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Fantascience Digest, v. 2, issue 2, January-February 1939
Page 25
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FANTASCIENCE DIGEST Page 25 SCIENCE FICTION: KEYSTONE OF THE FUTURE By Helen Cloukey The men were building an arch. First, they constructed a mold of timber to support the arms of the arch. Then they carefully compiled the arms upward until, with a final gesture, the foreman skillfully inserted the keystone. Then they dismantled the mold and started over. Each stone of that arch was well-shaped and fitted for its position, and each did its pffice well. The arch, however, could not long have stayed upright supported only by timbers. But that one significant stone, the keystone, bound the whole arch together. When the structure was complete, there was a base of arches and man, many stories of a building. how quickly that building would crumble were the keystones of the first foundations omitted. I found science fiction like that. The science of the world supports the future, but science fiction provided the keystones of the foundation. They keystone of the foundation bore most of the responsibility for that building while the stones of the arches supported it in reality. Science fiction binds all the findings of science into a mighty arch. it turns cold fact into living story and could work into inspiration worthy of the imagination. It holds forth the promise of a worthy construction. More power to the carvers of the keystone, the future is in their hands. Concerning MIRACLE STORIES--- The latter months of 1930 brought various rumors concerning the appearance of a new science fiction magazine. For a short period this report held little credence. Later, however, it was claimed that Harold Hersey, then affiliated with the "Red Band" magazines, was to publish the new magazine. Then more concrete evidence pertaining to this publication appeared. Mr. Hersey, in letters to prominent science fiction writers, announced that he was calling the periodical [[underline]]Astonishing Stories[[end underline]]. He also enclosed several pages of material explaining the magazine. It appeared that the magazine would be a cross between [[underline]]Weird Tales[[end underline]] and[[underline]]Astounding Stories[[end underline]]. In April, 1931, the first issue appeared on the newsstands under the name of [[underline]]Miracle,SCience and Fantasy Stories[[end underline]]. Mr. Hersey then announced that the magazine was to be a bi-monthly. The first issue featured stories by Victor Rousseau and Arthur J. Burks. The highlight of the second issue was a story written by the magazine's artist, Elliott Dold, later to become one of the leading stf. artists. Streamers and fillers heralded a "big surprise" in the next issue. But, alas, the next issue never materialized. (This article originally appeared in the October, 1932 [[underline]]Science Fiction Digest[[end underline]]. It is being reprinted here with several slight editorial changes.) Back issues of [[underline]]Fantascience Digest[[end underline]]: Vol. 1, Nos. 2, 3, and 4;15[[cent symbol]] each. nos. 5 and 6; 10[[cent symbol]] each. Vol 2, No. 1; 10[[cent symbol]] a copy. ---333 E. Belgrade St., Philadelphia,Pa. Onward to the World Science Fiction Convention in July, 1939!
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FANTASCIENCE DIGEST Page 25 SCIENCE FICTION: KEYSTONE OF THE FUTURE By Helen Cloukey The men were building an arch. First, they constructed a mold of timber to support the arms of the arch. Then they carefully compiled the arms upward until, with a final gesture, the foreman skillfully inserted the keystone. Then they dismantled the mold and started over. Each stone of that arch was well-shaped and fitted for its position, and each did its pffice well. The arch, however, could not long have stayed upright supported only by timbers. But that one significant stone, the keystone, bound the whole arch together. When the structure was complete, there was a base of arches and man, many stories of a building. how quickly that building would crumble were the keystones of the first foundations omitted. I found science fiction like that. The science of the world supports the future, but science fiction provided the keystones of the foundation. They keystone of the foundation bore most of the responsibility for that building while the stones of the arches supported it in reality. Science fiction binds all the findings of science into a mighty arch. it turns cold fact into living story and could work into inspiration worthy of the imagination. It holds forth the promise of a worthy construction. More power to the carvers of the keystone, the future is in their hands. Concerning MIRACLE STORIES--- The latter months of 1930 brought various rumors concerning the appearance of a new science fiction magazine. For a short period this report held little credence. Later, however, it was claimed that Harold Hersey, then affiliated with the "Red Band" magazines, was to publish the new magazine. Then more concrete evidence pertaining to this publication appeared. Mr. Hersey, in letters to prominent science fiction writers, announced that he was calling the periodical [[underline]]Astonishing Stories[[end underline]]. He also enclosed several pages of material explaining the magazine. It appeared that the magazine would be a cross between [[underline]]Weird Tales[[end underline]] and[[underline]]Astounding Stories[[end underline]]. In April, 1931, the first issue appeared on the newsstands under the name of [[underline]]Miracle,SCience and Fantasy Stories[[end underline]]. Mr. Hersey then announced that the magazine was to be a bi-monthly. The first issue featured stories by Victor Rousseau and Arthur J. Burks. The highlight of the second issue was a story written by the magazine's artist, Elliott Dold, later to become one of the leading stf. artists. Streamers and fillers heralded a "big surprise" in the next issue. But, alas, the next issue never materialized. (This article originally appeared in the October, 1932 [[underline]]Science Fiction Digest[[end underline]]. It is being reprinted here with several slight editorial changes.) Back issues of [[underline]]Fantascience Digest[[end underline]]: Vol. 1, Nos. 2, 3, and 4;15[[cent symbol]] each. nos. 5 and 6; 10[[cent symbol]] each. Vol 2, No. 1; 10[[cent symbol]] a copy. ---333 E. Belgrade St., Philadelphia,Pa. Onward to the World Science Fiction Convention in July, 1939!
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