The Astounding, the Amazing, and the Unknown
| Industry | Publishing |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | New York City , United States |
| Products | Books |
The Astounding, the Amazing, and the Unknown is an alternate historical adventure penned by Paul Malmont, serving as a follow-up to The Chinatown Death Cloud Peril (2007). The story features actual pulp magazine authors as central characters, engaging in escapades that reflect the styles of their respective genres. Released in hardcover by Simon & Schuster and as an audiobook through Brilliance Audio in July 2011, the book’s title pays homage to the magazines Astounding Science-Fiction, Amazing Stories, and Unknown, where these protagonists originally published their work.
Plot
The narrative is framed as a "story about Nikola Tesla" narrated by Richard Feynman to scientists involved in the Manhattan Project shortly after World War II. It centers on the Kamikaze Group—a think tank inspired by writers Robert A. Heinlein, L. Sprague de Camp, and Isaac Asimov—tasked with uncovering details about a supposed "super-weapon" Tesla created before his demise, which is rumored to be connected to the 1908 Tunguska event. Feynman warns that the accuracy of this account is questionable; its source is identified as pulp author L. Ron Hubbard, depicted as a self-aggrandizing egotist.
Malmont portrays Heinlein heading a collaborative project alongside de Camp and Asimov at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard’s Naval Air Experimental Station, where they develop cutting-edge armaments to support the American war effort. The team also includes Hubbard, Walter B. Gibson, and Lester Dent, with brief appearances from notable figures such as John W. Campbell, Frederik Pohl, Kurt Vonnegut, among others. Additionally, historical figures like Jack Parsons, Albert Einstein, and actor Jimmy Stewart make appearances.
Following Tesla’s enigmatic passing, military authorities confiscate his documents amid concerns over German espionage. Heinlein receives orders to investigate Tesla’s "wonder weapon." The group explores a sub-basement beneath the Empire State Building that houses Tesla’s apparatus and later visits the site of Wardenclyffe Tower in Shoreham, New York—the transmitter for the weapon. Assignments send Hubbard to the Aleutian Islands and South Pacific to retrieve the receiver, while Asimov secures essential capacitors.
Meanwhile, government agents scrutinize the group after Cleve Cartmill’s story "Deadline" is published, which strikingly resembles nuclear weapon development. Their interrogation of Heinlein ends abruptly when they are electrocuted in a manner reminiscent of Tesla’s experiments. The Kamikaze Group honors a commitment to "make a ship disappear," alluding to the "Philadelphia Experiment" myth. Heinlein works with Tesla’s former assistant at a Wardenclyffe replica facility to activate the weapon; this assistant ultimately reveals himself as their chief enemy but perishes while attempting to kill them.
Subsequently, military officials dissolve the Kamikaze Group. Heinlein discovers that this operation was a ruse designed to conceal the true super-weapon endeavor—the Manhattan Project—and his assertions regarding Tesla’s device are dismissed.
In the postwar period, Hubbard returns, encounters Feynman, and recounts these experiences.
Reception
Michael Dirda from The Washington Post critiques the novel for not fully meeting expectations set by its title, pointing to a sluggish start, a disjointed storyline with an overabundance of characters, and an unpersuasive narrative framework involving physicist Richard Feynman. He finds many of the comedic moments fall flat, and key sequences—such as the secret passageways beneath the Empire State Building and the confrontation at the Tesla Tower—lack originality. Dirda also expresses challenges in grasping the scientific aspects and likens the author’s intense dream sequences to unpleasant psychedelic experiences. Despite these shortcomings, he acknowledges that enthusiasts of author-centered protagonists may find appeal, highlighting memorable instances like the striking exclamation: "Oh my God! . . . You've vaporized Isaac Asimov!"
Rege Behe of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review regards the novel as "witty and inventive," describing it as a work ripe for cinematic adaptation. He emphasizes the story’s foundation in 1940s science and pulp fiction genres, complemented by a convincingly drawn ensemble of characters.
Paul Di Filippo, writing for The Speculator, praises the book’s "dynamic narrative and historical insight," noting its fusion of analytical, journalistic, affectionate, and pulp storytelling techniques. He commends Malmont’s adept portrayal of both characters and period details, achieving a balance between historical accuracy and thrilling adventure. Although he points out the somewhat anachronistic use of the term "sci-fi," Di Filippo concludes that the novel delivers both excitement and meaningful contemplation about writers.
Amy Goldschlager also provided a review of the book in Locus, issue no. 612, January 2012.