Now-dead author Fowler Foulkes and his literary creation "Dr. Derringer" occupy a major position in science fiction: the character has entered popular culture, and is known around the world. The author's son and heir Hilary Foulkes takes a fiercely protective, even predatory, view of the value of this heritage. Hilary has made many enemies due to his inflexibility and greed. His niece Jenny lives in the Foulkes house and works as Hilary's private secretary. Jenny is devoted to Hilary; but her fiancé, Hilary's brother-in-law D. Vance Wimpole (a science fiction writer), wants money (to pay off blackmailers); and he's recently had unpleasant encounters[clarification needed] with two other local science fiction authors, Matt Duncan and Joe Henderson. After two suspicious "accidents," Hilary suspects that his life is in danger, and asks for police help. Police Detective Inspector Terry Marshall arrives at the house just as a ticking "box of chocolates" is delivered.
The novel features two investigators from Boucher/Holmes' earlier locked room mysteryNine Times Nine: Sister Ursula of the convent of the fictitious "Sisters of Martha of Bethany," and police detective Terence "Terry" Marshall.
ReceptionEdit
Dave Langford considers Rocket to be "weaker" than its predecessor Nine Times Nine, and observes that it has a "properly science-fictional though strictly prosaic murder by rocket".[1]
In 2017, James Nicoll noted that, unlike of much of Boucher's work, Rocket to the Morgue was not out of print; he attributed this to "catering to SF fans’ egos." Nicoll also noted that Boucher's afterword "is coy about which particular notoriously litigious estates inspired" Hilary's character; but hypothesized that the character was inspired by the estates of Edgar Rice Burroughs and Arthur Conan Doyle.[2]
The Heinlein Society felt that "(a)s a mystery novel, (it) falls a bit short," and it has "too many characters," but conceded that it is "an intriguing look into the beginnings of science fiction as we know it today"; they also noted that Heinlein's "...And He Built a Crooked House" was published at approximately the same time as when Boucher was writing the chapter in which characters discuss four-dimensional space.[3]
Portrayal of science fiction culture in the Golden AgeEdit
The first edition was published in 1942 (as by "H. H. Holmes") by Duell, Sloan and Pearce. The first paperback edition in 1943 was the first and only book published under the imprint "A Phantom Mystery".[7] It has been repeatedly reprinted (after 1944, as by Anthony Boucher), beginning with a 1952 Dell edition.
ReferencesEdit
^On Anthony Boucher, originally published in 1995; archived online originally at http://ansible.co.uk/writing/boucher.html, no later than September 21, 2004 (earliest version on archive.org); retrieved May 7, 2017
^James Nicoll (2017-05-17). "Underneath the Skull of the Moon". JamesDavisNicoll.com. Retrieved 2020-05-17.
^Robert Heinlein: Murder Suspect, by Deb Houdek Rule and G.E. Rule, at the Heinlein Society; originally published in The Galactic Citizen, Issue 12, Spring 1996; posted March 2004; retrieved May 7, 2017
^ abcWonder's Child: My Life in Science Fiction, by Jack Williamson, 2005 edition (first published 1984)
^ abSex and Rockets: The Occult World of Jack Parsons, by John Carter, published 1999 by Feral House
^Re: Rocket to the Morgue (some spoilers), by Dorothy J. Heydt; on rec.arts.sf.written; published July 15, 2006; retrieved from Google Groups June 19, 2017
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Rocket to the Morgue is a 1942 American locked room mystery novel by Anthony Boucher originally published as by H H Holmes Boucher s frequent pseudonym when writing mysteries or writing about mysteries and the pseudonym of a 19th century American serial killer First edition Contents 1 Plot 2 Reception 3 Portrayal of science fiction culture in the Golden Age 4 Publication history 5 ReferencesPlot EditNow dead author Fowler Foulkes and his literary creation Dr Derringer occupy a major position in science fiction the character has entered popular culture and is known around the world The author s son and heir Hilary Foulkes takes a fiercely protective even predatory view of the value of this heritage Hilary has made many enemies due to his inflexibility and greed His niece Jenny lives in the Foulkes house and works as Hilary s private secretary Jenny is devoted to Hilary but her fiance Hilary s brother in law D Vance Wimpole a science fiction writer wants money to pay off blackmailers and he s recently had unpleasant encounters clarification needed with two other local science fiction authors Matt Duncan and Joe Henderson After two suspicious accidents Hilary suspects that his life is in danger and asks for police help Police Detective Inspector Terry Marshall arrives at the house just as a ticking box of chocolates is delivered The novel features two investigators from Boucher Holmes earlier locked room mystery Nine Times Nine Sister Ursula of the convent of the fictitious Sisters of Martha of Bethany and police detective Terence Terry Marshall Reception EditDave Langford considers Rocket to be weaker than its predecessor Nine Times Nine and observes that it has a properly science fictional though strictly prosaic murder by rocket 1 In 2017 James Nicoll noted that unlike of much of Boucher s work Rocket to the Morgue was not out of print he attributed this to catering to SF fans egos Nicoll also noted that Boucher s afterword is coy about which particular notoriously litigious estates inspired Hilary s character but hypothesized that the character was inspired by the estates of Edgar Rice Burroughs and Arthur Conan Doyle 2 The Heinlein Society felt that a s a mystery novel it falls a bit short and it has too many characters but conceded that it is an intriguing look into the beginnings of science fiction as we know it today they also noted that Heinlein s And He Built a Crooked House was published at approximately the same time as when Boucher was writing the chapter in which characters discuss four dimensional space 3 Portrayal of science fiction culture in the Golden Age EditBoucher was the friend and mentor of many science fiction writers of that era and a member of the Manana Literary Society The dedication to the first edition reads For The Manana Literary Society and in particular for Robert Heinlein and Cleve Cartmill Rocket to the Morgue is something of a roman a clef about the Southern California science fiction scene of the time Many characters are thinly veiled versions of personalities such as Robert A Heinlein Austin Carter 4 L Ron Hubbard D Vance Wimpole 5 then literary agent Julius Schwartz M Halstead Phynn 6 and rocket scientist occultist fan Jack Parsons Hugo Chantrelle 5 or recognizable composites of two writers Matt Duncan Cleve Cartmill and Henry Kuttner Joe Henderson Jack Williamson and Edmond Hamilton 4 Some writers actual pseudonyms appear as minor characters most prominently Don Stuart editor of Surprising John W Campbell editor of Astounding Science Fiction 4 but also Anson Macdonald and Lyle Monroe both Heinlein pseudonyms and Boucher himself under his real name of William Anthony Parker White The science fiction culture is portrayed in a familiar manner complete with references to Denvention the 1941 World Science Fiction Convention in Denver and the appearance of a quintessential science fiction fan one Arthur Waring member of a science fiction society and publisher of a science fiction fanzine whose sophisticated language and scientific knowledge displayed in a fan letter have impressed Detective Marshall but who when interviewed turns out to be a pre adolescent a n infant with pink and downy cheeks Publication history EditThe first edition was published in 1942 as by H H Holmes by Duell Sloan and Pearce The first paperback edition in 1943 was the first and only book published under the imprint A Phantom Mystery 7 It has been repeatedly reprinted after 1944 as by Anthony Boucher beginning with a 1952 Dell edition References Edit On Anthony Boucher originally published in 1995 archived online originally at http ansible co uk writing boucher html no later than September 21 2004 earliest version on archive org retrieved May 7 2017 James Nicoll 2017 05 17 Underneath the Skull of the Moon JamesDavisNicoll com Retrieved 2020 05 17 Robert Heinlein Murder Suspect by Deb Houdek Rule and G E Rule at the Heinlein Society originally published in The Galactic Citizen Issue 12 Spring 1996 posted March 2004 retrieved May 7 2017 a b c Wonder s Child My Life in Science Fiction by Jack Williamson 2005 edition first published 1984 a b Sex and Rockets The Occult World of Jack Parsons by John Carter published 1999 by Feral House Re Rocket to the Morgue some spoilers by Dorothy J Heydt on rec arts sf written published July 15 2006 retrieved from Google Groups June 19 2017 Rocket to the Morgue Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Rocket to the Morgue amp oldid 1144525734, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
