The Glass Mountain
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Glass Mountain is also a play by Tor Age Bringsvaerd, a short story by Donald Barthelme, a 1991 novel by Cynthia Voigt, and a 1949 film The Glass Mountain
"The Glass Mountain" is the 6th pulp magazine story to feature The Avenger. Written by Paul Ernst, it was published in the February 1, 1940 issue of "The Avenger” magazine.
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[edit] Publishing history
This novel was re-published under its original title by Paperback Library on January 1, 1973.
[edit] Summary
An Idaho railroad project tunnels through Mount Rainod (a black basalt "Glass Mountain"). A green mist column appears electrocuting men. An elderly Pawnee scares workers with tales of a rain god in the mountain. Benson is asked to investigate and get the project back on track. Josh, prominent in the action, acts as camp cook and is remarkably heroic throughout. Rrevived by Benson after being electrocuted, Josh is left realistically thoughtful; he describes death as like being unconscious. Mac, also shocked, is saved by heavy rubber soles. The villain impersonates Benson and commits murder. Tampering with project surveys occurs. Nellie Gray's rather minor role imperils her more than usual. Both Benson and one of the gang pose as the elderly Pawnee -- at one point the story has three old Indians. The villain learned that the mountain is hollow; he can build tunnel at a fraction of the projected cost, pocketing the difference. The tunnel is flooded deliberately from an underground stream to stop work and kill Benson and his team; typically, this planned death trap destroys the criminals.
[edit] Notes
- Benson, is described as both "not primarily an engineer" and also as "the world's greatest engineer." In his youth, he "had done several jobs for the French Railway in North Africa."
- Benson reads lips, and can escape from rope ties by compressing his hands.
- Gunfire and poison gas are said to be the "commonest forms of attack" used against Benson.
- Benson carries letters of introduction from the governor of New York, J. Edgar Hoover, and president Roosevelt.
- In his self-imposed psychic isolation, Benson responds coldly to sympathy from an old friend; while not reckless, he does not fear death, since it will re-unite him with his wife and daughter.
