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Richard S. Shaver
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The Shaver Mystery, Book One Paperback – June 8, 2011

by Richard S. Shaver (Author)
4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars 40 ratings
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Armchair fiction presents extra large paperback editions of the best in classic science fiction novels. “The Shaver Mystery,” by Richard S. Shaver, is perhaps the most controversial piece of science fiction ever written. Supposedly a true story, it is widely considered to be the nadir of science fiction literature, the “Plan 9 From Outer Space” of the whole genre. Some people considered Richard Shaver to be a genius, but most others considered him and his editor, Ray Palmer, to be two of the biggest blights to have ever entered the field of professional science fiction writing. Shaver’s wild ramblings are a thing to behold. We have never encountered an author who could write such consistently overlong sentences that appeared to make no sense whatsoever. Genius or nut-case? You decide. Here in Book One, are the first three parts, just as they appeared in the June, 1947 issue of Amazing Stories: “Formula from the Underworld,” “Zigor Mephisto’s Collection of Mentalia,” and “Witch’s Daughter.” Also included in Book One is the mind-boggling, yet essential “How to Read the Shaver Alphabet,” which pertains to Book Two as well. “The Shaver Mystery” is presented in paperback for the first time. Heaven help us.
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  1. Reading age
    12 years and up
  2. Print length
    200 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Dimensions
    5.25 x 0.5 x 8 inches
  5. Publication date
    June 8, 2011
  6. ISBN-10
    1612870317
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1612870311
  8. See all details
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Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Armchair Fiction & Music (June 8, 2011)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 200 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1612870317
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1612870311
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 12 years and up
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 8.3 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.25 x 0.5 x 8 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars 40 ratings

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Richard S. Shaver

Richard S. Shaver

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Customer reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars
4.1 out of 5
40 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

C Von Mattemore
5.0 out of 5 stars I recommend
Reviewed in the United States on August 20, 2017
Verified Purchase
My very first book from Richard Shaver, very interesting to me
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Rich M.
4.0 out of 5 stars Not nearly the nadir everyone talks about
Reviewed in the United States on June 1, 2014
Verified Purchase
I’ve been doing a lot of research about the Shaver Mystery for one of my own projects, so it was logical to start reading some of the original stories. They actually aren’t nearly as bad as most folks profess; they're just simple pulp sci-fi and good examples of the average output of the various magazines back in the forties and early fifties. They do tend to rely far too much on various deus ex machina for plot twists and resolutions, and the point-of-view isn’t always constant in the narrative, but the ones in this volume (put out from the people responsible for Sinister Cinema) are easy reads. I wouldn’t pay collector prices for them, that’s for certain, but I'll be glad to pay Kindle prices. .
4 people found this helpful
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George-Peter Paxinos
5.0 out of 5 stars strange
Reviewed in the United States on July 3, 2014
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fun !
2 people found this helpful
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Mark Luster
3.0 out of 5 stars Blame Richard Shaver
Reviewed in the United States on July 1, 2015
Verified Purchase
The origin of "Ancient Aliens". A pulp-fiction writer pens some stories about aliens being the cause of human-kind. These long-departed aliens have left behind fabulous machines, mostly manned by a degenerate race. Hidden in deep caverns, these degenerate beings cause all our earthly woes. Stalwart heroes from the surface-world oppose them, usually aided by barely-clothed fabulous women. The writer claims these are 'true' stories, communicated to him telepathically.
The stories are serviceable, but for certain people to have seized on these as some kind of proof of alien visitation is just sad. They're just stories by a mediocre pulp writer, not justifiable grist for a TV series about alien visitation.
As stories, they're just so-so. As history, they're ridiculous.
5 people found this helpful
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Asian Jedi
5.0 out of 5 stars the ether brought me to shaver
Reviewed in the United States on April 30, 2020
ok so i know nothing about richard shaver. for many many years now i have been involved in channeled information from the ether and a channel source that i believe to be very credible have told me to read these Shaver Mystery books. it said to me that Shaver is telling the truth. keep an open mind. personally i believe Shaver is telling the truth.
3 people found this helpful
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CWR
4.0 out of 5 stars 1940s Sci Fi.
Reviewed in the United States on October 18, 2016
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A fun book, to see one style of Sci-Fi writing from the 1940s. But the stories were a bit bizarre.
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Joe
4.0 out of 5 stars ... is an odd book but there is something I like about it
Reviewed in the United States on April 14, 2015
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This is an odd book but there is something I like about it.
4 people found this helpful
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