An Aerial Adventure, or The Secrets of a Scientist by Victor D. A. Courtney – A Review (Continued)
It is a shame that nothing much happens in the story for months. Well, a lot happens, but it is from the point of view of the inventor describing his life. And, to draw out this trip even further, not only do we get various adventures, we even get a ballad. Here is one of the verses:
“But lady, I wish now to end this poor lay,
For they love matchless beauty I fear to pray.
For to one that possesses a beauty so rare,
To aspire to her hand I never would dare:
For a creature endowed with so much by her Lord
Would sure expect twice as much as reward”
There is even conflict with the story told and the characters getting angry before resuming the story.
Essentially this story is very much a travelogue, and could be considered part of the proto-space fiction genre seen in books and magazines in the radium age. However, for it to truly be considered space opera, the earth-focused discussions need to end, and more time spent on science, space, worlds and the challenges of these. Certainly, at this point, the story looks simply to be a transfer of a diary of a long cruise to a space plane at this stage and it is hard going!
Interestingly, the way each chapter, or even sections of chapter, are spread across each newspaper release, means that, without a synopsis, anyone dipping into the story would believe it was a few guys around a table in a room discussing their lives. Their location in space is not mentioned in every chapter so it might come as a surprise for anyone taking up the story at a later point.
Several chapters were spent on the foundations of the aeroplane, the inventor’s family, his father’s death, friendships, loves and losses. A collection of reminisces that more and more take this story away from the genre it aspired to be. In fact, the narrative of the inventor’s life continues for two months of Saturday publishings, culminating in wars of words between Barrington and the inventor. It is obvious to all readers by this point that the famed inventor, known as Merilo Ratazzini, is obsessed with his own genius and woe betide any who stands in the way of his vast intellect. In this section it seems that the writer(s) wish to convey their negative views of simpletons and plebeians. There is much discussion about class and untoward behaviour and laughter at the distress of the lower classes, but interestingly there is also a focus on the other side to the story and defence of those on both sides. Ultimately, though it seems like old men yelling angrily at various things in the world. (Old Man Yells at Cloud)
June and July covers the inventor’s love and fall from grace, a detailed discussion of a dream as well as a duel with the father of the one he loved. Following that, August is about spys and saboteurs, and his once friend turned foe, followed by various fights to what might be death, before fleeing to Europe, selling his estate and building his plane. If a few of the characters had special powers, I’d have thought the author might have borrowed from Baron Munchausen’s stories (1785).
By August 1909 it is understood why there is a second title, The Secret of a Scientist, for many secrets are spilled by Ratazzini in this period. And, even by this month, the same discussion started in March 1909 is still ongoing in the pages of The Daily News (Perth).
By the end of August, Ratazzini has told his story, and turns to Barrington to tell his. Finally, on Saturday 28th August 1909, we see a part of the story that indicates the leftist views of the writer, which is also reflected in much of the author’s life. (Bolton 1993) Barrington tells of his Australian upbringing then says “My talents were not at fault, but the host of conservatives who were in power would not allow a novice to gain recognition. In a few years, when death finds them, another generation will take their places, and not until the conservative hearts of those I have mentioned have ceased to beat will Australia become a nation.” However, his spiel is cut short.
The release on the 28th August 1909 is when the story finally becomes space fiction again, even with a subtitle of the chapter halfway through a paragraph The Voyage to the Planet. But the orbit, then landing while described as lasting a day, is brief, probably to make the exploration of the world one to feature in September 1909s issues, perhaps to encourage people to keep reading at a time when they have less inclination to do so.
This is an interesting idea worth pursuing in that it is highly likely that other long serialised stories in Australian newspapers have a slow middle across the wintery months. I will look into this at some point.
In the next post I’ll explore the space opera part of the story.
(To be continued)