جاء من الفضاء البعيد

by George Allan England, رفيدة جمال ثابت (Translator)

"... فيما يلي قصة مذهلة للكاتب جورج آلن إنجلاند. وينبغي قراءتها بعناية وبمخيلة طليقة.
- تطرح قصة السيد إنجلاند موضوعًا خارقًا وتيمة غير مألوفة: إذا وضعنا الحشرات على طاولة التشريح لدراسة بنيتها وتركيبها، فما المانع من أن يفعل ذكاء فائق الأمر ذاته مع البشر؟!
ومن المؤكد أن هذا الذكاء، حسبما نفهمه، لا يوجد على كوكب الأرض. كما أنه من غير الصائب افتراض أنه قد يتخذ مظهرًا من لحم ودم أو مظهر الكائنات الحية.
وليس هناك ما يدعو للاعتقاد بأن الذكاء الفائق قد لا يتواجد في أشكال غازية أو هيئات غير مرئية، شيء ليس بوسعنا تخيُّله اليوم".
(من تقديم الكاتب والمحرر: هوجو جيرنزباك للقصة عند نشرها للمرة الأولى في مجلة: "قصص مذهلة").

Genres: Science Fiction, Horror, Fiction, Short Stories

ebook

First published January 1, 1926

Reviews

[Suz · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this short story as part of my current cosmic horror binge. After fully immersing myself in Lovecraft and Algernon Blackwood for the last several weeks, I was initially surprised by the writing style of G.A. England. The language was surprisingly simple and modernistic compared to other authors in his day. In a way, this is great because the simplicity of the language opens the story up to readers who are not necessarily interested in the flowery prose and robust vocabulary of writers from the early 20th century. The downside is for people who love cosmic horror and the Lovecraft mythos. Something horrific is missing in the straightforward prose; the story loses part of its intrigue.

My issues:

- The beginning of the story did not feel like a beginning. Minor spoiler (revealed in the first page of the story): the main characters of the story are campers that have lost their guides. Normally, starting a short story with characters already in trouble would be fine. However, in this case, the matter in which the guides were lost appears to be crucial to the plot of the story. The characters are already afraid and aware that some sort of entity is nearby, possibly stalking them. There was no lead up to this realization. There was no slow increase of fear. As the reader, we are thrown into this story halfway through the events. I think I would have liked this story a lot more if I could have experienced the ENTIRE story rather than just the second half.

- Pacing. The characters go through quite a lot of horror and trauma in just a few pages. Instead of adding suspense to the story, this just makes it feel rushed. When I read cosmic horror, I like to immerse myself in the strange happenings. I want time to mull and theorize along with the characters in an attempt to figure out exactly what's happening. This story played out more like a thriller, with action being almost constant. I had no time to absorb the knowledge and experience the horror of what was happening to the characters. Perhaps this was on purpose. Perhaps we were meant to feel as discombobulated and confused as the characters.

- Like the characters, we never get answers, and there's no true explanation. Some of the extremely strange experiences the characters undergo are only mentioned once and never again. For example, one character sees the area as winter, the other sees summertime. The characters realize they are seeing different seasons, yet this was never addressed. There are numerous other examples, but I do not want to spoil anything. Perhaps the author wanted us readers as confused as the characters. Except why didn't the characters talk about these strange occurrences with each other? Don't they want to get to the bottom of the mystery?

Regarding my last point, I should give the characters some credit. They did talk about the entity in the beginning. Some horrifying creature from outerspace (maybe?) who has the ability to manipulate matter and does so in the form of strange circles that make substances extremely cold. I'm talking instantly-freezing-anything cold. These "prints" become frequently more common over time. But are they truly prints? Are they from appendages? We never actually find out.

So is this story worth reading? Despite my three stars, I'm going to say yes. It's an interesting example of cosmic horror that plays with the themes of alien curiosity and study. Plus, it's so short, most people could probably read in in 15-30 minutes. Give it a go!

[Sefa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bilimkurgu öyküleri derlemesi. Dişe dokunur bir öykü yok. Ama öykülerin yazıldığı yıllara göre bakarsak ilginç sayılabilir.

[Mona ALfares · Rating 3 out of 5]

قصه لا تستحق حتى أن يُقال عنها أنها قصة قصيرة فهي أقصر من القصيره لذلك شعرت بتعجل وتسرع في سرد الحكاية وكأنما الكاتب يسابق الزمن ليكتب ، لماذا !
؟! لذلك حقيقة كان هناك الكثير من الثغرات لم يتم حلها في الحبكه أو لأكن واضحة لم يتم توضيح ولا ثغره من الثغرات !

[Paul Hasbrouck · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well this was a big surprise, a excellent mixture of rural/cosmic horror, that kept me on the edge of my seat until the ending.

[Hassan Aros · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5

[Nouf Mohammad · Rating 1 out of 5]

؟؟؟؟؟؟؟

[Noha Ebada · Rating 2 out of 5]

قرأت النسخة العربية وفيها نقص اعتقد أن المشكلة في الترجمة

بعض الكلمات غير متوافقه مع الجمل التي وُضعت فيها

واشعر كان هناك اجزاء مبتوره من القصه فلم افهم النهاية أبدا

[Tom · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5⭐

The Thing from—'Outside', had originally appeared in Hugo Gernsback's magazine Science and Invention, and then was reprinted in the first issue of the first of its kind science fiction magazine, Amazing Stories.

Introduction by Hugo Gernsback, F.R.S. ✔
"Here is an extraordinary story by the well-known magazine writer, George Allan England. This story should be read quite carefully, and it is necessary to use one's imagination in reading it.
The theme of Mr. England's Story is unusual and extraordinary. If we can take insects and put them upon the dissecting table in order to study their anatomy, is there a good reason why some super-Intelligence cannot do the same thing with us humans?

It may be taken as a certainty that Intelligence, as we understand it, is not only of our earth. It is also not necessary to presume that Intelligence may have its setting only in a body of flesh and blood. There is no reason for disbelieving that a Super-Intelligence might not reside in gases or invisible structures, something which we of today cannot even imagine."


"...Out of the door crept something like a man. A queer, broken, bent-over thing: a thing crippled, shrunken and flabby, that whined..."

[Forked Radish · Rating 3 out of 5]

A living ice machine that likes brain smoothies? Pretty incoherent and silly e.g. the world is round? The dark ages want their ideas back! Evolution is a creative force? Genetics were discovered 60 years before this was written! And the human brain is the most complex molecular structure known? An elephant's or whale's brain is much more complex! 🤣 But it was 1926 and ignorance prevailed, not as much as today, but still it prevailed. I liked the quote:
"If you knew more, . . . you'd know a devilish sight less. It's only ignorance that's cock-sure."
Overall somewhat interesting, but illogical viz. why didn't they set a watch?

[William · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining horror listening 🎧

I listened to this as part of Cliassic Horror Tales - 500+ stories box set. The story is very interesting and a very quick read. I would recommend to readers of horror novels. 2023

[Paul · Rating 3 out of 5]

This heroic adventure had some compelling cosmic horror elements, but the muddled plot and matter-of-fact writing keep it out of Lovecraft's league.

[Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting cosmic horror!
Short, use your imagination read!
Steady paced and thought provoking!
Enjoyable!

[Muhammad Elmasalhe · Rating 3 out of 5]

روايه تتركك وسط الاحداث بلا اجابه
مضيعه للوقت

[Jay Rothermel · Rating 4 out of 5]

On “The Thing From Outside” (1923) by George Allan England

https://substack.com/profile/11328384...

[Dichotomy Girl · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 Stars