DIY History | Transcribe | Hevelin Fanzines | Scientifictionist, v. 2, issue 1, November 1946-January 1947

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Scientifictionist, v. 2, issue 1, November 1946-January 1947

Page 4

Harry Bates' "Alas All Thinking" and Stanley G. Weinbaum's The New Adam. Just as fandom includes all sorts of people in all walks of life,so science-fiction has been written to appeal to many audiences. So there is cynical s-f as well as the idealistic variety, ironic realism as well as high-flung concepts of chrome-and-plastic Utopias.
Olaf Stapledon, with his Odd John and Last and First Men, presents a peculiar combination of coldly scientific philosophy rooting up the weaknesses of mankind, promising hopes for a better future, plus a sort of long-range cynicism pointing out the utter futility of man's colossal egotism. Many fans, though supporting social reforms and attempts at political and economic improvement, sincerely believe that in the long run mankind is but a temporary whim of nature, that the human race will vanish within a very few millenia (perhaps much sooner!), that several thousand years is but a drop in eternity's bucket --so why should we try to reform the world? "War is inevitable. The next generation will tear down what we build up. . ."

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Harry Bates' "Alas All Thinking" and Stanley G. Weinbaum's The New Adam. Just as fandom includes all sorts of people in all walks of life,so science-fiction has been written to appeal to many audiences. So there is cynical s-f as well as the idealistic variety, ironic realism as well as high-flung concepts of chrome-and-plastic Utopias. Olaf Stapledon, with his Odd John and Last and First Men, presents a peculiar combination of coldly scientific philosophy rooting up the weaknesses of mankind, promising hopes for a better future, plus a sort of long-range cynicism pointing out the utter futility of man's colossal egotism. Many fans, though supporting social reforms and attempts at political and economic improvement, sincerely believe that in the long run mankind is but a temporary whim of nature, that the human race will vanish within a very few millenia (perhaps much sooner!), that several thousand years is but a drop in eternity's bucket --so why should we try to reform the world? "War is inevitable. The next generation will tear down what we build up. . ."