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Published March 1930 in Science Wonder Stories
RESULTS OF THE $300.00
PRIZE CONTEST
- By
Hugo Gernsback
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In our November, 1929, issue, we announced a $300.00 prize
story contest. The requirements of this contest were that a
short, SHORT science fiction story was to be written around
the cover picture of that issue.
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The story was required to be of the science fiction type, and
was to be plausible in the light of our present scientific
knowledge.
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The contest came to a successful close on December 5th, when
some eight-hundred-odd manuscripts had been received.
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This, indeed, is a tremendous number of manuscripts for a
contest of this kind and, if we go by the number of entries
received, the contest must be declared a huge success.
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Evidently, everyone wanted to try a hand at writing a short,
short science fiction story. Of course, as is usually the
case in contests of this kind, most of the manuscripts
submitted were unquestionably by amateurs and would-be
writers who had no experience in fiction writing. But we
appreciate their efforts, even though we could not award
them prizes.
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It was a matter of great relief to the editors that few of
the higher prizes were won by professional writers, and that
they were carried off either by unknown writers or by those
who are not professional authors.
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This is exactly what the editors hoped for: because the
contest was admittedly to encourage new authors. And, in
this respect, the contest may be said to have succeeded
beyond our fondest expectations.
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It is hoped that all of our readers and the hundreds of
contestants will realize the tremendous amount of work
connected with a prize contest of this kind, where so many
manuscripts must be assorted and graded and passed upon by
the judges. The judges also hope that their selection will
meet the approval of authors and readers alike.
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Mr. Charles R. Tanner, the winner of the first prize,
undoubtedly submitted the best manuscript. It was, by the
way, one of the few that had a surprise ending that was not
only excellent in execution, but also correct from a
scientific standpoint. No other author had noted the error
in the coloring of the sky on the cover printed on the
November, 1929, issue. The error was, of course,
intentional; for in similar covers in the past we have
always used the correct black sky, as, for instance, in our
August, 1929, issue.
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A number of the prize winning stories will be found in this
issue. The remainder, including the “honorable mentions,”
which we have purchased from the authors, will be published
in the April issue.
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It is to be hoped that our new authors have been sufficiently
encouraged by this prize contest to try their hands at
longer stories, and so gain all the joy, distinction and
material rewards that our writers receive.
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Checks have been mailed to the prize winners, and the most
memorable of our prize contests is hereby declared
successfully closed.
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$300.00 PRIZE CONTEST- FIRST PRIZE $150.00 Awarded to THE COLOR OF SPACE
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Mr.
Tanner is 33 years old, is married, has two children and
since the age of eight has wished to be an author. He has
read all of Mr. Gernsback’s magazines since the MODERN
ELECTRICS of 1908.
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In awarding
Mr. Tanner the first prize of $150.00 in our very
interesting cover contest, we were impressed, in the first
place, with the excellent way in which he developed his
story. It is a pity that too few science fiction authors
consider the story or fiction element of their work to be
important enough to demand a great deal of careful thought
and preparation.
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We want
emphatically to encourage these writers, who have the knack
of developing an interesting story, one that carries you
breathlessly through its incidents and comes to a natural
climax.
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Mr. Tanner
further was not content to take the cover at its face
value, but he tried to analyze it's meaning and penetrate its
possible significance. This he does in a very convincing
manner and we think our readers will agree that the
startling conclusion to his story was foreshadowed by what
went on before.
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Mr. Tanner
is, we believe, a newcomer to science fiction; yet by the
exercise of his splendid powers of observation and facility
for developing incidents, he can become a writer of no mean
excellence.
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The Color of Space
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- by Charles R. Tanner
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Dr. Henshaw faced his captor wrathfully.
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“Have you kept me here, doped for a week?” he began.
The Russian interrupted him with a quieting gesture.
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“Wait, Doctor,” he said, “there is much that must be
explained before you indict me. Have you no curiosity
regarding your kidnapping or this room in which you find
yourself?” His eloquent gesture took in the strange metal
walls, the two doors and the immense, shuttered, circular
window that covered almost all of one wall.
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“I think I understand dearly why I was kidnapped,”
growled Henshaw. “It’s that secret process of mine. Russia
and France have both been making frantic efforts to persuade
me to sell. But I won’t.”
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“Really, Doctor. After my explanation I do think you
will agree to sell it to Russia. Much has happened in the
week that you have been unconscious.” And seating himself in
the room’s only chair, Godonoff went on.
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“The day after I - er- kidnapped you, a series of
events were started, resulting in a war in which Russia
faces the rest of Europe. Troops have massed on the Polish
border, and the powers expected to invade Russia
immediately. Then suddenly news came from Paris that die
Eiffel Tower had disappeared! Was this the work of Russia?
Hard upon this news came the reports of the disappearance of
the Nelson monument from Trafalgar Square, in London, and of
the Woolworth Building torn from its foundations in New
York. That turned the tide. Panic attacked the Powers. I’m
afraid the morale of your Western nations is crumbling now,
Dr. Henshaw.”
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“What’s the explanation?” asked Henshaw, dazedly.
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“Just this, Doctor,” the Russian answered: “Our
scientists have succeeded in overcoming gravitation! Eight
years ago, two of our scientists, while attempting to
disprove the Langmuir theory of the construction of the
atom, managed, by the use of terrific pressure, to combine
helium and fluorine. As you know, helium has never before
been combined with any element. The result was a dark green
solid that was absolutely weightless. And further
investigation showed that an electric current passed through
it caused an absolute negation of gravity.
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“Armed with this great weapon, our government began
the construction of three great ships, designed to fly
through the atmosphere or, if necessary, beyond it. The
first was one hundred meters in diameter, and was such a
success that the others were made four times as large! It is
these vast machines that have stolen those great buildings!
What do you think will be the effect, Doctor, when Russia
tells the Powers tomorrow to search for their lost buildings
on Venus? Do you think they will feel like going to war with
a nation that can accomplish suds miracles?”
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“Do you expect me to believe you?” asked Henshaw
cynically.
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Godonoff rose and moved over to the huge circular
window. He began to turn a wheel that opened the window’s
metal shutters.
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“Due to certain work which I had accomplished in
America,” he said, “the government honored me by placing me
in command of the smallest of the machines. In order to
secure your secret, Doctor, I took the liberty of bringing
you along when the machines left for Venus. You are now
170,000 miles from the earth, and traveling fast. I offer
you your return in exchange for the secret.”
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Still smiling, Godonoff released the wheel and turned
to Henshaw.
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“And, Doctor, if you care for proof . . .” and he
gestured toward the now uncovered window.
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Henshaw approached the window, his incredulity
seemingly vanishing as he gazed at the stupendous scene
without. Stars - millions of stars - covered the entire
view. Above, below, everywhere, stars swung in a mighty
sweep around him from left to right as though the entire
heaven were spinning like a stupendous top.
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And as he gazed, earth and moon swept into view. The
latter was almost hidden behind one of two disc-like
machines that hung between the earth and Henshaw’s
viewpoint. The doctor caught a glimpse of a great brassy
reflecting surface, a central apparatus resembling a solar
engine, and tremendous tentacles that held a huge building
in their grasp. Then machines, earth and moon had swept past
the window and only the stars appeared.
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When he turned, he found the Russian beside him,
looking over his shoulder.
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“Are we—rotating?” Henshaw asked, his disbelief turned
to awe.
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“Yes,” Godonoff nodded, “the centrifugal force of our
rotation is what gives the effect of gravity in the car.”
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As Godonoff spoke, earth, moon and the great machines
again swept into view and this time, Henshaw was able to
secure a better view of them. He saw that the building in
the grasp of the foremost machine was really the Woolworth,
and that the farther one held’ the Eiffel Tower in its arms.
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The machines swept out of view, but in a few minutes
appeared again. Godonoff began proudly to explain them.
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“That brass surface reflects the greater part of the
sun’s rays. Although space is intensely cold, when the rays
strike directly on anything, they heat it up to a remarkable
degree. As you see, we reflect most of the heat from the
machine’s surface; what we need is absorbed by the solar
engine in the center. Note the curved mirrors which reflect
the heat to the central cylindrical steam boiler. The steam
generated runs the turbines that generate electricity to
heat and operate the whole machine.
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“See that green globe in the middle of the machine?”
he continued as the machines swung past again, “that’s the
helium fluoride. An electric current is passed through it,
when we first leave the earth, but, after a good speed is
secured, our inertia carries us on.”
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“What are those two searchlight beams?” asked Henshaw.
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“They are not light beams, Doctor. They are hollow
cones of gas, lit up by the sun. The helium fluoride is not
a stable substance; it slowly decomposes into its elements.
The resulting gases are forced through pipes and through the
boiler of the solar engine, where the heat expands them and
drives them at high pressure through the nozzles you see.
The recoil of the resulting jets is used for steering the
disc.”
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Henshaw turned back into the room, his eyes dazed by
the view of the tepidly revolving heavens.
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“That door,” he said, pointing, “it leads to outer
space?”
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The Russian eyed him narrowly and then nodded.
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“I suppose you’ve bolted it,” Henshaw went on
smilingly, “so that I can’t leap out into space and take my
secret with me?”
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“Oh, no,” Godonoff answered. “It was locked when we
left the earth, and I’ve just left it that way. I’ll unlock
it, but don’t think it can be opened. With fifteen pounds of
air pressure on this side and a vacuum on the other, wild
horses couldn’t open it.”
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As he spoke, he unbolted the door and stepped back,
smiling. Like a flash, Henshaw flung himself at the door,
and jerking it open, fled through. Darting down the long
hail in which he found himself, he tore open another door,
and, before Godonoff could gather his startled wits, he
hurled it open and was out!... Finding himself in a
well-lighted, well-populated street, Dr. Henshaw walked
calmly away.
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The next day, an admiring group of reporters listened
in amazement to Henshaw’s story of the kidnapping.
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“Godonoff’s story, the metal room, and all the rest
were just staged to put me in the proper mind to divulge my
secret,” he said as he finished. “The scene that I witnessed
through the window was probably a cleverly designed motion
picture. You know how uncannily natural these Orthochromatic
stereopictures are.”
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“But, Doctor,” interrupted one of the men: “It took
nerve to open that door. How did you know that you wouldn’t
find yourself in interplanetary space?”
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Henshaw’s eyes twinkled.
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“I was quite positive before I opened the door that I
wasn’t in interplanetary space. In the first place, as the
Russian said, if we were in free space, I couldn’t open it.
Then, when the Russian designed his little show, he made two
rather inexcusable mistakes. In the first place, the disc
nearest me, when lighted by the sun, would have made a
reflection of such an intense brilliance that I would have
been unable, even, to look at it. Then again, he pictured
the sky as it appears to us on earth—deep blue, and
sprinkled with stars. As we know, the bluish tinge of our
midnight sky is caused only by the diffusion of the faint
starlight by our atmosphere. In space, the sky would appear
a black of the deepest jet. Furthermore, there would be seen
ten times as many stars as were perceptible from the space
ship. Therefore, with these fundamental mistakes in the
little drama, I was quite sure I would find a city street
beyond that door.”
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THE END
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