{"id":2532,"date":"2013-08-17T08:00:43","date_gmt":"2013-08-17T13:00:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.revolutionsf.com\/revblogs\/geekcurmudgeon\/?p=2532"},"modified":"2013-08-16T17:06:07","modified_gmt":"2013-08-16T22:06:07","slug":"rayguns-over-texas-preview-aurelia-hadley-mohl","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.revolutionsf.com\/revblogs\/geekcurmudgeon\/2013\/08\/17\/rayguns-over-texas-preview-aurelia-hadley-mohl\/","title":{"rendered":"Rayguns Over Texas preview: Aurelia Hadley Mohl"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Cover<\/a>

Cover by Rocky Kelley<\/p><\/div>\n

As we barrel toward the August 29 premiere of\u00a0Rayguns Over Texas<\/a>\u00a0<\/a><\/em>at\u00a0LoneStarCon 3<\/a>\u00a0(aka the 71st Annual World Science Fiction Convention) in San Antonio, I am presenting book excerpts, one contributor per day.<\/p>\n

Today’s selection comes from\u00a0Aurelia Hadley Mohl<\/a>‘s “An Afternoon\u2019s Nap, or; Five Hundred Years Ahead.” <\/p>\n

In this 19th century tale, John Langschlaf\u00a0falls asleep, only to awaken 500 years\u00a0later in a strange utopia. Originally\u00a0published in 1865, Aurelia Hadley Mohl\u2019s rarely reprinted work is one of the earliest\u00a0science fiction tales written by a Texan.<\/p>\n

The pretty iron gate turned easily and smoothly on its hinges,\u00a0and Mr. Langschlaf stepped off his own premises \u2014 not into the\u00a0dusty road that but that morning had led to town \u2014 but on to the\u00a0marble pavement of a broad and apparently endless street, which was\u00a0adorned on either side with stately places of exquisite beauty. These\u00a0palaces were surrounded by beautiful grounds, ornamented with\u00a0clusters of trees, groups of flowers, and vine-covered nooks from\u00a0which gleamed statuary in white and polished beauty The street itself\u00a0was inlaid with various colored marbles in pretty fanciful arabesque.\u00a0Tall trees interlaced their delicate foliage over head, and on each side\u00a0was a foot path adorned with flowers and pretty fountains, which sent\u00a0their translucent spires high into the air.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am dreaming,\u201d murmured Mr. Langschlaf, \u201cand this I suppose is\u00a0Paradise. I wish I could come across some of the angels \u2014 hallo! there\u2019s\u00a0one now!\u201d and off he started at full speed towards a man somewhat\u00a0strangely but becomingly attired, who had a fine commanding\u00a0presence, and walked slowly along with an open book in his hand.<\/p>\n

\u201cSir,\u201d said our friend, when he had recovered his breath, \u201cSir, will\u00a0you be kind enough to tweak my nose?\u201d<\/p>\n

The stranger turned around and regarded the author of this rather\u00a0unusual request with astonishment, which, however, soon gave place\u00a0to rapturous delight, and he exclaimed without heeding the aforesaid\u00a0request \u2014\u00a0\u201cGood heavens! can it be possible? What have I done to be so\u00a0blessed? An old man, positively an old man! With the gray hair and\u00a0beard so accurately described in my book! I am the happiest man in\u00a0the world!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cUmph,\u201d muttered Langschlaf, \u201che speaks English anyway; but this\u00a0man is a lunatic. I am not old enough to be an object of curiosity,\u00a0I should think;\u201d and then aloud to the stranger, who continued to\u00a0regard him with increasing interest and delight, he said \u2014\u00a0\u201cI made a polite request of you sir, but as it is, I confess, rather a\u00a0singular one, I will explain why I made it. I laid down to day about\u00a01 o\u2019clock, P.M., to take a nap, leaving my own place surrounded by\u00a0beautiful meadows and streams, I awake at 6 P.M., meadows, woods,\u00a0and streams have disappeared, and a city has arisen in their place \u2014\u00a0a city so beautiful that I must think I still dream, for naught like it\u00a0exists on earth. I was reading some absurd nonsense about progress\u00a0and future perfection just before I sent to sleep, and I suppose I am\u00a0dreaming of it now. Now sir will you be kind enough to pull my nose?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAfter you have answered me a few questions,\u201d replied the stranger,\u00a0\u201cbut first let us be seated where we can talk quietly,\u201d and he led the\u00a0amazed and somewhat indignant Langschlaf into one of the many\u00a0lovely gardens \u2014 found some charming seats under a myrtle tree and\u00a0requesting Langschlaf to take one he appropriated the other.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think it would be more polite of you to comply with my request\u00a0without any conditions, but I presume from the rude manner in which\u00a0you alluded to my age that politeness is at a discount here, however,\u00a0proceed with your questions,\u201d and Mr. Langschlaf settled himself\u00a0comfortably in his place.<\/p>\n

\u201cI beg pardon if I have offended,\u201d said the stranger earnestly, \u201cI\u00a0assure you it was unintentional.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGo on please,\u201d interrupted Langschlaf \u2014 \u201cI am in a hurry, and\u00a0most outrageously hungry.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIn a hurry,\u201d repeated the stranger meditatively, \u201cin a hurry \u2014 and\u00a0old \u2014 upon my word it is extraordinary! But,\u201d he added, aloud, \u201cyour\u00a0hunger can be easily satisfied.\u201d<\/p>\n

So saying, he took from a pocket a singular looking little\u00a0instrument somewhat like a watch, which he placed upon the ground.\u00a0\u201cYour dinner will be here directly,\u201d he remarked to Langschlaf; and\u00a0presently a white object like a large bird appeared in the air above\u00a0their heads, descended swiftly, and lit on the ground before them. It\u00a0proved on inspection to be something like a balloon \u2014 but beautiful\u00a0and delicate in its construction. From this singular vehicle a pretty\u00a0boy came forth with a slender cane in his hand. This he unfolded and\u00a0formed a table which he placed before the two gentlemen and soon\u00a0this novel table was covered with a charming repast.<\/p>\n

\u201cWonderful!\u201d exclaimed Langschlaf \u201cthis looks like witchcraft \u2014 I\u00a0am almost afraid to eat a dinner so mysteriously provided \u2014 but I\u2019ll\u00a0risk it.\u201d And he immediately fell to with an eagerness that made the\u00a0two spectators stare.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

As we barrel toward the August 29 premiere of\u00a0Rayguns Over Texas\u00a0at\u00a0LoneStarCon 3\u00a0(aka the 71st Annual World Science Fiction Convention) in San Antonio, I am presenting book excerpts, one contributor per day. Today’s selection comes from\u00a0Aurelia Hadley Mohl‘s “An Afternoon\u2019s Nap, … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4,23],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2532","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-books","category-rayguns-over-texas"],"yoast_head":"\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n