Meddler's Moon E-Book

George O. Smith

• Herausgeber: Wildside Press
• Kategorie: Fantasy und Science-Fiction
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 42

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2022

Beschreibung

He travelled back in time to find his grandfather the right wife. Only his grandfather had other ideas...and promptly got engaged to the wrong woman!

Leseprobe

Table of Contents

COPYRIGHT INFORMATION

INTRODUCTION, by John Betancourt

MEDDLER’S MOON by George O. Smith

COPYRIGHT INFORMATION

Copyright © 2022 by Wildside Press LLC.

Originally published in Astounding Science-Fiction, September 1947.

Published by Wildside Press LLC.

wildsidepress.com | bcmystery.com\

INTRODUCTION,by John Betancourt

George Oliver Smith (1911–1981) was an American science fiction author. He should not to be confused with the prolific George H. Smith, another American author who also published (among other things) a significant body of science fiction work.

Smith primarily wrote work set in space, including the novels Operation Interstellar (1950), Lost in Space (1959), and Troubled Star (1957). However, he is remembered chiefly for two works: the “Venus Equilateral” series of short stories about a communications station in space, designed to relay messages between Earth and Venus, and the novel The Fourth “R” (also published as The Brain Machine), about an education device that creates a five-year-old super-boy, who must escape those who wish to capture him long enough to grow up an extract his revenge.

Most of the “Venus Equilateral” stories were collected in Venus Equilateral (1947), a small press hardcover. In 1976, the complete series was assembled in The Complete Venus Equilateral. I am currently working with Smith’s son to prepare a new edition of The Complete Venus Equilateral, which I’m sure will prove popular today. It’s an outstanding classic that holds up surprisingly well.

The title of The Fourth “R” is, of course, a play on the “3 Rs” of education—reading, ’riting, and ’rithmatic—but what that fourth “R” is, I will leave you to discover.

Smith was most active as a writer in the Golden Age of the 1940s and 1950s, with his primary market in the 1940s being the top magazine in the field—John W. Campbell’s Astounding Science Fiction. Many authors make bad career moves, and Smith was no different—in 1949, editor Campbell’s first wife, Doña, left Campbell for Smith. Of course, that affected what had been an excellent author/editor working relationship. Smith did not appear again in Astounding until 1959, after a decade has passed. In the meantime, he published fiction in other magazines, like Startling Stories and Thrilling Wonder Stories, and began writing books.

After 1960, Smith’s job began making more demands on his time, and his output dropped. He was given the First Fandom Hall of Fame award in 1980 and remained a member of the literary banqueting club the Trap Door Spiders, which served as the basis of Isaac Asimov’s fictional group of mystery-solvers, the Black Widowers.

MEDDLER’S MOONby George O. Smith

Peter Hedgerly heard the door open and close and he smiled at his reflection in the mirror. He turned partly and called out through the semi-closed bedroom door.

“Sit down, honey. I’ll be right out.”

Joan Willson was early, he thought, but it made no matter. It merely gave them more time togeth—

“I’ll sit down,” came a deep, pleasant masculine rumble, “but I’m not your honey!”

Peter hit the door and skidded into the living room, his loose shirttail flying out behind him. “Who’re you?” he demanded sharply.

“Please do not be disturbed. Finish dressing,” said the stranger.

Peter measured him. A few pounds heavier than Peter’s one hundred and sixty; an inch taller than Peter’s five feet eleven. About the same sandy blond complexion. The face was wreathed in a beatific smile that in no way matched Peter’s exasperation.

“I’m expecting a guest,” snapped Peter. “The door was open for…the guest. Not for stray strangers seeking company or whatever.”

“I know. My presence will make no difference.”

“No difference?” exploded Peter angrily. “Look, sport, three’s a crowd. Technically, you’re trespassing. Shall I prove it by calling the police?”

“You may if you wish,” replied the stranger. “But I happen to know for certain that you will not.”

“No?” snapped Peter. He headed toward the telephone with all of the determination in the world. The stranger watched him tolerantly. Peter reached the table beside the door and reached for the phone. As his hand touched it, the door opened and Joan Willson came in. She gulped at Peter and said: “Oh!”

Peter became aware of the fact that his nether raiment consisted of shoes, socks, paisley-print shorts and a curtailed-shirttailed WPB model shirt.

He echoed Joan’s “Oh!”

His voice died like the diminishing wail of a retreating fire siren. That was because the duration of the monosyllabic diphthong exceeded the time necessary for Peter to gain the security of the bedroom where he donned his trousers and wished there were something he could do to cover the blush of embarrassment on his face. His ears especially.

* * * *

Through the door he heard the stranger say: “Please come in, Miss Willson. Peter’s condition is but temporary.”

“But why… What… And who are you?”

“That’s a long story,” replied the stranger. He turned and called out to Peter. “I told you you’d not call the police!”

“Police!” exclaimed Joan. “Peter, is…is—?”