Tales Of Time And Space!

This month sort of picks up where last month left off. We continue to explore the vastness of space but add the even more capacious realm of time. The Whitman anthology above was one I had a kid way back in 1969 when science and such was generally supported by the masses. These days folks seem to not care for the opinions of experts, preferring to substitute their own gut instincts. But there's hope and to that end I want to spend my time immersed in science, or at least science fantasy. 

The centerpiece of reading this month will be Nexus. I've raved about Nexus more than a few times here and after collecting up seven of the eight omnibus volumes (I consider the eighth a lost cause at this point and I have most of those in the original) I want to read through this truly epic story of a young man who only wants to make the universe better by killing mass murderers, and so he can get a good night's sleep. I'm being snide, but this really a thoughtful series by creators Mike Baron and Steve Rude, along with the many artists who assist along the long road. 

Star-Lord is now world famous as a member of the Guardians of the Galaxy (Marvel cinematic universe variety). But before that Peter Quill was a hero much in the mold of Nexus and preceded him to boot. Marvel managed to kick out one Star-Lord yarn a year beginning in 1977 and some great talents had their way with him.

And speaking of Guardians of the Galaxy, I want to take another ramble through their earliest adventures. I'm of course not talking about the guys so famous today but the originals who made their first mark in the pages of the eighteenth issue of Marvel Super-Heroes. Created by Arnold Drake and drawn by Gene Colan, these heroes from the future left an impression on this young fan which has never dimmed. 

If time allows, I want to take a dive into the science fiction stories drawn by Wally Wood.  Wally Wood was the absolute master of his form. On some of his stories Wood was assisted by partner Harry Harrison.

Harry Harrison was a colleague of Wally Wood, but we know him these days mostly for his science fiction stories, the most famous of which is Make Room! Make Room! This is a novel about overpopulation on this planet and inspired the movie Soylent Green. Expect reviews. 

Beyond Thirty is a short novel by Edgar Rice Burroughs, one of his earliest which explores what the world might be like a few centuries if the Americas had not gotten involved in European wars, but instead cut off that part of the world. The changes are profound. 

Another grim future is presented in Logan's Run. This story of a controlled society in which no one lives beyond thirty so as to manage the population is a true classic. The movie was a stunner in its day and inspired a television show. I want to sample all three. 

But what about time. Well, I've long wanted to amble through the Irwin Allen project called The Time Tunnel. This wacky show lasted only one season, but it made some bizarre shows in that short time. If you've not seen it, it's about two scientists who are lost in time and wash up in time period after time period each week just in time for shenanigans of all sorts. 

Before The Time Tunnel. the was the "Wayback Machine", owned and operated by the canine genius Mr. Peabody. Peabody and his boy Sherman visit many of the greatest names in history and help them along in their work. This is truly a timeless time-travel feature. 

And last but not least Showcase Corner will feature Rip Hunter Time Master. While Adam Strange saved Rann from countless menaces, Rip and his team were hurtling through time seeking adventure in age after age. 

There might even be a few surprises as well. All in all, it's a heavy lift as usual, but one I'm very much looking forward to. 

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