Subject
Chemists -- Fiction Books
Best books
Robert Abernathy
Grandma's lie soap
No description available.
Thomas Dixon
The Root of Evil
"The Root of Evil" by Thomas Dixon is a novel written in the early 20th century. The story unfolds in New York City and the mountains of North Carolina, focusing on the lives of James Stuart, a young lawyer, and his fiancée Nan Primrose amidst a backdrop of rising social conflicts and personal dilemmas. The novel delves into themes of love, ambition, morality, and the fight against corrupt societal influences, with the main characters caught in a web of expectations and desires. The opening portion introduces us to James Stuart, who reflects on his love for Nan while living in New York, watching the world around him with a sense of idyllic joy. However, his happiness is soon overshadowed by the realization that Nan’s mother is scheming to break their engagement by involving affluent suitors like John C. Calhoun Bivens, a millionaire. The tension escalates as James grapples with the prospect of losing Nan due to external pressures and internal conflicts regarding wealth and integrity. As James navigates his relationship with Nan and suitable career choices, a showdown with Bivens looms on the horizon, setting the stage for a confrontation over ideals and love in a rapidly changing society.
David Graham Phillips
The Hungry Heart: A Novel
"The Hungry Heart: A Novel" by David Graham Phillips is a fiction work written in the early 20th century. The story explores the complexities of love and individual ambition, chiefly through the eyes of its central characters, Richard Vaughan and Courtney Benedict, who navigate the expectations of marriage and personal aspirations. The narrative delves into themes of societal norms versus personal desires, particularly focusing on Courtney's struggle to find her identity amidst her husband's career pursuits. At the start of the novel, readers are introduced to Richard and Courtney as they settle into married life after an idyllic honeymoon. Courtney awakes alone in their new home, signaling a shift from passionate romance to the reality of their relationship. Her initial joy is overshadowed by feelings of loneliness and uncertainty as Richard becomes increasingly absorbed in his work at the laboratory. The opening chapters depict Courtney's efforts to adjust to her new role while grappling with her desire to be more than just a traditional housewife, illustrating the tension between her dreams and the constraints of their marriage. As she faces the reality of her husband's expectations and the weight of family traditions, she must navigate her longing for a deeper connection with Richard amidst the pressures from both him and the societal norms of their time.
Isaac Asimov
The magnificent possession
"The Magnificent Possession" by Isaac Asimov is a science fiction short story first published in 1940. Walter Sills, a struggling New York chemist, believes he's discovered a revolutionary metal plating process using pure ammonium. His promising invention attracts unwanted attention from gangsters and corrupt politicians eager to exploit his discovery. As complications mount and he pursues a deal with a steel magnate, Sills faces an unexpected problem that threatens everything.
Raymond F. Jones
Stay off the Moon!
"Stay off the Moon!" by Raymond F. Jones is a science fiction novel likely penned in the early 1960s. The narrative centers around the scientific exploration of the moon and the implications of finding something extraordinary in its surface materials, suggesting that the moon may not belong to our solar system and could harbor life or alien elements. This theme taps into the age-old human fascination and fear associated with the moon and outer space. The story follows Jim Cochran, who has been assigned to operate the Prospector, a robotic laboratory on the moon, which is tasked with analyzing its surface materials. As the mission progresses, Cochran discovers that the elements he analyzes are not consistent with those found on Earth, leading him to theorize that the moon might be of extra-galactic origin. He uncovers evidence suggesting the presence of organic compounds, potentially indicating that the moon was once a planet with life. However, as he delves deeper, he becomes increasingly convinced that something sinister lies within, capable of posing a danger to humanity. His efforts to alert authorities about the potential threat fall on deaf ears, culminating in a dramatic and tragic conclusion as the crew of a subsequent manned mission to the moon faces dire consequences. The book grapples with themes of exploration, scientific ethics, and the unforeseen dangers of human ambition.
Clemens Brentano
Die drei Nüsse
"Die drei Nüsse" by Clemens Brentano is a story published in August 1817. In 1665 Colmar, a Latin phrase about three nuts triggers a mysterious alchemist's panicked flight from the mayor's home. A year later, a woman named Amelie arrives seeking refuge, only to be confronted by a painting of that strange scene. Her confession unveils a tragic tale of forbidden love, murder, and mistaken identity—culminating in a shocking revelation that binds her fate to the mayor's family forever.
Ray Cummings
The Girl in the Golden Atom
"The Girl in the Golden Atom" by Ray Cummings is a science fiction novel written in the early 20th century. The narrative follows a chemist who discovers a universe within an atom, experiencing incredible adventures after entering this microcosmic world. Central to the story is the chemist, who becomes enamored with a beautiful girl named Lylda, who embodies the peculiar and enchanting inhabitants of this atomic realm. The opening of the book introduces us to a conversation in a club where the chemist shares his revolutionary discovery with a group of intrigued friends. He reveals how he constructed a powerful microscope that allowed him to see into the atom, wherein he uncovers a vast and intricate universe, complete with its own inhabitants. Among them is a girl, Lylda, who captivates him with her beauty and charm. Tragically, after a mishap destroys his microscope, he is left longing for her. As he prepares to return to this minuscule universe to rescue her and explore further, the narrative sets the stage for an extraordinary adventure filled with scientific wonder, emotional depth, and exciting possibilities.
Edwin Baird
Anton's last dream
"Anton's last dream by Edwin Baird" is a science fiction short story written in the early 20th century. It explores a chemist’s triumphant invention of invisibility and the darker human currents it uncovers—jealousy, betrayal, and vengeance. Anton Slezak, a wealthy, celebrated chemist who believes any dream can be made real, secretly perfects an invisible dye and renders himself unseen. Testing his success, he follows a coded knock to a hotel room and witnesses his young wife Zora in a passionate rendezvous with his nephew Robin. Speaking from invisibility, he reveals his presence, blocks their escape, and shoots them both, then calmly waits and turns the gun on himself as others break in. The story fuses scientific wonder with a stark, fatal end, showing how a visionary experiment becomes the instrument of tragic retribution.
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