The Disintegration Machine

Professor Challenger #5

by Arthur Conan Doyle

Professor Challenger is arguing with people who are persistently calling him on the telephone when his young friend Malone, a reporter for the Gazette, enters and requests Challenger accompany him to inspect the discovery of Theodore Nemor, who claims to have invented a machine capable of disintegrating objects. Skeptical of the invention, Challenger accepts Malone’s proposal and accompanies him to the house of Nemor.

Genres: Science Fiction, Short Stories, Fiction, Classics, Fantasy, Adventure, Mystery

16 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1929

About the author

Sir Arthur Ignatius Conan Doyle was a Scottish writer and physician. He created the character Sherlock Holmes in 1887 for A Study in Scarlet, the first of four novels and fifty-six short stories about Holmes and Dr. Watson. The Sherlock Holmes stories are milestones in the field of crime fiction.

Doyle was a prolific writer. In addition to the Holmes stories, his works include fantasy and science fiction stories about Professor Challenger, and humorous stories about the Napoleonic soldier Brigadier Gerard, as well as plays, romances, poetry, non-fiction, and historical novels. One of Doyle's early short stories, "J. Habakuk Jephson's Statement" (1884), helped to popularise the mystery of the brigantine Mary Celeste, found drifting at sea with no crew member aboard.

Reviews

[Daren · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well my journey through Professor Challenger complete with this book, #5 The Disintegration Machine. It has been a steadily down-hill journey from the splendour of The Lost World to the, if I am honest, mediocrity of the last three.

Not helped by the fact some are only a few pages long, which is hardly enough to set up a good premise, the last three lack any real commitment.

The disintegration machine tells us about a Latvian scientist in London (good idea to choose a foreign scientist) who has designed a machine which will dissolve an item (person, army, or warship, for example) and then allow them to be reassembled at a later time. Theodore Nemor the scientist has already sold the secret to the highest bidder - a European country is all we are told - and the professor and Malone (the reporter from all the earlier adventures) are to interview Nemor and have the machine demonstrated to prove the truth of it.

I won't spoil beyond this - it is only a short skip to the end, but for me at lease, it was fairly unrewarding.

2 stars
------
Previous in the series
The Lost World (#1)
The Poison Belt (#2)
The Land of Mist (#3)
When the World Screamed (#4)

[Ian · Rating 2 out of 5]

I originally posted the review below on 15 September 2019, but I've just realised I posted it on the wrong place in this site (against an edition that incorporates another short story, that I haven't read). D'oh! I've copied my 2019 review below.

A short story that I listened to on audiobook. The audio version lasts for only 27 minutes.

I normally think of Conan Doyle as a Victorian writer, but this story was published in 1929, a year before his death. It’s the last in the “Professor Challenger” series. Of those I had only previously read one, that being The Lost World, in which he first appeared. Challenger is as irascible and pugnacious as he was in that earlier book, and like The Lost World, this story also features the journalist Malone.

This one features a Latvian scientist, living in London, who invents a machine capable of destroying anything within its sphere of operation.

Average story, corny ending.

[AhmEd ElsayEd · Rating 3 out of 5]

آلة التفكيك
قصة قصيرة للسير آرثر كونان دويل من مغامرات البروفيسور تشالننجر
حيث يذهب في مغامرة مع صحفي محلي للتاكد من حقيقة إدعاء أحدهم
اختراعه لآلة قادرة علي تفكيك أي شيء محولة إياه إلي ذرت غير مرئية ويمكنها أن تعيد تجميعه من جديد
تكمن خطورتها في تطبيقياتها العسكرية وتأثيرها في الحرب الشاملة إذا ما بيعت لحكومة واحدة بشكل حصري
بدون أسئلة فلسفية عن حول أخلاقية تطبيق القانون بشكل استباقي يقوم البروفيسور بالحيلولة دون كل ذلك.

الترجمة العربية ممتازة

[امتياز · Rating 4 out of 5]

لطالما عرفت لبنى ككاتبة وهذه هي المرة الأولى التي أعرفها كمترجمة
لقد أبدعت في نقل هذا النص القصير للعربية ، أسلوبها في الترجمة جميل ومميز وأتمنى أن تستمر في هذا الطريق

[Diego · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short novel from the Challenger series, I read it just after The Land of the mist (which I hated) and it was like finding sunshine after several months in the dark, but it is probably just all right.

[Bob · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really good story with a great twist at the end.

[Mike · Rating 3 out of 5]

The final appearance of Professor Challenger fizzles in an awkward, rushed story written near the end of Doyle's life when he was consumed with the supernatural. In the story, Challenger and Malone encounter a mad scientist who has created a machine that disintegrates matter, causing invisibility and even the rearrangement of matter, and has sold the machine to a devious foreign nation. This story is nothing more than Doyle's attempt to sketch out the possibility that such a machine could exist.

In the same year, he published The Edge of the Unknown (which I also happen to be reading now), in which he makes the ludicrous claim that his friend Houdini may have had the very same power -- to transport his body through solid matter and across space -- even though Houdini kept telling Doyle that it was all illusion and trickery. Doyle also claims that such a thing may be possible because what we call solid mass might be like a projection on the screen of the "ether." (I'll be writing a full review of that loony book as soon as I finish it.) Since this story was published the same year as The Edge of the Unknown, it seems that Doyle was just trotting out Challenger one more time to explore this fringe belief. It was an odd end for one of the oddest characters in fiction.

The conclusion, which I won't spoil, is comic and absurd. I'm sure that was Doyle's intension, even though it ultimately ends up being at Doyle's own expense. I enjoyed the story, despite (or maybe because) of how bad it was.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

There's nothing really profound here for a modern sci-fi reader but it does pack in a lot for such a short story - a machine that can disintegrate anything, the imagined horror of what such a machine could be used for if in the wrong hands, and the death of one man to save millions. All themes and ideas that have been explored in more detail in other works, but for such a quick read, it was worth the time.

[Noor · Rating 5 out of 5]

يدعي أحد المخترعين نجاحه في صناعة آلة تعمل على تفكيك الأشخاص الى جزئيات تسري عبر الكون ، فيضطر الصحفي مالون الى مرافقة البروفيسور تشالنجر للتحقق من صحة الأمر...
و لكن يقرر هذا الصحفي، فور التأكد من فعالية الآلة، ضرورة الحيلولة دون بيع هذا الاختراع لأحد الدول الساعية للحروب و ذلك بالتخلص من المخترع نفسه !!
رحلة قصيرة توضح الإستغلال المادي و السياسي للعلم

[Rafo Zarbabyan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Պրոֆեսոր Չելենջերի մասին վերջին պատմությունը փոքրիկ էր, բայց շատ հետաքրքիր: Երևի շարքի ամենահետաքրքիր գիրքն էր: Ավարտը իսկապես շատ լավն էր, անսպասելի ու փիլիսոփայական երանգով:

Ափսոս, որ չի կարելի կարդալ, եթե չես կարդացել նախորդ գրքերը: Առանց Չելենջերին ճանաչելու, կարծում եմ, պատմությունն անհասկանալի կլինի:

[Lucian Wakim · Rating 3 out of 5]

ويبقى السؤال عن ماهية الحدود التي يجب رسمها للاكتشافات والبحث العلمي قائماً...
حيث أن لكل معرفة أوجه متوحشة قد تستخدم بالدمار، وأوجه لطيفة قد تستخدم في احياء واثراء الإنسان...

ومن هنا وبصفتي طالب قانون أسأل عن مدى مسؤولية كل من العالِم والمستثمر والدول، في كل اكتشاف او اختراع تم استخدامه في قتل البشر وتدمير السلام، ما مدى المسؤولية القانونية الملقاة على عاتق كل شريك او مساهم في هذا، وماهي الحدود القانونية التي يجب ان تقيد وتشكم ماسبق للحفاظ على حرية و سلام الشعوب...

أظن أن الجواب سيكون لاحدود، فمن البديهي في فقه القانون الدولي أن لا إلزام لدولة صاحبة سيادة في أي شيء، لأن الزام الدول الوحيد ارادتها الخاصة...

فما العمل في هذه الحالة عند اجتماع عالم مجنون ودولة متعطشة للدماء -في اكتشاف علمي واحد-؟

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

From BBC Radio 4 Extra:
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's indomitable academic must investigate dastardly Latvian scientist Theodore Nemor. Stars Bill Paterson.

[for-much-deliberation ... · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another Professor Challenger experience, here he and his reporter friend Malone meet inventor Nemor...

[Bogdan Liviu · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The first duty of the law-abiding citizen is to prevent murder."
ethical debate: kill a man to save the world...

[Bill · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought The Disintegration Machine by Arthur Conan Doyle a couple of years back, not realizing it was a short story. I also now have a copy in a collection of Prof. Challenger stories, but when I noticed it hiding under some paperwork last night, looking lonely, I decided to take the book to bed with me. What an interesting short story. Now, I'm not sure whether it was the story or some residue of a sleeping pill I took the previous night, but I even had a dream, somewhat related to the story (more related to the Invisible Man, maybe, but still...).

Anyway, my preamble is now almost as long as the story itself. 😁 Professor Challenger has appeared in a few of Conan Doyle's novels, starting with The Lost World (1912). I have the remaining stories contained in The Poison Belt and Other Stories.

Anyway, anyway... Prof Challenger is asked for help by a young friend, newspaperman Malone. A Latvian scientist living in London has purportedly invented a device that can disintegrate an object (even a living object) to its basic atoms and then as required return it to its original form. He is offering to sell it to any country. Malone and Challenger go to his flat to examine the device, only to discover that Dr. Stein has sold it to the Russians.

The rest of the story is the discovery by Challenger whether the device actually works and, if so, what to do about it? The story is only 33 pages long, but Doyle packs a lot into it, creating a fascinating, surprising and tense little story. Check it out for yourselves. (4.0 stars)

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the fifth and final story featuring Professor Challenger and his journalist friend (and narrator of the stories) Malone. Like 'When the World Screamed' this is only a short story as opposed to anything longer- indeed, this one is really short.

Malone is asked to take Challenger along to meet Latvian scientist Theodore Nemor who claims to have invented a machine that can disintegrate objects and re-assemble them if required. As usual, Challenger is sceptical about the idea and is proved wrong. Obviously such a machine would have a huge influence on the world, particularly if sold as a weapon but what will Challenger do about it?

From a modern perspective the sort of machine in this story is a staple of science-fiction, it's pretty much the same as transportation in Star Trek- but I guess in 1929 it would have been a more fantastical idea. It's well done here and given an almost magical feel that Doyle was so good at achieving in the Challenger stories.

The highlight of this story is Challenger himself. He's an eccentric lunatic most of the time in the stories but every now and then you realise that he is of course a genius too. He's hilarious on the phone at the start of this story and does something remarkable at the end. Doyle is always lauded for the great character of Sherlock Holmes but Professor Challenger is also fantastic.

I'm sad this is the last Challenger story as there was lots of potential for more but it's a strong way for the character to go out.

[Oleksandr Zholud · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the fifth, final installment of works of Arthur Conan Doyle about Professor Challenger. This is a short story, formally unlinked to other works. A Latvian inventor Theodore Nemor, currently in England, announced that he has created a machine that is capable of disintegrating any object placed within its sphere of influence. This seems an ultimate weapon if true.

Challenger and journalist-narrator Mallone visit the inventor. They observe that the man supposedly preliminary agreed to sell his inventions to the Soviets: “I caught a glimpse of them through the half-opened door, and had a passing impression of prosperous and intelligent men, with astrakhan collars to their coats, glistening top-hats, and every appearance of that bourgeois well-being which the successful Communist so readily assumes.”

They check the machine and it appears not only to disintegrate, but operate a bit like Star Trek transportation beams – turning anything into a particle field that can be restored to the previous form, or even partially restored (the inventor plays a nasty trick with the professor). So, the danger is real and Challenger solves the issue not as a high-brow genius he is… overall an average SF-flavored story from the 1920s-30s.

[Riju Ganguly · Rating 5 out of 5]

An inventor has discovered a disintegrator, i.e. something that breaks down anything or anyone into smallest components. It can also reassemble said components, even with a tweak here and there. Such outrageous claims have to be verified. Journalist Malone and Professor Challenger pay him a visit.
What happens thereafter?
This compact and absolutely unputdownable tale is probably the best possible swansong that Professor Challenger could have had. It's hilarious, exhilarating, and has a neat ending that can act as a model for modern thriller-writers.
Highly recommended.

[Jonathan Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

Humorous short story about a man who created a machine that can disintegrate almost anything. Nice ending. Could only find one quote due to the shortness of the book.

"You cannot explain one incredible thing by quoting another incredible thing"

[ياسين سعيد · Rating 3 out of 5]

كنت أتتبع الأعمال الأدبية التي تعد محطات بارزة في موضوع مهم في أدب الخيال العلمي، موضوع الانتقال الآني، فقادني البحث إلى هنا.
ليس بالقصة بالغة الإمتاع، لكن لا يمكن تخطيها ما دمنا نتحدث عن الانتقال الآني.

[أمل يعقوب Amal Yaqoob · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

7/10

[Nicolas · Rating 4 out of 5]

a fun (non-)conclusion to the challenger saga. too short for the plot to get lost along the way, which i count as a win.

[Sarah Seso · Rating 3 out of 5]

ترجمة مميزة وجميلة لقصة قصيرة خفيفة !💛
لو طلب عنوان آخر للقصة لسميتها الآلة التي اكلت صاحبها !!
فكرة طريفة قام بها الأسد الثائر البروفيسور تشالنجر بمحاولة لمنع الجريمة !!

[Jörg · Rating 2 out of 5]

This short story is remarkable for two things. First, a Latvian crazy scientist discovered beaming in the early twentieth century. Second, Professor Challenger is faced with the moral dilemma if killing one person can be justified by saving the lifes of many others. Replace the Latvian scientist with any modern day mass murderer / terrorist / villain. Challenger’s reaction is pragmatic: He ruins the scientist’s plan of selling his disintegration machine to the highest bidder by disintegrating him without integrating him again afterwards.

For a short story with less than 10 pages this is a lot of content. Don’t expect any elaborate characters or plot. The most entertaining Challenger story albeit nothing redeeming the weak Challenger franchise.

[Teemu Öhman · Rating 4 out of 5]

2022: A really short professor Challenger story, but quite enjoyable. Challenger's moral choice in the end could very easily be challenged.

2025: This was probably the fourth time I read this. This was included in my edition of The Poison Belt. It still works, even though I remembered how the story ends. Unfortunately no Summerlee or Roxton, but at least Malone narrates the story.
4.25/5

[عبد الله عصام · Rating 3 out of 5]

تتحدث الرواية عن رجل يُدعى ثيودور نِمور زعم اختراع آلة لديها القدرة على تفكيك أي جسم يُوضع في مجال تأثيرها، حيث تتحللَّ
مادة الجسم وتتحول
إلى صورتها الجزيئية أو الذرية، وعند عكس العملية، يُمكن إعادة تجميع الجسم.
وطبعا لمثل هذه الآلة أهمية بالغة باعتبارها سلاحا يُِمكن استخدامه في الحروب؛ فأي قوة يمكنها السيطرة على العالم من خلال تفكيك سفينة حربية، أو تحويل كتيبة من الجنود إلى مجموعة من الذرات.
ونظرا لأهمية تلك الآلة العجيبة يذهب إليه العالم تشالنجر ليتثبت بنفسه من صحة هذا الاختراع، وعندما تتبين له قدرات هذه الآلة، يمتلئ صدره وجلاً لما قد يترتب على استخدامها من مَضارٍ، فيحتال على المخترع ليفككه إلى جزيئات، وبذلك يكون قد أفناه وأفنى معه فكرته إلى الأبد.

طبعا الرواية صغيرة جدا، وهي جديرة بأن تُقرأ في جلسة واحدة؛ ولكنها خالية عن الأفكار؛ ولا أدري لماذا انشغل كثير من أولئك الكُتاب بفكرة صنع آلة للتفكيك؛ تبدو غكرة مستحيلة، إننا الآن على علم بأن كل جسم عبارة عن أجهزة تتكون من أعضاء تتكون من أنسجة تتكون من خلايا تتكون من جزيئات البروتين والدهون والكربوهيدرات، وأساس هذه الجزيئات عنصرا الكربون والهيدروجين، ومع ذلك لا يمكننا تفكيك أي جسم أو تجميعه أو إعادته للحياة؛ فإن الحياة لها سرٌ خافٍ هو الروح.

[Marzia · Rating 4 out of 5]

"La macchina disintegratrice" A. C. Doyle: 8
Robert Challenger è l'eroe che il mondo merita, ma di cui farebbe anche volentieri a meno tante volte.
Inghilterra 1913 circa
Theodore Nemor è uno scienziato pazzo che ha inventato una macchina in grado di disintegrare cose/persone/città/lettera e testamento. Ed Malone viene mandato dal Daily Gazzette per intervistarlo. Per comprendere meglio l'invenzione Ed chiede al professore Challenger di accompagnarlo. I due subiscono una dimostrazione del tremendo potere della macchina che è in grado di smaterializzare in pochi secondi chiunque si sieda su di essa. Giustamente preoccupati chiedono le intenzioni dello scienziato a riguardo e questo rivela loro di voler vendere il progetto a uno Stato affinché ne sviluppi un'arma di distruzione di massa. Senza batter ciglio Challenger, fingendo un malfunzionamento della macchina, convince lo scienziato a sedersi sulla sedia e lo smaterializza per poi tornarsene tranquillo alle proprie occupazioni lasciando gli atomi dello scienziato pazzo dispersi a fluttuare nell'etere.

[Matthew Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very quick read - quite cheeky logging this towards my reading challenge really, given it was a few pages of a longer volume that I hastily picked it off a shelf and read in a quiet moment during a wedding reception. I’ve never read Conan Doyle’s longer Challenger novels but this served as a delightful introduction to the titular character. Challenger comes across as a well rounded, despite the story’s brief nature, and you really do get a sense of who this no-nonsense but charismatic man is. Coupled with some flashes of Conan Doyle’s wit, and an engaging, but perhaps not hugely originally, plot, you get a decent little read. Perhaps this story’s lower rating on goodreads is testament to the other Challenger stories, which I will now look to read, particularly The Lost World.

[Nö Ğå · Rating 3 out of 5]

اول مره اقرا للبروفيسور تشالنجر بما يتميز من طباع حادة جدا ولكنه ف احلك الاوقات يستمع الي صوت العقل
تتحدث القصه القصيره عن المخترع نمور حيث انه اخترع اله تستطيع ان تفكك جزيئات اي ماده حتي البشر الي موادها الاوليه ثم بعكس الاشارات تستطيع أن تستجمع الجزيئات مره اخري بنفس الترتيب
فما كان من الصحفي الشاب مالون والبروفيسور الا ان يتاكدو من هذا الاختراع
لما فيه من عواقب وخيمه اذا وقع ف الايدي الخطأ

ومع تجربه البروفيسور وما رآه وجد ان بالفعل الاله حقيقيه وسيأتي من ورائها مالايحم. عقباه وبالتالي اوقع نمور ف شرك ان هناك شحنات تتسرب ف الكرسي وضغط الزر الذي يفكك وهنا تلاشت أجزاء ذلك ال نمور وتلاشب ف الهواء ولم يكن للبررفيسور اي نييه الي تجميع تكوينه مره اخري
وهنا انتهت قصه اله التفكيك