This story, a classic piece of science fiction, was among the first to examine the atomic universe. In the novel The Girl in the Golden Atom, a teenage scientist discovers a secret atomic universe inside his mother's wedding band. He uses a microscope to reveal a stunning young woman seated in front of a cave inside the ring. She has him spellbound, and he shrinks to fit into her world. Ray Cummings (1887-1957), who worked for Thomas Alva Edison, was fascinated by the potential of science and started writing science fiction. When The Girl in the Golden Atom was published in 1923, it was a huge success, and Cummings went on to create the equally popular follow-up novel The People of the Golden Atom. This Bison Books version includes both books as well as a fresh introduction written by Jack Williamson.
