SCIENCE FICTION COMICS: The Illustrated History by Mike Benton does a good job describing the early years of 20th century science fiction, how it led to Buck Rogers and Flash Gordon become massively popular newspaper strips and how they in turn defined science fiction for millions (long before it was “Star Wars stuff” it was “Buck Rogers stuff”). Benton also does a decent job covering the countless ray gun-toting space adventurers of 1930s and 1940s comics and some of what follows, such as Adam Strange.
Alas, while I can understand a slim volume not covering every series (like the obscure Mystery in Space feature Interplanetary Insurance) I don’t think the book does well enough. No V (which had a comic-book spinoff), no American Flagg, no Jetsons — and The Jetsons are anything but obscure. If I have to empty my shelves, I can give up this one without too much angst.
THE CHILDREN OF MENLO PARK: The Thrilling Supernatural Adventures of Kate Warne, Lady Pinkerton by Jessica Nettles was one I picked up at Ret-Con a couple of weeks back, based on the series concept: Kate, a female Pinkerton, is dead, but her ghost is still working for the legendary detective agency. Along with her partner Shadow (“The agency’s contact to the mysterious Brotherhood.”) she investigates a missing girl who may be one of several children abducted by Thomas Edison — but for what sinister purpose?
At least I think that’s the set-up. While I usually complain about too much exposition in urban fantasy, this one lost me in Chapter One by being very busy with nowhere near enough explanation what’s going on — I kept wondering if it was a sequel but nope, it’s first in the series. The throwaway reference to the Brotherhood, for example, didn’t intrigue me as much as it confused me — a little more detail than “mysterious” would have helped. The book also uses too many tags, referring to “the writer,” “her partner” or “her boss” when names would have worked better.
While it’s a minor point, I’m also tired of so many historical novels making Edison the devil incarnate in contrast to the saintly Tesla (I recommend Empires of Light for a more balanced view). Heck, the Pinkertons were no angels, being infamously willing to work at union busting for big business.
All rights to images remain with current holders. Mystery in Space cover by Carmine Infantino and Murphy Anderson.
