From the other end of the universe, Mark Funke Bookseller offers the Donald A. Wollheim Collection of International Science Fiction. It turns out that weird science, space aliens, strange creatures, and robots are not limited to America. They haunt the rest of the world, even some of the farthest out places. Most of these books are in languages other than English. For some, that is how they were written. Others are translations. Most of the others are translations of American books written in English, though there are still others as well. Science fiction writing is more common in America than elsewhere, explaining so many translations, but as the genre has spread, so have the writers. "Science fiction" sounds like a combination of two incompatible opposites, but the result is a blend that makes for fascinating reading, and wonderment about what is out there in the great unknown.

 

Donald A. Wollheim was a publisher and a writer, though he did not consider his writing very good. Mostly, he was one of the greatest science fiction collectors and an editor par excellence. He could find and evaluate science fiction writing and put it into editions and collections that brought the best to the field's fans. He also published several fanzines that kept science fiction followers up on developments in their field. He organized meetings, conventions and clubs. He was the real thing in a field that celebrates the unreal. Here are a few items from his international collection.

 

We begin with a science fiction book from over a century ago which touches on an issue that has become a major point of controversy today. I don't think transgender issues were a big deal when this book was published in 1923, but this is 2026 and for some reason, they are now. The book is L'Androgyne. Les Fantasies du Professeur Tornada. Professor Tornada's achievement was to turn a man into a woman. As Funke explains, "It is the first instance of transgender science fiction to describe gender reassignment surgery." I don't know whether she was allowed to play women's sports, but that probably wasn't broached in this book. In this case, the protagonist did not want the surgery, but eventually it was reversed. Funke says the subject is described in a "comedic tone." Author André Couveur was a medical doctor who used that experience in his seven mad scientist novels. Item 20. Priced at $500.

 

Edgar Rice Burroughs is so closely associated with Tarzan it's easy not to know he was a science fiction writer. He was writing Martian tales contemporaneously with those about the King of the Jungle. Both were very popular with an audience of young males, but ultimately it was the more primitive Tarzan character that became his lasting creation. One of the science fiction titles was Princess of Mars. Here it is in the Esperanto edition, Princino de Marso, published in 1938. Esperanto is the most successful invented language. The idea was to create a language that would be easy to understand that could be learned by those whose primary tongues were many different languages. They would all be able to speak to each other in this common language. Esperanto is recognized today as an auxiliary language in many places, and has its users, but it never achieved the level of use needed to be a true international language that enabled all people around the world to speak to each other. Item 12. $350.

 

L. Ron Hubbard is known for scientology, maybe a religion, maybe something else, that has its devoted followers and serious critics who see it as a fraud. I don't have the familiarity with it to render a judgment, though it sure has the feel of a cult. However, that is not Hubbard's first or sole claim to fame (or wealth), though it is now the major one. Hubbard started out as a writer, and he wrote much in the way of science fiction. In 1984, his organization put out a promotional piece about Hubbard, titled The Current Scene. Volume 1. 1983-1984. It begins with the statement, "Few men alive today have as many brilliant achievements - or as many friends - as L. Ron Hubbard - author, musician, philosopher, research pioneer, educator, photographer, cinematographer, navigator, explorer and humanitarian." Funke notes, "this is the first sentence of the first page and the sucking-up and flattery just gets better from there!" Item 35. $60.

 

This is one of the more bizarre stories, one you will have no trouble recognizing as fiction. Funke describes it as fantasy, but also political satire. Author Manuel Estrada certainly did not like its subject. Published in 1943, the title is Hitler en la Luna (Hitler on the moon). Funke explains the plot, "Hitler, surrounded by advisors (astrologers, meteorologists, radio operators), becomes convinced that the Aryan race's origins are on the moon and sets out to conquer it in the name of Nazi Germany." Item 25. $500.

 

You may like Josef Nesvadba's tale of scientists trying to create a super intelligent brain by taking the best of three deceased individuals' brains. The title is Einstein's Brian. But, you can't fully appreciate this book until you have read it in Latvian. Here is your chance - Einsteina Smadzenes, published in 1968. Item 49. $250.

 

Here are a few more unexpected translations. Item 68 is Robert Louis Stevenson's Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde in Hindi. Item 68. $250. You can also find Jules Verne's Mysterious Island in Bangla. Item 72. $250. If a book is good enough, there's no telling what languages it will show up in.

 

Mark Funke Bookseller may be reached at 206-632-1535 or mark@funkebooks.com. Their website is found at funkebooks.com