Life — December 27, 1917 — page 39: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This is a book advertisement, not a political cartoon. It promotes a science fiction novel by John Ames Mitchell, editor of *Life* magazine, published by Stokes. The advertisement emphasizes the book's themes: "Humor—Romance—Adventure—Conquest" and promises "a continuous liquid fire of pure entertainment." The tagline claims the story depicts "the future mechanical and spiritual triumph of man," with the cryptic subtitle "The forces of gravity shall as easily be controlled as distance, sound and light"—suggesting futuristic technological mastery. The dark illustration shows an industrial or mechanical scene, likely representing the "future" setting. The $1.50 price and "on sale at all Bookshops" indicate this was a mass-market publication, typical of early-to-mid 20th century American fiction marketing.