Today, September 23, is the birthday of Wilmar H. Shiras (1908-1990). She wasn’t prolific, but what she lacked in quantity, she made up for in quality.
Her first published story was “In Hiding” in the November 1948 issue of Astounding. It concerned a mutant child who was much more intelligent that other children who was trying to hide his abilities.
Two sequels followed. All three stories were incorporated into the novel Children of the Atom. That’s the Science Fiction Book Club edition on the left.
This was the, for lack of a better term, golden age of nuclear mutation stories. The late forties and early fifties saw a number of stories about the harmful effects of nuclear radiation on humanity. Rumor, never confirmed, was that this book was, at least partially, the inspiration for the X-Men.
I read this in high school and could identify with the isolation the main character in “In Hiding” felt. I’m not sure how I would relate to it now. The book’s reputation has faded in the decades since it was written. It was still well known back in the year [REDACTED] when I read it. The world has moved on. Mutatns aren’t one of the things we fear as a culture. At at least they aren’t high on the list.
Have any of you read it?
Yes the original short story has been one of my favourite since my teens some 50 plus years ago. It is a story that appeals to a young person who has trouble fitting in. The Gnome press hardcover is one the gems of my collection. That said I really did not really care for the expansion that much and the ending left me quite cold.
All the best.
Guy
That was why I really liked the story the first time I read it. I didn’t fit in well at the high school I graduated from (which was ina different town where I started high shcool.)
I too treasure the Gnome Press edition with the beautiful Freas cover. According to ISFD, Shiras published just a handful of other stories. One or two in the early 1950s and then a few in the 1970s. One can’t help but wonder what happened. Illness? Major writer’s block? Or the strong influence of John W. Campbell on the “In Hiding” stories…
I looked her up on ISFDB to see what else she had written and was disappointed there wasn’t much else.
Hey Keith! I realized about 10 years ago that a lot of the sci-fi I like is from the 1950s, so I began buying and reading The Best Science Fiction Stories of X Year. While reading the 1950 edition, I came across her story “Opening Doors.” I was quite taken with her writing and the story, I looked it up and discovered this was part of the book, Children of the Atom, so I purchased the Avon edition. I was quite enamored with the story and her writing, especially when it dawned on me, this was the basis of Marvel’s X-Men. It has to be.
Great post!
Will
Thanks, Will. I had heard this was the inspiration for the X-men.