Let’s see what AI has to say about Sir Arthur Conan Doyle‘s “The Poison Belt“:
“The Poison Belt is a 1913 sci-fi novella by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.
It is the second book featuring Professor George Edward Challenger, the famous scientist from The Lost World.
The Cosmic Threat: Challenger discovers Earth is drifting into a deadly belt of poisonous ether in space.
The Reunion: He summons his three companions from the previous adventure and commands them to “bring oxygen”.
The Survival Plan: The team seals themselves inside a single room in Sussex with oxygen cylinders.
The Apocalypse: They watch through the window as humanity and all animal life seemingly collapse into a catatonic state.
The Twist: When their oxygen runs out, they step outside to find the effects are temporary, and the world wakes up”.
We confess we’ve always loved the works of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the famous creator of Sherlock Holmes. This story in particular interests us because this month we’re featuring it in one of its reprints, which appeared in the pioneering English science fiction magazine SCOOPS in 1934, four years after the author’s death.
Anyone interested in reading the story in the issues of SCOOPS will unfortunately note that, partly due to the tiny print used by the magazine, partly due to the less than excellent quality of the copies available online, reading might not be very easy… But don’t worry! We are now making available the original version, first published in THE STRAND between March and July 1913, complete and with perfectly legible print (as well as the splendid illustrations by the great Harry Rountree).
You’ll find it below and in the Short Stories & Great Fiction section in the right sidebar of our Home Page.
We recommend reading it to anyone who wants to experience a wonderful adventure in the company of characters as pleasant as old friends.
METROPOLITAN MAGAZINES’ THRILLING ADVENTURES
The May 1933 issue of the rival magazine of the more famous ADVENTURE has been added to the other ten already present in their section.
Interesting the stories by Ace Williams, Jackson Cole and especially the amazing BLACK MAMBA by Ferdinand Berthoud.
Finally, while we continue to adapt the magazines’ dimensions to be correctly displayed on smartphones (we are currently working on ASTOUNDING STORIES), we have found the time to restore some covers to add to their sections: two Western covers from 1933 and 1936, and a Horror cover from 1935.
That’s all, friends!
See you all next month on
Davide Dana.
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