''Path of Unreason'' is a

science fiction Science fiction (sometimes shortened to Sci-Fi or SF) is a genre of speculative fiction which typically deals with imaginative and futuristic concepts such as advanced science and technology, space exploration, time travel, parallel unive ...

novel by American writer

George O. Smith George Oliver Smith (April 9, 1911 – May 27, 1981) (also known by the pseudonym Wesley Long) was an American science fiction author. He is not to be confused with George H. Smith, another American science fiction author. Biography Smith was ...

. It was published in

1958 Events January * January 1 – The European Economic Community (EEC) comes into being. * January 3 – The West Indies Federation is formed. * January 4 ** Edmund Hillary's Commonwealth Trans-Antarctic Expedition completes the third ...

Gnome Press Gnome Press was an American small-press publishing company primarily known for publishing many science fiction classics. Gnome was one of the most eminent of the fan publishers of SF, producing 86 titles in its lifespan — many considered classi ...

in an edition of 5,000 copies, of which only 3,000 were bound. The novel is an expansion of Smith's story "The Kingdom of the Blind" which first appeared in the magazine ''

Startling Stories ''Startling Stories'' was an American pulp science fiction magazine, published from 1939 to 1955 by publisher Ned Pines' Standard Magazines. It was initially edited by Mort Weisinger, who was also the editor of ''Thrilling Wonder Stories'', S ...

'' in 1947.

Plot introduction

The novel concerns a physicist who is trying to explain the mysterious "Lawson Radiation" while his researches drive him insane.

Reception

''Galaxy'' reviewer Floyd C. Gale gave ''Path'' a negative review, rating the novel with two stars out of five and writing that "it is a story that Smith evidently had a lot of fun writing but that the reader will find more difficult to enjoy."Galaxy's 5 Star Shelf
, ''

Galaxy Science Fiction ''Galaxy Science Fiction'' was an American digest-size science fiction magazine, published in Boston from 1950 to 1980. It was founded by a French-Italian company, World Editions, which was looking to break into the American market. World Editi ...

'', December 1959, p.152

References

Sources

* *

External links

* 1958 American novels 1958 science fiction novels American science fiction novels Works originally published in Startling Stories Gnome Press books {{1950s-sf-novel-stub