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Garrett ServissWriter
Country:
 USA |
Content:
- Early Life and Education
- Scientific and Popular Works
- The Edison Conquest of Mars
- Evolution of Pulp Science Fiction
- Later Years and Legacy
Garrett Putman Serviss: An American Astronomer and Science Fiction Pioneer
Early Life and Education
Garrett Putman Serviss was born on March 24, 1851, in Sharon Springs, New York. He received a stellar education, first studying astronomy at Cornell University. After graduating, he pursued law and later transitioned to journalism in his thirties. In his late thirties, he began a successful career in fiction writing.
Scientific and Popular Works
Serviss was a renowned astronomer-popularizer. His научно-популярные works on astronomy include "Astronomy with an Opera-glass" (1888) and "Solar and Planetary Evolution" (1889). He also wrote on the subject of extraterrestrial life, with his ideas being referenced by H.P. Lovecraft in his short story, "Beyond the Wall of Sleep."
The Edison Conquest of Mars
Serviss's entry into science fiction was indirectly influenced by H.G. Wells's "The War of the Worlds." The novel's immense popularity in America inspired Arthur Brisbane, editor of the New York Journal, to commission a sequel. Serviss, being an astronomer, was tasked with writing this continuation.
The novel, titled "Edison's Conquest of Mars," featured the iconic inventor Thomas Alva Edison as the protagonist. Edison, after discovering the technological advancements of the Martian invaders, creates anti-gravity engines and disintegrator weapons. With these, Earth launches a counter-invasion, decimating Mars and establishing it as its first space colony.
Evolution of Pulp Science Fiction
Serviss's work gained significant recognition in the late 1910s when pulp magazines began publishing his stories. He wrote novels such as "The Sky Pirate" (1909) and "A Columbus in Space" (1909), exploring interplanetary travel and atomic propulsion.
In 1912, Serviss returned Earthbound with "The Second Deluge," a story of a catastrophic flood that wipes out civilization. His final major science fiction work, "The Moon Maiden" (1915), introduced the idea of extraterrestrial guidance in human history.
Later Years and Legacy
By the time "The Moon Maiden" was published, Serviss was in his mid-sixties. He retired from writing and witnessed the birth of the pulp magazine era. His "The Second Deluge" was reprinted in "Amazing Stories," but Serviss's advanced age prevented him from further contributing to the genre. He passed away on May 25, 1929, leaving behind a remarkable legacy as an astronomer, science popularizer, and science fiction pioneer.
