The Thrilling Wonder Debut of Alfred Best: The Broken Axiom

On the eve of the Golden Age of Science Fiction, Alfred Bester launched his science fiction career by winning the $50 Grand Prize in Thrilling Wonder Stories first amateur writer's contest in its April 1939 issue with his debut story, "The Broken Axiom." Also discussed is the illustration for the story by Frank R. Paul, and Bester's second story, "No Help Wanted" from the December 1939 issue of Thrilling Wonder Stories.
AUTHORS MENTIONED
• A. E. van Vogt
• Robert Heinlein
• Isaac Asimov
• Clifford D. Simak
• Ray Cummings
• Luigi Pirandello
OTHER STORIES DISCUSSED
• Black Destroyer
• The World of the Red Sun
• Six Characters in Search of an Author
• Zeoh-X
PDFs of Bester's first two stories can be found here:
• Thrilling Wonder Stories, April 1939
archive.org/de...
• Thrilling Wonder Stories, December 1939
archive.org/de...
MY EMAIL
jscottphillips503 (at) gmail
#goldenageofsciencefiction #alfredbester #frankrpaul

[@garryrickenbacker]

Thanks so much for your channel and sharing your knowledge 🙏💫✨

[@jscottphillips503]

Thank you for watching!

[@StevenEverett7]

Hi Scott, I am certainly familiar with Bester's name but he's one of those authors that I've never read. I found your discourse very entertaining. I think I'll check thru my pulps and see if I have The Broken Axiom.
I certainly agree about interior illustrations not getting the credit they deserve. There's one artist from the pulps that always seems to use bubbles in almost all of his art. Vergil Finlay? Maybe. I'm not sure, but I do so like his artwork. Many of the older artists are also absolutely wonderful.

[@jscottphillips503]

Hi, Steven... Yes! I talked a bit about Finlay's work and background in the Asimov video linked in the description above. He had all kinds of little stylistic devices... the bubbles you mention, pointillism, scratchboard technique, etc. Exquisite work!
Glad you enjoyed the video and thanks for the comment!