TODAY'S story was published in 8 B.G., that is, eight years Before Gernsback inaugurated Amazing Stories, the first magazine devoted exclusively to science fiction. We thought at first that it might be a mystery story in the modern sense, but it turns out to be a mystery in the 19th century sense, a comprehensive category that included pure fantasies, ghost stories, and "scientific romances" of the kind produced by Verne and Wells. While we think that the story is ingenious and compelling despite its faults, both the author and the editor could
have been a bit more diligent, and tighter editing on both their parts would have greatly
improved . . .
"The Haunted Corridors: A Mystery Story Based on Science."
By William Hamilton Osborne (1873-1942).
First appearance: Mystery Magazine, October 1, 1918 (cover story).
Short story (12 pages; 2 illos).
Online at Archive.org (HERE; go to text page 3).
(Note: Text very faded.)
"With his electric flash he hastily adjusted his machine, swinging into place the concentrator cone, and with a rapidity that had come from long practice, he carefully fitted the accelerator, the aggravator with its super-magnifier, and finally the reverberator. Then he adjusted the dial screw with careful accuracy, and pulled the lever."
POLONIUS advised Laertes to "Give every man thy ear, but few thy voice." A brilliant inventor has done Shakespeare one better; he can get every man to give their voice
to his ear . . .
Comment: Science fiction requires a willing suspension of disbelief, and, believe us,
you're going to need a lot of it.
Main characters:
~ Gum-shoe Mixley, McMurtry, Garthwaite, Paul Champenois, Virginia Garthwaite, Iras, Cleopatra, Ptolemy, and the landlord.
Typo: "Your rear"; "tngues"; "crcoked"; "substittue".
References:
- "the just and the unjust":
"That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust." (Matthew 5:45; Bible Gateway HERE.)
The rest of these are linked to Wikipedia:
- "the anxiety of a Paul Revere" (HERE)
- "lamp chimneys" (HERE)
- "wireless telegraphy" (HERE)
- "the Spanish war" (HERE)
- "Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden" (HERE)
- "Cleopatra" (HERE)
- "Queen Elizabeth" (HERE)
- "Charles Martel" (HERE)
- "bastinado" (HERE)
- "Mark Antony" (HERE)
- "Ptolemy" (HERE).
Resources:
- The New Jersey Historical Society's archives have this thumbnail of William Hamilton Osborne:
"A native of Newark, N.J., Osborne studied law at Columbia University Law School, began to practice as an attorney in the 1890s and subsequently served as counsel for the Authors League of America. Osborne began his literary career in 1902 by writing short stories for such magazines as Harpers Monthly Magazine, McClure's, the Saturday Evening Post and many others. The collection includes numerous manuscripts, galley proofs, and published versions of Osborne’s novels, plays, motion picture scripts, essays and short fiction ranging from love stories to detective tales written between 1902-1937. The correspondence in the collection consists primarily of business letters between Osborne and his publishers. A detailed inventory is available." (The New Jersey Historical Society HERE.)
- Isaac Asimov also considered eavesdropping on history with "The Dead Past" (HERE; go to text page 6).
- Bob Shaw had a similar idea but using a different medium with his "Light of Other Days" (WARNING! SPOILERS! Wikipedia HERE).
The bottom line:
Unless otherwise noted, all bibliographical data are derived from The FictionMags Index created by William G. Contento & edited by Phil Stephensen-Payne.
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