What do you think?
Rate this book
The Torch
A classic fantasy story from the pages of Argosy, The Torch is one of the pulp's earliest post-apocalyptic following the near-destruction of the world from a comet collision, society now exists in two the aristocrats who live in "The Tower," where the skyscrapers once existed, and the "Folk," who reside in the the abandoned subway tunnels. This edition includes the original illustrations from its later publication in Famous Fantastic Mysteries by Lawrence Sterne Stevens.
225 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1920
About the author
Jack Bechdolt
60 books1 followerJohn Ernest Bechdolt, American short story writer, novelist and journalist. He wrote under his full name and under Jack Bechdolt. He was married to fellow author and book illustrator Decie Merwin.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
September 17, 2012
As with the last release from Singularity and Co, A Plunge Into Space, I'm grading this largely on a curve. Even so, I can still only give it three stars. Again, I found it interesting as an artifact, but beyond that the story never engaged me.
What I liked? I liked the mic of science fiction and fantasy elements. The book is from a time before these became more distinct genres (though how distinct is a discussion for another place and time). I liked the framing element of this as a work of history from a society even further in the future. The conceit served the story telling well. I might even have liked the narrator to come through more strongly in the story, as I occasionally like a good narrator-driven story.
What I disliked? Fortune. Which is a problem, as he's the protagonist of the entire story.
In the end the story was largely forgettable. Which I hate saying, because the entire purpose of the Singularity and Co mission is to keep these books from being forgotten by history. My intent is not to say it should be forgotten, only that there's nothing about the story that I expect to carry with me beyond finishing the book. I'm happy to be part of any writing reaching a new audience, however I will not go down as a fan of this particular S&Co release.
What I liked? I liked the mic of science fiction and fantasy elements. The book is from a time before these became more distinct genres (though how distinct is a discussion for another place and time). I liked the framing element of this as a work of history from a society even further in the future. The conceit served the story telling well. I might even have liked the narrator to come through more strongly in the story, as I occasionally like a good narrator-driven story.
What I disliked? Fortune. Which is a problem, as he's the protagonist of the entire story.
In the end the story was largely forgettable. Which I hate saying, because the entire purpose of the Singularity and Co mission is to keep these books from being forgotten by history. My intent is not to say it should be forgotten, only that there's nothing about the story that I expect to carry with me beyond finishing the book. I'm happy to be part of any writing reaching a new audience, however I will not go down as a fan of this particular S&Co release.
August 28, 2012
For science fiction / fantasy written nearly 100 years ago, I was surprised by how enjoyable this story was. It was written before the modern divisions of fantasy from science fiction were even thought of and as such it straddles the lines between fantasy and science fiction. The ending was a little predictable but only because so many later stories have borrowed from it. Oddly, I keep finding myself coming back to the ending of A Tale of Two Cities whenever I think about the ending of this book. It was nowhere near as poignant (what is?), but it had, well, I suppose some of the same flavor.
At any rate: recommended. It's a quick read and it's an interesting look at the history of the genre.
At any rate: recommended. It's a quick read and it's an interesting look at the history of the genre.
February 9, 2021
“These mysterious engines of death that moved among them…and cleared their way by slaughter.”
Welcome to the island of Manhattan after “The Great Catastrophe of 1989”, and “The Torch” by Jack Bechdolt is a story told from this catastrophe’s future from about the great revolution of 2078.
Still, this story takes place in the Manhattan’s dark ages as the war hero Fortune, and his man-servant, the pudgy, but loyal, Ham are on their way back to the headquarters of Manhattan’s current government to report on the great battle that Fortune has won.
The man that he’s to report to is the Great Towerman Wolff who rules over the whole island, its armies, and its peoples. As he travels across the ruined landscape he comes across the camp of Fredericks, the comptroller and the most powerful member of Directorate, who wants to know some of the information that Fortune had learned while fighting his pivotal battle. While Fredericks is willing to trade some sage advice to Fortune, the highly ambitious Fortune refuses to part with any information that he has learned.
He also then runs into a posse of assassins on his way to the Great Tower that try to do him in, only to fail miserably. So, when the duo gets to the Great Tower, he finally meets the Great Towerman himself who is planning on rebuilding the Great Lady, only with a sword instead of a torch. Fortune also gets a promotion and a leave.
Fortune also catches the eye of the beautiful Alda, who is Wolff’s daughter, and who would like to have Fortune to be her confidant and follower, as she also wants her father’s power when he dies. The trouble is that a woman can’t be a ruler by herself with a man as a partner. He also catches the ire of hotshot officer LeRoy who almost kills Fortune in a duel.
Unfortunately, while Alda wants Fortune, Fortune wants a beautiful peasant girl, and he travels to the island of the Great Woman to find her. And find her he does, and being the true romantic that he is, he immediately tries to violently abduct her, only to get Ham killed, and himself captured.
However, since his capturers have need of his skill, they give him a thirty day leave to think about whether or not to join them in their revolution. Of course, the idea is, to him, ludicrous, but he takes them up on thinking about it so that he can learn as much as he can about the revolutionaries, and to be close to Mary, the peasant girl. But, as the thirty-day deadline draws close, he realizes that it’s cut and run time, so he escapes back to the Great Tower, and the Great Towerman, where he betrays everybody on Mary’s side.
But first they must wait, and wait they do until all the leaders gather in their masses, and when they do Fortune leads the Towermen into battle and some will die, most will be captured, and Mary will be taken prisoner and sentenced to burn as a heretic.
It is here that this slow novel picks up some steam, as Fortune soon suffers his own misfortune, and Alda and Wolff condemn him to death, but the revolution must go on. Will it succeed? Will Fortune and Mary escape their fate?
The problem for most modern readers will be that this is a proto post-apocalyptic novel, and a pretty short one at that. So, the Great Cataclysm that caused civilization’s downfall is given pretty short shrift. Too bad. Being one of the first novels ever published of mankind’s fall, thankfully, disease and warfare were not the cause, so that was nice. But, except for some window dressing, this is essentially a medieval adventure novel, with a some rather slow parts.
Of course, “The Torch” by journalist and cartoonist Jack Bechdolt (John Ernest Bechdolt: 1984-1954) originally appeared in five weekly parts in the January and February 1920 issues of the classic “Argosy” pulp magazine, and at the time there really was no real resale value to pulp and genre fiction, and I’m sure that just getting this published was an achievement, and nobody thought that it would be read over a hundred years later, but here we are.
“The Torch” is a novel filled with literary archetypes, like the Merlin archetype, the eccentric scientist/wizard, the weak and corrupt leader, the ambitious underling, the ambitious, heroic knight, the fair maiden, etc., with none, except, perhaps, Fortune, really rounded out.
On the average though, not many of them are really likable, including Fortune, although she is seen infrequently, fans of strong literary women in pulp fiction might like Mary who ends up being a Joan of Arc type of leader of the revolution. Still, this is only a book for early pulp fiction fans, or early post-apocalyptic fiction.
Welcome to the island of Manhattan after “The Great Catastrophe of 1989”, and “The Torch” by Jack Bechdolt is a story told from this catastrophe’s future from about the great revolution of 2078.
Still, this story takes place in the Manhattan’s dark ages as the war hero Fortune, and his man-servant, the pudgy, but loyal, Ham are on their way back to the headquarters of Manhattan’s current government to report on the great battle that Fortune has won.
The man that he’s to report to is the Great Towerman Wolff who rules over the whole island, its armies, and its peoples. As he travels across the ruined landscape he comes across the camp of Fredericks, the comptroller and the most powerful member of Directorate, who wants to know some of the information that Fortune had learned while fighting his pivotal battle. While Fredericks is willing to trade some sage advice to Fortune, the highly ambitious Fortune refuses to part with any information that he has learned.
He also then runs into a posse of assassins on his way to the Great Tower that try to do him in, only to fail miserably. So, when the duo gets to the Great Tower, he finally meets the Great Towerman himself who is planning on rebuilding the Great Lady, only with a sword instead of a torch. Fortune also gets a promotion and a leave.
Fortune also catches the eye of the beautiful Alda, who is Wolff’s daughter, and who would like to have Fortune to be her confidant and follower, as she also wants her father’s power when he dies. The trouble is that a woman can’t be a ruler by herself with a man as a partner. He also catches the ire of hotshot officer LeRoy who almost kills Fortune in a duel.
Unfortunately, while Alda wants Fortune, Fortune wants a beautiful peasant girl, and he travels to the island of the Great Woman to find her. And find her he does, and being the true romantic that he is, he immediately tries to violently abduct her, only to get Ham killed, and himself captured.
However, since his capturers have need of his skill, they give him a thirty day leave to think about whether or not to join them in their revolution. Of course, the idea is, to him, ludicrous, but he takes them up on thinking about it so that he can learn as much as he can about the revolutionaries, and to be close to Mary, the peasant girl. But, as the thirty-day deadline draws close, he realizes that it’s cut and run time, so he escapes back to the Great Tower, and the Great Towerman, where he betrays everybody on Mary’s side.
But first they must wait, and wait they do until all the leaders gather in their masses, and when they do Fortune leads the Towermen into battle and some will die, most will be captured, and Mary will be taken prisoner and sentenced to burn as a heretic.
It is here that this slow novel picks up some steam, as Fortune soon suffers his own misfortune, and Alda and Wolff condemn him to death, but the revolution must go on. Will it succeed? Will Fortune and Mary escape their fate?
The problem for most modern readers will be that this is a proto post-apocalyptic novel, and a pretty short one at that. So, the Great Cataclysm that caused civilization’s downfall is given pretty short shrift. Too bad. Being one of the first novels ever published of mankind’s fall, thankfully, disease and warfare were not the cause, so that was nice. But, except for some window dressing, this is essentially a medieval adventure novel, with a some rather slow parts.
Of course, “The Torch” by journalist and cartoonist Jack Bechdolt (John Ernest Bechdolt: 1984-1954) originally appeared in five weekly parts in the January and February 1920 issues of the classic “Argosy” pulp magazine, and at the time there really was no real resale value to pulp and genre fiction, and I’m sure that just getting this published was an achievement, and nobody thought that it would be read over a hundred years later, but here we are.
“The Torch” is a novel filled with literary archetypes, like the Merlin archetype, the eccentric scientist/wizard, the weak and corrupt leader, the ambitious underling, the ambitious, heroic knight, the fair maiden, etc., with none, except, perhaps, Fortune, really rounded out.
On the average though, not many of them are really likable, including Fortune, although she is seen infrequently, fans of strong literary women in pulp fiction might like Mary who ends up being a Joan of Arc type of leader of the revolution. Still, this is only a book for early pulp fiction fans, or early post-apocalyptic fiction.
August 28, 2012
The Torch tells the story of Fortune, who starts the book as a Petty-Captain in the army of the Towerman and then follows his trials, tribulations and machinations as a revolution of the Folk (the downtrodden masses of the story) is fomented around him.
I don't know if I reacted harshly to this book due to the fact that it's quite old, or just to the fact that it's quite poorly written. I'm vaguely prepared to provide the benefit of the doubt as possibly the book was written for the "Young Adult" market (although young people don't really need sub-par writing, perhaps just not quite as much of a demand on their prolonged attention). I don't think it's the age of the book, I've read enough titles from around the same period (1920) to know that there are plenty of well written books although you do need to turn a blind eye to the blatant sexism. Having said that, it is a little hard as the characters are all archetypal stereotypes and the women use their feminine wiles, never being able to amount to more than a controlling figure behind a powerful man. There are a few more choices for the men but, again, they're very stereotypical. Every action or plot device is telegraphed well in advance, there are certainly no surprises here.
Perhaps this is an example of the roots of the modern sci-fi/fantasy genres but I don't think that I would recommend that anyone read it for that reason alone, and I can't think of anything else particularly commendable about it.
I don't know if I reacted harshly to this book due to the fact that it's quite old, or just to the fact that it's quite poorly written. I'm vaguely prepared to provide the benefit of the doubt as possibly the book was written for the "Young Adult" market (although young people don't really need sub-par writing, perhaps just not quite as much of a demand on their prolonged attention). I don't think it's the age of the book, I've read enough titles from around the same period (1920) to know that there are plenty of well written books although you do need to turn a blind eye to the blatant sexism. Having said that, it is a little hard as the characters are all archetypal stereotypes and the women use their feminine wiles, never being able to amount to more than a controlling figure behind a powerful man. There are a few more choices for the men but, again, they're very stereotypical. Every action or plot device is telegraphed well in advance, there are certainly no surprises here.
Perhaps this is an example of the roots of the modern sci-fi/fantasy genres but I don't think that I would recommend that anyone read it for that reason alone, and I can't think of anything else particularly commendable about it.
October 9, 2012
I was all prepared to give this book two stars, as I was put off by the incredible, undeniable sexism and the general assumption that everyone who survived the nuclear holocaust (in New York City in, let me see here, 1989) was white. But then, in one of the final scenes, it hit me like a flash. I saw it laid out perfectly before me-- this story was meant to be an art deco graphic novel.
From that point on, I thoroughly enjoyed the book, reveling in my imaginary graphic novel-- the Tintin-esque lurid colors of New York's jungle or the clean lines of the Chrystler building ruined and made jagged.
Basically, if you want something that's a little bit like Game of Thrones and a little bit like The Road and a little bit like Rise of the Molemen (Revenge of the Sewers)* and a lot like a Tin-Tin comic (and, let's be real, all the cultural bias that entails), this book is for you!
Also, I love Singularity&Co's organizational vision and I am prepared to give them a lot of the benefit of the doubt on this book and future ventures.
*This book does not exist. Yet.
From that point on, I thoroughly enjoyed the book, reveling in my imaginary graphic novel-- the Tintin-esque lurid colors of New York's jungle or the clean lines of the Chrystler building ruined and made jagged.
Basically, if you want something that's a little bit like Game of Thrones and a little bit like The Road and a little bit like Rise of the Molemen (Revenge of the Sewers)* and a lot like a Tin-Tin comic (and, let's be real, all the cultural bias that entails), this book is for you!
Also, I love Singularity&Co's organizational vision and I am prepared to give them a lot of the benefit of the doubt on this book and future ventures.
*This book does not exist. Yet.
February 6, 2013
In a post-catastrophe New York, Captain Fortune becomes unlikely hero of the peoples’ revolution, overthrowing the robber-baron Towermen and bringing democracy and freedom back to America. A swashbuckling tale from the 1920s that has a lot of amazing elements... though it's fouled by Fortune's character.
Fortune is an unlikable chump; he mistreats his faithful manservant, and his first thought at seeing the girl he has a crush on is "boy I should capture her." He gets better as the story progresses---that's part of the point I think, watching him start off as a swaggering Towerman to become a symbol of revolution---but his early actions made him too off-putting a protagonist for me.
Being a fan of old-school pulp adventures, I really liked this one, though I wish Captain Fortune was less of a chauvinistic, egotistic dope.
(Full review found here.)
Fortune is an unlikable chump; he mistreats his faithful manservant, and his first thought at seeing the girl he has a crush on is "boy I should capture her." He gets better as the story progresses---that's part of the point I think, watching him start off as a swaggering Towerman to become a symbol of revolution---but his early actions made him too off-putting a protagonist for me.
Being a fan of old-school pulp adventures, I really liked this one, though I wish Captain Fortune was less of a chauvinistic, egotistic dope.
(Full review found here.)
September 19, 2012
Ok, I will first say that I love the idea behind Singularity&Co (saving out-of-print scifi books). But I think there had to be better choices than this. I overlook a lot of sexism in scifi and it usually doesn't even bother me, to be honest, but this was way over the top (for example, the hero is drawn back to visit a beautiful woman he saw once, and I thought that meant maybe he would try to woo her. But instead he doesn't even talk to her, he just puts his hand over her mouth and tries to drag her away? Also Alda and her weird "womanly" jealousy. Also, Kinst's woman who is so ugly they can't believe he likes her. Also, any scene involving any woman.) I may have forgiven it if I liked the book, but I didn't.
On the plus side, the blending of scifi and fantasy was cool, especially for 1920.
I hope the other S&Co choices are better!
On the plus side, the blending of scifi and fantasy was cool, especially for 1920.
I hope the other S&Co choices are better!
March 19, 2026
Predictable, sexist and a bit racist. The mix of sci-fi and fantasy would have been interesting if I hadn't been overwhelmed by the blatant sexism.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews