part0004

It all started in march 1945, when editor Ray Palmer decided to publish the first Richard Sharpe Shaver story “I Remember Lemuria!” in his most famous magazine, Amazing Stories. With claims of it being based on true events, according to Palmer such claims were supported by many letters he received after by his readers asserting they had had contact with the Deros found in Shaver’s stories. Thus, the Shaver Mystery was born, and controversies (along with sales) escalated until about 1950 when it no longer attracted much attention. Shaver stories continued to be published much more sporadically in different magazines until the 1960’s.

All this hoax thing had its positive effect, attention on Shaver writings; but also the negative effect of discarding its literary value as a simple hoax . . . and I know what some of you, already familiar with these stories, might be thinking: “Shaver… Literary value? What is this guy talking about?” Well, yes, Shaver was not a very good writer, probably his best written works were the most heavily edited by Ray Palmer or whoever was doing the editor’s work at the time, but after getting a glimpse on some of these stories you’ll find one of the most imaginative and outlandish science fiction universe you’ve ever read, particularly in the stories regarding the ancient aliens that visited earth and their civilizations; and that’s another interesting thing about Shaver that is often overlook, he was a pioneer on the so called ancient astronauts hypothesis (and the most outlandish for sure).

The Shaver Mystery Compendium is the most complete paperback collection of these works, and it’s not even complete yet! I’m sure you’ll have the most fun reading and learning about the intricacies of this subterranean world with its Elder Gods, Atlans, Deros, Teros, Titans, Ro-mechs, Exd energy, Variforms, all kinds of rays and the most outlandish pseudo-science concepts.