—a teddy bear, a lion, an ape, and something far stranger. What begins as a lighthearted look at affection and rivalry evolves into a reflection on identity and emotion in a world where technology and fantasy intertwine. Like much of Goulart’s work, Shandy balances satire and sentiment, using absurd situations to reveal truths about love, loneliness, and what it means to be human. His sharp dialogue and breezy style make the story both funny and unsettling, a perfect example of how he could infuse whimsy with warmth.

Ron Goulart (1933–2022) was one of the most versatile and prolific voices in American popular fiction. Born in Berkeley, California, he wrote hundreds of stories and novels across genres—science fiction, mystery, fantasy, and comic adventure—often marked by his quick wit and social satire. A frequent contributor to Galaxy and If magazines, Goulart was also known for his media tie-in novels and for reviving pulp heroes like The Avenger. Beyond fiction, he was a noted historian of comics and pulp literature, authoring nonfiction works such as Cheap Thrills and Comic Book Culture. Goulart’s writing combined humor with compassion, capturing the eccentricities of modern life and the absurdities of technology with a light but insightful touch. His work remains a bridge between the pulp era’s exuberance and the self-aware irony of modern speculative fiction.