Astounding Stories of Super-Science, May, 1930

In Short

This issue of Astounding Stories of Super-Science collects five science fiction adventures and a reader correspondence section, showcasing the fast-paced, imaginative storytelling of early American pulp fiction. Across its pages, protagonists brave the depths of the sea to protect an aquatic human race, hunt a criminal mastermind peddling mind-altering poisons through South America, fight space pirates on the Moon, and navigate time-space inside an experimental machine. Driven by high stakes and speculative concepts, the magazine offers an energetic, accessible look at the genre’s formative years.

The Story

The volume opens beneath the waves in Sewell Peaslee Wright’s "Into the Ocean's Depths." Mercer and his companion board a compact submarine, guided by three aquatic beings to a hidden civilization under the sea. Their mission is to defend this vulnerable population against the Rorn, ruthless corsairs who prey upon the underwater realm.

Shifting to South American espionage, Murray Leinster’s serialized novel "Murder Madness" introduces Bell, an agent for a secret government organization. Investigating the mysterious disappearance of several operatives and the sudden insanity of another, Bell tracks a sinister criminal force known as The Master. Operatives exposed to a insidious drug called yagué lose control of their bodies while remaining horrifyingly conscious. Bell aligns with Paula Canalejas, whose father is murdered during the crisis. Navigating deadly local traps and political corruption, Bell attempts to kidnap a key villain named Ribiera to secure answers before the poison spreads across the continent.

On the lunar surface, Ray Cummings’s "Brigands of the Moon" continues the struggle of Gregg Haljan and Anita Prince. Clashing with Martian bandits led by the ruthless Miko, Gregg and Anita attempt a daring bluff to protect a vast treasure. Facing weaponized electronic projectors and treacherous terrain, the duo utilizes gravity-plate flying platforms to escape capture and coordinate a counterattack alongside reinforcements from their home camp.

Lilith Lorraine’s brief contribution, "The Jovian Jest," brings an interstellar visitor to Earth, offering humanity a cosmic perspective laced with dark humor.

Closing the fiction section is Victor Rousseau’s novelette, "The Atom-Smasher." Inventor James Dent takes flight in a storm and finds himself pulled into a fourth-dimensional journey by his rival, Tode. Tode has stolen an advanced machine capable of manipulating time and space, holding Dent, the aging scientist Parrish, and Parrish’s daughter Lucille captive. Traveling through ancient eras, the group lands in primeval Atlantis, where they are captured by prehistoric Drilgoes and forced into an arena. To prevent their execution and stop Tode from achieving tyrannical power, old Parrish activates an secret uranium lever within the machine. The resulting atomic disruption triggers a catastrophic explosion, destroying the ancient continent and sinking Atlantis into the sea. The survivors navigate their way back through the temporal vortex, while the magazine concludes with "The Readers' Corner," a section where enthusiastic fans review past issues and debate speculative science.

How It Unfolds

Descending into the dark Mercer, the narrator, and a minimal crew seal themselves inside a cramped submarine to follow three sea-dwelling guides. They submerge into the ocean depths to protect a vulnerable aquatic race from murderous corsairs.

Following a cryptic trail Agent Bell discovers a series of knotted code signals, sending him aboard a ship bound for South America. He meets Paula Canalejas and uncovers a plot involving a horrific drug that strips victims of bodily control.

Fighting across the lunar crags Gregg Haljan battles a pirate on an observatory platform high above the Moon. He later flees across the cratered landscape alongside Anita Prince, attempting to outmaneuver the Martian brigand Miko.

Breaching the temporal divide James Dent flies into a storm and is swept into the Atom-Smasher, a vessel modified by Tode to travel through the fourth dimension. Dent finds himself imprisoned alongside the brilliant but broken scientist Parrish and his daughter Lucille.

Witnessing the fall of Atlantis Trapped in a giant Atlantean amphitheater, the captives face immediate execution by hostile locals. Parrish activates a hidden uranium mechanism, triggering an atomic blast that shatters the land and sinks Atlantis beneath the ocean waves.

Gathering in the forum Readers write letters to the editor praising previous stories, requesting back issues, and debating interplanetary travel, establishing a vibrant community around the newly launched publication.

The People

• Bell: A cool, calculating Secret Service agent working for an elusive intelligence division. Driven to solve the disappearance of his fellow operatives, he uses quick thinking and covert signaling to evade traps, determined to stop the terrifying spread of yagué.
• Ribiera: A wealthy, arrogant villain who serves as a key lieutenant in The Master's network. He uses intimidation, private aircraft, and state corruption to control those around him, seeking to force Paula Canalejas into marriage.
• Gregg Haljan: A practical, brave officer stranded on the Moon. His primary motivation is protecting Anita Prince, prompting him to risk his life in hand-to-hand combat and dangerous leaps across low-gravity terrain.
• Anita Prince: A resourceful companion who formulates a risky plan to impersonate bandits and infiltrate the enemy camp, driven by a desire to protect her group and avenge her deceased brother.
• James Dent: An adventurous aviator who gets pulled into a fourth-dimensional nightmare. He remains protective of Lucille, attempting to keep her safe while searching for a way to override their captor.
• Tode: An ambitious, ruthless genius who modifies the Atom-Smasher to conquer time. He sees himself as a future god, viewing his companions merely as tools or obstacles.
• Parrish: An aging scientist whose mind is broken by captivity, yet who retains enough technical cunning to build a secret universal destruction lever into his own invention.

In Its Own Voice

When Mercer's submarine embarks on its underwater passage, the isolation of the journey becomes immediately apparent:

An account of the trip itself, perhaps, does not belong in this record. It was not a pleasant adventure in itself, for the Santa Maria, like every undersea craft, I suppose, was close, smelly, and cramped.

As Bell pursues his investigation into the terrifying poison affecting Secret Service agents, he witnesses its ghastly physical effects firsthand:

Even in the incredibly short time before he reached the bottom of the steps, Bell had time to receive the ghastly impression that Ortiz was sane, but that his body had gone mad.

During the chaotic escape from the prehistoric amphitheatre, Parrish resort to his ultimate weapon to stop their captors:

"Take that!" screamed the old man, inserting the lever into the secret groove in the Atom Smasher and jerking it in the direction of the priests.

What It's Really About

At its core, this collection explores humanity's anxiety regarding technological advancement and the vastness of the unknown. The stories repeatedly examine what happens when human ingenuity outpaces moral responsibility. Whether dealing with mind-altering chemicals used for continental domination or atomic devices capable of unravelling the fourth dimension, the magazine highlights the thin line between scientific triumph and total destruction. Beneath the action-packed plots lies a persistent question: can human courage, loyalty, and ethical resolve withstand the terrifying power of unchecked ambition and mad genius?

Why Read It Today

This publication offers a fascinating, unvarnished window into the golden age of American pulp fiction. Readers who enjoy retro-futurism, historical sci-fi, and fast-paced adventure will appreciate the raw creative energy on display. The prose moves at a breakneck speed, prioritizing plot movement, high-stakes melodrama, and inventive concepts over slow-paced character studies.

Modern readers should be prepared for period-specific attitudes and literary conventions. The characterization relies on classic pulp tropes, featuring clear-cut heroes, damsels in distress, and villainous masterminds. The dialogue occasionally leans into sensationalism, and the depictions of foreign locales reflect the racial and cultural biases common in 1930s popular print. Additionally, because the magazine includes serial installments, some narratives start or end in the middle of larger arcs. Nevertheless, its sheer momentum, imaginative vigor, and historical charm make it a compelling read for anyone interested in the origins of modern science fiction.