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Title of Story
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The Drum Beat. A Story of the German Menace in Australia.
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Story Summary
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Set in 1918, initially a love story, and a little spyfi with the Germans living in the town, introducing the main science fiction invention, an aeroplane that is silent and can rise to quite a height without the occupants feeling cold-with one of the Germans very interested in it. The story is quite slow and ponderous with many repeated situations and diversions before Germans launch their attacks on Sydney in August 1918 (after over twenty chapters of character development and aeroplane adventures). One of the highlights is that Gillian is a female pilot and fights against the Germans with her aeroplane. Eventually the Australians win against the Germans but at a high cost, with many an important character dead.
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Science Fiction Subgenres
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Invention Opera
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Future War
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Inventions
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Silent Aeroplane that can rise to 20,000 feet and not freeze the passengers. Also made of a material that can't be seen in the sky.
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Date Details Added to IA
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July 2024
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Historical Context
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The news of The Great War had been driving people down in Australia for too long and no one knew how long it would go on for. It's possible this was requested of Hudson, perhaps with editorial help, to boost morale (and send a message) that if invaders made it to Australia we could fight them off. However, with war being a constant in the newspaper it is doubtful this story would allay the strong anxieties that flooded the nation at the time. It wasn't until war ended in November 1918 (in some places a few years later) that Australians began to relax, leading to the roaring twenties.
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Additional Information
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Her first short story was probably The Black Hound in The Blue Mountain Echo in 1910
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/107958447
The Drum Beat seems out of character for much of her writing which more often than not took on spiritual themes, and featured ghosts, until the final chapter!
Note that in 1921 in The Sydney Stock and Station Journal, Helen Hudson is listed as the author of "The Red Road' and "Flame[s] in the Wind," under her new short ghost story "The Painted Face."
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/123979578
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The Drum Beat was advertised almost daily for two weeks before launch. Example below:
Advertisement in the 1917-07-27 Daily Post.
THE DRUM BEAT.
A story of the German menace in
Australia.
A new serial in the
"WORLD'S NEWS"
It is a thrilling and dramatic tale of what might happen to Australia at any time - if the British Fleet were temporarily out of action. It shows, too, the intrigues of the Germans, even the naturalised one, within our midst. Altogether a rousing and
CONVINCING STORY,
with a gripping interest throughout. There is a wonderful aeroplane and a giant airship. Every word well worth while.
THE DRUM BEAT
Will Begin Publication in the
"WORLD'S NEWS"
THIS WEEK. All Agents. ONE PENNY.
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/191319441
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Attributed Author
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Helen Hudson
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Author Gender
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Female
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/130591538
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Nationality
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Australian
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/130591538
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Single or Serialised
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Serialised
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First Published Date of Last Installment
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1917-10-27
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Year For Sorting
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1917
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Date Range
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1917-07-28-1917-10-27
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Number of Installments
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35 Chapters
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Length
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Novel
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Newspaper Name Location Years
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The World's News Sydney, NSW, 1901-1955
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Location Town City
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Sydney
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Location State Territory
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New South Wales
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Provincial or Metro
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Metropolitan
