The entire idea behind the strange sky ships finds its foundation in H. G. Wells’ story, The First Men in the Moon. Wells’ idea was further improved upon by E. E. Smith in The Skylark of Space which was first published in the August 1928 issue of Amazing Stories.
This passage from The Secret in the Sky raises some interesting questions concerning the astounding sky-craft's abilities. Stunted removes a large suitcase-sized device from one of the strange sky vessels.
“This is the heart of the invention. Take that away and there ain't nobody can figure out how these balls work."
Stunted words were prophetic. As the story concludes, the operational power behind the mysterious ships remains unknown. Just exactly what was inside that box? Could it be an atomic accumulator like the one we later see in The World’s Fair Goblin?
Dent refers to Willard Kipring Parker Spanner as a Nobel Prize winner. He made have been influenced by the death of Marie Curie in 1934. Curie was the recipient of two Nobel Prizes.
May 8, 1935 – President Roosevelt creates the Works Progressive Administration (WPA).
May 18, 1935 – A Tupolev ANT-20 crashes during a test flight destroying several houses and killing 56 people.
May 19, 1935 -
Known to the world as “Lawrence of Arabia,” World War I hero T. E. Lawrence dies from
injuries he received in a motorcycle accident in
May 27, 1935 – The US Supreme Court rules against the United States. The National Recovery Act is found to be unconstitutional.
May 29, 1935 – The Messerschmitt Bf 109 conducts its first flight.
May 31, 1935 – A severe earthquake in Quetta, Pakistan kills 40,000 inhabitant.
