The Cosmic Geoids and One Other is a collection of two science fiction

Science fiction

Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...

 novellas by author John Taine (pseudonym of Eric Temple Bell). It was first published in 1949

1949 in literature

The year 1949 in literature involved some significant events and new books.-Events:*Arthur C. Clarke becomes Assistant Editor of Science Abstracts.*Bertrand Russell receives the Order of Merit....

 by Fantasy Publishing Company, Inc.

Fantasy Publishing Company, Inc.

Fantasy Publishing Company, Inc., or FPCI, was a science fiction and fantasy small press specialty publishing company established in 1946. It was the fourth small press company founded by William L...

 in an edition of 1,200 copies. The title novella is a loose sequel to Taine's novel, The Time Stream

The Time Stream

The Time Stream is a science fiction novel by author John Taine . The novel was originally serialized in four parts in the magazine Wonder Stories beginning in December 1931. It was first published in book form in 1946 by The Buffalo Book Company in an edition of 2,000 copies of which only 500 were...

, and was later serialized in the magazine Spaceway, in three parts beginning in December 1954. The other novella, "Black Goldfish", was first serialized in the magazine Fantasy Book, in two parts beginning in 1948.

Reception

Reviewing the volume in Astounding, Forrest J Ackerman

Forrest J Ackerman

Forrest J Ackerman was an American collector of science fiction books and movie memorabilia and a science fiction fan...

 found the two stories wildly disparate: the title piece was "truly Stapledonian

Olaf Stapledon

William Olaf Stapledon was a British philosopher and author of several influential works of science fiction.-Life:...

, but "Black Goldfish" was "the weakest thing Taine has ever done."