''The Blind Spot'' 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 uni ...

novel by American writers Austin Hall and Homer Eon Flint. The novel was originally serialized in six parts in the magazine '' Argosy'' beginning in May 1921. It was first published in book form in

1951 Events January * January 4 – Korean War: Third Battle of Seoul – Chinese and North Korean forces capture Seoul for the second time (having lost the Second Battle of Seoul in September 1950). * January 9 – The Government of the United ...

Prime Press Prime Press, Inc. was a science fiction and fantasy small press specialty publishing house founded in 1947. It published a number of interesting science fiction books in its brief four-year lifespan. It was founded by Oswald Train, James A. Wil ...

in an edition of 74,200 copies, though fewer than 800 were actually bound, and the remainder are assumed lost. The sequel, ''The Spot of Life'', was written by Hall alone.

Plot introduction

The novel concerns an interdimensional doorway between worlds.

Reception

In ''

In Search of Wonder ''In Search of Wonder: Essays on Modern Science Fiction'' is a collection of critical essays by American writer Damon Knight. Most of the material in the original version of the book was originally published between 1952 and 1955 in various scienc ...

'',

Damon Knight Damon Francis Knight (September 19, 1922 – April 15, 2002) was an American science fiction author, editor, and critic. He is the author of " To Serve Man", a 1950 short story adapted for ''The Twilight Zone''.Stanyard, ''Dimensions Behind t ...

is critical of the novel's coherence, scientific accuracy and style:

Groff Conklin Edward Groff Conklin (September 6, 1904 – July 19, 1968) was an American science fiction anthologist. He edited 40 anthologies of science fiction, one of mystery stories (co-edited with physician Noah Fabricant), wrote books on home improvemen ...

, however, more generously termed ''The Blind Spot'' an "honored classic" despite being "overwritten ndleaning a little heavily on the pseudo-metaphysical."

Forrest J Ackerman Forrest James Ackerman (November 24, 1916 – December 4, 2008) was an American magazine editor; science fiction writer and literary agent; a founder of science fiction fandom; a leading expert on science fiction, horror, and fantasy films; a pr ...

described it in ''Astounding'' as a "luxuriantly glorious Merrittesque antasyof dimensional interstices" and "a highly philosophical work."

Dave Langford David Rowland Langford (born 10 April 1953) is a British author, editor, and critic, largely active within the science fiction field. He publishes the science fiction fanzine and newsletter ''Ansible'', and holds the all-time record for mos ...

reviewed ''The Blind Spot'' for ''

White Dwarf A white dwarf is a stellar core remnant composed mostly of electron-degenerate matter. A white dwarf is very dense: its mass is comparable to the Sun's, while its volume is comparable to the Earth's. A white dwarf's faint luminosity comes ...

'' #91, and stated that "You can enjoy spotting the howlers; in this dotty pulp melodrama and trying to work out what'll happen next, information quite evidently hidden from the authors ..." Everett F. Bleiler wrote that ''The Blind Spot'' "used to be regarded as one of the classics of early science-fiction, but now it is much less esteemed." He concluded that while its opening section "evoke a considerable sense of wonder," the novel "soon degenerates into a routine adventure story with loose ends." Everett F. Bleiler, ''Science-Fiction: The Early Years'', Kent State University Press, 1990, p.328

References

Sources

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External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Blind Spot, The 1921 American novels 1921 science fiction novels Novels first published in serial form American science fiction novels Works originally published in Argosy (magazine)