The Ordeal of Professor Klein

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Much of the earliest science fiction was satirical and meant to point a moral about current conditions, such as "Gulliver's Travels." Another form was the story dealing with science, but based upon some kind of horror, such as "Frankenstein." Today, these stories are rather rare, and a combination of the two is almost unheard of. Frankly, we're somewhat puzzled as to the reason, since L. Sprague de Camp proves that it can be done. We particularly want to know how the readers feel about this story, and whether they'd like to see more.

The grim and horrible fate that betook Professor Klein in the Eldritch vaults of Kterem astounded the world. It shouldn't have been too surprising, though. It is already threatening most of us—even today!

There has been much loose talk about Dr. Alphonse Klein's mental illness and its connection with our expedition last year to the city of Gdoz on the planet 61 Cygni A VI, or Kterem to use a native name. Irresponsible journalists and rumor-mongers have spoken and written rashly of hereditary taints and instabilities, of horrors in this lost city too frightful for mere human beings to contemplate, and of the subtle effect of the poisons with which the amiable natives anoint their arrows.

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