Beyond the end of space

In Short

This work is a fast-paced scientific thriller that explores the brink of human discovery. When Dr. Randolph Warren successfully annihilates matter to produce near-infinite energy, he inadvertently triggers an earthquake and thrusts his laboratory into a hostile, alternate space. Caught between a ruthless industrialist and a treacherous, opportunistic rival, Warren and his partner Putney must navigate a world of invisible force fields, death rays, and stolen technology. It remains a foundational example of early science fiction, capturing the era’s boundless optimism and its anxieties regarding the terrifying power of the atom.

The Story

Dr. Randolph Warren, a brilliant but discredited physicist, successfully develops a method to annihilate matter, releasing vast amounts of energy. This breakthrough immediately catches the attention of Thaddeus Nestor, a shrewd industrialist who had previously derailed Warren’s career. Seeking to control the technology, Nestor hires a dangerous, unscrupulous rival named Atkill to steal Warren’s research. Warren and his partner, Putney, anticipate this threat and fortify their laboratory with advanced, invisible defensive screens and photoelectric traps. When Atkill’s hired thugs attempt a raid, they are baffled by invisible, impenetrable walls that render their weapons useless and are swiftly ejected from the grounds, terrified by their encounter with "inhuman" forces.

As the tension escalates, Warren and his team complete the Prometheus, a space-faring ship designed to harness this new energy. During a test, an accident occurs, and the crew is transported to an alternate dimension. In this strange, distorted space, their appearances shift into pastel colors, and they find themselves adrift in a terrifying void where the familiar sun is nowhere to be found. Through rigorous calculation and scientific ingenuity, they manage to return to their home dimension, only to discover that they have been gone for months and that their rivals have seized power.

Back on Earth, Nestor and Atkill have used stolen bits of technology to seize control of the nation’s power grid, plunging cities into chaos and threatening to install a tyrannical regime. Atkill, now operating his own stolen ship, finds himself unable to control the volatile, matter-annihilating power he has unleashed. A catastrophic ball of white, radioactive fire threatens to incinerate the city of New York. Atkill, realizing his defeat, sacrifices himself by flying the unstable payload out to sea, where it continues to boil the ocean as a permanent, glowing scar on the horizon.

Warren returns to face the aftermath. Nestor is arrested for treason, and the nation begins to recover from the power-grid collapse. Despite their instrumental role in saving the city, Warren and Putney reflect on their own moral responsibility, recognizing that their inventions—the very tools of human advancement—were the catalysts for the disaster. The story concludes with the two men safe in their apartment, pondering the mysteries of the void and wondering if the price of their progress was ultimately worth the chaos it invited.

How It Unfolds

The accidental catalyst Dr. Warren triggers a massive energy release during a routine experiment, causing a localized earthquake and drawing the greedy gaze of the powerful Nestor. He quickly realizes his work has reached a threshold where the atom is not merely broken, but annihilated.

The siege of the laboratory Warren and Putney transform their facility into an impenetrable fortress using ultraviolet beams and force fields. They easily repel a group of hired thugs, leaving the criminals shaken and convinced they have faced supernatural terrors.

The voyage into the void The Prometheus is launched, but a catastrophic failure in the navigation controls drags the ship into an alternate dimension. The crew experiences physical transformations and the psychological horror of being lost in a space without stars.

The return to a fractured world Upon returning home, the scientists find that their rivals have exploited their patents to paralyze the nation’s power supply. The resulting civil collapse forces the protagonists to act quickly to prevent total societal destruction.

The ultimate sacrifice Atkill struggles to contain the runaway energy of his stolen ship and ultimately chooses to perish to prevent a larger catastrophe. The book closes with the survivors contemplating the heavy burden of their knowledge.

The People

Dr. Randolph Warren is the quintessential scientist: driven, precise, and possessed of a singular determination. He views the world through the lens of physics and is often more comfortable with abstract equations than with the political machinations of his enemies.

Putney serves as Warren’s pragmatic, grounded partner. While Warren provides the visionary spark, Putney manages the logistics and ensures their survival. He is the voice of reason when the experiments threaten to spiral out of control.

Thaddeus Nestor is the novel’s antagonist, a man whose lust for wealth and political control is matched only by his lack of scruples. He believes he can command the laws of physics as easily as he manipulates his employees.

Atkill represents the dark reflection of the scientists. He is intelligent and capable, but his greed and arrogance lead him to underestimate the dangers of the power he seeks to steal. His eventual sacrifice is a moment of cold clarity in an otherwise chaotic life.

In Its Own Voice

"I believe that that discharge started a release of the energy of matter, that the radiations were very largely of an extremely short wavelength, and that they penetrated the building readily."

Warren explains the scientific foundation of his discovery to the skeptical Nestor.

"I'm afraid to turn the ship around right now, don't know what will happen, if my theory is right, anything might."

Warren expresses his caution while the crew is lost in the terrifying, starless expanse of the alternate dimension.

What It's Really About

At its core, this is a meditation on the Promethean nature of scientific discovery. The book asks whether humanity is ready for the mastery of fundamental forces that could provide infinite energy or, conversely, total annihilation. It reflects a deep-seated anxiety about the "Great Men" of industry—those who lack the moral clarity of the scientist but hold the purse strings that dictate how technology is used. The conflict between Warren’s desire for objective truth and Nestor’s desire for subjective power highlights the tension between the scientist as a contributor to human progress and the scientist as a tool for the state.

Why Read It Today

Readers who appreciate the "Golden Age" of science fiction will find this a fascinating, if occasionally challenging, artifact. The prose is functional and brisk, focusing heavily on the "how" of the technology—force fields, photoelectric cells, and atomic release—which creates a distinct, grounded atmosphere typical of early 1930s pulp. The pacing is relentless, reflecting the frantic energy of its era.

However, modern readers should be prepared for the period-specific attitudes embedded in the text. The characters often display a casual, callous disregard for the "gangster" classes they encounter, and the dialogue can be stiff or overly expository. The social commentary—centering on the fragility of an electrified, urban society—feels surprisingly relevant, even as the specific scientific jargon feels dated. If you enjoy stories where the fate of the world hinges on a single, brilliant, and slightly dangerous invention, this book provides a quintessential look at the origins of the genre. It is less a character study and more an intellectual puzzle, leaving the reader with a lingering, unsettling image of a boiling ocean as a testament to the risks of pushing the boundaries of what is known.