Astounding Stories of Super-Science, December 1930

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

30691

Title

Astounding Stories of Super-Science, December 1930

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

Set in the Amazon and a futuristic empire, this 1930 anthology blends pulp adventure with early science fiction. Featuring tales of bio-engineered tribes, interplanetary warfare, and deep-sea monsters, the collection offers vivid, if occasionally melodramatic, stories of exploration, transformation, and cosmic conflict.

Summary up to 500 words

Published in December 1930, *Astounding Stories of Super-Science*, edited by Harry Bates, offers a vibrant collection of speculative fiction that balances human drama with grand, often fantastical scientific concepts. The issue opens with Sophie Wenzel Ellis's "Slaves of the Dust," where scientist Hale Oakham ventures into the Brazilian jungle to locate the Ungapuk tribe. He discovers they have been transformed by the biochemical experiments of Sir Basil Addington, now known as Aimu. Once cannibals, the tribe has been reborn as cultured humans, while a white woman named Ana reveals she was created by Aimu from dust. The narrative explores profound themes of creation, cultural transformation, and the ethical limits of science. Charles W. Diffin's "The Pirate Planet" shifts to a futuristic setting where Peter Van Dorn, a "mole" from the Americas, is captured by the Zar, a tyrannical ruler of the Eastern Hemisphere who conquered the world with the aid of Moon men. The Zar reveals his family history and plans to execute Peter, but a radiovision call interrupts the proceedings, revealing the Zar's own son is missing in the Americas. Peter is granted a brief respite, experiencing the luxury of the ruling class before his fate is sealed. Captain S. P. Meek's "The Sea Terror" follows Dr. Bird and Carnes as they pursue a mysterious trail of gold to a deep-sea monster, promising a confrontation with a tremendous creature of the deep typical of the era's fascination with oceanic horrors. Harl Vincent's "Gray Denim" and David R. Sparks's "The Ape-Men of Xlotli" round out the fiction with tales of avenging gods and conflicts with feathered serpents in mid-earth. The issue also includes a robust "Readers' Corner" featuring letters from fans discussing story quality, cover art, and requests for sequels, reflecting the magazine's interactive relationship with its audience. These letters praise authors like Ray Cummings and R. F. Starzl while critiquing the "gaudy" covers and the inclusion of romance elements. The collection captures the optimistic yet perilous spirit of 1930s science fiction, presenting a world where advanced technology and super-science coexist with ancient mysteries and personal tragedy.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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Categories

• Science Fiction