W. W. Cook

writer
Novel

A Round Trip to the Year 2000; or a Flight through Time

  • by W. W. Cook
  • serialized in Argosy, July to October 1903
Pursued by Detective Klinch, Everson Lumley takes up Dr. Alonzo Kelpie’s offer to whisk him off to the year 2000 (in his time-coupé) where Lumley first observes various scientific marvels and then realizes that Klinch is still chasing him through time and into more adventures. All that, and there’s also a 1913 sequel!

William Wallace Cook’s larger claim to fame might be his 1928 aid to writers of all ilk: Plotto: The Master Book of All (1,462) Plots. —Michael Main
Although your enemy is within a dozen feet of you, Lumley, he will soon be a whole century behind, and you will be safe.
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  • Eloi Honorable Mention
  • Science Fiction
  • Definite Time Travel
Novel

Marooned in 1492, or Under Fortune’s Flag

  • by W. W. Cook
  • serialized in Argosy, August to December 1905
Two adventurers, Trenwyck and Blinkers, answer a strange ad and eventually find themselves stranded in 1492 without enough of the time-travel corn for the entire party to return, so they send Columbus into the future to procure more of the precious kernels.

Fantasy or science fiction? Nothing particularly scientific about the time travel method, but the presentation of the want ad for a party of courageous men convinced us to tag Cook’s yarn as both sf and fantasy. —Michael Main
Wanted—A party of courageous men, experts in the various trades, to accompany a philanthropic gentleman on a mission of enlightenment to the Middle Ages. Single men only. References exchanged. An opportunity offers to construct anew the history of several benighted nations. If interested, call or write. Percival Tapscott, No. 198 Forty-Third Street.
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  • Science Fiction
  • Fantasy
  • Definite Time Travel
Novel

Castaways of the Year 2000

  • by W. W. Cook
  • serialized in Argosy, October 1912 to February 1913
In this sequel to 1903’s A Round Trip to the Year 2000; or a Flight Through Time, Lumley has returned to his own time and is held responsible for Kelpie’s disappearance at which point he returns to the future and adventures ensue.

I wish that today’s story magazines sported such alluring artwork. Not only that, but in October of 1912, for just 30¢ you could have bought this issue of The Argosy as well as the first-ever story of Tarzan of the Apes in Argosy’s sister magazine, The All-Story. And today, instead, we get endless reality TV, including Castaway 2000.

Put me out of my misery if I ever start sounding curmudgeonly. —Michael Main
Dr. Alonzo Kelpie, author of “Time and Space and Their Limitations,” was a hunchback. Although a small man physically, intellectually he was a giant. To have him emerge thus unexpectedly through the dissolving mists of their environment was a seven-day wonder to Lumley, Kinch, McWilliams, Mortimer, and Ripley.
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  • Science Fiction
  • Definite Time Travel