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The Murderer Invisible
A vengeful scientist uses his brilliant discovery to unleash terror on the world in this timeless science fiction classic from an early-twentieth-century master
The scientific community has always shunned William Carpenter. A strange, hulking giant, a talented biochemical investigator, and the self-styled "greatest mind in the western world," he has locked himself inside a house with no windows, in the most desolate reaches of New Jersey, where he can conduct his experiments in peace and isolation. Here in his personal sanctuary, Carpenter has found something astonishing that could alter life on Earth as we know a chemical compound that can render all matter invisible, from rocks to plants to people. But the twisted genius has no intention of using this breakthrough to benefit the planet. Instead, he is about to declare war on all humankind by launching an unseen campaign of terror and destruction. For years the world has ignored William Carpenter, labeling him insane, sociopathic, or worst of all, insignificant. And now the world will have to pay.
The early works of novelist, editor, short story writer, essayist, and screenwriter Philip
Wylie were primary influences on the creation of characters like Flash Gordon, Superman, and Travis McGee. First published in 1931, The Murderer Invisible takes H. G. Wells's classic Invisible Man several giant leaps further, resulting in a chilling tale of madness and science run amok that is at once a gripping adventure and a prescient commentary on man and society.
The scientific community has always shunned William Carpenter. A strange, hulking giant, a talented biochemical investigator, and the self-styled "greatest mind in the western world," he has locked himself inside a house with no windows, in the most desolate reaches of New Jersey, where he can conduct his experiments in peace and isolation. Here in his personal sanctuary, Carpenter has found something astonishing that could alter life on Earth as we know a chemical compound that can render all matter invisible, from rocks to plants to people. But the twisted genius has no intention of using this breakthrough to benefit the planet. Instead, he is about to declare war on all humankind by launching an unseen campaign of terror and destruction. For years the world has ignored William Carpenter, labeling him insane, sociopathic, or worst of all, insignificant. And now the world will have to pay.
The early works of novelist, editor, short story writer, essayist, and screenwriter Philip
Wylie were primary influences on the creation of characters like Flash Gordon, Superman, and Travis McGee. First published in 1931, The Murderer Invisible takes H. G. Wells's classic Invisible Man several giant leaps further, resulting in a chilling tale of madness and science run amok that is at once a gripping adventure and a prescient commentary on man and society.
314 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 1976
About the author
Philip Wylie
118 books57 followersBorn in Beverly, Massachusetts, Philip Gordon Wylie was the son of Presbyterian minister Edmund Melville Wylie and the former Edna Edwards, a novelist, who died when Philip was five years old. His family moved to Montclair, New Jersey and he later attended Princeton University from 1920–1923. He married Sally Ondek, and had one child, Karen, an author who became the inventor of animal "clicker" training. After a divorcing his first wife, Philip Wylie married Frederica Ballard who was born and raised in Rushford, New York; they are both buried in Rushford.
A writer of fiction and nonfiction, his output included hundreds of short stories, articles, serials, syndicated newspaper columns, novels, and works of social criticism. He also wrote screenplays while in Hollywood, was an editor for Farrar & Rinehart, served on the Dade County, Florida Defense Council, was a director of the Lerner Marine Laboratory, and at one time was an adviser to the chairman of the Joint Congressional Committee for Atomic Energy which led to the creation of the Atomic Energy Commission. Most of his major writings contain critical, though often philosophical, views on man and society as a result of his studies and interest in psychology, biology, ethnology, and physics. Over nine movies were made from novels or stories by Wylie. He sold the rights for two others that were never produced.
A writer of fiction and nonfiction, his output included hundreds of short stories, articles, serials, syndicated newspaper columns, novels, and works of social criticism. He also wrote screenplays while in Hollywood, was an editor for Farrar & Rinehart, served on the Dade County, Florida Defense Council, was a director of the Lerner Marine Laboratory, and at one time was an adviser to the chairman of the Joint Congressional Committee for Atomic Energy which led to the creation of the Atomic Energy Commission. Most of his major writings contain critical, though often philosophical, views on man and society as a result of his studies and interest in psychology, biology, ethnology, and physics. Over nine movies were made from novels or stories by Wylie. He sold the rights for two others that were never produced.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
October 21, 2013
In this Invisible Tale (woven with the work of H.G. Wells into the Claude Rains film), William Carpenter has these goals in mind for his discoveries:
Hitherto war has been conducted by the army and navy - men trained in the primitive cults of Julius Ceasar. Now - I shall leap through and over their armies as if they were chalkmarks. My war will be conducted by sociology, psychology, economics, bacteriology, biology, chemistry.
Philip Wyle was an intelligent writer capable of spinning a great yarn. The Murderer Invisible is amongst his best works.
Hitherto war has been conducted by the army and navy - men trained in the primitive cults of Julius Ceasar. Now - I shall leap through and over their armies as if they were chalkmarks. My war will be conducted by sociology, psychology, economics, bacteriology, biology, chemistry.
Philip Wyle was an intelligent writer capable of spinning a great yarn. The Murderer Invisible is amongst his best works.
October 4, 2012
An interesting read. From 1931, it is of course dated in some ways, especially regarding gender politics, but that doesn't play out the way you'd fear. Owes an obvious debt to Wells' _The Invisible Man_. Ambitious in scope.
April 8, 2023
3 stars, Metaphorosis reviews
Summary
The destitute nephew of an irascible scientist and failed market mover shows up unexpected. While he reluctantly takes her in, she is shocked to learn his plans to not only become invisible, but change the world. The arrival of a confident young lab partner changes her own plans.
Review
The Murder Invisible owes a considerable debt to H.G. Wells’ The Invisible Man; they both deal with similar themes – a scientist who makes himself invisible and incites terror. Taken on its own, though, Wylie’s version is a fair, if dated, story. The men are hyper-competent, and the ‘girl’ dependent. To be fair to the 1931 Wylie, however, she also has a certain amount of agency and drive when on her own.
The plot moves along reasonably well, with some romantic set pieces, and the scientific handwaving is not too bad for the time. The villain’s motivations are on the thin side – the important thing about him is that he’s a terrorist – and both he and the good guy are from the Golden Age of super-scientists who can deal with most anything they turn their minds to. All in all, a decent if derivative story.
Summary
The destitute nephew of an irascible scientist and failed market mover shows up unexpected. While he reluctantly takes her in, she is shocked to learn his plans to not only become invisible, but change the world. The arrival of a confident young lab partner changes her own plans.
Review
The Murder Invisible owes a considerable debt to H.G. Wells’ The Invisible Man; they both deal with similar themes – a scientist who makes himself invisible and incites terror. Taken on its own, though, Wylie’s version is a fair, if dated, story. The men are hyper-competent, and the ‘girl’ dependent. To be fair to the 1931 Wylie, however, she also has a certain amount of agency and drive when on her own.
The plot moves along reasonably well, with some romantic set pieces, and the scientific handwaving is not too bad for the time. The villain’s motivations are on the thin side – the important thing about him is that he’s a terrorist – and both he and the good guy are from the Golden Age of super-scientists who can deal with most anything they turn their minds to. All in all, a decent if derivative story.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews