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Science Fiction of the 30's
Contents:
· Foreword · Damon Knight · fw
· The Early Years · Damon Knight · si
· Out Around Rigel · Robert H. Wilson · ss Astounding Dec ’31
· The Fifth-Dimension Catapult [Tommy Reames] · Murray Leinster · na Astounding Jan ’31
· Into the Meteorite Orbit · Frank K. Kelly · nv Amazing Dec ’33
· The Battery of Hate · John W. Campbell, Jr. · nv Amazing Nov ’33
· The Middle Period · Damon Knight · si
· The Wall · Howard W. Graham · ss Astounding May ’34
· The Lost Language · David H. Keller, M.D. · ss Amazing Jan ’34
· The Last Men · Frank Belknap Long · ss Astounding Aug ’34
· The Other · Howard W. Graham · ss Astounding Dec ’34
· The Mad Moon · Stanley G. Weinbaum · nv Astounding Dec ’35
· Davey Jones’ Ambassador · Raymond Z. Gallun · nv Astounding Dec ’35
· Alas, All Thinking! · Harry Bates · nv Astounding Jun ’35
· The Time Decelerator · A. MacFadyen, Jr. · ss Astounding Jul ’36
· The Council of Drones · W. K. Sonnemann · nv Amazing Oct ’36
· The End · Damon Knight · si
· Seeker of Tomorrow · Eric Frank Russell & Leslie J. Johnson · na Astounding Jul ’37; Johnson given as Leslie T.
· Hyperpilosity · L. Sprague de Camp · ss Astounding Apr ’38
· Pithecanthropus Rejectus · Manly Wade Wellman · ss Astounding Jan ’38
· The Merman · L. Sprague de Camp · ss Astounding Dec ’38
· The Day Is Done · Lester del Rey · ss Astounding May ’39
· Bibliography · Misc. · bi
· Foreword · Damon Knight · fw
· The Early Years · Damon Knight · si
· Out Around Rigel · Robert H. Wilson · ss Astounding Dec ’31
· The Fifth-Dimension Catapult [Tommy Reames] · Murray Leinster · na Astounding Jan ’31
· Into the Meteorite Orbit · Frank K. Kelly · nv Amazing Dec ’33
· The Battery of Hate · John W. Campbell, Jr. · nv Amazing Nov ’33
· The Middle Period · Damon Knight · si
· The Wall · Howard W. Graham · ss Astounding May ’34
· The Lost Language · David H. Keller, M.D. · ss Amazing Jan ’34
· The Last Men · Frank Belknap Long · ss Astounding Aug ’34
· The Other · Howard W. Graham · ss Astounding Dec ’34
· The Mad Moon · Stanley G. Weinbaum · nv Astounding Dec ’35
· Davey Jones’ Ambassador · Raymond Z. Gallun · nv Astounding Dec ’35
· Alas, All Thinking! · Harry Bates · nv Astounding Jun ’35
· The Time Decelerator · A. MacFadyen, Jr. · ss Astounding Jul ’36
· The Council of Drones · W. K. Sonnemann · nv Amazing Oct ’36
· The End · Damon Knight · si
· Seeker of Tomorrow · Eric Frank Russell & Leslie J. Johnson · na Astounding Jul ’37; Johnson given as Leslie T.
· Hyperpilosity · L. Sprague de Camp · ss Astounding Apr ’38
· Pithecanthropus Rejectus · Manly Wade Wellman · ss Astounding Jan ’38
· The Merman · L. Sprague de Camp · ss Astounding Dec ’38
· The Day Is Done · Lester del Rey · ss Astounding May ’39
· Bibliography · Misc. · bi
469 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1934
About the author
Damon Knight
596 books101 followersDamon Francis Knight was an American science fiction author, editor, and critic.
Knight's first professional sale was a cartoon drawing to a science-fiction magazine, Amazing Stories. His first story, "Resilience", was published in 1941. He is best known as the author of "To Serve Man", which was adapted for The Twilight Zone. He was a recipient of the Hugo Award, founder of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA), cofounder of the National Fantasy Fan Federation, cofounder of the Milford Writer's Workshop, and cofounder of the Clarion Writers Workshop. Knight lived in Eugene, Oregon, with his wife Kate Wilhelm.
Knight's first professional sale was a cartoon drawing to a science-fiction magazine, Amazing Stories. His first story, "Resilience", was published in 1941. He is best known as the author of "To Serve Man", which was adapted for The Twilight Zone. He was a recipient of the Hugo Award, founder of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA), cofounder of the National Fantasy Fan Federation, cofounder of the Milford Writer's Workshop, and cofounder of the Clarion Writers Workshop. Knight lived in Eugene, Oregon, with his wife Kate Wilhelm.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
September 28, 2020
This is a good collection of short science fiction from the 1930s, and is a nice companion piece to Isaac Asimov's anthology Before the Golden Age. The magazines of the time were interested in presenting a sense-of-wonder and strong adventures to young white men, so there's not a lot of inclusiveness or character development, but there are some very entertaining stories; they just have to be read as historical examples of the best of a bygone age. Some of the ideas (and some of the prose!) are quite clunky, but remember what they say about those who don't remember the past. I most enjoyed the stories by Murray Leinster, David H. Heller, M.D., Frank Belknap Long, Jr., Stanley G. Weinbaum, Raymond Z. Gallun, and Harry Bates from the pre-Golden Age (before John W. Campbell became editor of Astounding Science Fiction) era, and thought all of the Campbell-chosen stories in the book's last section were fine. I speculate that Knight chose some of the authors' second-best stories from the time because Asimov had used the best in his book. The book includes a lot of the original pulp magazine illustrations along with the text, many of which are also delightful.
July 18, 2015
One of those books that the 3-Star rating was just absolutely made for. If you are A) a fan of written/magazine science fiction; and B) interested in studying how it has changed, evolved and improved over time, then this book is an excellent place -- perhaps THE place -- to begin a study of the early years of the genre; a time when action, adventure and a generally positive view of where scientific discovery and industrialized production techniques (and the technological developments that resulted from this marriage) was leading our civilization were the paramount concerns of both editors and writers alike. These stories are EXCITING, because the prospects for our future (this in spite of, or even in defiance of, The Depression) was EXCITING in itself.
This all must be taken with a grain of the salt of REALISM, however. World War II demonstrated the all too-human tendency to use technological advancements as tools of destruction. All of a sudden the unlimited-upside-to-atomic-power and all-good-things-from-science stories of the 30's looked ridiculously Utopian and unrealistic. The additional problem, especially looking back from today, is the incredibly poor quality of the writing in these stories. The editorial stress on EXCITEMENT above all else has left us with a legacy of plot-heavy stories filled with characters that are there to DO THINGS, rather than to be people.
There are reasons for this: The genre was new, the craft of telling solid stories utilizing its particular elements was still being worked out; in a bid for authenticity and prestige editors sought out actual scientists and professors to write stories, regardless of the latter's ability to actually craft a fictional narrative; the low pay (half-a-cent per word was standard) offered by these magazines, coupled with an increased need for material as the genre gained in popularity, practically guaranteed a steady stream of submissions from hack writers, many of whom had no interest in the genre other than as an income source. Simply put, science fiction needed to grow up, and at this point it had yet to do so -- that would come with the next generation of writers, those that grew up reading these stories while thinking to themselves, "I like this, but I can do better!"
Merged review:
As editor Damon Knight makes clear, these stories are NOT well-written; what they ARE is a representative collection of what the early days of magazine science fiction had to offer: Stories that were long on action/adventure & futuristic inventions, and short on characterization & literary quality. The writers of that era consisted of enthusiastic amateurs, scientists & doctors that were recruited by the magazines for their 'expertise' (in science, not writing) and competent hacks whose fondness for the SF genre was determined by their ability to earn a paycheck from it. Of interest today to students of the genre and fans of pulp fiction, there's little to recommend to the general reader. Luckily for the readers of today, things have come a long way since the 'good old days'.
This all must be taken with a grain of the salt of REALISM, however. World War II demonstrated the all too-human tendency to use technological advancements as tools of destruction. All of a sudden the unlimited-upside-to-atomic-power and all-good-things-from-science stories of the 30's looked ridiculously Utopian and unrealistic. The additional problem, especially looking back from today, is the incredibly poor quality of the writing in these stories. The editorial stress on EXCITEMENT above all else has left us with a legacy of plot-heavy stories filled with characters that are there to DO THINGS, rather than to be people.
There are reasons for this: The genre was new, the craft of telling solid stories utilizing its particular elements was still being worked out; in a bid for authenticity and prestige editors sought out actual scientists and professors to write stories, regardless of the latter's ability to actually craft a fictional narrative; the low pay (half-a-cent per word was standard) offered by these magazines, coupled with an increased need for material as the genre gained in popularity, practically guaranteed a steady stream of submissions from hack writers, many of whom had no interest in the genre other than as an income source. Simply put, science fiction needed to grow up, and at this point it had yet to do so -- that would come with the next generation of writers, those that grew up reading these stories while thinking to themselves, "I like this, but I can do better!"
Merged review:
As editor Damon Knight makes clear, these stories are NOT well-written; what they ARE is a representative collection of what the early days of magazine science fiction had to offer: Stories that were long on action/adventure & futuristic inventions, and short on characterization & literary quality. The writers of that era consisted of enthusiastic amateurs, scientists & doctors that were recruited by the magazines for their 'expertise' (in science, not writing) and competent hacks whose fondness for the SF genre was determined by their ability to earn a paycheck from it. Of interest today to students of the genre and fans of pulp fiction, there's little to recommend to the general reader. Luckily for the readers of today, things have come a long way since the 'good old days'.
October 30, 2013
As the editor of this anthology notes most of the science fiction created in the 30’s was dribble.
But it kept money coming into the authors and publishers and offered exotic entertainment to the great unwashed that was US.
Through the insight of the ensuing 80 years we find that science fiction that came later was better. Why? Maybe because just like Darwin, the weak were culled from the herd and the strongest continued to produce better and better stories.
These 18 stories show that even in the 30’s there were authors who held them selves to standards that not only required entertainment for the reader but some truly spectacular speculation.
Speculation included: zero population growth, abdication of a King, atomic energy, computers and others modern conveniences. You could say that if you throw darts at a target enough times you will eventually get lucky and hit it with one. However when you detail something that does not exist then, and maybe not for another 50 years, you definitely have a fine tuned imagination.
However having imagination and transferring what you imagine to others that takes a special skill which is illustrated in the stories included in this anthology.
A sneak peak at the future by looking into the past. Just take a look at “The Wall” by Howard W. Graham, PH. D. Who writes of an invisible wall that comes down on a city and no one can pass through the wall. Sound familiar ? (The Dome by Stephen King)
Very entertaining book
But it kept money coming into the authors and publishers and offered exotic entertainment to the great unwashed that was US.
Through the insight of the ensuing 80 years we find that science fiction that came later was better. Why? Maybe because just like Darwin, the weak were culled from the herd and the strongest continued to produce better and better stories.
These 18 stories show that even in the 30’s there were authors who held them selves to standards that not only required entertainment for the reader but some truly spectacular speculation.
Speculation included: zero population growth, abdication of a King, atomic energy, computers and others modern conveniences. You could say that if you throw darts at a target enough times you will eventually get lucky and hit it with one. However when you detail something that does not exist then, and maybe not for another 50 years, you definitely have a fine tuned imagination.
However having imagination and transferring what you imagine to others that takes a special skill which is illustrated in the stories included in this anthology.
A sneak peak at the future by looking into the past. Just take a look at “The Wall” by Howard W. Graham, PH. D. Who writes of an invisible wall that comes down on a city and no one can pass through the wall. Sound familiar ? (The Dome by Stephen King)
Very entertaining book
April 5, 2019
Art fans may appreciate the selected (but incomplete?) original illustrations (eg Morey, Dold, Wesso, Schneeman), reproduced reduced but still discernible.
Out Around Rigel: Unsurprising, poignant nonetheless.
Leinster's Fifth Dimension Catapult: An uncomvincing simplification or two of how the device works; cut this by a third and you'd have a decent adventure story.
Into the Meteorite Orbit: Private space research project leads to shenanigans from a logical source and suspenseful adventure.
The Battery of Hate: Campbell here bores me a great deal with the economics, touting of electric vs gas power.
The Wall: A surprising treat for readers of a major bestselling author's blockbuster novel and spinoff TV series. Practically no time needed to read this plodding story although a bit hard to visuaiize the goings-on.
The Lost Language: Slight, but whimsical and interesting idea.
The Last Men: Fairly well-written but unsatisfying vignette.
The Other: Zany conversation with a surprise ending.
The Mad Moon: A notch above the rest so far, thanks to Weinbaum's talent and good nature. Comes closest to what I'd expected in mood and plot from this collection.
Davey Jones' Ambassador: Bleak predicament and encouraging resolution.
Alas, All Thinking!: Enjoyable, B-movie like (wobbling between thought-provoking and comedic, even schmaltzy) time-travel yarn.
The Time Decelerator: Credible opening relativistic justification for time travel leads to an adventure which manages to hold one's interest.
The Council of Drones: Oddly compelling apiary story.
Seeker of Tomorrow: Slightly more modernly written time-travel yarn, low-impact ending.
Hyperpilosity: Clearly a harbinger of the Golden Age, original premise, well-told with lesser formality.
Pithecanthropus Rejectus: Cleverly titled brief seriocomic account of an experiment.
The Merman: Breezy early Golden Age predicament story
The Day Is Done: Classic Golden Age early humanity requiem.
Out Around Rigel: Unsurprising, poignant nonetheless.
Leinster's Fifth Dimension Catapult: An uncomvincing simplification or two of how the device works; cut this by a third and you'd have a decent adventure story.
Into the Meteorite Orbit: Private space research project leads to shenanigans from a logical source and suspenseful adventure.
The Battery of Hate: Campbell here bores me a great deal with the economics, touting of electric vs gas power.
The Wall: A surprising treat for readers of a major bestselling author's blockbuster novel and spinoff TV series. Practically no time needed to read this plodding story although a bit hard to visuaiize the goings-on.
The Lost Language: Slight, but whimsical and interesting idea.
The Last Men: Fairly well-written but unsatisfying vignette.
The Other: Zany conversation with a surprise ending.
The Mad Moon: A notch above the rest so far, thanks to Weinbaum's talent and good nature. Comes closest to what I'd expected in mood and plot from this collection.
Davey Jones' Ambassador: Bleak predicament and encouraging resolution.
Alas, All Thinking!: Enjoyable, B-movie like (wobbling between thought-provoking and comedic, even schmaltzy) time-travel yarn.
The Time Decelerator: Credible opening relativistic justification for time travel leads to an adventure which manages to hold one's interest.
The Council of Drones: Oddly compelling apiary story.
Seeker of Tomorrow: Slightly more modernly written time-travel yarn, low-impact ending.
Hyperpilosity: Clearly a harbinger of the Golden Age, original premise, well-told with lesser formality.
Pithecanthropus Rejectus: Cleverly titled brief seriocomic account of an experiment.
The Merman: Breezy early Golden Age predicament story
The Day Is Done: Classic Golden Age early humanity requiem.
February 15, 2009
Back when science fiction meant fiction about science, and not fantasy/action set in space. Most of these stories are about scientists and the process of invention.
Not all the stories are memorable, and quite a few are derivative even for their day. Highlights were the John W. Campbell, Jr. story "The Battery of Hate," about how monopoly industrialists will stop at nothing to destroy any technology that's cheaper, more efficient, and (most importantly) that they can't control; "The Council of Drones," by W. K. Sonnemann, where a man mindswaps with a queen bee and marshals the hive against the human beekeepers; and "The Day is Done," by Lester del Rey, which almost too closely foretells William Golding's The Inheritors.
Not all the stories are memorable, and quite a few are derivative even for their day. Highlights were the John W. Campbell, Jr. story "The Battery of Hate," about how monopoly industrialists will stop at nothing to destroy any technology that's cheaper, more efficient, and (most importantly) that they can't control; "The Council of Drones," by W. K. Sonnemann, where a man mindswaps with a queen bee and marshals the hive against the human beekeepers; and "The Day is Done," by Lester del Rey, which almost too closely foretells William Golding's The Inheritors.
March 23, 2013
Not nearly as good/fun as the Asimov collection (Before the Golden Age). Contains two classics: "Mad Moon" (probably Weinbaum's best) and "The Day Is Done" by del Rey. "The Other" (Howard W Graham) interesting sinister ending with no wrap-up. "Alas All Thinking" by Harry Bates great if you're a fan of Nazi euthanasia programs. "Seeker Of Tomorrow" (Eric Frank Russell) fun and nicely world-spanning; also liked the line "warfare has now reached the stage where nobody wins and everybody loses." Manly Wade Wellman's "Pithecanthropus Rejectus" nicely tart--and good black-humor sendup of segregation.
September 12, 2018
A little fun in between weightier tomes. This anthology of stories published in the 1930s runs the gamut from "gee whiz" pseudo-science in the earliest tales to humor and pathos in more imaginative (but no less scientifically lacking) stories. An example of the latter is Lester Del Rey's story about a meeting between neanderthals and cro-magnons. It manages to incorporate aeons of evoution into one or two generations of the characters' lives. Some enjoyable stuff from such as Murray Leinster, John Campbell, Stanley Weinbaum, Harry Bates, Eric Frank Russell and L. Sprague de Camp. A worthwhile romp.
April 24, 2011
Can't do it. Between the corny-ness, the tackey dialog sequences and the insipid love angles in some of these stories I'm giving up. I know these were written in the 30's but, after reading C.L. Moores "Black Gods and Scarlet Dreams", written in the same time frame I know there was some good stuff around. Unfortunately, the 8 or 9 pieces I wasted my time on in this compilation did not fall into the category of "good stuff"
I'll give this book 5 stars in eye rolling
I'll give this book 5 stars in eye rolling
May 1, 2020
“Out Around Rigel” by Robert H. Wilson 5/30/19 ***
This is a surprisingly sophisticated science fiction story from the early 1930s. I was pulled in with the characters, the romance, and then the postulation of how faster-than-light-speed travel would work. I was surprised that this was speculation was the thread the entire story hung on. I'm not sure how believable the fight was, but it definitely kept my interest anyway.
Unfortunately, not a happy ending, though, which I always prefer. And there were a few swear words, so I had to deduct stars.
“The Fifth-Dimension Catapult” by Murray Leinster 6/6/19 ****
This was a fascinating idea about how to travel to different dimensions, which I wasn't aware that the theory of further dimensions even existed already in the 30s. This had almost the perfect pacing, with a smattering of romance to keep me interested. :) Unfortunately, though, the only reason Tommy fell in love with the girl was because she was pretty and in distress. :(
It did have a happy ending, though not all the threads were tied up, but the main reason I deducted a star was because of the violence.
“Into the Meteorite Orbit” by Frank K. Kelly 6/11/19 ****
I found it hilarious that the prediction for the first time a human was to go into space wasn't until AD 2163, after robots and teleporters and mind communicators. But the characters were highly interesting, all except the trope antagonist. The futuristic political landscape was fascinating, too. In fact, I was left unsatisfied because I wanted to know what the Group was going to do to them. It ended too abruptly.
“The Wall” by Howard H. Graham, Ph.D. 7/2/19 ****
This was really good. It started right in the middle of the action, then gave us just enough backstory to understand what was happening. The stakes continued to increase, and the climax was stretched out with detail after detail. The only thing I wasn't happy with was the ending. I didn't understand the last two paragraphs of resolution.
“The Lost Language” by David H. Keller, MD 7/8/19 *****
I loved this! Not what I would expect from science fiction—no spaceship or weapon system or futuristic setting. It was merely a prediction of speech to text. About 80 years before it came true. I was pleased with the mention of fingerspelling for deaf people, as I have trained in that a little myself. I also loved the ending—what a perfect example of agape love from an unheard-of author.
“The Last Men” by Frank Belknap Long, Jr. **
This was really strange. A world where men and women are grown artificially with growth sped up, and the rulers of the world are unfeeling, gigantic, flying insects. The ending didn't make much sense to me.
“The Other” by Howard W. Graham, Ph.D. **
Cryogenics meets aliens. Interesting concept, but the characters were weird. And I did not at all understand the ending.
“The Mad Moon” by Stanley G. Weinbaum 8/3/19 ****
This has been my favorite so far, probably because it had a thread of romance and actually ended up happily ever after. ;) I found the setting on Io a great idea with all the different views of the Great Spot and the other moons of Jupiter to add to the light, but the inhabitants felt a bit too fantastical. The miniature men-rats, called Slinkers, seemed to be a play on Jonathan Swift's Lilliputians from Gulliver's Travels. The silly, giggling, Loonies were only interesting after the fact, though I thought from the beginning that Grant was too hard on them.
“Davey Jones' Ambassador” by Raymond Z. Gallun 9/11/19 *****
This was such a fresh change of pace from the space-themed fiction of the 30s. I loved the entire society under the ocean. I loved the character development, and I loved the ending!
The only thing I didn't like was that a few of the lines of “dialogue” that were written communication were too long for the kind of messages they were sending, which made them seem unbelievable. Other than that, I really enjoyed this one!
“Alas, All Thinking” by Harry Bates 11/23/19 ***
This was a longer short story and very interesting as an exploration of morality in the 1930s. Stylistically, I didn't like the two different POVs. It starts out with this reporter guy explaining that it sounds fantastic but it's true. Then the main story is told from Frick's POV, the scientist who had traveled forward in time to the end of humanity. It reverts back to the reporter's POV whenever we pause the story to hear his reactions. Since Frick is an unreliable narrator, it's so much more interesting from his POV, and I wish the author had let go of the reporter's POV completely. As to the story itself, it had great subtext, relatable characters, engaging action, and thought-provoking themes (pun intended) of the juxtaposition of emotion and intellect. I just can't decide if I agree with the author because he didn't make it clear which side of euthanasia he came down on. Though fairly well-written, because the tone was morbid, I can't recommend.
“The Time Decelerator” by A. Macfadyen, Jr. 1/2/20 ****
This one was really interesting, and even though the science behind it was hard to comprehend, the story intrigued me. I just didn't understand the ending.
Favorite quotes:
“...the rate of change is a function of the velocity of the system referred to.”
“Had the effect not been confined in this manner, the earth would have been disturbed in her orbit, such was the intolerable power generated in that relatively small mass of apparatus.”
“It all had a strange appearance of intentional disarray, as though planned by those who desired pleasant disorder.”
“'You can't go back...The curve field operates in one direction only...'” And yet he did, and the science was never explained.
“The Council of Drones” by W.K. Sonnemann 2/25/2020 ****
I thought this was highly imaginative and innovative. A man switching bodies with a queen bee brought up many questions. I learned a lot about beehives and normal bee roles, probably more than I ever remembered from science in school. I really related to so many of his changing opinions and thoughts. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars was because I didn't understand the ending. Why did he react as he did? It made me dislike him, the main character.
“Seeker of Tomorrow” by Eric Frank Russell & Leslie T. Johnson 4/16/2020 ****
I really enjoyed this story except for two things: the beginning and the ending. The beginning is highly imaginative and really pulled me in; however, it's from a completely different perspective than the rest of the story. We never hear about Urnas Karin again. It's not his story. I wanted more of the current society. But the story is about the time traveler, Glyn Weston. The ending was abrupt and left me with so many questions, which I don't like. But the story itself was fascinating.
I didn't know meta comments existed so early: “'The popularity of science fiction has made the subject of time travel quite familiar to us. But time travel is impossible.'” (p.383)
“Hyperpilosity” by L. Sprague de Camp 4/24/20 **
This story was not one of my favorites. The political and social effects of scientific discovery were fascinating. But the discovery itself was based on the theory of evolution. Because it was actually a de-evolution made it unrealistic that people would want to stay that way. And I didn't like the modesty hit and the several curse words (though mild).
“Pithecanthropus Rejectus” by Manly W. Wellman 4/28/20 *
I was not impressed with this one. Just changing the shape of an ape's head does not help him think somewhat like a human. And then the end. Just terrible.
“Merman” by L. Sprague de Camp 4/30/20 ****
This was interesting and still somewhat scientifically feasible, though all the science was biological. The only thing I didn't like about it was the ending. It was very anti-climatic. And didn't mention the romance. ;)
“The Day is Done” by Lester Del Ray 4/30/20 **
I wasn't impressed with this one, either. There were a few writing flaws that may have been okay back in the day but had me stumbling in the beginning. And since I don't subscribe to the “theory” of evolution, I didn't really appreciate the difference between the Neanderthal man and the more “evolved” Cro-Magnum Talkers. It was interesting to imagine what might have happened if the smarter humans had overtaken the inferior. But I really didn't like the sad ending.
I was glad of the bit of organization of these stories into Beginning, Middle, and End of the decade. But I didn't like the sad ending of the last story as the finale of the entire series. I wonder if it was done to mimic the end of the era of the 30s, the last golden days before WWII?
(I borrowed this book from a friend. The decision to write a review, as well as the opinions expressed in it, are all my own. I was not compensated for this review.)
This is a surprisingly sophisticated science fiction story from the early 1930s. I was pulled in with the characters, the romance, and then the postulation of how faster-than-light-speed travel would work. I was surprised that this was speculation was the thread the entire story hung on. I'm not sure how believable the fight was, but it definitely kept my interest anyway.
Unfortunately, not a happy ending, though, which I always prefer. And there were a few swear words, so I had to deduct stars.
“The Fifth-Dimension Catapult” by Murray Leinster 6/6/19 ****
This was a fascinating idea about how to travel to different dimensions, which I wasn't aware that the theory of further dimensions even existed already in the 30s. This had almost the perfect pacing, with a smattering of romance to keep me interested. :) Unfortunately, though, the only reason Tommy fell in love with the girl was because she was pretty and in distress. :(
It did have a happy ending, though not all the threads were tied up, but the main reason I deducted a star was because of the violence.
“Into the Meteorite Orbit” by Frank K. Kelly 6/11/19 ****
I found it hilarious that the prediction for the first time a human was to go into space wasn't until AD 2163, after robots and teleporters and mind communicators. But the characters were highly interesting, all except the trope antagonist. The futuristic political landscape was fascinating, too. In fact, I was left unsatisfied because I wanted to know what the Group was going to do to them. It ended too abruptly.
“The Wall” by Howard H. Graham, Ph.D. 7/2/19 ****
This was really good. It started right in the middle of the action, then gave us just enough backstory to understand what was happening. The stakes continued to increase, and the climax was stretched out with detail after detail. The only thing I wasn't happy with was the ending. I didn't understand the last two paragraphs of resolution.
“The Lost Language” by David H. Keller, MD 7/8/19 *****
I loved this! Not what I would expect from science fiction—no spaceship or weapon system or futuristic setting. It was merely a prediction of speech to text. About 80 years before it came true. I was pleased with the mention of fingerspelling for deaf people, as I have trained in that a little myself. I also loved the ending—what a perfect example of agape love from an unheard-of author.
“The Last Men” by Frank Belknap Long, Jr. **
This was really strange. A world where men and women are grown artificially with growth sped up, and the rulers of the world are unfeeling, gigantic, flying insects. The ending didn't make much sense to me.
“The Other” by Howard W. Graham, Ph.D. **
Cryogenics meets aliens. Interesting concept, but the characters were weird. And I did not at all understand the ending.
“The Mad Moon” by Stanley G. Weinbaum 8/3/19 ****
This has been my favorite so far, probably because it had a thread of romance and actually ended up happily ever after. ;) I found the setting on Io a great idea with all the different views of the Great Spot and the other moons of Jupiter to add to the light, but the inhabitants felt a bit too fantastical. The miniature men-rats, called Slinkers, seemed to be a play on Jonathan Swift's Lilliputians from Gulliver's Travels. The silly, giggling, Loonies were only interesting after the fact, though I thought from the beginning that Grant was too hard on them.
“Davey Jones' Ambassador” by Raymond Z. Gallun 9/11/19 *****
This was such a fresh change of pace from the space-themed fiction of the 30s. I loved the entire society under the ocean. I loved the character development, and I loved the ending!
The only thing I didn't like was that a few of the lines of “dialogue” that were written communication were too long for the kind of messages they were sending, which made them seem unbelievable. Other than that, I really enjoyed this one!
“Alas, All Thinking” by Harry Bates 11/23/19 ***
This was a longer short story and very interesting as an exploration of morality in the 1930s. Stylistically, I didn't like the two different POVs. It starts out with this reporter guy explaining that it sounds fantastic but it's true. Then the main story is told from Frick's POV, the scientist who had traveled forward in time to the end of humanity. It reverts back to the reporter's POV whenever we pause the story to hear his reactions. Since Frick is an unreliable narrator, it's so much more interesting from his POV, and I wish the author had let go of the reporter's POV completely. As to the story itself, it had great subtext, relatable characters, engaging action, and thought-provoking themes (pun intended) of the juxtaposition of emotion and intellect. I just can't decide if I agree with the author because he didn't make it clear which side of euthanasia he came down on. Though fairly well-written, because the tone was morbid, I can't recommend.
“The Time Decelerator” by A. Macfadyen, Jr. 1/2/20 ****
This one was really interesting, and even though the science behind it was hard to comprehend, the story intrigued me. I just didn't understand the ending.
Favorite quotes:
“...the rate of change is a function of the velocity of the system referred to.”
“Had the effect not been confined in this manner, the earth would have been disturbed in her orbit, such was the intolerable power generated in that relatively small mass of apparatus.”
“It all had a strange appearance of intentional disarray, as though planned by those who desired pleasant disorder.”
“'You can't go back...The curve field operates in one direction only...'” And yet he did, and the science was never explained.
“The Council of Drones” by W.K. Sonnemann 2/25/2020 ****
I thought this was highly imaginative and innovative. A man switching bodies with a queen bee brought up many questions. I learned a lot about beehives and normal bee roles, probably more than I ever remembered from science in school. I really related to so many of his changing opinions and thoughts. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars was because I didn't understand the ending. Why did he react as he did? It made me dislike him, the main character.
“Seeker of Tomorrow” by Eric Frank Russell & Leslie T. Johnson 4/16/2020 ****
I really enjoyed this story except for two things: the beginning and the ending. The beginning is highly imaginative and really pulled me in; however, it's from a completely different perspective than the rest of the story. We never hear about Urnas Karin again. It's not his story. I wanted more of the current society. But the story is about the time traveler, Glyn Weston. The ending was abrupt and left me with so many questions, which I don't like. But the story itself was fascinating.
I didn't know meta comments existed so early: “'The popularity of science fiction has made the subject of time travel quite familiar to us. But time travel is impossible.'” (p.383)
“Hyperpilosity” by L. Sprague de Camp 4/24/20 **
This story was not one of my favorites. The political and social effects of scientific discovery were fascinating. But the discovery itself was based on the theory of evolution. Because it was actually a de-evolution made it unrealistic that people would want to stay that way. And I didn't like the modesty hit and the several curse words (though mild).
“Pithecanthropus Rejectus” by Manly W. Wellman 4/28/20 *
I was not impressed with this one. Just changing the shape of an ape's head does not help him think somewhat like a human. And then the end. Just terrible.
“Merman” by L. Sprague de Camp 4/30/20 ****
This was interesting and still somewhat scientifically feasible, though all the science was biological. The only thing I didn't like about it was the ending. It was very anti-climatic. And didn't mention the romance. ;)
“The Day is Done” by Lester Del Ray 4/30/20 **
I wasn't impressed with this one, either. There were a few writing flaws that may have been okay back in the day but had me stumbling in the beginning. And since I don't subscribe to the “theory” of evolution, I didn't really appreciate the difference between the Neanderthal man and the more “evolved” Cro-Magnum Talkers. It was interesting to imagine what might have happened if the smarter humans had overtaken the inferior. But I really didn't like the sad ending.
I was glad of the bit of organization of these stories into Beginning, Middle, and End of the decade. But I didn't like the sad ending of the last story as the finale of the entire series. I wonder if it was done to mimic the end of the era of the 30s, the last golden days before WWII?
(I borrowed this book from a friend. The decision to write a review, as well as the opinions expressed in it, are all my own. I was not compensated for this review.)
July 3, 2020
A good selection of stories. I was surprised to find out that I hadn't read any of these (and they might not be in any of my other collections).
The only one from the Early Years section that I thought looked interesting was "The Fifth-Dimension Catapult", although the catapult is just a means to get to another world.
"The Wall" was interesting; an infinitely strong wall that runs parallel to 42nd Street in New York. "The Lost Language" was a bit touchy-feely at the end. "The Last Men" shows what would happen if insects were the dominant race, and they collected the prettiest of us humans. "The Other" didn't seem so interesting to me; the idea was good, but there wasn't much of one.
"The Mad Moon" was downright silly, a nice change of pace. "Alas, All Thinking!" is told by someone who murders the eventual descendants of the human race. "The Time Decelerator" is a forwards-only time travel story ... until the end, which ruins the concept. In "The Council of Drones", a man exchanges brains with a queen bee, and then proceeds to attack the beekeepers ... one of which is his own father; other than some questionable genetics, this is entertaining.
"Seeker of Tomorrow" is a true forwards-only time travel story. "Hyperpilosity" (excess hair) shows how adaptable human culture is to fashion. I didn't like "Pithecanthropus Rejectus"; "man brain in a monkey body." Finally, "The Day Is Done" (about the last Neanderthal) appears to be pure fantasy, no science fiction.
The only one from the Early Years section that I thought looked interesting was "The Fifth-Dimension Catapult", although the catapult is just a means to get to another world.
"The Wall" was interesting; an infinitely strong wall that runs parallel to 42nd Street in New York. "The Lost Language" was a bit touchy-feely at the end. "The Last Men" shows what would happen if insects were the dominant race, and they collected the prettiest of us humans. "The Other" didn't seem so interesting to me; the idea was good, but there wasn't much of one.
"The Mad Moon" was downright silly, a nice change of pace. "Alas, All Thinking!" is told by someone who murders the eventual descendants of the human race. "The Time Decelerator" is a forwards-only time travel story ... until the end, which ruins the concept. In "The Council of Drones", a man exchanges brains with a queen bee, and then proceeds to attack the beekeepers ... one of which is his own father; other than some questionable genetics, this is entertaining.
"Seeker of Tomorrow" is a true forwards-only time travel story. "Hyperpilosity" (excess hair) shows how adaptable human culture is to fashion. I didn't like "Pithecanthropus Rejectus"; "man brain in a monkey body." Finally, "The Day Is Done" (about the last Neanderthal) appears to be pure fantasy, no science fiction.
March 19, 2017
A good introduction to old science fiction. The last year of the 1930s, 1939, was the first year when modern science fiction began to appear, in the pages of John Campbell's Astounding. As Damon Knight says in the introduction to this book, he at first gave up the project of reprinting the best of the old science fiction because "there was no audience for the old stories, and, in addition, because they were all junk". The existence of this book proves that Knight changed his mind, but he was at least half right. Most of these stories are hard to read, and offer at best some mind-blowing ideas in less-than-stellar prose. The best stories are, unsurprisingly, from 1938-39, by such well-known writers as Lester del Rey, L. Sprague de Camp, and Manly W. Wellman.
I read all of these stories, and am not sorry I did, but many were hard plowing. Most enjoyable of the early stories were those by John W. Campbell, Jr., David H. Keller, and Raymond Z. Gallun. There is also a remarkable story by a writer I never heard of before, W. K. Sonnemann, "The Council of Drones", an informed and well-written story about a man who transfers his mind to a bee.
Damon Knight's brief introductions are well worth reading, and the Bibliography is of interest, listing the very few anthologies with sf from the 1930s.
I read all of these stories, and am not sorry I did, but many were hard plowing. Most enjoyable of the early stories were those by John W. Campbell, Jr., David H. Keller, and Raymond Z. Gallun. There is also a remarkable story by a writer I never heard of before, W. K. Sonnemann, "The Council of Drones", an informed and well-written story about a man who transfers his mind to a bee.
Damon Knight's brief introductions are well worth reading, and the Bibliography is of interest, listing the very few anthologies with sf from the 1930s.
October 21, 2024
This is a book only for the most hardcore science fiction fans.
The novellas in this anthology are old and they feel old, but they are also inctredibely interesting from an historic piint of view.
Bonus point for "alas the all thinking" that is Dick favourite novella or at least the one that influeced him the most
The novellas in this anthology are old and they feel old, but they are also inctredibely interesting from an historic piint of view.
Bonus point for "alas the all thinking" that is Dick favourite novella or at least the one that influeced him the most
August 24, 2024
"The Lost Language" (1934) by David H. Keller is obscure. Collections of Keller's work always choose others of his 100 plus published stories rather than this one. Nevertheless, this is one of my favorite SF stories of all time because of the mystery throughout and the understated emotional impact of its ending.
The story is about this boy, the first son, born after three girls to an aristocratic family who is to become the heir. Everyone is very excited about this until they're not. There is a problem, you see. The boy doesn't speak. In fact, he refuses to deal with language. He has his own already. But he can't speak it. He does write it, but the alphabet isn't a standard one. What can be done about this situation? How can anyone learn to communicate with this boy? Why won't he use his family's language? Where did his come from? To find out, you have to read this wonderful short story.
Kindle offers two David H. Keller story collections for less than a dollar each. Unfortunately, this story is not included in these. I only know of two ways one can read this story. Purchase the anthology Science Fiction of the 30's edited by Damon Knight on the used book market easily. It's included there, and the anthology as a whole is well described at science fiction awards database's website: https://www.sfadb.com/DecadeBests.
Or locate the January 1934 issue of Amazing Stories at Internet Archive or here: https://s3.us-west-1.wasabisys.com/lu... and start reading at page 93. The pdf can be sideloaded into an e-Reader if you have the technical expertise. Otherwise, it's a short story, easy enough to read from a computer screen.
Seriously, I think you'll find the story is worth the effort to acquire and read it. I was first introduced to David H. Keller's work when reading an anthology consisting of medical doctors' forays into writing science fiction. He had to be included, of course. Impressed by that story, I read a few of the eleven or so he had published in Weird Tales. Keller fails to impress some readers, but I am not among their number.
The story is about this boy, the first son, born after three girls to an aristocratic family who is to become the heir. Everyone is very excited about this until they're not. There is a problem, you see. The boy doesn't speak. In fact, he refuses to deal with language. He has his own already. But he can't speak it. He does write it, but the alphabet isn't a standard one. What can be done about this situation? How can anyone learn to communicate with this boy? Why won't he use his family's language? Where did his come from? To find out, you have to read this wonderful short story.
Kindle offers two David H. Keller story collections for less than a dollar each. Unfortunately, this story is not included in these. I only know of two ways one can read this story. Purchase the anthology Science Fiction of the 30's edited by Damon Knight on the used book market easily. It's included there, and the anthology as a whole is well described at science fiction awards database's website: https://www.sfadb.com/DecadeBests.
Or locate the January 1934 issue of Amazing Stories at Internet Archive or here: https://s3.us-west-1.wasabisys.com/lu... and start reading at page 93. The pdf can be sideloaded into an e-Reader if you have the technical expertise. Otherwise, it's a short story, easy enough to read from a computer screen.
Seriously, I think you'll find the story is worth the effort to acquire and read it. I was first introduced to David H. Keller's work when reading an anthology consisting of medical doctors' forays into writing science fiction. He had to be included, of course. Impressed by that story, I read a few of the eleven or so he had published in Weird Tales. Keller fails to impress some readers, but I am not among their number.
April 4, 2008
Lots of corny old SF stories in this one. The good ones more than make up for the stinkers, though. An entertaining, easy read if you're into the "future of the past" classic sci-fi stuff.
December 28, 2014
These stories are where science fiction started. A fiction of ideas and strong sense of wonder.
Read
October 5, 2012A re-read of "Out Around Rigel" by Robert H. Wilson (1931); originally read sometime in early 00's.
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