Physics in Carnacki's investigations

TL;DR

The paper analyzes Carnacki's stories to explore how early 20th-century physics and technology are depicted within a supernatural investigation context, reflecting societal scientific knowledge of that era.

Contribution

It highlights the integration of scientific concepts like physics and technology into supernatural fiction, illustrating societal understanding of science during the early 1900s.

Findings

Carnacki uses technology and discusses physics phenomena like X-rays.

Stories reflect early 20th-century scientific knowledge.

Fiction mirrors societal perceptions of science at the time.

Abstract

In the stories of Carnacki, created by the English writer William H. Hodgson and written between 1910 and 1912, we find an interesting mixture of science and fantasy. In spite of the fact that Carnacki is a ghost finder, who investigates in an environment where supernatural is acting, we see the character using technology and sometimes discussing of physics phenomena such as X-rays. The Carnacki's stories can be seen as mirrors of the physics and technology knowledge at the beginning of Twentieth Century, in the society outside scientific circles.