THE TRIPEDS (1932)

SOURCES: "The Return of the Tripeds" (Amazing Stories, May 1932)

DESCRIPTION: “...A hideous monster on two stilt-like legs was carrying off the body of a Triped. Others of the tall creatures were approaching from out of the distance in long strides. The long legs were surmounted by grotesque fuzzy bodies all out of proportion to the long, thin legs which upheld them. The body resembled a spider's except that it had no visible head. Indeed, the machine man could see no eyes--only two waving antennae which sprang upward from the fuzzy, round body. Two long claws situated midway between the walking appendages clutched the senseless, perhaps dead, Triped in a firm embrace.” ("The Return of the Tripeds" by Neil R. Jones)

NOTES: The Stilt-Walkers are fuzzy creatures, resembling hairy, headless spiders, who are either servants or allies to the Emkls. The stilts they use for travelling are not part of their bodies but devices, denoting their intelligence. Existing in a dimension that crosses that of the planet Trulfk, the Tripeds and Professor Jameson encounter the Stilt-Walkers as soon as they crossed into the blue world dimension. The Stilt-Walkers would have captured the Tripeds except for Jameson's interference. Later the Tripeds bomb the Emkls' city, killing many of the Stilt-walkers as well with poison gas bombs.

HISTORY: The Stilt-Walkers are a fun addition to the story. Their stilts make them something more than your run-of-mill alien dogs.