Of the billions of worlds that science fiction has given us, we humans of today are aware of only a few. Our grandparents were entertained by dozens of stories that are known to us only in theory. Even those of us who are familiar with Buck Rogers (watch here) or Flash Gordon from TV and film are only viewing pale shadows of the original comic serials.
Thankfully, the Cabinet of Wonders known by some as the Intarwub loves you, and wants to to see these worlds. Some may snicker at them, but they are remarkable and should be studied by any transdimensional travelers. Ignore, if you must, the jokes made at these pictures' expense, but do not ignore the images themselves. They are the work of Frank R. Paul, a genius I regard now as highly as Henry Darger and Fletcher Hanks. In the 1930's, apparently, this man was responsible for blowing the minds and visual cortexes of the young readers of Amazing Stories and other magazines of this type published by Hugo Gernsback. Today's link, brought to us by Tales of Future Past, is a tour of the civilized planets and moons of our solar system, from Mercury to Titan, and even extending out into the stars.
Tales of Future Past: Life on Other Worlds
Monday, June 23, 2008
Blinded By Science (Fiction)
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2 comments:
Hugo Gernsback was an unsung genius. Unfortunately, he dealt in intangables -- ideas, thoughts, sci fi. I worked for him from 1956 until his death and then continued with company until we shut our doors in 2002.
I started as an Assistant Editor and ended up owner of the company.
I’ve recently published a new 900-page biography about the life and times of Hugo Gernsback. It is available on Amazon. Just follow this link:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1419658573/ref=s9_asin_title_1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-1&pf_rd_r=0E2P5EPVT6GNP7TGPC29&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=320448601&pf_rd_i=507846
The manuscript was found while I was in the process of closing down Gernsback Publications Inc. in 2003. It was apparently written some time in the 1950’s. It covers all the areas that Hugo found interesting: wireless communications, science fiction, publishing, patents, foretelling the future, and much more.
Want more info? Contact me at PoptronixInc@aol.com
Thanks for your missive, Mr. Steckler. It certainly looks like an interesting manuscript, because not enough people today know about the influence he had in early science fiction.
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