The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1953-03-04
KY Book,
by A. de T. Gingras

Co., New York City, 915 pages.)
The title of this collection of the
great English novelist'S stories, is
misleading as to the size and cut of
the contents.
| Only four of the yarns could be
considered novels or even novel
cites, as the definitions are gener-
ally accepted. The other two dozen
tales are average short story
length, ranging from eight to twen-
ty six pages.
But there is nothing misleading
about the quality of what is be-
tween the covers! H. G. Wells re-
mains a top performer as well as
a pioneer in the science fiction
field. He has the very necessary
skill of making the implausible and
unbelievable, plausible and be-
lieveable.
Some writer's turning oft science
fiction today may pull out of their
imagination more startling con-
coctionS. But they are often badly
digested. They come out on the
page lumpy and obviously unas-
simulated by the author himself,
and therefore never quite accepted
by the reader.
But Mr.. Wells is almost always
convincing. The reader at least for
the time he is reading the story,
believes the tale, whether it be a.
bout country on the Amazon riv-
er where the ants have taken over,
or strange orchid with vampire
prolivities, who strongles and
sucks the blood from human be-
ingS.
When an astronomer in a Bur-
meSe observatory tangleS with a
giant bird, and when an orcheolog-
ist gets stranded on a desert island
with another giant bird Matched
from a fossil egg dug up from a
pit after thousands of years, the
reader goes right along to the last
sentence with Mr.. Wells.
Part of this FEASIBILITY seems
to be arrived at by surrounding the
startling central core of the story
with very usual and careful des-
criptive details. When an anarchist
attempts to poison the city's water
supply, he goes into the usual
a boratOry in the average
home Of doctor. ALI the appoint
ments and decor of the story, are
very every day, even TO the shoes
and coat which the very average
physician forgets to put on when
he chases the villain.
Mr.. Wells has other qualities
which help to make him one of the
top English novelists of the first
part of the century. There is deli
cate poetic quality in some of his
stories. One OF the collection.
Country of the Blind, is a
strange and penetratingly beauti.
full story. which is likely to make
a lasting impression on any read.
er. 49,.
An explorer is thrust over a
mountain by a falling avalanche
of snow. He finds himself in a val.
ley where disintegrating eye dis
ease has made all the inhabitants
blind for several generations. What
happens to these people as their
senses of touch and hearing be-
come exceedingly keen with their
loss of sight. is a new experience
for the reader.
And the authors conclusion Is
equally unforgettable, when the
hero makes his decision between
the love of blind woman and his
own sight.
Any science fiction fan who Is
not yet acquainted with this i'm.
portant and very skilled expert
menter in the field, might well add
this book TO his library.
JUNIOR SELECTION
(THE ADVENTURES OF AM.
BRoSE by Rosemary Ann Sis
son. published by E. P. Dutton
publishing company, New York
City. lls pages.l
Here is an interesting mouse
hole view of Buckingham Pal
acei
The story begins by saying
Shanghai means plenty OF
cheese and no cats to an English
mouse named Ambrose. So that
is what he calls his bachelor
quarters in cardboard box in
the pantry of a country house
outside London.
Then enc day some callous haI.
man throws the cardboard box
into the dustbin, That uphesval
and the adventuresanae spring
wind encourages Ambrose to see
the world.
Accompanied by his friend. 81
mon. the field mouse. Ambrose
starts out on q journey 30 the
English capital 10 see The King.
incidentally. be also wants 70
see his Great Aunt Harriet. who