S. P. Meek (1894–1972)

Decent bit of pulp. He started from the Bible quote about "there were giants on the Earth in those days", which also mentions Nephilim - and turned it into subjugation of the inhabitants of Earth by giant humanoids from Jupiter. They're close enough that there are children born from crosses between the Jovians (who call themselves the Sons of God) and humans - those half-breeds are the Nephilim. The story is that of one Nephilim turning from his father's people to support his mother's people show more in revolt against the harsh control exerted over them. He turns because the Jovian ruler tries to seize the human woman he's planning to marry (her idea, too - her father is less enthusiastic, but has agreed). Spaceships steered by watching the stars, a very non-humanoid race on Mars and another, I have no idea what type, on Venus. Superweapons that turn out to be a little too powerful for how they have to use them - and all evidence of the Jovian invasion is destroyed. They'll build a new world - and there will be only faint memories of giants on the Earth remaining...Cute. I doubt I'll reread. show less

Charming enough story about a plucky little cocker spaniel. Rusty was the runt of his litter. He's bought from a pet shop by a young woman whose fiancée owns kennels of show dogs-. So the man Allen disparages the puppy Ruth chooses, but she loves him at first sight and refuses to accept that he's a worthless dog. Rusty soon shows himself a quick learner and brave as well. Among his exploits he learns to not steal cake or pie off the kitchen table, retrieves the morning newspaper (including show more that of all the neighbors nearby, in a very funny episode), dives into heavy surf after a ball when larger dogs fail to retrieve it (and needs to get rescued), saves a baby from a burning building, guides adults to another child lost and injured in the forest, survives being mauled by a rabid dog, gets lost and finds his way home again travelling miles. Some of the events in the story were so dramatic and unlikely I was rolling my eyes... The little dog is very smart, and performs many heroic deeds in service of his mistress. Thankfully he wasn't too perfect- when he's entered into a local dog show, he gets placed at the very bottom for his poor physical form. But Ruth is determined to prove -most of all to her fiancée- what a great dog he is, so she secretly has him trained and enters him into field trials. The last part of the book was better- I liked reading about when the dog got lost (that chapter is from Rusty's viewpoint) and after that it tells about the field trials so I learned how spaniels are trained to find and retrieve birds . . .

What I really didn't like was the people. Not just the trainer's outdated methods, a lot of attitudes in this book really show their age- especially that of Allen towards Ruth! He was often making fun of her for "being brainless" although he loved her and expressed admiration when she did something clever. At one point in the story, when the child went missing in the forest and a fire was approaching, one woman started screaming in fright. The other man advised his companion to slap her repeatedly in the face to snap her out of it. Dogs are beaten to teach them, and women are told they would just be in the way in a crisis, to stay home and keep the coffee hot. Bah.

However the dog is cute, very bold, and proves to everyone that he's smart and full of moxie (not a word from the thirties!) I was really impatient and annoying with certain parts of this story, but found myself enjoying it closer to the end, especially the description of the dog's performance in the field trials. I think for most though, it would only appeal if you are nostalgic from having read it in your childhood.

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The President of America is going bonkers. Is this a natural phenomenon or could something be afoot!?
This was a fairly nondescript short story from the 1930's, but it had good pacing and interesting, though implausible ideas. And the inclusion of an element of the mystery genre gave it some extra depth.

Colonel S.P. Meek has written some great classic fiction books of which I have only read 'Rusty, A Cocker Spaniel'. I am still on the lookout of other books of his like 'FRANZ, A DOG OF THE POLICE,' 'Dignity: A Springer Spaniel' and 'Hans a dog of the border patrol.' I couldn't find one of those books at a lower price so saw this book and thought it might have some interesting bits in it. Unfortunately no, while written in a folksy way, it only has the typical (miss) information of the day. show more Some things from a mild historical viewpoint, like talking about the new Laidlaw-Dunkin treatment distemper shot where only 1 in 200 die from the vaccine is still better than no injection.

I did note some passages to share I think that will be of interest for the feel of the book and his thoughts at the time. First he only advises pedigreed dogs:
"While a pup with full registry papers will cost a few dollars more initially, those dollars spread over the life of the dog are not much per year. In point of cold fact, as a general thing a pure-bred pup is healthier and will live longer and the final cost of such a pup is less than that incurred in trying to raise a nondescript pup you got for nothing, or for a nominal amount."

He discusses details on different classes of dogs, including the ones for hunting, but in the end says:
"so, after all, you have to make your own choice, but there is one comforting thought. No matter which breed you choose, after you've had the puppy a month, you'll be thoroughly convinced that you made the only possible choice and you'll be ready to fight at the drop of a hat with anyone who presumes to suggest that the dogs of your particular breed aren't absolutely the finest dogs alive. Dogs are like that."

He discusses advantages of dogs over bitches that includes this warning:
"One word of caution. If you decide on a bitch puppy, keep her as a female and don't have her spayed. At the best, a spayed bitch soon becomes fat, shapeless and lazy. At the worst, she acquires a bad disposition and sometimes gets an antipathy to children which makes it unsafe to trust them to her care."

When housetraining, if the dog has an accident, "... hold is nose an inch or two from the soiled place and speak to him harshly and reprovingly. It is neither necessary nor advisable to slap him. After scolding, take him to the place you wish him to use."

If the puppy soils his bed, "he can be broken of the habit by putting his feeding pan on the soiled bed and making him eat there."

"In very stubborn cases, it may be necessary to use more drastic punishment than a scolding. If so, don't use a whip or your hand. Roll up a newspaper loosely and spank him with that. It is impossible to hit a puppy hard enough with a loosely rolled newspaper to injure him, but it makes a racket, scares the puppy, and is very effective. He'll howl as if he was being brutally beaten."

The book goes on with the typical forced training. Talks of how to construct and maintain kennels. Gives overall good advice on watching for health issues and maintenance, but not up to current standards and nothing else of too great of interest.

The book finishes with a story of when he was six and came bawling into my father's office with a bitten arm from his English setter bitch, looking very mournful and trying to lick away my flowing tears. His father comforts him, cleaned his arm, then asked him what he had been doing to the Gyp. When he told his father he had been holding her and poling his finger into her eye, "He took me over his knee and administered the indicated punishment, although the bitch protested vigorously and tried to crowd in between us so that she would receive the spanks intended for me." Then his father asked him if he has learned his lesson and says "... and remember son, no dog will ever bite you unless he has a mighty good reason to do it." And the last line in the book, 'I've never forgotten that lesson and, both for your children's sake and for your dog's sake, I hope you remember it too.' show less