In 'The Time Stream', John Taine weaves an intricate sci-fi narrative that deftly combines elements of time travel with the historical event of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. The literary style is emblematic of early 20th-century science fiction, where explorations of futuristic worlds and advanced technologies serve as a backdrop for larger philosophical questions. Taine's work is firmly situated within the scientifiction genre—an early term for science fiction—playing on the tension between foreordained destiny and human agency, showcased through the rich tapestry of a society bound by its stringent 'Law of Reason'. John Taine, the pseudonym of mathematician and author Eric Temple Bell, was a contemporary of other science fiction pioneers. His background in mathematics and his tenure as a professor at the California Institute of Technology indisputably influenced his storytelling, infusing 'The Time Stream' with scientific credibility and a thought-provoking examination of time's complex dimensions. Taine's narrative, reflecting his academic interests, invites readers to ponder the implications of scientific advancement on society and the inexorable march of time. The book is a captivating read for aficionados of classic science fiction and enthusiasts of temporal adventures. Taine challenges his audience to reflect on the consequences of scientific hubris and the nature of cause and effect. 'The Time Stream' is recommended for readers who appreciate a careful blend of historical intrigue with speculative futures, and who relish in the exploration of theoretical concepts brought to life through narrative prowess.

John Taine (Eric Temple Bell, 1883-1960) was an accomplished mathematician and, as John Taine, a science fiction author. Seeds of Life is the 1931 tale of the creation of a superman through radiation. 1930's White Lily (later rewritten as The Crystal Horde) is an adventure involving crystalline lifeforms.

The Iron Star' is an absorbing science fiction novel about an African expedition. Swain, a member of the expedition, attempts to eradicate a rare species of African ape, but the other members are befriended by an intelligent ape called the Captain. They later make a discovery about the apes that will blow their minds. It's a clever thriller that keeps the readers curious till the end.

A scientifically-precipitated, out-of-control tale of evolution set in Antarctica—it predates Lovecraft’s At the Mountains of Madness—by a mathematician of note who also wrote science fiction. In The Greatest Adventure, an expedition to Antarctica discovers remnants of an elder race with advanced technology. These ancients had discovered the secret of developing new life-forms . . . but when the mutations threatened to run amok, their creators entombed their entire civilization in ice. Intrepid aviatrix Edith Lane and her comrades must flee through caverns inhabited by the mutated monsters, and when frozen spores begin to thaw out, the planet is threatened by malign plant life. The Greatest Adventure is a tale of horror by John Taine—the pseudonym of mathematician Eric Temple Bell—that is not without moments of humor.

Our 95th issue has a lot of fun stuff—starting off with an original mystery by Robert Lopresti (thanks to Acquiring Editor Michael Bracken). Also on the mystery side, “Haitian Divorce,” by Simon Wood, courtesy of Acquiring Editor Barb Goffman, as well as a pair of classic novels by Hulbert Footner and R. Austin Freeman...plus a solve-it-yourself puzzler from Hal Charles. On the fantastic side of things, A.R. Morlan has a modern tale of clones, Alfred Coppel has a scientific monster, Seabury Quinn has a weird horror, and Fritz Leiber has a comic mermaid tale. And there a classic science fiction novel by John Taine. Good stuff! Here’s the complete lineup: Mysteries / Suspense / Adventure: “Memorial,” by Robert Lopresti [Michael Bracken Presents short story] “The Case of the Petty Porch Pirate,” Hal Charles [Solve-It-Yourself Mystery] “Worth the Wait,” by Mindy Quigley [Barb Goffman Presents short story] Putting Crime Over, by Hulbert Footner [novel, Madame Storey series] The D’Arblay Mystery, by R. Austin Freeman [novel, Dr. Thorndyke series] Science Fiction & Fantasy: “Boog’/4 and the Endicaran Kluge,” by A. R. Morlan [short story] “The Terror,” by Alfred Coppel [short story] “Pipe Dream,” by Fritz Leiber [short story] “Out of the Long Ago,” by Seabury Quinn [short story] Seeds of Life, by John Taine [novel]

Swain, one member of an African 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 discover 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. We are delighted to publish this classic book as part of our extensive Classic Library collection. Many of the books in our collection have been out of print for decades, and therefore have not been accessible to the general public. The aim of our publishing program is to facilitate rapid access to this vast reservoir of literature, and our view is that this is a significant literary work, which deserves to be brought back into print after many decades. The contents of the vast majority of titles in the Classic Library have been scanned from the original works. To ensure a high quality product, each title has been meticulously hand curated by our staff. Our philosophy has been guided by a desire to provide the reader with a book that is as close as possible to ownership of the original work. We hope that you will enjoy this wonderful classic work, and that for you it becomes an enriching experience.

This fascinating story revolves around an invention that lets people view history by accessing the light absorbed by stones throughout history. Using this time viewer, the book's characters witness the extinction of dinosaurs, and they particularly follow one dinosaur, named Belshazzar, who is a huge flesh eater.

The Purple Sapphire' revolves around two Americans, John Ford and his niece, Rosita Rowe, both gem traders and explorers working mainly in central Asia. When they were temporarily staying in Darjeeling, in North India, the British general Wedderburn asked them to engage in an unusual quest. They were assigned to search for the general's 8-year-old daughter, Evelyn, who had been kidnapped 12 years ago. Filled with mysteries and plot twists, this work keeps the readers curious till the end.