Atomic Station

By Frank Belknap Long and John Betancourt

They sent him on a long-distance space voyage, but they neglected to say more than a hundred years would have passed by the time he returned to the Station—and that everyone and everything he knew would be gone!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Wildside Press
• Release date: Nov 10, 2022
• ISBN: 9781667601731

Frank Belknap Long

Frank Belknap Long Jr. (April 27, 1901 – January 3, 1994) was an American writer of horror fiction, fantasy, science fiction, poetry, gothic romance, comic books, and non-fiction. Though his writing career spanned seven decades, he is best known for his horror and science fiction short stories, including contributions to the Cthulhu Mythos alongside his friend, H. P. Lovecraft. During his life, Long received the World Fantasy Award for Life Achievement (at the 1978 World Fantasy Convention), the Bram Stoker Award for Lifetime Achievement (in 1987, from the Horror Writers Association), and the First Fandom Hall of Fame Award (1977).

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COPYRIGHT INFORMATION

INTRODUCTION

ATOMIC STATION, by Frank Belknap Long

COPYRIGHT INFORMATION

Copyright © 1946, renewed 1974 by Frank Belknap Long.

Originally published in Thrilling Wonder Stories, Winter 1946.

Reprinted with the kind permission and assistance of Lily Doty,

Mansfield M. Doty, and the family of Frank Belknap Long.

Published by Wildside Press LLC.

wildsidepress.com | bcmystery.com

INTRODUCTION

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Frank Belknap (1901-1994)—one of the early masters of fantasy and science fiction, friend of and collaborator with H.P. Lovecraft—produced hundreds of novels, short stories, and poems throughout his long and distinguished career. From fantasy and horror in Weird Tales to action-adventure science fiction in Planet Stories and Thrilling Wonder Stories to more nuts and bolts science fiction in Astounding Stories, and also work in the romance and mystery fields.

Long’s career spanned 7 decades and was filled with remarkable accomplishments. He received the World Fantasy Award for Life Achievement at the 1978 World Fantasy Convention, the Bram Stoker Award for Lifetime Achievement in 1987 from the Horror Writers of America, and the First Fandom Hall of Fame Award in 1977.

—John Betancourt

ATOMIC STATION,

by Frank Belknap Long

It was incredible and a little frightening. The rocket ship was within a half million miles of the Station, but as yet no reply had come to the frantic signals which Roger Sheldon had been sending out at ten second intervals.

He sat before the observation glass in the control room, a big man with the competent hands of an experienced navigator, and a curious mobility of expression which seemed out of keeping with the precise movements which those hands were making on the board.

His face was