''The Weapon Makers'' 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 Canadian writer

A. E. van Vogt Alfred Elton van Vogt ( ; April 26, 1912 – January 26, 2000) was a Canadian-born American science fiction author. His fragmented, bizarre narrative style influenced later science fiction writers, notably Philip K. Dick. He was one of the ...

. The novel was originally serialized in '' Astounding Science Fiction'' from February to April 1943. The serial version was first published in book form in 1947 with a print run of 1,000 copies. It was then thoroughly revised in 1952. All subsequent printings contain the 1952 text. The events in the novel take place approximately seven years after the events described in '' The Weapon Shops of Isher'' (1951) even though the serial was published before some of the other Isher stories contained in '' The Weapon Shops of Isher''. The first paperback edition, part of an

Ace Double American company Ace Books began publishing genre fiction starting in 1952. Initially these were mostly in tête-bêche format with the ends of the two parts meeting in the middle and with a divider between them which functioned as the rear cover ...

, was retitled ''One Against Eternity''.

Reception

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 ...

described the 1952 edition as "a fascinating book... despite its bombast and its blithe impossibilities." Boucher and McComas described the novel as "a grand fantasy-melodrama," although they questioned "whether its noble imaginative adventure has anything to do with ''science'' fiction."

P. Schuyler Miller Peter Schuyler Miller (February 21, 1912 – October 13, 1974) was an American science fiction writer and critic. Life Miller was raised in New York's Mohawk Valley, which led to a lifelong interest in the Iroquois Indians. He pursued this as ...

reviewed the novel favorably, describing it as "less pretentious and possibly less profound than the " Null-A" books."

Publication history

*1947 — USA, Providence, R.I.: The Hadley Publishing Co., 224p. (the text of the original 1943 magazine serial) *1952 — USA, Greenberg, 220p. (revised version, subsequent printings use this text) *1954 — UK, Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 224p. (first UK edition) *1955 — USA, Ace Double, as ''One Against Eternity'' *1967 — Japan, Tokyo sogensha, 288p. *1970 — UK, London: New English Library, 141p. *2016 — Japan, Tokyo Sogensha, 330p.(revised version,)

References

External links

* 1952 Canadian novels 1952 science fiction novels Novels by A. E. van Vogt Works originally published in Analog Science Fiction and Fact Novels first published in serial form {{Canada-novel-stub