The Man from Hell. John Russell Fearn
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BORGO PRESS BOOKS BY JOHN RUSSELL FEARN
1,000-Year Voyage: A Science Fiction Novel
Black Maria, M.A.: A Classic Crime Novel
The Crimson Rambler: A Crime Novel
Don’t Touch Me: A Crime Novel
Dynasty of the Small: Classic Science Fiction Stories
The Empty Coffins: A Mystery of Horror
The Fourth Door: A Mystery Novel
From Afar: A Science Fiction Mystery
The G-Bomb: A Science Fiction Novel
Here and Now: A Science Fiction Novel
Into the Unknown: A Science Fiction Tale
Last Conflict: Classic Science Fiction Stories
The Man from Hell: Classic Science Fiction Stories
The Man Who Was Not: A Crime Novel
One Way Out: A Crime Novel (with Philip Harbottle)
Pattern of Murder: A Classic Crime Novel
Reflected Glory: A Dr. Castle Classic Crime Novel
Robbery Without Violence: Two Science Fiction Crime Stories
Shattering Glass: A Crime Novel
The Silvered Cage: A Scientific Murder Mystery
Slaves of Ijax: A Science Fiction Novel
The Space Warp: A Science Fiction Novel
The Time Trap: A Science Fiction Novel
Vision Sinister: A Scientific Detective Thriller
What Happened to Hammond? A Scientific Mystery
Within That Room!: A Classic Crime Novel
THE MAN FROM HELL
CLASSIC SCIENCE FICTION STORIES
JOHN RUSSELL FEARN
Edited by Philip Harbottle
COPYRIGHT INFORMATION
Copyright © 1939, 1940, 1941, 1945 by John Russell Fearn
Copyright © 2004, 2005, 2012 by Philip Harbottle
Published by Wildside Press LLC
www.wildsidebooks.com
DEDICATION
To the Memory of Rick Minter
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
These stories were previously published as follows, and are reprinted by permission of the author’s estate and his agent, Cosmos Literary Agency.
“The Man from Hell” was first published in Fantastic Adventures, November 1939. Copyright © 1939 by John Russell Fearn; Copyright © 2005 by Philip Harbottle.
“Mark Grayson Unlimited” was first published in Thrilling Wonder Stories, Spring 1945. Copyright 1945 by John Russell Fearn; Copyright © 2012 by Philip Harbottle.
“Science from Syracuse” was first published in Science Fiction, March 1941. Copyright © 1941 by John Russell Fearn; Copyright © 2004 by Philip Harbottle
“White Outcast” was first published as “Mystery of the White Raider” in Fantastic Adventures, February 1940. Copyright © 1940 by John Russell Fearn; Copyright © 2012 by Philip Harbottle.
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