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The Gods Hate Kansas
It began with the landing of nine meteors in Kansas. Then, suddenly, it exploded into a massive catastrophe.
First, the meteorite investigating team were turned into automatons, ruled by an unknown, alien intelligence. They barricaded themselves
from the world and began building a rocket project, aimed at traversing the stars.
Then the Crimson Plague struck, sweeping over Earth’s population, destroying human capacities and defying scientific probing.
Only a few escaped the invasion from outer space, among them astrophysicist Curt Temple, whose girlfriend, Lee Mason, was enslaved, her personality changed.
Curt knew he had to pit his slim knowledge against the most perfect intelligence in the cosmos to save the world - and the woman he loved.
First, the meteorite investigating team were turned into automatons, ruled by an unknown, alien intelligence. They barricaded themselves
from the world and began building a rocket project, aimed at traversing the stars.
Then the Crimson Plague struck, sweeping over Earth’s population, destroying human capacities and defying scientific probing.
Only a few escaped the invasion from outer space, among them astrophysicist Curt Temple, whose girlfriend, Lee Mason, was enslaved, her personality changed.
Curt knew he had to pit his slim knowledge against the most perfect intelligence in the cosmos to save the world - and the woman he loved.
- GenresScience FictionFiction
126 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1941
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153 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
August 6, 2018
I read this because, as a kid, I watched the movie that was based on this book (They Came from Beyond Space) and I wanted to see how different the book was from the movie. The main difference, of course, is that, in the book, the action occurred in Kansas whereas, in the movie, it occurred in England. There are plenty of other differences (the extent of the Crimson Plague, for example) but the action is essentially the same. That changes a bit when they get to the moon. In the book you get to meet some cool aliens with tentacles and there are scenes outside the dome on the surface of the moon. Not so in the movie (no budget).
Although the ending in the movie seemed a bit naive, I thought it was better than that of the book. In the book, the ending felt rushed. It seemed that the author realized, late in the manuscript, he only had ten pages left to write the ending and hurriedly did so, apparently leaving out scenes he originally planned to include. For example, at one point the character Lee Mason was trapped in a pit on the surface of the moon, her oxygen supply running out, and it looked like she wasn't going to make it. We then switch scenes to Dr. Temple, the protagonist, as he struggles with the bad guys. A few pages later Lee shows up, as if nothing bad happened, and just casually mentions that she was in trouble but she figured it out and is OK. I felt cheated. We were set up for this cliff hanging moment with Lee and then we never see her resolve the problem she was in. Instead, she just casually mentions the trouble she had and blows it off with a bit of dialogue. That put me off on an otherwise decent work of fiction.
This is, by no means, great literature. It's just a pulpy science fiction originally written in the 1940's (and revised a couple times years later). It brought me back to a time when I would just devour the cheesy movies based on books like this. Overall, I enjoyed it and it entertained me.
Although the ending in the movie seemed a bit naive, I thought it was better than that of the book. In the book, the ending felt rushed. It seemed that the author realized, late in the manuscript, he only had ten pages left to write the ending and hurriedly did so, apparently leaving out scenes he originally planned to include. For example, at one point the character Lee Mason was trapped in a pit on the surface of the moon, her oxygen supply running out, and it looked like she wasn't going to make it. We then switch scenes to Dr. Temple, the protagonist, as he struggles with the bad guys. A few pages later Lee shows up, as if nothing bad happened, and just casually mentions that she was in trouble but she figured it out and is OK. I felt cheated. We were set up for this cliff hanging moment with Lee and then we never see her resolve the problem she was in. Instead, she just casually mentions the trouble she had and blows it off with a bit of dialogue. That put me off on an otherwise decent work of fiction.
This is, by no means, great literature. It's just a pulpy science fiction originally written in the 1940's (and revised a couple times years later). It brought me back to a time when I would just devour the cheesy movies based on books like this. Overall, I enjoyed it and it entertained me.
July 19, 2015
A respected male scientist enjoys teasing his lovely female assistant by commenting on her physical attributes. But, that's okay because he intends to marry her and will continue to be her boss at work. In fact, she is so attractive that not only do other men comment about her desirability, but an alien creature makes note of how her unusual body type appears to exert a powerful influence over her male co-workers.
Welcome to wonderful world of 1940's pulp science fiction!
I must admit that the title alone attracted me to read this. According to the writer, the reason why "The Gods Hate Kansas" is that the state is subject to more meteorite hits than any other. I have no idea if this is true or not, but it is a fun tidbit to drop into a dinner table conversation.
The story was made into a film in the mid-1960's by a British production company. Since the locale was changed to Great Britain, they couldn't very well keep the title, so it was changed to THEY CAME FROM BEYOND SPACE. Other than the change of setting, it was a remarkably faithful retelling.
In the book, a strange V-formation of meteorites crash into farm land in Kansas. When scientists are sent to investigate, they soon cease reporting their findings...and instead start charging huge sums of money to buy unauthorized supplies...enough to even bankrupt a university associated with them! Any attempts to communicate with them are rebuffed. What could be going on?
Fans of the classic science fiction film, IT CAME FROM OUTER SPACE (released 7-years after this book), will have a very good idea. There aren't many surprises, but there is a lot of fast action, selfless heroics, and politically incorrect situations in this brisk narrative...just the ticket for the pulp science fiction enthusiast. It was a most enjoyable read.
Welcome to wonderful world of 1940's pulp science fiction!
I must admit that the title alone attracted me to read this. According to the writer, the reason why "The Gods Hate Kansas" is that the state is subject to more meteorite hits than any other. I have no idea if this is true or not, but it is a fun tidbit to drop into a dinner table conversation.
The story was made into a film in the mid-1960's by a British production company. Since the locale was changed to Great Britain, they couldn't very well keep the title, so it was changed to THEY CAME FROM BEYOND SPACE. Other than the change of setting, it was a remarkably faithful retelling.
In the book, a strange V-formation of meteorites crash into farm land in Kansas. When scientists are sent to investigate, they soon cease reporting their findings...and instead start charging huge sums of money to buy unauthorized supplies...enough to even bankrupt a university associated with them! Any attempts to communicate with them are rebuffed. What could be going on?
Fans of the classic science fiction film, IT CAME FROM OUTER SPACE (released 7-years after this book), will have a very good idea. There aren't many surprises, but there is a lot of fast action, selfless heroics, and politically incorrect situations in this brisk narrative...just the ticket for the pulp science fiction enthusiast. It was a most enjoyable read.
June 12, 2017
For a book I got for $1.50 in a bargain bin, I was pleasantly surprised. It's pure pulp sci-fi, with lots of action scenes and a very fast moving plot. There is just enough science to give it a grounding before things become completely ridiculous, and there is a decent enough twist ending (though more predictable nowadays). Nothing too groundbreaking here, and it's definitely old-timey in its sensibilities, but very enjoyable. It's fast paced enough and short enough that I think it could make a pretty good movie, or at least it feels a lot like one.
July 7, 2008
This is a fun, old-fashioned romp that holds up pretty well after the many years since its initial publication. "A Startling Story Of Science At War With Alien Life-Forms"; what's not to like?
February 17, 2017
How could I not buy a vintage book with this cover and this title? So much fun, and the writing holds up surprisingly well. Somehow I made this short little book last for several weeks, just reading a chapter or so at a time during my breaks at work. Coincidentally, I was listening to an audiobook of The Fifth Wave series around the same time, and it was interesting to compare and contrast the two plot lines, specifically the evolved alien consciousness inhabiting human minds, and plagues seemingly wiping out much of humankind (though these plot elements do pop up a lot in science fiction in general). I'm not that big a fan of the Fifth Wave series, and I much prefer the good-humored, hopeful tone of this story, which was originally written before NASA even existed (first published in Amazing Stories magazine in 1941, though later as a standalone novel in 1964, which was at least after the first manned earth orbit). I'm always interested in the historic context of when a novel was written, but it's especially interesting in sci-fi, and I love the gleeful, anything-is-possible tenor of mid-century stories like this one. But I also prefer the original Star Trek series to its more recent incarnations, so I guess it's no surprise that I enjoyed this book so much. Plus, the cover is quite the attention-getter at the coffee shop.
January 28, 2017
This was ridiculously old fashioned science fiction. I loved it. It had aliens, advanced minds, leathery creatures, a stereotyped woman, rockets, a hostile takeover, and a twist at the end. So amusing.
The reason it references Kansas is that it says more meteorites fall there than anywhere else, so it's a 'scientist's joke' that the Gods must hate Kansas. They definitely made the Kansas farmers out to be hillbillies.
The reason it references Kansas is that it says more meteorites fall there than anywhere else, so it's a 'scientist's joke' that the Gods must hate Kansas. They definitely made the Kansas farmers out to be hillbillies.
November 27, 2017
Fun story, bad science
This was a fun story, and very much of its age. The science of selenology was little known. Women were just beginning to get get equal footing with men in academic circles (though they were still in need of rescue in media). Space, though exciting, was full of unknown dangers and, as with explorers in the past, "Here Be Monsters" filled map margins.
Still, an interesting story and great period piece.
This was a fun story, and very much of its age. The science of selenology was little known. Women were just beginning to get get equal footing with men in academic circles (though they were still in need of rescue in media). Space, though exciting, was full of unknown dangers and, as with explorers in the past, "Here Be Monsters" filled map margins.
Still, an interesting story and great period piece.
February 18, 2016
From A Bygone Era
After seeing the movie adaption, "They Came From Beyond Space" and not having read the original story, I purchased the Joseph J Millard 1941 "The Gods Hate Kansas" on Kindle. The story is very dated but has so much more to it than the movie and is worth a read by any fan of older science fiction as it is a lot of fun.
After seeing the movie adaption, "They Came From Beyond Space" and not having read the original story, I purchased the Joseph J Millard 1941 "The Gods Hate Kansas" on Kindle. The story is very dated but has so much more to it than the movie and is worth a read by any fan of older science fiction as it is a lot of fun.
September 3, 2016
Classic pulp-science fiction! The story wrapped up a little too quickly for me, but it was a fun adventure. Reminded me of all the great movies I used to watch on channel 56's Creature Double Feature!
March 22, 2017
An interesting aliens take over the humans story with some old fashioned two fisted action with an unexpected ending.
November 8, 2017
Fun old school pulp SF. Ending was a bit of a surprise considering the age of the story. This book was much better than I thought it would be.
October 24, 2025
A swarm of meteorites crash down to Earth landing on a remote farm in Kansas. NASA sends in a local team of scientists to investigate as the meteorites fell in formation, which is unprecedented. This team from a nearby college is normally led by Dr. Curtis Temple, but he can't go because he's still recuperating after a serious plane accident where he sustained injuries so bad that doctors had to insert a metal plate into his head. Instead, the team is led by Lee Mason, Temple's assistant and girlfriend. After a few days, Temple is no loner able to contact his team so he travels to the site. There, he finds that the farm now resembles an armed camp and he is refused entry. He manages to get a brief interview with Lee, but she is cold, robotic, and tells him to leave. People in the nearby town start dying of a mysterious disease dubbed ’The Crimson Plague’ and the contagion spreads like wildfire, placing the whole planet under threat…
This is a fast-moving slice of pulpy sci-fi that originally debuted in a magazine called ‘Startling Stories’. As such, it's a breezy, entertaining read, even if the ‘Crimson Plague’ element integrates a little awkwardly into the main thread of the story. Unfortunately, in the last act, pulp turns to cheese as Temple travels to the moon and meets tentacled thingys! Given some of the later plot developments and dialogue, it become increasingly hard to believe that Millard was still taking his story seriously. Sadly, these later chapters really expose some of his limitations as a writer. In his defence, ‘The Gods Hate Kansas’ is a wonderful title and it is explained in the novel.
There are also an abundance of overly familiar alien invasion tropes. The extraterrestrials come in meteorites and take over humans to do their bidding. They infiltrate high government circles, ensuring a cover up while they build their large factory-like installation, which is off limits to all outsiders. ‘Quatermass 2’ anyone? A year before that tale first appeared as a British television serial in 1955, American author Jack Finney had published his story ‘The Body Snatchers’, most famously filmed in 1956 as ‘Invasion of the Body Snatchers’. Other elements of Millard's story also echo Jack Arnold's film ‘It Came from Outer Space’ from 1953, which was based on an original story idea by famous science fiction novelist Ray Bradbury.
But just when you're about to dismiss ‘The Gods Hate Kansas’ as a cheap, shameless knockoff, here's the thing. It appeared in ‘Startling Stories’ in 1941, more than a decade earlier. Had some of those writers mentioned above read Millard’s novel and taken inspiration from it? Or were some of those ideas already floating around in other, earlier works in the genre? It would be interesting to know.
It’s also worth mentioning that the text in the edition that I read has been revised at some stage as NASA is mentioned and NASA did not come into existence until 1958. The book was adapted into the low-budget British movie ‘They Came from Beyond Space’ in 1967, the title change probably necessary because the British countryside would have had a hard time standing in for the wheat fields of Kansas. It’s not very good but you do get the wonderful Michael Gough playing the ‘Master of the Moon’. Yes, he looks like he’s about to go entertaining at a children's party or do a cheap conjuring act at the end of Clacton pier, but you can’t have everything.
An undemanding slab of sci-fi pulp with increasing notes of cheese in the final act.
This is a fast-moving slice of pulpy sci-fi that originally debuted in a magazine called ‘Startling Stories’. As such, it's a breezy, entertaining read, even if the ‘Crimson Plague’ element integrates a little awkwardly into the main thread of the story. Unfortunately, in the last act, pulp turns to cheese as Temple travels to the moon and meets tentacled thingys! Given some of the later plot developments and dialogue, it become increasingly hard to believe that Millard was still taking his story seriously. Sadly, these later chapters really expose some of his limitations as a writer. In his defence, ‘The Gods Hate Kansas’ is a wonderful title and it is explained in the novel.
There are also an abundance of overly familiar alien invasion tropes. The extraterrestrials come in meteorites and take over humans to do their bidding. They infiltrate high government circles, ensuring a cover up while they build their large factory-like installation, which is off limits to all outsiders. ‘Quatermass 2’ anyone? A year before that tale first appeared as a British television serial in 1955, American author Jack Finney had published his story ‘The Body Snatchers’, most famously filmed in 1956 as ‘Invasion of the Body Snatchers’. Other elements of Millard's story also echo Jack Arnold's film ‘It Came from Outer Space’ from 1953, which was based on an original story idea by famous science fiction novelist Ray Bradbury.
But just when you're about to dismiss ‘The Gods Hate Kansas’ as a cheap, shameless knockoff, here's the thing. It appeared in ‘Startling Stories’ in 1941, more than a decade earlier. Had some of those writers mentioned above read Millard’s novel and taken inspiration from it? Or were some of those ideas already floating around in other, earlier works in the genre? It would be interesting to know.
It’s also worth mentioning that the text in the edition that I read has been revised at some stage as NASA is mentioned and NASA did not come into existence until 1958. The book was adapted into the low-budget British movie ‘They Came from Beyond Space’ in 1967, the title change probably necessary because the British countryside would have had a hard time standing in for the wheat fields of Kansas. It’s not very good but you do get the wonderful Michael Gough playing the ‘Master of the Moon’. Yes, he looks like he’s about to go entertaining at a children's party or do a cheap conjuring act at the end of Clacton pier, but you can’t have everything.
An undemanding slab of sci-fi pulp with increasing notes of cheese in the final act.
August 7, 2022
An early 60s book which represents 50s Golden Age Science Fiction better than if it was a contemporary pastiche, or, if you like, an accurate simulation of 50s "B" sci fi movies: let loose your logic and have a ball reading this. A crazy quilt of tropes and borrowings, meteors land in Kansas (why? spoilers!) carrying alien beings (thank you Mr Wells), but they're invisible, attaching to people's necks and controlling them like, er, Puppet Masters (thank you Mr Heinlein, Outer Limits, Star Trek...), but, the universe is saved through the actions of a Meteoritics professor who also has intimate knowledge of many other branches of physics, is an electrician, car mechanic, crack shot with a gun, can climb mountains, well you get the idea (Mr Millard should again thank Mr Heinlein). Of course, he manages to in the process also save his blond bombshell girlfriend (who also has as many PhDs as him, but, umm, for some 1950s reason, is only his "assistant".) Oh, the aliens, they're evil because, you know, evolving to be emotionless beings of pure intellect makes you evil (again, thank you Mr Wells). Get some popcorn, imagine the characters in grainy black and white and 50s special effects, and have a heck of a fun afternoon with this short novel.
January 5, 2024
Originally published in the November, 1941, issue of "Startling Stories", THE GODS HATE KANSAS begins with a fall of meteorites on a farm in Kansas. This soon leads to a startling discovery that the meteors must have been launched from the moon. Then all communication with the scientists studying the meteors is cut off.
Though first published in 1941 this ebook edition appears to have undergone rewriting as organizations that did not exist in 1941 appear in the story. NASA, the CIA, and commercial television appear. There is even a reference to Purple People Eaters. Joseph Millard was a prolific pulp author who also wrote many Western novels.
THE GODS HATE KANSAS is a pleasant read from the pulp era and should appeal to Science Fiction readers.
Though first published in 1941 this ebook edition appears to have undergone rewriting as organizations that did not exist in 1941 appear in the story. NASA, the CIA, and commercial television appear. There is even a reference to Purple People Eaters. Joseph Millard was a prolific pulp author who also wrote many Western novels.
THE GODS HATE KANSAS is a pleasant read from the pulp era and should appeal to Science Fiction readers.
July 23, 2021
I picked up this book on a lark because I grew up in Kansas and thought the title was funny. I also liked the idea of reading an ancient science fiction novel.
The thing is, this novel is good. Sure, the story screams a bit "cheepnis" (it was the basis of the 1967 film "They Came from Beyond Space"), but as a whole, the story stands up, Dr. Curtis Temple is a resourceful, effective hero, and his lady Lee Mason is pretty tough as well. Their efforts to first just demystify the situation and then to defeat it are long odds all the way, but there's no giving up by these people.
A surprisingly good read. Certainly worth it if you enjoy the genre or even if you don't.
The thing is, this novel is good. Sure, the story screams a bit "cheepnis" (it was the basis of the 1967 film "They Came from Beyond Space"), but as a whole, the story stands up, Dr. Curtis Temple is a resourceful, effective hero, and his lady Lee Mason is pretty tough as well. Their efforts to first just demystify the situation and then to defeat it are long odds all the way, but there's no giving up by these people.
A surprisingly good read. Certainly worth it if you enjoy the genre or even if you don't.
August 29, 2020
I have to admit that what attracted me to this book was the title and the cover art, but it turned out to be a lot better than I expected. It actually reads like a movie -- and they did make a movie of it in the 1960s called "They Came from Beyond Space" which I have not seen but now intend to. Anyway, if you like pulpy, fast-paced science fiction, I recommend this.
December 5, 2020
An enjoyable B movie style romp. The story didn't flow brilliantly, but it kept me interested for a rather hast finale.
For a man not supposed to travel Curt Temple takes a low of blows and carries on.
I got this because the cover is great and it was well worth a read.
For a man not supposed to travel Curt Temple takes a low of blows and carries on.
I got this because the cover is great and it was well worth a read.
April 10, 2023
This plot tells the journey of a scientist who attempts to prevent space aliens, being made up of pure energy, from enslaving humans, to rebuild their spaceship, so that they can return to their home planet.
January 11, 2020
Una delle tante invasioni della Terra da parte degli alieni, poco credibile e che finisce a tarallucci e vino!!!
October 11, 2020
Kansas and aliens a good but very short read.
July 8, 2021
I only read this because I somehow came upon a postcard with the book cover art and because as a Mizzou grad, I do, indeed, hate Kansas.
February 20, 2022
You buy it for the wonderfully goofy title, but by the second chapter you realize this is the sort of hokum Joel and the bots regularly laughed at.
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March 19, 2017any
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 13, 2014
Was pleasantly surprised by how much fun this was. I was expecting some campy, eye-rolling amusement, but there was a depth that surprised me, both with the main character and the plot and resolution.
September 10, 2014
This book was a great, fun adventure read. Astrophysicists Curtis Temple is confronted with alien intelligences arriving in meteorites and taking over the minds of humans. The British movie THEY CAME FROM BEYOND SPACE is based on this novel.
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December 4, 2010I read this when I was in the fourth grade. I remember the cover, but that's about it!
July 25, 2016
light science fiction
September 4, 2008
Why Kansas? Can't tell you, though Millard does.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews