Review: Science Fiction Short Story: "A Scientist Rises" by Harry Bates and D. W. Hall

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It is a hot day in New York City, so hot that everyone has their windows open and the children play in the fountain in Washington Square. A man opens a door to one of the houses lining the square and steps out. Gray-haired, he wears an everyday business suit and walks with a calm stride. Yet everyone stops in their tracks at the sight of him. The noisy children are suddenly silent, for the man stands eleven feet tall. Without a word, he walks down the square, the peaceful smile on his face. Odder still, he seems to grow taller, his clothes stretching to fit him. Before long, he is forty feet tall. He shows no signs of stopping. One of the people along the street recognize him as Dr. Edgar Wesley, a quiet scientist. A man comes from the scientist’s house and says he is Dr. Wesley’s janitor. Can’t somebody do something? Not sure what he expects anyone one to do, but a cop asks him what he knows. Not much, only that Dr. Wesley has been working on something for years. The night before, the janitor heard ruckus. He thought Wesley was just destroying stuff he didn’t need. And still, the silent giant grows. With infinite care, he steps over houses. It was time to break into Dr. Wesley’s lab. This was remarkably short and the ending less than completely satisfying for me personally, but the beginning was nicely atmospheric, creating a nice mystery. What is making the man grow so tall? Why does he say nothing, and what’s behind that smile? Co-author Harry Bates wrote the story “Farewell to the Master,” on which the 1951 movie The Day the Earth Stood Still was based. He was a longtime editor of Astounding Stories. With Hall, he wrote the (GAAK) Hawk Carse adventure series to show that people could twirl mustaches in outer space. Co-author Desmond Hall worked as assistant editor under Hall on Astounding Stories. Using the penname Anthony Gilmore they collaborated on a number of stories, most notably the Hawk Carse series. Hall went on to later edit the magazine Mademoiselle. This story is available from Project Gutenberg: _____ Title: “A Scientist Rises” Author: Harry Bates (1900-1981) and D.W. Hall (Desmond Winter Hall) (1911-1992) First published: Astounding Stories November. 1932 Source: ISFDB *An earlier version of this review appeared on another site which has since been confined to oblivion. The review has been updated and expanded for its inclusion in myLot.*