In my copy of this book someone wrote in pen on the first page, “He wrote this B.T..- before television”
First, I thought it was weird that they would abbreviate “before television” and then spell it out anyways. Second, I thought, is that true??
After a quick google search, I got some conflicting answers. Wikipedia has the story as being written in 1929… Most sources have it as 1946.
The television was invented by Philo Farnsworth in 1927 but it wasn’t until 1938 that sets were mass produced and made available to the public.
Either way, anonymous scribbler is wrong. Television did exist and if Cummings was in the know about current technology he would have known about the television and put it in his story. And guess what? Cummings was Thomas Edison’s personal assistant from 1914 to 1919 so I’d say yeah, he probably had his finger on the pulse. And now on to the review…
Ed, Alan and Nanette are lounging around their New York City apartment waiting for their program to come on the television set. Problem is they are getting bad reception. Suddenly, a strange vision appears. A spooky looking beautiful girl is standing in front of a building looking distressed and confused. She runs off into the woods. Wait a minute, that’s not any random woods, that’s Central Park, right down the street from where the three are sitting in their apartment. Instead of thinking they happened upon a show they didn’t know about, they believe the vision is real and is happening right at that moment. They go down to check it out, but no building or girl is there.
Later they hear news that a woman with amnesia has been found wondering around Central Park and has been taken to a mental institution. Luckily, Alan knows the owner/doctor but it’s also his nemesis, Wolf Turber, although they are sociable with each other. Turber is constantly hitting on Alan’s sister Nanette and she ain’t having it.
Alan and Ed go to see Turber. They want to know if the amnesia girl is spooky girl from the TV. They lie and say Ed is a reporter doing a story. Turber is like, yeah sure whatever and lets them have a look at the girl. It is indeed her. She doesn’t speak and looks frightened in her cell room. Outside the room there is a giant Native orderly keeping watch.
Alan is acquainted with one of the patients. I forget how but it’s not important. Patient tells him all about the girl and the secret building in the middle of the courtyard. Patient snuck out of his room at night, stole some keys, and had copies made. Alan plans, with the help of mental patient, to sneak back into the hospital at night, meet up with patient and together save spooky girl. Why, you may ask? I don’t know. There is a lot in this that really doesn’t connect so as with most time travel stories it’s best not to think about anything and just be whisked away in the Swiss cheese magic.
Alan breaks in. They get the girl. Get discovered. Run into the mystery building for cover and find a crazy looking plane. Eventually they make a run for it. Alan leaves mental patient at the hospital and takes spooky girl to Ed and Nanette waiting in the car.
Spooky girl doesn’t speak English but leads them to hook up with magic disappearing building. Turns out it’s a time travel building. Ha. They all get in and are whisked away. But look out because Turber’s plane is also a time travel apparatus and he’s after them.
What we have from then on out is a race through the past and then future. Turber is trying to take over the world in its most successful time, 2445. He collects warriors from all eras to make up his army. He steals treasures from the past to fund everything. In 2445 humans don’t really war anymore so they are unprepared to defend themselves.
This book was okay. Like I said, it’s a time travel story. It will make your head hurt trying to piece it together logically. Things like, ok Turber has the weapons and manpower to take over. Why not just jump in your time travel building, go get a gun, travel back to 2445 right before you know he’s going to be there and as soon as he appears blow his brains out. Also, the time travel building is from an even further future. Wouldn’t it stand to reason that Turber failed, or they wouldn’t have the future they know?
It reminded me of Dr Who. Like, a lot. I don’t know the history of Dr. Who but I would imagine the creator had definitely read this book. If you’re looking for some zany time traveling adventure with lots of action and non-committal science this book is for you.
My copy is a…
Ace Books 1962
Review by Nick Anderson
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