Literary Research

The Ice Creep - A Speculative Novel
(1902, Coldstream Books)

The Ice Creep is the first Chesley work to bear the subtitle: "A Speculative Novel" -- a trend that continued up to the 1917 publication of her Great War satire, Aantz! When one examines the correspondence between Chesley, her various publishers, and the repellent Quentin Farkmee (Secretary General of the Canadian Congress of Speculationists) the reason becomes amply clear:

November 12, 1900
St. Thomas, Ontario

Dear Miss Chesley,

Though Abdocramp Press was initially thrilled to publish your fanciful novel, "East of Eton" we were very disappointed with the public's reaction to the flagrant disregard shown to the upper classes in the story. Not only that, our readers were convinced that creatures called "brownshifties" actually existed. We had viewed the entire exercise as one of pure fun, but after responding to several hysterical telegrams, it is clear there is a darker nature to your prose.

Accordingly, we regret that we will be unable to publish "The Ice Creep" as it exhibits some of the same distressing qualities. Even if we were to clearly label the exercise as "speculative" we would feel morally bound to curtail its general distribution among the gullible public.

Yours truly,

B. Lester (Les) Gripping, III

July 23, 1901
Napanee, Ontario

Dear Miss Chesley,

One can tell instantly from the vapid nature of your prose that you are, in fact, a woman. Let me tell you from the outset that your "speculative" novels are extremely silly and not at all in the majestic style of such masters as HG Wells and his other manly colleagues. Indeed, though The Africaans of East Nissouri showed some merit, and was roundly enjoyed by many of our membership, I am loathe to offer you admission to our august society. Clearly, your weak female nature has hindered your ability to clearly speculate about the future. I can only imagine offering you membership if your novels were clearly labeled as "speculative", and the contents of such a book proved truly so.

In sincere abhorrence,
Quentin Farkmee
Secretary General
Canadian Congress of Speculationists

So in order to prevent further confusion and hysteria, and to thumb her nose at the odious Quentin Farkmee, Chesley instructed Coldstream Books (a publisher just north of London) to add "A Speculative Novel" to the title of "The Ice Creep".

And speculative the story is. Well ahead of her time as always, Chesley theorizes that increased coal smoke pollution brings on another Ice Age. (Anticipating mid-20th century climactic theory about nuclear winter by 50 years.) The plot follows the adventures of V. Ulva Lipzt, an Austrian adventuress caught in a web of intrigue surrounding the figure of the Pallid Man, who is using the sever change in the Earth's climate to gain control of the world. The Pallid Man is eerily similar to Quentin Farkmee in both corpulence and diction.

Ulva prevents the Pallid Man's takeover of the new, icy world, only through the help of a doughty band of later-day Vikings known in the story as Pounders. Their leader, Grossensven, is Ulva's love interest and eventual partner in defeating the Pallid Man.

--"Scholarship" by The Squire

(in)Complete Works Original Fiction & Poetry Novel Gallery Chesleyan Chestnuts		The Ice Creep - A Speculative Novel (1902, Coldstream Books) The Ice Creep is the first Chesley work to bear the subtitle: "A Speculative Novel" -- a trend that continued up to the 1917 publication of her Great War satire, Aantz! When one examines the correspondence between Chesley, her various publishers, and the repellent Quentin Farkmee (Secretary General of the Canadian Congress of Speculationists) the reason becomes amply clear: November 12, 1900 St. Thomas, Ontario Dear Miss Chesley, Though Abdocramp Press was initially thrilled to publish your fanciful novel, "East of Eton" we were very disappointed with the public's reaction to the flagrant disregard shown to the upper classes in the story. Not only that, our readers were convinced that creatures called "brownshifties" actually existed. We had viewed the entire exercise as one of pure fun, but after responding to several hysterical telegrams, it is clear there is a darker nature to your prose. Accordingly, we regret that we will be unable to publish "The Ice Creep" as it exhibits some of the same distressing qualities. Even if we were to clearly label the exercise as "speculative" we would feel morally bound to curtail its general distribution among the gullible public. Yours truly, B. Lester (Les) Gripping, III July 23, 1901 Napanee, Ontario Dear Miss Chesley, One can tell instantly from the vapid nature of your prose that you are, in fact, a woman. Let me tell you from the outset that your "speculative" novels are extremely silly and not at all in the majestic style of such masters as HG Wells and his other manly colleagues. Indeed, though The Africaans of East Nissouri showed some merit, and was roundly enjoyed by many of our membership, I am loathe to offer you admission to our august society. Clearly, your weak female nature has hindered your ability to clearly speculate about the future. I can only imagine offering you membership if your novels were clearly labeled as "speculative", and the contents of such a book proved truly so. In sincere abhorrence, Quentin Farkmee Secretary General Canadian Congress of Speculationists So in order to prevent further confusion and hysteria, and to thumb her nose at the odious Quentin Farkmee, Chesley instructed Coldstream Books (a publisher just north of London) to add "A Speculative Novel" to the title of "The Ice Creep". And speculative the story is. Well ahead of her time as always, Chesley theorizes that increased coal smoke pollution brings on another Ice Age. (Anticipating mid-20th century climactic theory about nuclear winter by 50 years.) The plot follows the adventures of V. Ulva Lipzt, an Austrian adventuress caught in a web of intrigue surrounding the figure of the Pallid Man, who is using the sever change in the Earth's climate to gain control of the world. The Pallid Man is eerily similar to Quentin Farkmee in both corpulence and diction. Ulva prevents the Pallid Man's takeover of the new, icy world, only through the help of a doughty band of later-day Vikings known in the story as Pounders. Their leader, Grossensven, is Ulva's love interest and eventual partner in defeating the Pallid Man. --"Scholarship" by The Squire