Ray Cummings
Ray Cummings (1887-1957) was an American author, one of the founding writers of American science fiction and a prolific contributor to the pulp magazines of the early 20th century. A pioneer of the genre, he helped establish many of its early conventions of adventure among the stars, through time, and across scales of size.
Cummings is best known for imaginative 'scientific romances' such as The Girl in the Golden Atom, which imagined a world existing within a single atom, and tales of time travel and interplanetary adventure like The Man Who Mastered Time and Beyond the Vanishing Point. He wrote at a furious pace, producing hundreds of stories.
Having worked early in his career as an assistant to the inventor Thomas Edison, Cummings brought a fascination with science and technology to his fast-moving pulp adventures.
Our editions present his stories clearly. Read the opening free, and read or listen with a membership.
Ray Cummings in the library · 2 works
Beyond the Vanishing Point
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Audiobooks by Ray Cummings
Every Ray Cummings title in the library is also a complete, professionally produced audiobook — 2 audiobooks in total. Members listen free on any device. Browse the audiobook library →
Frequently asked questions about Ray Cummings
What did Ray Cummings write?
Cummings wrote early science fiction and pulp adventure, producing hundreds of stories. He is best known for The Girl in the Golden Atom, The Man Who Mastered Time, and Beyond the Vanishing Point, tales of miniature worlds, time travel, and interplanetary adventure. He was one of the pioneers of American science fiction.
Which Ray Cummings works are available here?
The library offers his early works Beyond the Vanishing Point and The Man Who Mastered Time, examples of his imaginative 'scientific romances' of shrinking worlds and time travel. These are among the pulp-era stories that established his reputation.
What is Beyond the Vanishing Point about?
Beyond the Vanishing Point is a science-fantasy adventure built on the idea of shrinking to worlds within worlds — journeying into ever-smaller scales of reality, down toward the atomic level, where whole civilisations exist. It's a fast-paced example of the 'miniature world' concept Cummings helped popularise. It captures the sense of wonder of early science fiction.
Where should I start with Ray Cummings?
Beyond the Vanishing Point and The Man Who Mastered Time are both brisk, imaginative early science-fiction adventures, and either makes a fine starting point. They're quick, entertaining reads full of the wonder of the pulp era. Begin with whichever premise appeals.
Why is Ray Cummings important?
Cummings was one of the founding writers of American science fiction, helping to shape the genre in its earliest decades with imaginative concepts like worlds within atoms and time travel. His prolific pulp output entertained and influenced early readers and writers. He is remembered as a pioneer of the field.
When did Ray Cummings live?
Cummings lived from 1887 to 1957. He began publishing science fiction around 1919 with The Girl in the Golden Atom and wrote prolifically for the pulp magazines for decades. He had earlier worked as an assistant to the inventor Thomas Edison.
Where can I read Ray Cummings for free?
Cummings's early works are in the public domain and freely available. Older editions keep the original text. Here you can read the opening free in clear modern English, and read or listen with a membership.
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