My Shipmate—Columbus

"My Shipmate—Columbus" by Stephen Marlowe is a science fiction novel likely written in the mid-20th century. The book explores the theme of time travel through the eyes of a modern college student, Danny Jones, who gets the chance to experience the historical era of Christopher Columbus firsthand. The story blends elements of adventure and reflection on the nature of history and belief. In this engaging tale, Danny Jones, a college sophomore, inherits a mysterious trunk from his eccentric grand-uncle, who claimed it was a time machine fueled by faith and imagination. After using the trunk, Danny awakens in 1492, embodying Martin Pinzon, a historical figure associated with Columbus's fateful voyage. As he navigates through the tumultuous dynamics of the voyage, Danny confronts the drunkenness and doubts of Columbus, ultimately inspiring him to embark on his journey westward. Interwoven with themes of belief, skepticism, and the rewriting of history, Danny's adventure not only changes his understanding of Columbus but also reinforces the significance of faith in one's convictions, leaving readers with a compelling interpretation of a pivotal historical event. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Stephen Marlowe was an American author of science fiction, mystery novels, and fictional autobiographies of Goya, Christopher Columbus, Miguel de Cervantes, and Edgar Allan Poe. He is best known for his detective character Chester Drum, whom he created for the 1955 novel The Second Longest Night. Lesser also wrote using the pseudonyms Adam Chase, Andrew Frazer, C.H. Thames, Jason Ridgway, Stephen Wilder, and Ellery Queen.