Seeds of Life is a science fiction novel by American writer John Taine (pseudonym of Eric Temple Bell). It was first published in 1951 by Fantasy Press in an edition of 2,991 copies. The novel originally appeared in the magazine Amazing Stories Quarterly in October 1931.
The novel concerns the creation of a superman using radiation.
Receptionedit
Reviewing the 1951 edition, Groff Conklin praised the novel as "a superb tale" despite "a style that can only be forgiven because of its age (1931) and characterization and a plot that can hardly be forgiven at all."[1] Also writing in 1951, Boucher and McComas noted that "even today it can still compete as one of the better treatments" of its theme.[2]P. Schuyler Miller found the novel "top notch . . . full of the outrageously daring flights of the imagination which are the Taine trademark" as well as "plenty of the biting satire which we can also expect of a Taine book."[3]New York Times reviewer Basil Davenport criticized the novel for its dubious science and "lack of a single clear narrative line," saying the novel "appeals only to the nerves."[4]
Everett F. Bleiler found the opening segment of the novel to be "fascinating," but that as a whole "it suffers from formal defects, inadequate development at times, superfluity at others, weak characterizations, and problems with tone." Still, he concluded, "the novel is well worth reading for its virtues."[5]
Seeds of Life was originally published in the Fall 1931 Amazing Stories Quarterly
^E. F. Bleiler, Science-Fiction: The Gernsback Years, Kent State University Press, 1998, p.425
Sourcesedit
Chalker, Jack L.; Mark Owings (1998). The Science-Fantasy Publishers: A Bibliographic History, 1923-1998. Westminster, MD and Baltimore: Mirage Press, Ltd. p. 238.
seeds, life, science, fiction, novel, american, writer, john, taine, pseudonym, eric, temple, bell, first, published, 1951, fantasy, press, edition, copies, novel, originally, appeared, magazine, amazing, stories, quarterly, october, 1931, dust, jacket, from, . Seeds of Life is a science fiction novel by American writer John Taine pseudonym of Eric Temple Bell It was first published in 1951 by Fantasy Press in an edition of 2 991 copies The novel originally appeared in the magazine Amazing Stories Quarterly in October 1931 Seeds of LifeDust jacket from the first editionAuthorJohn TaineCover artistRic BinkleyCountryUnited StatesLanguageEnglishGenreScience fictionPublisherFantasy PressPublication date1951Media typePrint hardback Pages255OCLC1621852 Contents 1 Plot introduction 2 Reception 3 References 4 Sources 5 External linksPlot introduction editThe novel concerns the creation of a superman using radiation Reception editReviewing the 1951 edition Groff Conklin praised the novel as a superb tale despite a style that can only be forgiven because of its age 1931 and characterization and a plot that can hardly be forgiven at all 1 Also writing in 1951 Boucher and McComas noted that even today it can still compete as one of the better treatments of its theme 2 P Schuyler Miller found the novel top notch full of the outrageously daring flights of the imagination which are the Taine trademark as well as plenty of the biting satire which we can also expect of a Taine book 3 New York Times reviewer Basil Davenport criticized the novel for its dubious science and lack of a single clear narrative line saying the novel appeals only to the nerves 4 Everett F Bleiler found the opening segment of the novel to be fascinating but that as a whole it suffers from formal defects inadequate development at times superfluity at others weak characterizations and problems with tone Still he concluded the novel is well worth reading for its virtues 5 nbsp Seeds of Life was originally published in the Fall 1931 Amazing Stories QuarterlyReferences edit Galaxy s 5 Star Shelf Galaxy Science Fiction November 1951 p 97 Recommended Reading F amp SF December 1951 p 88 Miller P Schuyler The Reference Library Astounding Science Fiction October 1951 pp 143 Realm of the Spacemen The New York Times October 7 1951 E F Bleiler Science Fiction The Gernsback Years Kent State University Press 1998 p 425Sources editChalker Jack L Mark Owings 1998 The Science Fantasy Publishers A Bibliographic History 1923 1998 Westminster MD and Baltimore Mirage Press Ltd p 238 Tuck Donald H 1974 The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction and Fantasy Chicago Advent p 36 ISBN 0 911682 20 1 External links editSeeds of Life at Faded Page Canada Seeds of Life title listing at the Internet Speculative Fiction Database nbsp This article about a 1950s science fiction novel is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it See guidelines for writing about novels Further suggestions might be found on the article s talk page vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Seeds of Life amp oldid 1096165271, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
