Sci-fi oldies, a want list from Ken Krueger, co-founder of the first Comic-Con

[A]

I recently came upon an old letter dated 30 October 1944 sent from Ken Krueger, co-founder of the first Comic-Con, to Forrest Ackerman, the greatest sci-fi enthusiast/collector of all time. The letter discusses about sci-fi book trading and Krueger adds a want list (see below). Since I know almost none of the books listed, I thought I would share it with this group hoping that some of you could let me know which titles are worth reading. All are of course oldies from the early 20th century. Looking forward to your comments.

Tower of oblivion - Oliver Onions
Last and first men - Olaf Stapledon
face in the abyss - A G Merritt
outsider and others - H P Lovecraft
the twenty-fifth hour - ?
thirteen o’clock - Enid Blyton
prince of peril - O A Kline
gladiator - Philip Wylie
night-land - W H Hodgson
men of the deep waters - W H Hodgson
screw tape letters - C S Lewis
shadow over innsmouth - H P Lovecraft
dawn of flame and others - S G Weinbaum
when and after worlds collide - P Wylie
darkness and dawn - ?
darkness and light - Olaf Stapledon
Columbus of space - G P Serviss

[Leonie]

Hmmmm....I've read The Screwtape Letters

[Yefim]

Lovecraft and Lewis are not obscure in any way. Stapledon was influential, but is now forgotten.

[Cheryl]

Yefim wrote: "Lovecraft and Lewis are not obscure in any way. Stapledon was influential, but is now forgotten."

Um, yes, though I've heard of them and believe I may have read some earlier, they're much less known than some of the other big names.

But hey, the OP's question hasn't been answered at all yet. And I want to know, too. "Which titles are [still] worth reading?"

My first glance reveals 'probably none, except maybe a Best of Weinbaum.' But talk up your favorites; convince me otherwise!

[Margaret]

The Screwtape Letters is definitely worth reading, but I wouldn't classify it as SF (or even fantasy, really). Interestingly, Olaf Stapledon was one of the SF writers whom Lewis admired.

[A]

Thank you all for your answers already and to Cheryl for reiterating the question. OK, I check "The Screwtape Letters" as a to-read, Weinbaum too? Regarding Olaf Stapledon, any specific recommendations?

[J.W.]

I recently read Last and First Men by Olaf Stapledon. I thought it was amazing. It's unlike anything I've ever read in science fiction. It reads like a history book of humanity but written in the future. Yes some things are lucky of date but it is so full of imagination I could forgive it that. The pseudo sequel "Star Maker" is in my top 5 books ever.

[Cheryl]

Ok, I own, and have Interplanetary Odysseys on my to-read-soon list. And I bought it because I've enjoyed some of Stanley G. Weinbaum's short stories that I've found in anthologies of assorted authors.

[Mikhail]

William Hope Hodgson is great. Nightlands was spooky for its time but has not aged well. I recommend his Carnacki The Ghost-Finder stories. I can only describe the Carnacki tales as Stranger Things by way of Sherlock Holmes.

[A]

Mikhail wrote: "William Hope Hodgson is great. Nightlands was spooky for its time but has not aged well. I recommend his Carnacki The Ghost-Finder stories. I can only describe the Carnacki tales as Stranger Things..."

Now I'm intrigued! Thanks, I will add it to my to-read list.

[Trike]

I read Gladiator by Wylie almost exactly 3 years ago. It's pretty good once you adjust your brain for the fact it's 85 years old and has the sort of casual racism and sexism that surrounded people at the time. (Which is slightly different from the casual racism and sexism that surrounds us currently, but is still there.) The story is pretty clearly an inspiration for Superman and, therefore, many other superhero stories in the decades since. Captain America uses a similar technique for granting superpowers that Hugo's dad uses on him as a baby.

My spoiler-free review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Trike]

BTW most of these are probably available online in various incarnations of Project Gutenberg. I know that Wylie, Stapledon and Merritt are.

[Michele]

What a fun list! Definitely dime tip add to my tbr pile.

[A]

Dear all, for the ones of you who would like to put this list into some context, I added a transcript of the entire letter on my website (see figure 1). And thanks again for your valuable comments. I finished reading Gladiator and will continue with some Stapledon, Hodgson and Merritt soon...

[Kim]

The Tower of Oblivion by Oliver Onions
Last and First Men by Olaf Stapledon
The Face in the Abyss by Abraham Grace Merritt
The Outsider And Others by H.P. Lovecraft
Thirteen O'clock And Other Stories by Enid Blyton
Prince of Peril by Otis Adelbert Kline
Gladiator by Philip Wylie
The Night Land by William Hope Hodgson
Men of the Deep Waters by William Hope Hodgson
The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis
The Shadow Over Innsmouth by H.P. Lovecraft
Dawn of Flame & Other Classic Science Fiction Stories by Stanley G. Weinbaum
When Worlds Collide / After Worlds Collide by Philip Wylie
Darkness and the Light by Olaf Stapledon
A Columbus of Space by Garrett P. Serviss