The Weapon Makers
Encyclopedia
The Weapon Makers is a science fiction
novel
by A. E. van Vogt
.
The novel was originally serialized in Astounding Science Fiction in February–April 1943. In book form (1,000 copies), this serial was first published in 1947
. It was then thoroughly revised in 1952
, all subsequent printings contain the 1952 text.
The events in the novel take place approximately seven years after the events described in The Weapon Shops of Isher
(1951) even though the serial was published before some of the other Isher stories in The Weapon Shops of Isher
. The first paperback edition, part of an Ace Double, was retitled One Against Eternity.
described the 1952 edition as "a fascinating book . . . despite its bombast and its blithe impossibilities." Boucher
and McComas
described the novel as "a grand fantasy-melodrama," although they questioned "whether its noble imaginative adventure has anything to do with science fiction.". P. Schuyler Miller
reviewed the novel favorably, describing it as "less pretentious and possibly less profound than the "Null-A
" books."
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
novel
Novel
A novel is a book of long narrative in literary prose. The genre has historical roots both in the fields of the medieval and early modern romance and in the tradition of the novella. The latter supplied the present generic term in the late 18th century....
by A. E. van Vogt
A. E. van Vogt
Alfred Elton van Vogt was a Canadian-born science fiction author regarded by some as one of the most popular and complex science fiction writers of the mid-twentieth century: the "Golden Age" of the genre....
.
The novel was originally serialized in Astounding Science Fiction in February–April 1943. In book form (1,000 copies), this serial was first published in 1947
1947 in literature
The year 1947 in literature involved some significant events and new books.-Events:*The Diary of Anne Frank is published for the first time.*Jack Kerouac makes the journey which he will later chronicle in his book On the Road....
. It was then thoroughly revised in 1952
1952 in literature
The year 1952, in literature involved some significant events and new literary publications.-Events:*J. L. Carr takes over as headmaster of Highfields Primary School, Kettering, which will eventually furnish the subject matter for his novel, The Harpole Report.*November 25 - Agatha Christie's play...
, all subsequent printings contain the 1952 text.
The events in the novel take place approximately seven years after the events described in The Weapon Shops of Isher
The Weapon Shops of Isher
The Weapon Shops of Isher is a science fiction novel by A. E. van Vogt, first published in 1951. The novel is a fix-up created from three previously published short stories about the Weapon Shops and Isher civilization:...
(1951) even though the serial was published before some of the other Isher stories in The Weapon Shops of Isher
The Weapon Shops of Isher
The Weapon Shops of Isher is a science fiction novel by A. E. van Vogt, first published in 1951. The novel is a fix-up created from three previously published short stories about the Weapon Shops and Isher civilization:...
. The first paperback edition, part of an Ace Double, was retitled One Against Eternity.
Reception
Groff ConklinGroff Conklin
Edward Groff Conklin was a leading science fiction anthologist. He edited 40 anthologies of science fiction, one of mystery stories , wrote books on home improvement and was a freelance writer on scientific subjects as well as a published poet...
described the 1952 edition as "a fascinating book . . . despite its bombast and its blithe impossibilities." Boucher
Anthony Boucher
Anthony Boucher was an American science fiction editor and author of mystery novels and short stories. He was particularly influential as an editor. Between 1942 and 1947 he acted as reviewer of mostly mystery fiction for the San Francisco Chronicle...
and McComas
J. Francis McComas
Jesse Francis McComas was an American science fiction editor. McComas wrote several stories on his own in the 1950s using both his own name and the pseudonym Webb Marlowe....
described the novel as "a grand fantasy-melodrama," although they questioned "whether its noble imaginative adventure has anything to do with science fiction.". P. Schuyler Miller
P. Schuyler Miller
Peter Schuyler Miller was an American science fiction writer and critic.-Life:Miller was raised in New York's Mohawk Valley, which led to a life-long interest in the Iroquois Indians. He pursued this as an amateur archaeologist and a member of the New York State Archaeological Association.He...
reviewed the novel favorably, describing it as "less pretentious and possibly less profound than the "Null-A
The World of Null-A
The World of Null-A, sometimes written The World of Ā, is a 1948 science fiction novel by A. E. van Vogt. It was originally published as a three-part serial in Astounding Stories...
" books."
Publication history
- 1947 — USA, Providence, R.I.: The Hadley Publishing Co., 224p. (the text of the original 1943 magazine serial)
- 1952 — USA, Greenberg, 220p. (revised version, subsequent printings use this text)
- 1954 — UK, Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 224p. (first UK edition)
- 1955 — USA, Ace Double, as One Against Eternity
- 1970 — UK, London: New English Library, 141p.