Konstantin Eduardovich Tsiolkovsky did real-life work crucial to space-flight and is one of the neglected pioneers of Science Fiction. Balladeer’s Blog takes a look at a few of his works.
DREAMS OF EARTH AND SKY (1895) – The opening section of this piece presents the well-worn Hollow Earth with an interior sun storyline. The real treasure is found in the “Dreams of the Sky” portion.
An asteroid in the Asteroid Belt between Mars and Jupiter is so large that today it would be called a Dwarf Planet like Ceres. The planetoid is inhabited by ambulatory plant-like humanoids who have wings instead of arms and who live in small versions of greenhouses.
These flying plant-people from the Asteroid Belt obtain nourishment through chlorophyll and solar radiation. They also have advanced technology like the harnessing of dismantled asteroids into rings, resulting in lower gravity for manufacturing work.
The beings have even created “space-trains” capable of taking them on interstellar journeys.
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OUT OF THE EARTH (1920) – Set in the year 2017 A.D. this tale features what readers are told is the first manned flight to the moon, some 48 years AFTER it happened in real life.
An international team of tycoons and scientific adventurers are planning to explore the universe, with the moon an obvious first step. Continue reading
FEBRUARY 1st – At Drake’s Farm near Metuchen, New Jersey. In reaction to British losses throughout January as part of what some have called the Forage War, British General William Erskine sought to lure American forces into a trap. 
AUGUST 1919 RETURN – From January of 1910 to July of 1917, James Larkin Pearson’s monthly Fool-Killer had been published, with his revival of the violent folk figure doing his ages-old job of bashing political and societal fools. In April 1917 America entered World War One and by July Pearson felt that a unified front for wartime was appropriate. 
In August of 1919, nine months after the end of the war, Pearson changed the name back to The Fool-Killer and resumed the hard-hitting political satire. That month’s targeted fools included: 
LEADSLINGERS BLACK FLAG RUM – This is a terrific spiced rum that I find much better than Captain Morgan and other brands. It’s only 80 proof, so for Balladeer’s Blog regulars who prefer stronger rums read below. 
THE SWAMP FOX (1959-1961) – With the 4th of July fast approaching, it’s past time for a seasonal post. The Swamp Fox is a piece of Forgotten Television that ran sporadically on Walt Disney’s programs. Eight episodes were produced over two years with Leslie Nielsen in the lead role and each one filled a 1-hour time slot. 
Marion and his men knew the South Carolina swamplands like the proverbial backs of their hands and could strike the British then disappear deep into the swamps, foiling any pursuit. Obviously, as a television production The Swamp Fox featured a very romanticized version of Marion and his escapades.
TELEVISION SPY (1939) – I’ve been reminiscing recently, what with Balladeer’s Blog’s 14th Anniversary just having passed a few days ago. I was reflecting on my long-ago review of the hilariously bad 1935 movie Murder by Television, which starred Bela Lugosi in a dual role. 
FEVER DREAM – From State Farm Arena in Georgia came this game between the INDIANA FEVER (7-10) and their hosts the ATLANTA DREAM (6-8). 
BATTLE IN SIN CITY – The LAS VEGAS ACES (8-6) welcomed the CONNECTICUT SUN (13-2) to Michelob Ultra Arena. 
This weekend’s escapist, light-hearted superhero post from Balladeer’s Blog will look at some of the stories Marvel Comics created around the licensed I.P. of Micronauts toys. 
BARON KARZA – The evil, black-armored Baron Karza was a very impressive villain, despite being one of the most blatant Darth Vader ripoffs this side of Japan’s Swords of the Space Ark movies.
SPACE GLIDER ARCTURUS RANN – The leader of the Micronauts. Rann was the very first Micronaut (the Microverse’s version of Astronauts), who was placed in suspended animation and sent out in a spaceship called The Endeavor on a 1,000-year mission of exploration throughout the Microverse. 
FORGOTTEN TELEVISION – Burt Reynolds and Darren McGavin’s western series 
SILENT MOVIES – Since last year I reviewed: 
QUALITY MOVIES – 
PART FIVE – Horn recounted an incredible event he attended in Angola, which was not yet the name of the country, just a populated region. He and his subordinate Trade Agents were guests at a conjo – a performance of traveling entertainers called the Akowas.
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