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Scientifictionist, v. 2, issue 1, November 1946-January 1947
Page 1
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Utopias Made to Order by Joe Kennedy I. Science-fiction, I think we'll all agree, is wonderful stuff. For stimulating, enjoyable reading and first-rate entertainment, the better grade of s-f is unsurpassed. Yet readable as it is, science-fiction can also be a highly potent form of propaganda. It is interesting to note that with the coming of the Campbell Astounding sociological discussion in fandom increased greatly, and that certain of ASF's outstanding tales have had a decided influence on the actifan field. SLAN!, for example, with its vivid portrayal of intelligent mutations in an unsympathetic environment, made so great an impression that fans have half-seriously compared themselves with van Vogt's race of persecuted supermen! Perhaps an even better example of science-fiction turning into effective propaganda is a more recent van Vogt tale -- WORLD OF A. It certainly did a creditable job of stimulating the interest of fandom in semantics! Nor can we overlook the Utopian novels of the late great H. G. Wells (notably Men Like Gods, In the Days of the Comet, etc.), which have certainly had a measurable influence on socialistic thought, in fandom as well as the rest of the world. Probably the most influential of all science-fiction novels, however, is Edward Bellamy's famous Looking Backward, the prophetic novel to end all PN's. Originally published in 1888, the book was an immediate, phenomenal success -- which is surprising, indeed, when we consider its radical ideals and stern criticism of 19th century standards of living. Yet within a few short years after its release, Looking Backward wound up an amazing sale of well over a million copies, a very impressive showing, even by today's standards! The story has gone through edition after edition, and is still selling, which fact makes it perhaps the most effective single piece of Socialist-slanted propaganda the world has ever seen. It is, then, inevitable that the oft-mentioned "dynamic concepts" of s-f should leave a marked impression upon the avid fan, who deliberately seeks super-science and futuristic prophecy in the course of his reading. Even though usually absorbed in gradual doses, these "dynamic concepts" can be a powerful stimulation toward idealistic thinking. This is especially true if the fan or reader is youngish, and consequently all the more receptive to new ideas. Most of us start reading the s-f pulps at an early age. Of course, the history of magazine science-fiction is scarcely two decades old, but even before the coming of the Gernsback Amazing, the men who are the real veteran fans of today were growing up on Wells and Verne and Poe, not to mention the fantasy yarns in early Munsey and the Gernsback scientific magazines. Obviously, the utopias of science-fiction can fascinate the young, somewhat idealistic thinker. For the very inattainability of Utopia is a challenge. And so it is that, after a comparatively brief acquainance with the s-f field, many a fan has gone forth to reform the world and re-educate mankind. Trends seem to indicate that the fan groups actively engaged in this or that political theory have, on the whole, been dyed-in-the-wool science-fiction fans, rather than the weird-tale addicts and collectors of rare fantasy tomes. Each and every fan who attempts to start a trend toward sociological accomplishment does so, quite naturally, with the idea of bettering the condition of struggling mankind. Agreed that civilization stinks, what, then, is to be done about it? Well, some fans maintain that fandom must convert the rest of the world to a policy of idealistic thinking and planning for the future. Unfortunately, the first step, this type of fan usually finds, is to swing the rest of fandom over to his way of thinking! This pretty often turns out to be a difficult job. The initial thing our would-be social reformer usually does is go out and write sixty-'leven dozen fanzine articles, then dash off letters like mad, distribute propaganda, and try to page 1
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Utopias Made to Order by Joe Kennedy I. Science-fiction, I think we'll all agree, is wonderful stuff. For stimulating, enjoyable reading and first-rate entertainment, the better grade of s-f is unsurpassed. Yet readable as it is, science-fiction can also be a highly potent form of propaganda. It is interesting to note that with the coming of the Campbell Astounding sociological discussion in fandom increased greatly, and that certain of ASF's outstanding tales have had a decided influence on the actifan field. SLAN!, for example, with its vivid portrayal of intelligent mutations in an unsympathetic environment, made so great an impression that fans have half-seriously compared themselves with van Vogt's race of persecuted supermen! Perhaps an even better example of science-fiction turning into effective propaganda is a more recent van Vogt tale -- WORLD OF A. It certainly did a creditable job of stimulating the interest of fandom in semantics! Nor can we overlook the Utopian novels of the late great H. G. Wells (notably Men Like Gods, In the Days of the Comet, etc.), which have certainly had a measurable influence on socialistic thought, in fandom as well as the rest of the world. Probably the most influential of all science-fiction novels, however, is Edward Bellamy's famous Looking Backward, the prophetic novel to end all PN's. Originally published in 1888, the book was an immediate, phenomenal success -- which is surprising, indeed, when we consider its radical ideals and stern criticism of 19th century standards of living. Yet within a few short years after its release, Looking Backward wound up an amazing sale of well over a million copies, a very impressive showing, even by today's standards! The story has gone through edition after edition, and is still selling, which fact makes it perhaps the most effective single piece of Socialist-slanted propaganda the world has ever seen. It is, then, inevitable that the oft-mentioned "dynamic concepts" of s-f should leave a marked impression upon the avid fan, who deliberately seeks super-science and futuristic prophecy in the course of his reading. Even though usually absorbed in gradual doses, these "dynamic concepts" can be a powerful stimulation toward idealistic thinking. This is especially true if the fan or reader is youngish, and consequently all the more receptive to new ideas. Most of us start reading the s-f pulps at an early age. Of course, the history of magazine science-fiction is scarcely two decades old, but even before the coming of the Gernsback Amazing, the men who are the real veteran fans of today were growing up on Wells and Verne and Poe, not to mention the fantasy yarns in early Munsey and the Gernsback scientific magazines. Obviously, the utopias of science-fiction can fascinate the young, somewhat idealistic thinker. For the very inattainability of Utopia is a challenge. And so it is that, after a comparatively brief acquainance with the s-f field, many a fan has gone forth to reform the world and re-educate mankind. Trends seem to indicate that the fan groups actively engaged in this or that political theory have, on the whole, been dyed-in-the-wool science-fiction fans, rather than the weird-tale addicts and collectors of rare fantasy tomes. Each and every fan who attempts to start a trend toward sociological accomplishment does so, quite naturally, with the idea of bettering the condition of struggling mankind. Agreed that civilization stinks, what, then, is to be done about it? Well, some fans maintain that fandom must convert the rest of the world to a policy of idealistic thinking and planning for the future. Unfortunately, the first step, this type of fan usually finds, is to swing the rest of fandom over to his way of thinking! This pretty often turns out to be a difficult job. The initial thing our would-be social reformer usually does is go out and write sixty-'leven dozen fanzine articles, then dash off letters like mad, distribute propaganda, and try to page 1
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