Based on an incredible true episode of World War II history, Paul Malmont’s new novel is a rollicking blend of fact and fiction about the men and women who were recruited to defeat the Nazis and ended up creating the future.
In 1943, when the United States learns that Germany is on the verge of a deadly innovation that could tip the balance of the war, the government turns to an unlikely source for help: the nation’s top science fiction writers. Installed at a covert military lab within the Philadelphia Naval Yard are the most brilliant of these young visionaries. The unruly band is led by Robert Heinlein, the dashing and complicated master of the genre. His “Kamikaze Group,” which includes the ambitious genius Isaac Asimov, is tasked with transforming the wonders of science fiction into science fact and unlocking the secrets to invisibility, death rays, force fields, weather control, and other astounding phenomena—and finding it harder than they ever imagined.
When a German spy washes ashore near the abandoned Long Island ruins of a mysterious energy facility, the military begins to fear that the Nazis are a step ahead of Heinlein’s group. Now the oddball team, joined by old friends from the Pulp Era including L. Ron Hubbard (court-martialed for attacking Mexico), must race to catch up. The answers they seek may be locked in the legendary War of Currents, which was fought decades earlier between Nikola Tesla and Thomas Edison. As the threat of an imminent Nazi invasion of America grows more and more possible, events are set in motion that just may revolutionize the future—or destroy it—while forcing the writers to challenge the limits of talent, imagination, love, destiny, and even reality itself.
Blazing at breathtaking speed from forgotten tunnels deep beneath Manhattan to top-secret battles in the North Pacific, and careening from truth to pulp and back again, The Astounding, the Amazing, and the Unknown is a sweeping, romantic epic—a page-turning rocket ship ride through the history of the future.
G. Messersmith –
What if a group of sci-fi magazine writers were asked by the government to come up with secret super weapons for their troops during WWII? What if these writers just happen to include Isaac Asimov, Robert Heinlein, and L. Ron Hubbard? Then you would have a truly amazing novel which is just what Paul Malmont has! Further, these gentlemen really were recruited by the U.S. Government to work for the Navy during WWII. Malmont uses many historical sources to write his fictional account of this group and their activities during this time period. Plus we get a peek into their personal lives, i.e., erotic rituals (involving L. Ron Hubbard), marital unhappiness (Robert Heinlein), marital difficulties (Isaac Asimov), and marital happiness (the De Spragues and the Dents). This is really an exciting and gripping novel.Not to mention, this group gets involved in trying to figure out Nikola Tesla’s Wardenclyffe Tower to find out if it was a super weapon and not just a giant antenna broadcasting system. Following the clues of Tesla’s leads them on many adventures and misadventures which are just too much fun to describe here. Not to mention reading about Asimov as a young man, they call him “the kid” in the novel, is really exciting. In fact reading about all these characters outside of what is generally known about them was a real enlightenment.I have to admit I couldn’t follow most of the science in this novel but it didn’t take away for me the reading experience. Plus the weird dreams L. Ron Hubbard has are just too far out for me to comprehend; otherwise, it was a perfect novel. Malmont shows the strong personalities of these characters and remains sympathetic to them throughout. If you know anything at all about these authors and have read or thought of reading their work, then you will love this novel. I can’t give it a high enough recommendation.
Jim Lester –
I’m not normally a fan of taking historical figures and turning them into fictional characters who do things the real person never did. However, in theis case that technique works extremely well. Malmont takes a group of science fiction pulp writers from the 1940s and puts them in a fictional situation where they are part of a secret project to develop a super-weapon during World War II. What makes the book work is the author’s detailed efforts to recreate each writers’ character–Robert Heinlein’s leadership qualities, L.Ron Hubbard’s erratic behavior, Lester Dent’s love of adventure and so forth. The result is an interesting read. The novel is full of information and insights into the world of pulp fiction, the early days of science fiction, exciting action and even a few touches of humor. The book is well-plotted and well written and I would highly recommend it to anyone interested in the history of American popular fiction.
JA –
For anyone who loved Malmont’s last outing, “The China Town Death Cloud Peril” this is a must read. For anyone who is a science fiction fan this is a must read. For anyone who loves World War II historial fiction this is a must read. If you are a fan of science, science fiction, adventure, and even romance this is surely a character or two you can identify with and enjoy following on their respective adventures.As in the previous novel the line between fact and pulp is blurred and the result is a book that is hard to put down. A must for all fans of pulp, science fiction and adventure. This story is told from the point of view of a handful of characters which really allows for some good development. The most impressive being Hubbard’s personal journey, as well as the marriage situation with the Asimov’s. Heinlein was an interesting guy too, but Hubbard really steals in the show during his chapters.Would read another in this series that focused on Hubbard and/or Heinlein in a heart beat.
Our man in Brooklyn –
You know you’re going to be in for a treat when, in the opening chapter the last century’s most interesting physicist offers to tell you a tale where science ends and science fiction begins. This novel brings back some of the pulp writer characters from the excellent “Chinatown Death Cloud Peril”, and adds some of their heirs to the short story pulp genre and the advent of science-fiction for a high-spirited adventure blending fact and fiction. Set mostly in New York, New Jersey, and Philadelphia, and for one unfortunate character, a large part of the Pacific, our heroes unravel mysteries and create a couple along the way, as they search for the answers to the presumably unfinished final project of the greatest electrical inventor the world has ever seen.A thoroughly enjoyable read.
John Trimble –
I thot the author’s use of actual historical SF authors as the main characters was fun, but as a long time SF fan, I found some jarring false notes. These didn’t really affect the story, but they caused some leaks in my willing suspension of disbelief. He has the year of the 1st World SF Con wrong (1939, not ’38), and the characters use the term “sci-fi” to describe what they write, but it was almost 2 decade later that theterm was invented by Forrect J Ackerman.
David Templar –
A fun run with the great authors of the pulp era. Fighting for Truth, Justice, and trying not to get shot.
Jay C. Smith –
Five star for fans of Classic (I.e. 1938 to 1950) sf and fantasy. They will love the characters and the in-jokes. Not as sure that mundanes (fen in-joke) would appreciate.
Eamonn Murphy –
Heinlein, Asimov, De Camp and Hubbard have an adventure!
‘The Astounding, the Amazing and the Unknown’ is a follow up to ‘The Chinatown Death Cloud Peril’ but can be read independently. In ‘The Chinatown Death Cloud Peril’, author Paul Malmont plunged pulp writers Walter Gibson (The Shadow) Lester Dent (Doc Savage) and L. Ron Hubbard (Dianetics and Scientology, but not yet) into a deadly adventure mostly set in Chinatown New York. They were joined later by ex-Naval man who was on the run from gangsters after a failed venture with a silver mine. Together they solved the mystery and saved the world (spoiler).I enjoyed that hugely and when I learned that there was a follow-up book featuring Robert Heinlein, Isaac Asimov, L. Sprague de Camp and L. Ron Hubbard in another adventure I bought it immediately. I’ve heard of Gibson and Dent but I’m a lifelong fan of Heinlein and Asimov and wanted to see what Malmont would do with them, and to them. I was not disappointed.The story takes place shortly after Heinlein, Asimov and de Camp have begun work at the Naval Yard in Philadelphia trying to develop superweapons for the war. They learn of an installation built by Nikolai Tesla that might be used as a weapon and set out to investigate. Cue a lot of running around in tunnels under New York, interference from the FBI and harassment by naval bureaucrats. There’s also some talk about pulp fiction and a few guest stars pop up along the way. When you’re having fun with famous people you might as well enjoy it so Malmont has pilot Jimmy Stewart fly Hubbard to the Aleutians when Heinlein wants to get rid of him. Sam Moskowitz and Ray Bradbury get walk-on parts.It’s pretty clear that Heinlein is top man as far as the author is concerned, a well-rounded figure, physically, mentally and morally superior to his peers with L. Sprague de Camp second. Asimov’s physical timidity is shown but that’s something Asimov admitted himself. As in ‘The Chinatown Deathcloud Peril’, Hubbard is portrayed as a flawed character rather than evil. He was on the downhill slide from success as a pulp writer to success as a second rate Messiah.It’s well researched and the adventure plot is secondary, for me, to the insights into the characters. As this is faction it has to be taken with a pinch of salt but I’ve read biographies of the leads and the portrayals seem fairly accurate. Asimov’s knee-trembler on a New York rooftop was going a bit far though.Entertaining and worth a look for fans of Golden Age science fiction who like a laugh.
Amazon Customer –
Four Stars
Not as good as the Chinatown Death Cloud Mystery but readable. Excellent condition used book, very pleased with purchase.
Robert Price –
Five Stars
another super book. really enjoyed.