The Man Who Saved The Earth (Annotated)

By Austin Hall

• This edition includes the following editor's introduction: Beginnings and evolution of the literary genre of science fiction up to the present day

"The Man Who Saved The Earth," by American author Austin Hall, was one of the 6 fantastic stories that appeared in the first issue of the first magazine dedicated to science fiction: Amazing Stories.

"The Man Who Saved The Earth" opens on an oppressively hot day with a poor little newspaper boy, Charley, playing with a "burning glass" (a magnifying glass) which he uses to concentrate sunlight onto a small focal spot, thus intensifying the heat on some paper until it burns a hole, perhaps a portent of things to come. He is noticed by a recluse scientist, Dr. Robold, who takes interest in Charley's scientific curiosity and calls him a young Archimedes, referring to the ancient Greek who, as legend tells, used a "burning glass" from shore to set enemy ships ablaze as they were approaching. Charley has no parents to care for him. Dr. Robold takes Charley away from his pitiful life, to a mountain retreat in Colorado. Years later, bizarre, terrifying events begin to occur...

• Language: English
• Publisher: ePembaBooks
• Release date: Feb 23, 2023
• ISBN: 9791221348590

Book preview

Austin Hall

The Man Who Saved The Earth

Table of contents

Beginnings and evolution of the literary genre of science fiction up to the present day

THE MAN WHO SAVED THE EARTH

Chapter 1 - THE BEGINNING

Chapter 2 - THE POISON PALL

Chapter 3 - THE MOUNTAIN THAT WAS

Chapter 4 - MAN—A GREAT LITTLE BUG

Chapter 5 - APPROACHING DISASTER

Chapter 6 - A RACE TO SAVE THE WORLD

Chapter 7 - A RIVEN CONTINENT

Chapter 8 - THE MAN WHO SAVED THE EARTH

Chapter 9 - THE MOST TERRIFIC MOMENT IN HISTORY

Beginnings and evolution of the literary genre of science fiction up to the present day

Science fiction is a narrative genre that places the action in imaginary space-time coordinates different from our own, and that speculates rationally about possible scientific or social advances and their impact on society.

Sometimes it has also been called " literature of anticipation", because some authors, such as Jules Verne, have anticipated the emergence of scientific and technological achievements, such as space rockets or submarines.

The term science fiction was born in 1926 by the writer Hugo Gernsback, who used it on the cover of what would become one of the most famous magazines of the genre: Amazing Stories; first magazine devoted to science fiction whose first issue consisted of 6 fascinating stories, among them " The Man Who Saved The Earth" by Austin Hall.

However, we have to go further back to find the first stories of this genre. Although experts find much older examples, what is generally considered the first science fiction story is Mary Shelley's Frankenstein (1818). Later, in the 1930s, Edgar Allan Poe wrote stories such as The Incomparable Adventure of a Certain Hans Pfaal or Mesmeric Revelation, which should undoubtedly be included in science fiction.

Also in the 19th century, Jules Verne and H. G. Wells appeared, both considered masters of the genre, although the former focused mainly on the development of scientific inventions and the latter on social criticism (British imperialism in The War of the Worlds, or the class struggle in The Time Machine...).

But it was certainly the first half of the 20th century that we could call the Golden Age of science fiction, with the appearance of authors such as Isaac Asimov, Arthur C. Clarke, Aldous Huxley, George Orwell, Austin Hall or Ray Bradbury.

Later, during the 60s and 70s, what is known as The New Thing appeared, which originated in the British magazine New Worlds, and was characterized by greater narrative experimentation, making authors such as J. G. Ballard and Brian W. Aldiss known.

And in the 80s and 90s, genres such as cyberpunk and postcyberpunk appeared, where, of course, computers and computers made their appearance and gave rise to a whole aesthetic current where new technologies coexisted with the sordid environments of the urban underworld.

Nowadays, there are numerous subgenres that go even further and focus on the impacts of biotechnology ( biopunk), or that make an ironic revision of the themes and aesthetics of science fiction from the 30s and 50s ( retrofuturism) or of the idea of the future in 19th century novels ( steampunk). Likewise, today a distinction is made between hard and soft science fiction. The former is much more rigorous and pays much more attention to scientific and technical details and arguments, while the latter focuses solely or mainly on the literary aspect.

In all cases, and throughout its history, science fiction has always maintained the main characteristic that makes it so interesting: the ability to create scenarios that inspire philosophical, social or scientific debates on the nature of man and society, raise doubts, point out dangers or seek answers.

Indeed, science fiction is not philosophy, but it is undoubtedly a close relative of it, because in some way, it tries to answer the ultimate questions through the exercise of fiction: what future awaits humanity, what new scientific advances will occur and what consequences they will bring to our society.... Surely, none of us will be here to see it, but, as the great scientist of the 20th century would say: " Imagination is more important than knowledge ".

The Editor, P.C. 2022

THE MAN WHO SAVED THE EARTH

Austin Hall

Chapter 1 - THE BEGINNING

EVEN the beginning. From the start the whole thing has the precision of machine work. Fate and its working— and the wonderful Providence which watches over Man and his future. The whole thing unerring: the incident, the work, the calamity, and the martyr. In the retrospect of disaster we may all of us grow strong in wisdom. Let us go into history.

A hot July day. A sun of scant pity, and a staggering street; panting thousands dragging along, hatless; fans and parasols; the sultry vengeance of a real day of summer. A day of bursting tires; hot pavements, and wrecked endeavor, heartaches for the seashore, for leafy bowers beside rippling water, a day of broken hopes and listless ambition.

Perhaps Fate chose the day because of its heat and because of its natural benefit on fecundity. We have no way of knowing. But we do know this: the date, the time, the meeting; the boy with the burning glass and the old doctor. So commonplace, so trivial and hidden in obscurity! Who would have guessed it? Yet it is—after the creation—one of the most important dates in the world's history.

This is saying a whole lot. Let us go into it and see what it amounts to. Let us trace the thing out in