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Fantasy News, v. 3, issue 1, whole no. 53, June 25, 1939
31858063100923_021
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ONE YEAR WITH THE QUEENS SFL by THOS S GARDNER THE AUTHOR hails from a part of the world in which real "dyed-in-the-wool" science-fiction fans are a rarity--about equal to hens with teeth and the missing link. His ideas of a fan varied all the way from a aged and hoary recluse to a syncophant or sybarite. The year of grace of 1939 - A.D. (after dark of course, because they are laws against such things) taught him many things in regards to fans, authors and editors. In fact many illusions were shattered and by the end of the year his whole conception of science-fiction had been altered. Once upon a time, (shouldn't all good fairy stories begin that way?) the author thought that science fiction had a mission of so increasing interest in science, engineering and progress as to incline and almost persuade those fields as a career. He actually thought that progress would be accelerated due to the broader mental horizons! Alas! There is the intelligensia group that argues about the mission of science-fiction from a political standpoint. It is a very interesting past-time---this thinking about thinking---but the total results for all time was, is and will be a magnificent zero --- for that is not the way things are accompished in this cruel world of reality. Idealism is nice in theory --- but the idealist forgets that he is dealing with human beings --- who never conform to theory, only reality. So we can dismiss this group with a suggestion that the sum total of human progress comes through creative effort --- not wishful thinking. The other group is quite a revelation. They realize that science-fiction is an excellent leisure pursuit, interesting reading and must not be taken too seriously. They have developed a sensible, wholesome mental attitude and really can influence and aid science-fiction as a literature. Having no axes to grind, they can get the most oft of any good story without wishful thinking interferring with their pleasure. Due to good comman sense of our director of the SFL, the latter group has been incouraged. In fact any kind of political discussion, or ax to grind individual is strictly tabu. As a result the past year has been a huge success --- as demonstrated by increased confidence in the chapter from fans, authors and editors of science fiction magazines. The author was amazed that so many meetings could be held with so little friction and argument. In fact each meeting has run off like clock work and it is impossible to remember a single meetings that was a failure. The association with real fans who are interested in science-fiction as good reading aided the author to re-adjust his wishful thinking of looking upon science-fiction as an aid to progress. For this he is duly grateful --- and even old Heraklitos in ancient Greece had the secret of things, in that the main characteristic of the universe is change, and this year has duly proved him correct again. The close personal association with the members before and after the meetings served to develop friendships that will last a long time. Where else could one have this rare privilege of knowing and talking with such interesting fans as Taurasi, Sykorn, Moskowitz, Sullivan, Racic, ect. to name but a few. Each and every member of the chapter has presented a different facet to the author and thus the chap-
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ONE YEAR WITH THE QUEENS SFL by THOS S GARDNER THE AUTHOR hails from a part of the world in which real "dyed-in-the-wool" science-fiction fans are a rarity--about equal to hens with teeth and the missing link. His ideas of a fan varied all the way from a aged and hoary recluse to a syncophant or sybarite. The year of grace of 1939 - A.D. (after dark of course, because they are laws against such things) taught him many things in regards to fans, authors and editors. In fact many illusions were shattered and by the end of the year his whole conception of science-fiction had been altered. Once upon a time, (shouldn't all good fairy stories begin that way?) the author thought that science fiction had a mission of so increasing interest in science, engineering and progress as to incline and almost persuade those fields as a career. He actually thought that progress would be accelerated due to the broader mental horizons! Alas! There is the intelligensia group that argues about the mission of science-fiction from a political standpoint. It is a very interesting past-time---this thinking about thinking---but the total results for all time was, is and will be a magnificent zero --- for that is not the way things are accompished in this cruel world of reality. Idealism is nice in theory --- but the idealist forgets that he is dealing with human beings --- who never conform to theory, only reality. So we can dismiss this group with a suggestion that the sum total of human progress comes through creative effort --- not wishful thinking. The other group is quite a revelation. They realize that science-fiction is an excellent leisure pursuit, interesting reading and must not be taken too seriously. They have developed a sensible, wholesome mental attitude and really can influence and aid science-fiction as a literature. Having no axes to grind, they can get the most oft of any good story without wishful thinking interferring with their pleasure. Due to good comman sense of our director of the SFL, the latter group has been incouraged. In fact any kind of political discussion, or ax to grind individual is strictly tabu. As a result the past year has been a huge success --- as demonstrated by increased confidence in the chapter from fans, authors and editors of science fiction magazines. The author was amazed that so many meetings could be held with so little friction and argument. In fact each meeting has run off like clock work and it is impossible to remember a single meetings that was a failure. The association with real fans who are interested in science-fiction as good reading aided the author to re-adjust his wishful thinking of looking upon science-fiction as an aid to progress. For this he is duly grateful --- and even old Heraklitos in ancient Greece had the secret of things, in that the main characteristic of the universe is change, and this year has duly proved him correct again. The close personal association with the members before and after the meetings served to develop friendships that will last a long time. Where else could one have this rare privilege of knowing and talking with such interesting fans as Taurasi, Sykorn, Moskowitz, Sullivan, Racic, ect. to name but a few. Each and every member of the chapter has presented a different facet to the author and thus the chap-
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