Gertrude Barrows Bennett, écrivant sous le pseudonyme de Francis Stevens, fut une voix féminine pionnière dans la fantasy et la science-fiction américaines naissantes. Célébrée comme une pionnière de la dark fantasy, son œuvre explore l'étrange et le surnaturel avec un style distinctement captivant. Bennett aborda des thèmes tels que les mondes perdus et les premières visions dystopiques, façonnant ainsi de manière significative la trajectoire du genre.
In a futuristic Philadelphia plagued by totalitarian rule, three travelers encounter a high-tech dust that enables interdimensional travel. As they navigate this oppressive society, they must harness the dust's power to escape and uncover the mysteries of their reality. Their journey explores themes of freedom, resistance, and the consequences of advanced technology in a dystopian world.
Exploring themes of demonic possession and the occult, "Serapion" tells the story of Clayton Barbour, who, despite warnings, attends a séance and encounters a mysterious entity offering him happiness. His decision to embrace Serapion leads to unforeseen disaster, highlighting the dangers of temptation and the unknown. This collection not only features this standout tale but also includes lesser-known stories by Francis Stevens, a pioneering figure in fantasy and science fiction. The edition is designed to appeal to contemporary readers while preserving the original's haunting essence.
The story is set on an island separated from the rest of the world, on which evolution has taken a different course. "The Nightmare" resembles Edgar Rice Burroughs' The Land That Time Forgot, which was published a year later. While Bennett had submitted "The Nightmare" under her own name, she had asked to use a pseudonym, Jean Vail, if it was published. The magazine's editor instead chose to use Francis Stevens, which she stuck to for rest of her writings as well. Excerpt: "I never met a burglar, but if I ever should it would be embarrassing to point a pistol at him and not be able to fire it off. I admire the heroes of burglar stories. They're always such efficient people."
A pseudonym of Gertrude Barrows Bennett Gertrude Barrows Bennett was born in Minneapolis on 18th September 1884. She completed school up to the eighth grade, then switched to night school to study illustration, unfortunately she was never able to achieve a career in this. As a fall-back she began working as a stenographer, a career which she would keep to for the rest of her life. But Gertrude had talent, writer's talent. Her first short story was written when she was 17. Not you would think the usual subjects of curious teenage girls with headstrong ambitions but a science fiction story entitled 'The Curious Experience of Thomas Dunbar'. She mailed the finished story to Argosy, one of the most well known of the pulp magazines. The story was published in the March 1904 issue. Whilst her career was to be short and not at all prolific she is best remembered for her excellent ideas, many of which were way ahead of their time. By the time of her death in 1948 her pseudonym of 'Francis Stevens' could lay claim to being a respected and much admired author of science fiction and dark fantasy short stories and novels.
A pseudonym of Gertrude Barrows Bennett Gertrude Barrows Bennett was born in Minneapolis on 18th September 1884. She completed school up to the eighth grade, then switched to night school to study illustration, unfortunately she was never able to achieve a career in this. As a fall-back she began working as a stenographer, a career which she would keep to for the rest of her life. But Gertrude had talent, writer's talent. Her first short story was written when she was 17. Not you would think the usual subjects of curious teenage girls with headstrong ambitions but a science fiction story entitled 'The Curious Experience of Thomas Dunbar'. She mailed the finished story to Argosy, one of the most well known of the pulp magazines. The story was published in the March 1904 issue. Whilst her career was to be short and not at all prolific she is best remembered for her excellent ideas, many of which were way ahead of their time. By the time of her death in 1948 her pseudonym of 'Francis Stevens' could lay claim to being a respected and much admired author of science fiction and dark fantasy short stories and novels.
A pseudonym of Gertrude Barrows Bennett Gertrude Barrows Bennett was born in Minneapolis on 18th September 1884. She completed school up to the eighth grade, then switched to night school to study illustration, unfortunately she was never able to achieve a career in this. As a fall-back she began working as a stenographer, a career which she would keep to for the rest of her life. But Gertrude had talent, writer's talent. Her first short story was written when she was 17. Not you would think the usual subjects of curious teenage girls with headstrong ambitions but a science fiction story entitled 'The Curious Experience of Thomas Dunbar'. She mailed the finished story to Argosy, one of the most well known of the pulp magazines. The story was published in the March 1904 issue. Whilst her career was to be short and not at all prolific she is best remembered for her excellent ideas, many of which were way ahead of their time. By the time of her death in 1948 her pseudonym of 'Francis Stevens' could lay claim to being a respected and much admired author of science fiction and dark fantasy short stories and novels.
A pseudonym of Gertrude Barrows Bennett Gertrude Barrows Bennett was born in Minneapolis on 18th September 1884. She completed school up to the eighth grade, then switched to night school to study illustration, unfortunately she was never able to achieve a career in this. As a fall-back she began working as a stenographer, a career which she would keep to for the rest of her life. But Gertrude had talent, writer's talent. Her first short story was written when she was 17. Not you would think the usual subjects of curious teenage girls with headstrong ambitions but a science fiction story entitled 'The Curious Experience of Thomas Dunbar'. She mailed the finished story to Argosy, one of the most well known of the pulp magazines. The story was published in the March 1904 issue. Whilst her career was to be short and not at all prolific she is best remembered for her excellent ideas, many of which were way ahead of their time. By the time of her death in 1948 her pseudonym of 'Francis Stevens' could lay claim to being a respected and much admired author of science fiction and dark fantasy short stories and novels.
Gertrude Barrows Bennett, writing as Francis Stevens, is recognized as a pioneering female author in American fantasy and science fiction. Active from 1917 to 1923, she produced a series of influential stories that earned her acclaim and the title of "the woman who invented dark fantasy." Her work played a significant role in shaping the genre, showcasing her unique voice and imaginative storytelling during a time when female authors were largely overlooked.
Two adventurers, prospecting for gold in the jungles of Mexico, stumble across a lost Aztec city and cause an ancient evil to be unleashed. An early science fiction masterpiece written by Gertrude Barrows Bennett, writing as Francis Stevens.
"A trio of time-travelers land in Philadelphia's brutal totalitarian state of 2118. This 1919 classic was the first alternate-world fantasy, and H. P. Lovecraft hailed its author as among "the top grade of writers." Loaded with action and humor, the novel anticipates the work of Philip K. Dick. "A much-sought rarity." -- Analog"--