the time it was published, the story made an immediate impact, as evidenced by editor Ray Palmer’s announcement in the January 1940 issue of his magazine:
PRIZE STORY CONTEST
“For the first time in our prize story contest, a single story has ran away from the rest. We are proud to announce that Polton Cross, authoring ‘The Man from Hell’ in our November (1939) issue, has gained our readers’ complete approval, and really earned himself that $75.00 first prize. Congratulations, Mr. Cross, on an exceptionally popular story. Come again—say we, and our readers!”
“The Man From Hell” garnered 2,759 first-place votes, giving it an average rating of 80% amongst voters. The general approbation for the story was reflected in the magazine’s Reader’s Page letter columns:
“I have several reasons for selecting Polton Cross’s story for the best. The major one is the ending. I applaud an author who is not afraid to portray real life and use common sense in ending his story not quite so perfectly for all concerned. Not that I’d like all stories ending unhappily, but one like this is really refreshing. One kept expecting the hero to be saved miraculously at the end when he speaks of a desperate experiment, and it comes as quite a shock that he does not survive.
“When I began this story I feared that it was another of those ‘atomic power’ things, and was relieved that the author introduced his spatial power—something different. I think it presents interesting possibilities.
“My third reason is that I think the number one story ought to live up to the name of the magazine—and if a man returning from the dead isn’t fantastic, I don’t know what is!”— Barbara O. Shryock (Penna.)
“It seems to me that no other story in your magazine could portray such adventures in the field of atomic power, combined with a glance beyond death, as ‘The Man from Hell,’ by Polton Cross.
“The very title of your magazine is portrayed in this story by the fantastic adventures of Dake Bradfield.”—Donald F. Campbell (Iowa.)
The flow of positive comments was carried forward into the letters pages in the February 1940 issue:
“What is beyond the great divide? Surely that is a question that everyone is, of necessity, interested in. Mr. Polton Cross, in his story ‘The Man from Hell,’ in the November issue of FANTASTIC ADVENTURES, has quite a lucid theory.
“‘The Man from Hell,’ besides being a fast moving story, packed with action and drama, deals with another subject that is of universal interest.
“Scientists all over the world have been experimenting with atomic force. Who knows—perhaps in our lifetime the dream of governing atomic power will be realized.
Mr. Cross has dealt with these subjects in a quite interesting manner, and, for having done so, gets the nod from this umpire for having the best and most interesting story of the issue.”— Claude W. Williford.
“There’s an old saying that a story is not a story if it hasn’t got an idea behind it. Therefore, a story with a good idea behind it is considered an acceptable story. But imagine a story with three swell ideas behind it, each one good enough for a book-length novel! 1: ‘Return from the Dead.’ 2: ‘The Danger of Atomic Force.’ 3: ‘Salvation of the World.’ A title like ‘The Man from Hell,’ and an author like Polton Cross. What a combination! There you have my reason for selecting this as the best story of the issue.”—Harold Topf (New York.)
The praise came not only from ordinary readers, but also from one of the leading scientific experts and commentators in the field:
“First place in the November issue goes, in my opinion, to Polton Cross’ story ‘The Man from Hell.’ It is a very good imaginative tale, slightly off the usual type of science fiction stories (I mean, leaning a bit toward fantasy, but not much) but still convincingly written.
“The important point is, I think, that this story...proves that the present-day political set-up practically excludes a good number of possible scientific discoveries. It makes me wish that certain scientific discoveries—especially that of releasing the energy of the atom—may be delayed by a kindly fate until humanity is ready for them.”— Willy Ley (New York.)
This latest collection of Fearn’s vintage short stories follows Dynasty of the Small, and has been especially compiled for The Borgo Press. Further titles are in preparation!
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