Richard S Shaver

The black-emerald water swirled and broke in many silver gleamings. From the misty center of the pool rose a vast but beautiful head. The long dripping hair was not hair, but had a rippling life of its own. The great lonely eyes and wide scarlet mouth were far more lovely than any human's. The gleaming green shoulders and shapely long arms ended in graceful webbed fingers. The red tipped breasts were proud, naked mounts where beauty lived forever. The pillaring waist--the strong-arched hips that did not divide into legs but into two great serpentine drivers--ended in the wide tail fins of a fish. The dark sea-scented lapping green water was circled by tiers of marble seats, where many human people sat, their eyes upon the throne-seat into which the tremendous female figure vaulted in one powerful thrust from the water, as a tall wave uncurls effortlessly upon a golden beach.

Like a flash of light the gleaming sword swept down. A fraction of a second later a portion of it no longer gleamed: it was crimson And Queen Dionaea's head bounced down the stairway into her garden of live oaks. A few seconds of thought remained to it before it would be very dead; but her thought was confused by shock -- her eyes rolled uncontrollably while she tried to remember some cantrap or rune from her long association with the Goddess Diana. Desperately she tried to recite the proper abracadabra to stay the swift death that was sweeping through her mind; but it is hard for a head to chant a charm with no body to draw a breath. . . .

Armchair fiction presents extra large paperback editions of the best in classic science fiction novels. "The Shaver Mystery," by Richard S. Shaver, is perhaps the most controversial piece of science fiction ever written. Supposedly a true story, it is widely considered to be the nadir of science fiction literature, the "Plan 9 From Outer Space" of the whole genre. Some people considered Richard Shaver to be a genius, but most others considered him and his editor, Ray Palmer, to be two of the biggest blights to have ever entered the field of professional science fiction writing. Shaver's wild ramblings are a thing to behold. We have never encountered an author who could write such consistently overlong sentences that appeared to make no sense whatsoever. Genius or nut-case? You decide. Here in Book One, are the first three parts, just as they appeared in the June, 1947 issue of Amazing Stories: "Formula from the Underworld," "Zigor Mephisto's Collection of Mentalia," and "Witch's Daughter." Also included in Book One is the mind-boggling, yet essential "How to Read the Shaver Alphabet," which pertains to Book Two as well. "The Shaver Mystery" is presented in paperback for the first time. Heaven help us.

Armchair fiction presents extra large paperback editions of the best in classic science fiction novels. complete with original illustrations. "The Shaver Mystery," by Richard S. Shaver, is one of the wildest pieces of science fiction you will ever read. Amazing Stories editor Ray Palmer billed it as "the most sensational true story ever told." Shaver's "true" stories did cause quite a stir when they came out back in the 1940s. Readership of Amazing Stories increased for a while. However, Shaver's largely incoherent writing and Palmer's over-indulgent and equally nonsensical editing and footnoting nearly wrecked the magazine and helped lead to Palmer's eventual departure as editor-in-chief. Visionary or scam artist? You decide. Here in Book Two is the fourth part of Shaver's incredible under-earth journey, "The Red Legion," just as it appeared in the June, 1947 issue of Amazing Stories. As a bonus we have also included Shaver's very first novel, "I Remember Lemuria," which had appeared several years earlier and was the first of Shaver's "true" science fiction tales. Best of all, we have also included Shaver's "Proofs," which perhaps showcases this author at his nuttiest best. "The Shaver Mystery" is presented in paperback for the first time. Please forgive us.

The black-emerald water swirled and broke in many silver gleamings. From the misty center of the pool rose a vast but beautiful head. The long dripping hair was not hair, but had a rippling life of its own. The great lonely eyes and wide scarlet mouth were far more lovely than any human's. The gleaming green shoulders and shapely long arms ended in graceful webbed fingers. The red tipped breasts were proud, naked mounts where beauty lived forever. The pillaring waist--the strong-arched hips that did not divide into legs but into two great serpentine drivers--ended in the wide tail fins of a fish. The dark sea-scented lapping green water was circled by tiers of marble seats, where many human people sat, their eyes upon the throne-seat into which the tremendous female figure vaulted in one powerful thrust from the water, as a tall wave uncurls effortlessly upon a golden beach.

Armchair Fiction presents extra large paperback editions of classic science fiction double novels, filled with original illustrations. The first novel, "Ice City of the Gorgon" is grand tale of science fiction and fantasy by Richard S. Shaver and Chester S. Geier. Did anything like the legendary Gorgon actually exist? Could it really turn men to stone with its mere gaze, or did it have powers even more horrible? Two American flyers found the answer in an ice-covered valley of Antarctica. They also found a lost city run by a woman of incredible beauty with a penchant for tyranny and lust. The second novel, "When the World Tottered" is another terrific science-fantasy tale by one of science fiction's great authors, Lester Del Rey. Welcome to Asgard, the land of the ancient gods: Odin, Thor, Loki, and all the other immortals. However, If the fates were correct, a terrible disaster would soon befall Odin and his mighty sons. Then there was a visitor from the outside world-a mortal man from the 20th Century. His name was Leif Svensen and in his hands appeared to rest the future of Asgard. Could it possibly be that a mere mortal could change the destiny of the gods?