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Fan-Atic, v. 1, issue 2, March 1941

Page 17

BOOK REVIEW.
SEVEN FAMOUS NOVELS BY H.G. WELLS
The seven novels are: "The Time Machine," "The Island of Doctor Moreau," "The Invisible Man," "The War of the Worlds," "The First Men In the Moon," "The Food of the Gods," and "In the Days of the Comet."
Published by Alfred A. Knopf of New York City in 1934; price is either $2.75 or $3.00, unfortunately I'm not sure which. Not that any of you slugs will be buying it. 
To my mind, the best of the 7 novels is "The Food of the Gods," with "The Invisible Man" and "The War of the Worlds" tied for second. And at the absolute bottom of the pile, and smelling most mightily, is "The Island of Doctor Moreau." I can't see why the publishers put that mess in when they could just as easily have used "Star Begotten." Ah well, no matter; since it's there we'll just have to suffer in silence. 
Since there isn't more room I'm only going to review one story. If you don't like it, that's just too bad. So, here goes-----in the following sentences I'm gonna review "The Food of the Gods.".........
The story takes place in England, over a period of 20 or more years. Several scientists, after long experimenting, discover the secret of giantism. On the fourth try they develop a food to cause terrific growth, the name is "Herakleophorbia IV." The "food" is fed to children at birth, if once they stop eating it or eat any other food until reaching maturity, death will result. The food, however, has no effect on adults. 
The trouble begins when the formula is spread. Soon there are leaks through the drainage and sewage systems, and insects and animals become gigantic in size. Grass, trees, bushes, nettles, etc. also increase tremendously in size. ......... Finally, all over England, the cities and towns set up the equivalent of the modern air-raid watching stations to guard against attacks by giant insects and animals. The wail of the rat-alarm is as common as the raid siren is now. Pitched battles are fought in the streets of the small towns, while squads armed with elephant guns patrol the streets of the larger cities. The normal sized people manage to keep a sort of status-quo, though. Neitsize can exterminate the other. 
Then comes the big danger. As the crop of children who were the to get the food begins to reach full size, at least 40 feet, there co--the problem of what to do with them. They can't be allowed to run wild or they will spread the food, and there will be more giants. They cant be shut up anywhere, nothing smaller than a continent will do. 
Finally open war breaks out between the giant children, grown to maturity and now ready to feed their children the food, and the older, smaller race. The giant retire to a fort that they have bilt, and prepare to use their only weapon, the food! They are going to shell the planet with it! The story ends on the eve of the final battle between size and smallness, with all the world in turmoil and struggle. 
The story is told in a way most favorable to the increase of the size indefinitely. It really is a story of the old struggle between progress and reaction, naturally Wells favors progress. 

We have worked long and hard on this issue, and we believe that is is far superior to the first. We would greatly appreciate any comments, whether or not favorable. So long until next issue. -- the editors.

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BOOK REVIEW. SEVEN FAMOUS NOVELS BY H.G. WELLS The seven novels are: "The Time Machine," "The Island of Doctor Moreau," "The Invisible Man," "The War of the Worlds," "The First Men In the Moon," "The Food of the Gods," and "In the Days of the Comet." Published by Alfred A. Knopf of New York City in 1934; price is either $2.75 or $3.00, unfortunately I'm not sure which. Not that any of you slugs will be buying it. To my mind, the best of the 7 novels is "The Food of the Gods," with "The Invisible Man" and "The War of the Worlds" tied for second. And at the absolute bottom of the pile, and smelling most mightily, is "The Island of Doctor Moreau." I can't see why the publishers put that mess in when they could just as easily have used "Star Begotten." Ah well, no matter; since it's there we'll just have to suffer in silence. Since there isn't more room I'm only going to review one story. If you don't like it, that's just too bad. So, here goes-----in the following sentences I'm gonna review "The Food of the Gods."......... The story takes place in England, over a period of 20 or more years. Several scientists, after long experimenting, discover the secret of giantism. On the fourth try they develop a food to cause terrific growth, the name is "Herakleophorbia IV." The "food" is fed to children at birth, if once they stop eating it or eat any other food until reaching maturity, death will result. The food, however, has no effect on adults. The trouble begins when the formula is spread. Soon there are leaks through the drainage and sewage systems, and insects and animals become gigantic in size. Grass, trees, bushes, nettles, etc. also increase tremendously in size. ......... Finally, all over England, the cities and towns set up the equivalent of the modern air-raid watching stations to guard against attacks by giant insects and animals. The wail of the rat-alarm is as common as the raid siren is now. Pitched battles are fought in the streets of the small towns, while squads armed with elephant guns patrol the streets of the larger cities. The normal sized people manage to keep a sort of status-quo, though. Neitsize can exterminate the other. Then comes the big danger. As the crop of children who were the to get the food begins to reach full size, at least 40 feet, there co--the problem of what to do with them. They can't be allowed to run wild or they will spread the food, and there will be more giants. They cant be shut up anywhere, nothing smaller than a continent will do. Finally open war breaks out between the giant children, grown to maturity and now ready to feed their children the food, and the older, smaller race. The giant retire to a fort that they have bilt, and prepare to use their only weapon, the food! They are going to shell the planet with it! The story ends on the eve of the final battle between size and smallness, with all the world in turmoil and struggle. The story is told in a way most favorable to the increase of the size indefinitely. It really is a story of the old struggle between progress and reaction, naturally Wells favors progress. We have worked long and hard on this issue, and we believe that is is far superior to the first. We would greatly appreciate any comments, whether or not favorable. So long until next issue. -- the editors.