Johnny Pez has just posted the fifth and final installment of “Thia of the Drylands,” a Hugo Gernsback Era science fiction story written by Harl Vincent that was first published in the July 1932 issue of Amazing Stories magazine. The plot revolves around a former space pilot with a mysterious Martian disease who travels to the Red Planet for a cure. Here are the opening lines:“Is that final, Mr. Sykes?”
“It is, Barron. Sorry, but I can say no more -- we’ve done all we can. You’re just out of luck, I’m afraid.” The president of Interplanetary Lines, Incorporated, could not meet the gaze of the tall young man who faced him across his polished mahogany desk.
Cliff Barron’s white lips set in a tight, grim line, and fire flashed from his shadowed eyes. He was sick, very sick, and disabled besides. Broke. Let down by the employers he had served honestly and faithfully for more than ten years. Hopeless of the future. ...
I’ve wanted to read this story for a long time. Thanks, Johnny! Looking forward to your review.
Pictured: Cover of Amazing Stories, July 1932.
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5 comments:
The review is up. Thanks for the link, Paul.
Once again, Paul, you deliver. First D.B. Grady (now a pen pal) and now this tale, which I've been dying to read since forever.
Johnny, I followed the link and got lost for a long pleasant while. What a great story of Old Mars!
More Harl Vincent...wonder if Paizo could be persuaded to publish a collection of his stories in their "Planet Stories" imprint?
Thanks for the kind words, Steve. D.B. Grady's book sounds great and I hope to read the Vincent story this weekend. Great idea about Paizo putting together a collection.
Any news about The Lost Hieroglyph is welcome. If you send me an email, I'll be happy to put a post together.
If it's more Harl Vincent you want, you can find a sidebar on my blog with a list of links to online versions of his stories.
And I'd love to see a Harl Vincent collection published. I'm doing my part by drawing attention to his work.
Thanks, Johnny.
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