The Germ Growers: The Strange Adventures of Robert Easterley and John Wilbraham is an 1892 science fiction novel by the Irish/Australian author Robert Potter.[3]
 | |
| Author | Robert Potter |
|---|---|
| Illustrator | William Hatherell |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Science fiction |
| Publisher | Melville, Mullen and Slade (AU) [1] Hutchinson & Co (UK) [1] |
| Publication date | August, 1892 [2] |
| Publication place | Australia |
| Media type | |
| Pages | 274 pp. |
| Text | The Germ Growers: The Strange Adventures of Robert Easterley and John Wilbraham at Wikisource |
It was originally published as being written by "Robert Easterley and John Wilbraham", but these are pseudonyms of the actual author, Robert Potter.[4]
Synopsis
editWhile exploring the remote country of north-western Australia, Robert Easterley and John Wilbraham discover a settlement populated by human-like creatures who possess advanced scientific knowledge and technology, being able to create airships with a built-in cloaking device. In reality, these human-like creatures are shape-shifting aliens. Their chief occupation is the cultivation of malignant germs that they carry to various parts of the Earth. These germs infect the human population with diseases such as smallpox and cholera in order to wipe out humanity and colonize the planet. These aliens are led by Signor Niccolo Davell. The two men are captured by the creatures and must find some way to make their escape and save the world before it's too late. [5][6]
Publication
editThe novel was first published in Australia by Melville, Mullen and Slade. Sometime in early August 1892.[2] The exact date is unknown. Later in the same year or simultaneously, it was published in Britain by Hutchinson & Co. The UK publication is notable because it was the only edition to have illustrations, specifically four drawn by W. Hatherell.[7][8]
Critical reception
editAt the time of the book's release, a reviewer in The Australian newspaper made much of the book's "Christian" themes labelling this "a new version of...the fall of man, and the redemption." They concluded "that The Germ Growers is written in a clear and flowing style, and that merely as a book of adventure and incident it can be read with pleasure, even by those who may not feel much interest in the writer's theories or in the theological questions discussed in its pages."[9]
The reviewer in Table Talk also saw the major religious overtones of the plot: "The motif of his book is the suggestion of a theory whereby all the evil of the world may be accounted for by the working of semi-invisible agents, who, in secluded and inaccessible portions of the globe work out their nefarious designs. Through a knowledge of hidden laws of nature these evil genii are able to disappear at will, and to render the machinery wherewith they scatter poison germs or catch up evil-minded persons suitable to act as their underlings invisible save for a mysterious shadow."[10]
Legacy
editThe novel is probably the earliest known alien invasion story,[7] predating H.G. Wells' The War of the Worlds by 6 years. It also predates Kurd Lasswitz’s Two Planets by 5 years. But the book has largely fallen into obscurity, overshadowed by The War of the Worlds.[citation needed]
It is also the earliest known example of the theme of Alien infiltration which was later popularized by later stories such as Invasion of the Body Snatchers.[citation needed]
It is unknown whether H.G Wells was inspired by this novel or not. In 1894[11], he published the short story "The Stolen Bacillus" which also deals with the topic of bioterrorism.[12]
See also
edit- 1892 in Australian literature
- extraterrestrial
- Alien Invasion
- Biological warfare in popular culture
- Two Planets - The 2nd oldest known alien invasion story
- The War of the Worlds – The 3rd oldest known alien invasion story
References
edit- 1 2 Potter, Robert. "The Germ Growers: An Australian story of adventure and mystery". gutenberg.org.
- 1 2 "A CLERICAL NOVELIST. - LONDON, August 3. - The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1889 - 1931) - 4 Aug 1892".
- ↑ "The Germ Growers by Robert Potter". National Library of Australia. Retrieved 9 November 2025.
- ↑ "Austlit — The Germ Growers by Robert Potter". Austlit. Retrieved 9 November 2025.
- ↑ ""Ancient Science Fiction: The Germ Growers (1892)"". Balladeer's Blog. 17 September 2024. Retrieved 4 December 2025.
- ↑ ""The Germ Growers : The Strange Adventures of Robert Easterley and John Wilbraham"". L. W. Currey, Inc. Retrieved 4 December 2025.
- 1 2 ""THE GERM GROWERS: THE STRANGE ADVENTURES OF ROBERT EASTERLEY AND JOHN WILBRAHAM. Edited by [i.e. Written by] Robert Potter, M.A., Canon of St. Paul's, Melbourne"". John W. Knott, Jr Booksellers. Retrieved 15 June 2026.
- ↑ ""Potter, Robert. THE GERM GROWERS: THE STRANGE ADVENTURES OF ROBERT EASTERLEY AND JOHN WILBRAHAM. Edited by [i.e. Written by] Robert Potter, M.A., Canon of St. Paul's, Melbourne"". L. W. Currey, Inc. Retrieved 15 June 2026.
- ↑ ""The Germ Growers"". Australasian. The Australasian, 19 November 1892, p1017. 1892. p. 45. Retrieved 9 November 2025.
- ↑ ""The Germ Growers"". Table Talk. Table Talk, 16 December 1892, p5. 1892. p. 5. Retrieved 9 November 2025.
- ↑ ""The Stiolen bacillus by H. G. Wells"". American Literature. Retrieved 15 June 2026.
- ↑ ""Previous fictional works on bioterrorism"". Taylor and Francis Online. doi:10.1080/23311983.2016.1224538. Retrieved 4 December 2025.