Heavy Metal #265, page 21, The Lottery Party
An Essay of Gladiator, the “oh my god you have to read this” novel by Philip Wylie
Hemavore creator Dominick Mattero and myself have been mining early 20th Century and late 19th Century science-fiction and dystopian literature as a kind of seedbed for our work. The current state of derivation in modern fiction is so far along an overstretched imitative strand, that we have decided to dive into the past, to root around in the basement of ideas that inspired the writers, who inspired the writers, who are inspiring the writers who make us yawn, in hopes of rediscovering a smoldering ember, of finding something groundbreaking, unique, and ahead of its time. It is nice to know we are not alone.
I know nothing of Richard Caldwell, but now I know that there are at least three of us kooks looking into the inspirational lockbox of what is now a bygone age. This essay seems to be an installment in a regular series titled The Lottery Party. If I find out that this column is regularly devoted to this type of work, and that Richard is a regular contributor, I will become a regular Heavy Metal reader. Richard’s essay is only about 800 words long, so I will not be giving much of it away.
The novel he is writing about was apparently written as early as 1926, was published by Knopf in 1930, and seems to have been an inspiration for some characters I really dislike, such as Superman and Captain America. It also seems to have been a revisiting of Mary Shelly’s Frankenstein, inspired by the then cutting edge and controversial pseudo-science of eugenics. In case I do not get to read Gladiator, I am indebted to Richard for filling in a gap for me. But it seems I will be compelled to find a reprint, for Mister Caldwell has, through his biting essay, given me enough of a taste for Phillip Wylie’s creation to make me want to take a bite.
It seems to me that Wylie, along with Shelly [whose work I am currently rereading a third time in preparation for a review with V.J. Waks] have established themselves as literary signposts, pointing back to the mythology of ancient Hellas and forward to our times and beyond, all the while infusing their work with a sense of the angst of their time.
Thank you for the kind words!
I was an active contributor to HM Magazine for several years, and you may indeed like much of my material therein.
However, I think something that may prove even more appealing is the offline writings of Fred Woodworth. Fred exists online in no way, shape or form, but has been self-publishing (with now long-archaic printing technology) a number of periodicals since the late 60s. His title The Mystery & Adventure Series Review has been published since the early 80s, and contains amazing reviews and commentary on older, finer fictions. You can begin your quest here:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fred_Woodworth
And cheers!
That was not kindness but admiration.
I am trying to develop the art of the review and look to your example as a teacher.
Thank you Richard.
I will take your advice and look up Fred Woodworth.