Book: Death Rays and the Popular Media, 1876-1939

**southwestforests** · #1 03-18-2018, 12:33 AM

Arrived in mail the other day. Now don't recall where its existence was come across though that happened only in the recent several weeks.

Book was published in 2015. Have now read up to page 40 or so, it will take a bit of time to get through the rest of it.

The what I'll call supporting sections look to be comprehensive.
Chapter Notes on pages 221-253.
Bibliography pages 255-264, includes print - fiction, nonfiction, pulps, journals, magazines, serialized features; film; radio.
Index page 265-274.

It looks information-dense enough to call it one of those books which comes from a doctoral dissertation, I say that though I've never had need to create one and do not know whether this in fact is one.

Book contains no photos or drawings; it will be necessary to look up sources for things for model inspirations.
Okay, flipped through it one more time just now to make sure, yep, no pictures.

(why do I keep buying books like that )

I have only one complaint about the book and it is a huge one but has nothing to do with the content, it is a manufacturing decision - over the last couple years I've encountered more and more paperbacks where the paper cover is coated with some kind of rubbery feeling material.
ICK!!!!
GROSS!!!

Who was allowed to think that is a good idea???????????

Cover illustration is from a 1936 film titled The Invisible Ray.

**whulsey** · #2 03-18-2018, 10:20 PM

That sounds like a cool book.

**southwestforests** · #3 03-19-2018, 05:01 AM

Been reading scattered sections and indeed it is interesting. Involves militaries, universities, several international fraudsters, Thomas Edison, Nikola Tesla, newspapers you will know the name of and some you won't.
Turns out death rays were most common during one period in detective stories of all things.

Watching movies isn't my thing but I looked up movie cover image is from,

Quote:

The Invisible Ray a science fiction/horror film directed by Lambert Hilyer is notable chiefly for its ground-breaking special effects by John P. Fulton, who also did the effects for The Invisible Man series. Dr. Janos Rukh (Boris Karloff) using space and time travel, and aided by fellow scientist Felix Benet (Bela Lugosi) searches for a meteor which contains "Radium X," a substance more powerful than radium. Rukh is contaminated by the radiation and kills whoever he touches. Despite a short-term antidote, Rukh finds himself slowly going mad and has paranoid delusions that others are plotting against him, with deadly results. While the story and acting in this somewhat dated horror film are just average, the special effects are outstanding and should be seen by any fan of the genre.

https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/invisible_ray/

**Kevin WS** · #4 03-19-2018, 11:52 AM

If you enjoy this sort of thing, consider getting the Fortean Time magazine. I have been hooked on this for years and years and devour every copy (electronically via Magzter) when it comes out.

**whulsey** · #5 03-20-2018, 12:42 PM

Saw the movie when I was a kid. One of the local tv stations (late 50's-early 60's) ran old science fiction movies as serials on Saturday mornings and in the winter would spend a couple of hours watching. Maybe that contributed (along with Famous Monsters magazine) to my sometimes wrapped viewpoint.

**SCEtoAUX** · #6 03-20-2018, 01:20 PM

Always enjoyed those old scifi/monster movies in a sort of MST3K fashion.

That sounds like an interesting book, even with the funky cover.

**missileer** · #7 03-20-2018, 09:14 PM

That does sound like a great book. My wife and I used to watch Grade B Sci-Fi on Friday nights back in the '60s and try to agree on the most ridiculous statement made by the actors. The one that still stands out was a scientist looking at a 6 foot imprint in the sand and calmly stating,"Ah, a typical wasp print".

**southwestforests** · #8 03-20-2018, 10:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by missileer

... the most ridiculous statement made by the actors. The one that still stands out was a scientist looking at a 6 foot imprint in the sand and calmly stating,"Ah, a typical wasp print".

ROFL!!!
Aw man, what a bummer that the effects of autism and a couple other things make it so I need to not watch movies and TV.

**KCinKC46** · #9 03-20-2018, 10:54 PM

So, I guess nobody has seen this show on Discovery Channel?

https://www.discovery.com/tv-shows/t...-declassified/