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Sun Spots, v. 5, issue 1, whole no. 17, April 1941
Page 10
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April, 1941. SUN SPOTS Page 10 THE WAY I SEE IT! By Ray J. Sienkiewicz Science Fiction definitely has a purpose, to purposes; though not any exactly helpful or utopian purposes. the purpose of science fiction is not to help science advance; the purpose of science fiction is to provide money for the author. The publishers print science fiction books, or science fiction magazines, to make money. What was your purpose in reading your first science fiction story? When you read your first science fiction story, was it because you thought that you might further the progress of science? Did you enter fandom to further science? The probable reason you entered fandom was to find some way in which to pass away your spare time. That might have been one of many reasons. Some fans might have had some other reasons for entering. Every fan who did enter fandom must have wanted to further the progress of science. That, in a way, takes care of a fan's reasons for entering fandom and for reading science fiction. An author has one main reason for entering the science fiction field. If the author has done writing in other fields, he tried science fiction writing because he figured it was another field of writing in which he could make some more money. Most writers write for money, while most editors edit primarily for money. You will find very few editors who will edit a magazine for no remuneration. In fact, you will find very few persons who will edit a professional magazine for nothing. Perhaps you are thinking, "Wollheim is editing for nothing." Yes, Wollheim is editing for nothing, but with the promise that if he edits good enough he will receive remuneration for his services. ((Which he is now, we believe--Eds)) If the magazines he edits sell fast enough and bring in a profit, he'll be paid. The same goes for the authors presented in his magazines; if their stories are good enough to sell the magazine, they shall be paid for future stories the publishers use. Another fact that shows science fiction stories are written for profit is that, all authors, even if they do not need money, keep on writing science fiction stories and still demand to be paid for their works. Most authors of that category even increase their rates for buying the story. Burroughs and Wells, for example, could easily donate some,or all, of their future science fiction stories. Both have enough money on which to live comfortably untill they die, but they demand money for every story they write. Do not take this as a censure of what they do, I just used them as an example. If anyone wrote for "the sake of art" he should not care one bit about remuneration. Then too, the other purpose of science fiction is to entertain. Yes, science fiction has a purpose. It has two purposes. Mainly to earn money and lastly to entertain. That's the way I see it. *************** ATTENTION! If you should perchance find a check in the blank that follows, your present subscription to SUN SPOTS has expired. We are hoping for your prompt renewal. Thank you. SEE YOU IN DENVER ?
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April, 1941. SUN SPOTS Page 10 THE WAY I SEE IT! By Ray J. Sienkiewicz Science Fiction definitely has a purpose, to purposes; though not any exactly helpful or utopian purposes. the purpose of science fiction is not to help science advance; the purpose of science fiction is to provide money for the author. The publishers print science fiction books, or science fiction magazines, to make money. What was your purpose in reading your first science fiction story? When you read your first science fiction story, was it because you thought that you might further the progress of science? Did you enter fandom to further science? The probable reason you entered fandom was to find some way in which to pass away your spare time. That might have been one of many reasons. Some fans might have had some other reasons for entering. Every fan who did enter fandom must have wanted to further the progress of science. That, in a way, takes care of a fan's reasons for entering fandom and for reading science fiction. An author has one main reason for entering the science fiction field. If the author has done writing in other fields, he tried science fiction writing because he figured it was another field of writing in which he could make some more money. Most writers write for money, while most editors edit primarily for money. You will find very few editors who will edit a magazine for no remuneration. In fact, you will find very few persons who will edit a professional magazine for nothing. Perhaps you are thinking, "Wollheim is editing for nothing." Yes, Wollheim is editing for nothing, but with the promise that if he edits good enough he will receive remuneration for his services. ((Which he is now, we believe--Eds)) If the magazines he edits sell fast enough and bring in a profit, he'll be paid. The same goes for the authors presented in his magazines; if their stories are good enough to sell the magazine, they shall be paid for future stories the publishers use. Another fact that shows science fiction stories are written for profit is that, all authors, even if they do not need money, keep on writing science fiction stories and still demand to be paid for their works. Most authors of that category even increase their rates for buying the story. Burroughs and Wells, for example, could easily donate some,or all, of their future science fiction stories. Both have enough money on which to live comfortably untill they die, but they demand money for every story they write. Do not take this as a censure of what they do, I just used them as an example. If anyone wrote for "the sake of art" he should not care one bit about remuneration. Then too, the other purpose of science fiction is to entertain. Yes, science fiction has a purpose. It has two purposes. Mainly to earn money and lastly to entertain. That's the way I see it. *************** ATTENTION! If you should perchance find a check in the blank that follows, your present subscription to SUN SPOTS has expired. We are hoping for your prompt renewal. Thank you. SEE YOU IN DENVER ?
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