Art by Frank R. Paul for Hugo Gernsback’s “Ralph 124C 41+” in “Amazing Stories Quarterly,” Vol. 2, No. 1 (Winter, 1929).
“Somewhere in the Teleservice company’s central office the connection had been broken. After several vain efforts to restore it, Ralph was about to give up in disgust and leave the telephot, when the instrument began to glow again. But instead of the face of his friend, there appeared that of a vivacious beautiful girl.” [Accompanying description]
A Romance of the Year 2660.
“Ralph 124C 41+” was an early science fiction novel, written as a twelve-part serial in Modern Electrics magazine, which Gernsback edited, beginning in April 1911. It was compiled into novel/book form in 1925, and reprinted in “Amazing Stories Quarterly” in 1929. While it pioneered many ideas found in later science fiction, it has been critically panned for its "inept writing." Some successful predictions from this novel include television (and channel surfing), remote-control power transmission, the videophone, transcontinental air service, solar energy in practical use, sound movies, synthetic milk and foods, artificial cloth, voiceprinting, tape recorders, and spaceflight. It also contains "...the first accurate description of radar, complete with diagram...", according to Arthur C. Clarke in his "non-genre" novel “Glide Path” (1963). [Source: Wikipedia]
Art by Frank R. Paul for Hugo Gernsback’s “Ralph 124C 41+” in “Amazing Stories Quarterly,” Vol. 2, No. 1 (Winter, 1929).
“Somewhere in the Teleservice company’s central office the connection had been broken. After several vain efforts to restore it, Ralph was about to give up in disgust and leave the telephot, when the instrument began to glow again. But instead of the face of his friend, there appeared that of a vivacious beautiful girl.” [Accompanying description]
A Romance of the Year 2660.
“Ralph 124C 41+” was an early science fiction novel, written as a twelve-part serial in Modern Electrics magazine, which Gernsback edited, beginning in April 1911. It was compiled into novel/book form in 1925, and reprinted in “Amazing Stories Quarterly” in 1929. While it pioneered many ideas found in later science fiction, it has been critically panned for its "inept writing." Some successful predictions from this novel include television (and channel surfing), remote-control power transmission, the videophone, transcontinental air service, solar energy in practical use, sound movies, synthetic milk and foods, artificial cloth, voiceprinting, tape recorders, and spaceflight. It also contains "...the first accurate description of radar, complete with diagram...", according to Arthur C. Clarke in his "non-genre" novel “Glide Path” (1963). [Source: Wikipedia]