n: _The Moon Maiden_ (1915) and _The
Second Deluge_ (1911). The former is a scientific mystery, and probably
the least distinguished of his works. The latter, conversely, is
probably his best. It tells of a watery nebula which collides with the
earth, flooding it with a second deluge; and of how the human race is
saved through the wisdom of one man who foresaw the coming disaster in
time to build a second ark. A new civilization which has mastered the
secret of atomic energy springs up on the planet as the waters recede.
The canvas is a broad one, and the author does it full justice.

Serviss' outstanding stories have been published abroad and re-printed
in this country several times, a deserved tribute to their quality and
popularity. His very first work of fiction, however, has been shrouded
in obscurity for nearly half a century. Indeed, among collectors and
aficionados of the fantastic there was for a time debate as to its
actual existence. This is hardly surprising, for until its reprinting in
this book _Edison's Conquest of Mars_ lay buried in the Congressional
Library's file of the ephemeral New York _Evening Journal_, where it ran
serially in early 1898.

This is a remarkable work. First of all, as many readers will quickly
discern, it is in a sense a sequel to H. G. Wells' well known _War of
the Worlds_. The latter novel was serialized by _Cosmopolitan_ magazine
in 1897; it caught the public's fickle fancy, and was widely commented
upon. All evidence indicates that Serviss also read it: he was a regular
contributor to _Cosmopolitan_. Yet I am inclined to doubt that mere
reading of _The War of the Worlds_ in itself prompted him to produce a
work in the same vein. Wells' effort was not concluded until the
December, 1897 number of the magazine, and _Edison's Conquest of Mars_
began on the following January 12th--a scant six weeks later. For
Serviss it was the initial excursion into the realm of fiction, and it
is hard to conceive his so hastily adopting a new metier on personal
impulse alone. These circumstances, in conjunction with the context of
the novel itself, clearly stamp the entire business as clever
capitalization on already existent publicity. Again, I doubt if he
thought of it at first in that light; his name was well enough known so
that he could live by his knowledge, not his wits. But to a newspaper
editor the prospect of combining the authority of a nationally known and
reputable astronomer with a