Those with an interest in the history of American science will recognize the name of John Hays Hammond, Jr. immediately. Hammond was one of the greatest American inventors and has often been called the “Father of Radio Control”. Interestingly, beside being a scientist of note, Hammond also tried his hand at writing short fiction. Echoes from the Castle Walls is a collection of his work; contained in this slim volume are eight short stories and two non-fiction pieces. Hammond’s style is decidedly pulp-inspired: the stories range from science fiction to adventures of exploration to Weird Tales-esque terrors. As a writer, Hammond was a true amateur. While he may not have had a genius for storytelling in the same way he had a genius for inventing, his stories do show a passion and appreciation for the genre; it is clear that he wrote not because he had to, but because he enjoyed it. (However, it should be noted that it is unclear how much influence the editor of this collection, John Dandola, has had over the final shape of the stories presented here.) Though these stories may not be literary masterworks, they are certainly worth reading, especially if you wish to glimpse another side of one of the great American thinkers.

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