Science Wonder Second Month
The second issue of Science Wonder Stories arrived in July 1929, maintaining the momentum Hugo Gernsback had established with the magazine’s debut. This edition featured four substantial tales that showcased the genre’s range: Jack Williamson’s lost civilisation “The Alien Intelligence,” Fletcher Pratt’s military techno-thriller “The Reign of the Ray,” David H. Keller’s dark “The Boneless Horror,” and Harl Vincent’s underground adventure “The Menace From Below.”
As the magazine entered its second month, it faced the challenge that all new publications encounter: proving the premiere wasn’t a fluke. Science Wonder Stories needed to demonstrate it could deliver consistent quality whilst exploring diverse corners of speculative fiction.
The stories also demonstrate how pulp fiction served as a training ground. Williamson would become one of the genre’s grand masters, writing prolifically for six decades. Pratt developed into a respected military historian and fantasy collaborator with L. Sprague de Camp. The lessons these writers learned whilst crafting penny-a-word adventures would serve them throughout their careers.
Contents of the Issue
The Alien Intelligence – Jack Williamson
Dr Winfield Fowler travels to the Australian outback after he receives a radio signal from his missing friend, Horace Austen. Horace claims he is trapped in a “world of alien terrors” inside a crater known as the Mountain of the Moon. Driven by fear, loyalty, and the hope that Horace survives, Fowler sets out at once to uncover the truth.
The Reign of the Ray – Irvin Lester & Fletcher Pratt
The opening instalment focuses on Robert Adams, a brilliant inventor whose creation alters world history. Adams designs a radical Coolidge tube capable of neutralising explosive materials at long range with unsettling accuracy. Once revealed, this device becomes the catalyst for a frantic global struggle. Nations manoeuvre, fleets reposition, and armies attempt to adapt as the balance of power shifts under their feet.
In the concluding part, the world confronts the consequences of Adams’s discovery. As conventional weapons fail, governments scramble for new strategies while the usual machinery of war collapses around them.
The Boneless Horror – David H. Keller, M.D.
“The Boneless Horror” presents an alternate history of Earth where three great empires—Gobi (Asia), Mo (Pacific), and Atlantis (Atlantic)—existed 14,000 years ago. When the Emperor of Gobi demands immortality, a captured physician from Mo named Heracles provides a life-extending food while secretly plotting revenge. Furthermore, as Gobi plans to destroy Mo through underground explosives, Mo prepares to lift Gobi into the freezing sky.
The Menace From Below – Harl Vincent
The plot opens with a dramatic and unsettling event: a train carrying 500 passengers vanishes inside an East River tunnel. Engineer Ward Platt and his colleague Charlie Frazee join inventor Tony Russell to investigate the disappearance. As the trio dig deeper into the mystery, they encounter a series of bizarre scientific threats. These dangers steadily push the narrative from puzzle-solving to full-tilt action, eventually leading them face to face with the underground menace responsible for the kidnappings.
A World Still Optimistic
Science Wonder Stories launched into what seemed like favourable conditions but would soon face harsh economic realities. The magazine’s survival through the coming decade would require adaptability and determination from both publishers and readers.
The stories in this issue reflect a world still optimistic about technology’s potential. Pratt imagines weapons that might enforce changes, Williamson depicts advanced civilisations (however fallen), and Vincent shows scientists as problem-solvers. Even Keller’s dark vision assumes societies capable of tremendous achievement, despite warning about their capacity for self-destruction.
The stories range from adventure to horror, from military speculation to lost-world romance. This diversity proved essential for the genre’s development. By showcasing different approaches to speculative fiction, the magazine demonstrated that “science fiction” was a category capable of supporting multiple subgenres and tones.
In addition, the issue maintained reasonable production values for a pulp magazine. Frank R. Paul’s cover art captured the lurid energy readers expected, whilst the interior layouts balanced text density with visual appeal. These practical considerations mattered as much as content quality for establishing the magazine’s identity.
This issue showcases early science fiction’s considerable strengths: boundless imagination, willingness to explore big ideas, and genuine enthusiasm for speculation. The writers take their premises seriously, even when those premises strain credibility. However, the limitations remain apparent. Female characters serve primarily as romance interests or motivations for male protagonists. Racial attitudes reflect unfortunate period prejudices. The prose veers into melodrama, and scientific explanations often collapse under scrutiny (to me that’s not a problem at all). Protagonists exist mainly as viewpoint figures who observe wonders and overcome obstacles. The focus remains firmly on ideas and action rather than character depth.
Another vintage pulp magazine:
Science Wonder Stories, Vol. 1, No. 2
Science Wonder Stories, Vol. 1, No. 3
Astounding Stories of Super-Science, Vol. 1, No. 1
Dynamic Science Fiction Vol. 1, No. 1
Original Science Wonder Stories issues at the Internet Archive.