ABOUT “THE MAN FROM HELL”

by John Russell Fearn

I suppose stories about atomic force are legion. I know I can recall them over a period of fifteen years in sf mags, and since The World Set Free in books. But how many such stories, with the exception of The World Set Free, really covered all the likely territory of such a fascinating subject?

Actually, “The Man from Hell” is a combination of two original ideas. The first idea was “How much would a man learn if he passed over the gulf of death and, by some scientific process, came back to life?” That set me wondering. Suppose, say, Aristotle had gone on adding to his knowledge in the Hereafter? How much would he know now? A good deal, I figured—so I worked it into the yarn. It does, I know, set the reincarnation theory at discount, but it is as logical as reincarnation (and one must have two sides to a question), so I used it.

Another idea that linked up with this was a statement by Sir Arthur Eddington in his New Pathways in Science. He says at the close of his brilliant chapter on “Subatomic Force”—

“It cannot be denied that for a society which has to create scarcity to save its members from starvation, to whom abundance spells disaster, and to whom unlimited energy means unlimited power for war and destruction, there is an ominous cloud in the distance though at present it is no bigger than a man’s hand.”

Now, suppose that handsized cloud came right overhead? What of the struggles of men to use this power for all its worth? That gave me the idea of big business operating unscrupulously to utilize this mighty discovery of a young scientist. Because he hindered big business, he was callously destroyed. Up to here I had the logical human slant on the problem.

This might develop into an ordinary story of atomic power, I thought. But no plot is new; it is the angle that counts. So, what if the dead man returned to claim his secret, and not only claim it, but to use it for powers never dreamed of? What if atomic force is really only one of several doors to power? Suppose its mighty strength is not limited to just the release of energy?

I have tried to piece together theories old and new and knit them up into a yarn of interest with human characters going back and forth across the background. In consequence, to achieve the balance of action in the first parts, I have shuffled between the characters with episodic swiftness in order that the interest may not flag at the wrong moment. I hope I have succeeded.

As to the end, some may be disappointed—bit I must say in justice to myself that I considered it the only possible finish. I could have invented a high-powered scientific miracle to make things happy ever after, but is there not a certain realistic poignancy in the vision of an empty beach down which the conqueror of unrest passed for the last time? I have a feeling there is. It is for you to judge.

EDITOR’S NOTE

by Philip Harbottle

The foregoing essay was written by Fearn (under his ‘Polton Cross’ pseudonym) for the ‘Introducing the Author’ department of the November 1939 issue of Fantastic Adventures magazine, in which his story first appeared. Another essay (under his ‘Thornton Ayre’ pseudonym) for the same magazine appears later on in this collection, for his 1940 story “White Outcast.”

At the time “The Man from Hell” was written, the storm clouds of war were gathering in Europe, and atomic power had yet to be released—though secret research was being carried out by the governments of the leading world powers. But whilst his story is of course now outdated, it remains thought-provoking, and its power and entertainment value is undiminished. I considered it an ideal story to lead off this new collection of Fearn’s classic stories from the sf pulp magazines.

At the time it was published, the story made an immediate impact, as evidenced by editor Ray Palmer’s announcement in the January 1940 issue of his magazine:

PRIZE STORY CONTEST

“For the first time in our prize story contest, a single story has ran away from the rest. We are proud to announce that Polton Cross, authoring ‘The Man from Hell’ in our November (1939) issue, has gained our readers’ complete approval, and really earned himself that $75.00 first prize. Congratulations, Mr. Cross, on an exceptionally popular story. Come again—say we, and our readers!”

“The Man From Hell” garnered 2,759 first-place votes, giving it an average rating of 80% amongst voters. The general approbation for the story was reflected in the magazine’s Reader’s Page letter columns:

“I have several reasons for selecting Polton Cross’s story for the best. The major one is the ending. I applaud an author who is not afraid to portray real life and use common sense in ending his story not quite so perfectly for all concerned. Not that I’d like all stories ending unhappily, but one like this is really refreshing. One kept expecting the hero to be saved miraculously at the end when he speaks of a desperate experiment, and it comes as quite a shock that he does not survive.

“When I began this story I feared that it was another of those ‘atomic power’ things, and was relieved that the author introduced his spatial power—something different. I think it presents interesting possibilities.

“My third reason is that I think the number one story ought to live up to the name of the magazine—and if a man returning from the dead isn’t fantastic, I don’t know what is!”— Barbara O. Shryock (Penna.)

“It seems to me that no other story in your magazine could portray such adventures in the field of atomic power, combined with a glance beyond death, as ‘The Man from Hell,’ by Polton Cross.

“The very title of your magazine is portrayed in this story by the fantastic adventures of Dake Bradfield.”—Donald F. Campbell (Iowa.)

The flow of positive comments was carried forward into the letters pages in the February 1940 issue:

“What is beyond the great divide? Surely that is a question that everyone is, of necessity, interested in. Mr. Polton Cross, in his story ‘The Man from Hell,’ in the November issue of FANTASTIC ADVENTURES, has quite a lucid theory.

“‘The Man from Hell,’ besides being a fast moving story, packed with action and drama, deals with another subject that is of universal interest.

“Scientists all over the world have been experimenting with atomic force. Who knows—perhaps in our lifetime the dream of governing atomic power will be realized.

Mr. Cross has dealt with these subjects in a quite interesting manner, and, for having done so, gets the nod from this umpire for having the best and most interesting story of the issue.”— Claude W. Williford.

“There’s an old saying that a story is not a story if it hasn’t got an idea behind it. Therefore, a story with a good idea behind it is considered an acceptable story. But imagine a story with three swell ideas behind it, each one good enough for a book-length novel! 1: ‘Return from the Dead.’ 2: ‘The Danger of Atomic Force.’ 3: ‘Salvation of the World.’ A title like ‘The Man from Hell,’ and an author like Polton Cross. What a combination! There you have my reason for selecting this as the best story of the issue.”—Harold Topf (New York.)

The praise came not only from ordinary readers, but also from one of the leading scientific experts and commentators in the field:

“First place in the November issue goes, in my opinion, to Polton Cross’ story ‘The Man from Hell.’ It is a very good imaginative tale, slightly off the usual type of science fiction stories (I mean, leaning a bit toward fantasy, but not much) but still convincingly written.

“The important point is, I think, that this story...proves that the present-day political set-up practically excludes a good number of possible scientific discoveries. It makes me wish that certain scientific discoveries—especially that of releasing the energy of the atom—may be delayed by a kindly fate until humanity is ready for them.”— Willy Ley (New York.)

This latest collection of Fearn’s vintage short stories follows Dynasty of the Small, and has been especially compiled for The Borgo Press. Further titles are in preparation!