The novel concerns an African expedition. Swain, a member of the expedition, becomes demented and attempts to exterminate a peculiar species of African ape. The other members of the expedition are befriended by an intelligent ape called the Captain. The expedition discovers that the apes are in fact humans that have evolved in reverse due to exposure to a meteor and that the Captain was once human.
Receptionedit
One newspaper review of the original edition described The Iron Star as "a fantastic thriller along unusual lines, clever and well done, but with a repulsive theme."[1]
Boucher and McComas faulted the novel as "poorly written," but characterized the central idea as "curious and effective.".[2]P. Schuyler Miller, however, rated the novel as "Taine's greatest book, and one of the greatest in all science fiction"; he praised its "daring scientific concept" and its "perplexing mystery," as well as "a smoothness which none of [Taine's] other books quite show."[3]
Everett F. Bleiler reported that "The idea is interesting, despite Taine's ignorance of zoology and his shocking racial intolerance," but that "the literary development is fumbling."[4]
^Everett F. Bleiler, Science-Fiction: The Early Years, Kent State University Press, 1990, p.731
Sourcesedit
Chalker, Jack L.; Mark Owings (1998). The Science-Fantasy Publishers: A Bibliographic History, 1923-1998. Westminster, MD and Baltimore: Mirage Press, Ltd. p. 271.
Crawford, Jr., Joseph H.; James J. Donahue; Donald M. Grant (1953). "333", A Bibliography of the Science-Fantasy Novel. Providence, RI: The Grandon Company. p. 63. OCLC 3924496.
iron, star, science, fiction, novel, american, writer, john, taine, pseudonym, eric, temple, bell, first, published, 1930, dutton, dust, jacket, from, first, editionauthorjohn, tainecountryunited, stateslanguageenglishgenrescience, fictionpublishere, duttonpub. The Iron Star is a science fiction novel by American writer John Taine pseudonym of Eric Temple Bell It was first published in 1930 by E P Dutton The Iron StarDust jacket from the first editionAuthorJohn TaineCountryUnited StatesLanguageEnglishGenreScience fictionPublisherE P DuttonPublication date1930Media typePrint Hardback Pages356OCLC1967264 Contents 1 Plot introduction 2 Reception 3 References 4 Sources 5 External linksPlot introduction editThe novel concerns an African expedition Swain a member of the expedition becomes demented and attempts to exterminate a peculiar species of African ape The other members of the expedition are befriended by an intelligent ape called the Captain The expedition discovers that the apes are in fact humans that have evolved in reverse due to exposure to a meteor and that the Captain was once human Reception editOne newspaper review of the original edition described The Iron Star as a fantastic thriller along unusual lines clever and well done but with a repulsive theme 1 Boucher and McComas faulted the novel as poorly written but characterized the central idea as curious and effective 2 P Schuyler Miller however rated the novel as Taine s greatest book and one of the greatest in all science fiction he praised its daring scientific concept and its perplexing mystery as well as a smoothness which none of Taine s other books quite show 3 Everett F Bleiler reported that The idea is interesting despite Taine s ignorance of zoology and his shocking racial intolerance but that the literary development is fumbling 4 References edit Reviews in Brief Hartford Courant February 2 1930 p E8 Recommended Reading F amp SF April 1952 p 95 The Reference Library Astounding Science Fiction April 1952 p 113 Everett F Bleiler Science Fiction The Early Years Kent State University Press 1990 p 731Sources editChalker Jack L Mark Owings 1998 The Science Fantasy Publishers A Bibliographic History 1923 1998 Westminster MD and Baltimore Mirage Press Ltd p 271 Crawford Jr Joseph H James J Donahue Donald M Grant 1953 333 A Bibliography of the Science Fantasy Novel Providence RI The Grandon Company p 63 OCLC 3924496 Tuck Donald H 1974 The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction and Fantasy Chicago Advent p 36 ISBN 0 911682 20 1 External links editThe Iron Star title listing at the Internet Speculative Fiction Database nbsp This article about a 1930s 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 The Iron Star amp oldid 1096127310, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
