Short Story - The Thought-Monster

 Short Story - The Thought-Monster

In : Weird Tales, March 1930

By : Amelia Reynolds Long

Rating : 5/10

Year: 1930 (original); 2017 (archive.org) 

Publisher: Weird Tales

ISBN: N/A

Pages: 7

Language : English 

Another short story I chose to read as part of March bookclub challenge in reading stories that had been adapted onto the screen, The Thought-Monster was published in the March 1930 issue of Weird Tales, authored by Amelia Reynolds Long, a pioneer woman writer for the early science fiction magazines of the 1930s - before she followed in Agatha Christie's footsteps to write mystery novels in the 1940's. 

Note on copyright : as far as I could find, this story as well as Weird Tales in which it was published haven't had their copyrights renewed and fell in public domain. I find the March 1930 Issue among others on archive.org and the story exists in text and audio on PseudoPod 762. 

This particular short story was adapted into the 1958 film Fiend Without a Face, which was directed by Arthur Crabtree. 

Within the 7 pages long text, a small unnamed town is shocked by a series of mysterious deaths. Victims turn up dead with looks of horror on their faces. 

The culprit is dubbed "the terror" by the locals, who call in Detective James Gibson from New York City, as well as Michael Cummings, a "psychic investigator". One thinks it's an escaped lunatic who somehow murders these people, the other believes it's a supernatural being. 

This is more of a fantasy horror story than science-fiction, at least in my modern, critical thinking analysis - as I don't believe is materialization of thought described in this story (it is called The thought-monster, this isn't a spoiler, don't worry) ; nor do I believe that violet light in attempts to drive away this creature-made-out-of-thought or any other supernatural beings would be based on any kind of possible science, but it works within the rules of this fiction. 

Aside from violet light, a few other elements fall into categories of pseudoscience on one hand, and scifi or horror tropes ; as such, the text is well written, in accordance to these tropes and moral messages similar to that of Frankenstein. In a word, don't try something without precaution, don't overdo the science before you better understand, or your folly may cost lives.

Neutral score, because the narrative was well built, but the fiction doesn't suspend the disbelief - thus doesn't withstand the test of time. 

As to the movie adaptation - which I haven't seen - I know that Herbert J. Leder's screenplay relocated the story to Canada (the text never specified where it takes place - nor can we guess how far the town would be from NYC. A character's journal only indicates calling for the detective on 25 May and news of him by 3 June). The movie also changes and expands the story - perhaps I'll watch it out of curiosity and report the differences.