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Science Fiction Forward, v. 1, issue 1, September 1940
Page 2
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Page 2 SCIENCE FICTION FORWARD EDITORIAL In view of the situation in the science-fiction world today, and the varioustendencies existing therein, it has become necessary for us, the science-fiction fans, to re-evaluate our position. In order to do this, we must attempt to once again restate the basis upon which science, and therefore science-fiction, is founded. In examining the welter of phenomena which makes up our universe, we find that several fundamental laws prevail. The first of these is that quality which has come to be known as "change". Everything is ceaselessly in motion, building up and breaking down, coming into being and passing away. There is no such thing as "absolute rest". This law finds its verification in the kinetic theory of gases, Einstein's ideas, and the theory of evolution. The second law states that all the diverse activities of the universe are inextricable interconnected. Each process that takes place in this universe affects every other process. Theoretically, the rasing of your hand to your forehead moves Alpha Centauri. Newton said that every particle of matter in the universe attracts every other particle of matter. The correlation of a species of living being with its environment is a further description of this law. Upon this foundation, man has built a structure which has dragged his race out of the wells of barbarism. Science-fiction is the expression of the progressive yearnings of the human race. It is a picture of the future world as indicated by the progress of science. Science-fiction is the herald announcing the coming of a new world of science, a world of the maximum amount of happiness for the greatest number of people. It is from this viewpoint which we will examine today's science-fiction. In a preliminary examination we find that certain tendencies exist whichddepart from the path outlined above. Chief among these we may mention the unabashed "Frankenstein" influence, which states that science is a monster which has turned upon its creator. Such stories general pattern exemplify this, and have no place in science-fiction. Another tendency which has no place in science-fiction is the inclination for modern science-fiction authors to fall into the current crazy of tub-thumping for war. Stories wherein Pan-Asiatic combines conquer our country, preferably with the aid of some mind-constricting invention and subject us to horrible dictatorship, should never be written at all let alone included in the pages of a science-fiction magazine. And stories wherein the known facts of science are contradicted or mis-applied defeat the very purpose of science-fiction. These tendencies must be checked. We therefore adopt an uncompromising opposition to the inclusion of the ANTI-SCIENCE in science-fiction, and will advance a steadfast policy of thorough-going adherence to the policies outlined herein. The first issue of the Science-Fiction FORWARD follows. It explains in full detail several points of our policy. Future issues will
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Page 2 SCIENCE FICTION FORWARD EDITORIAL In view of the situation in the science-fiction world today, and the varioustendencies existing therein, it has become necessary for us, the science-fiction fans, to re-evaluate our position. In order to do this, we must attempt to once again restate the basis upon which science, and therefore science-fiction, is founded. In examining the welter of phenomena which makes up our universe, we find that several fundamental laws prevail. The first of these is that quality which has come to be known as "change". Everything is ceaselessly in motion, building up and breaking down, coming into being and passing away. There is no such thing as "absolute rest". This law finds its verification in the kinetic theory of gases, Einstein's ideas, and the theory of evolution. The second law states that all the diverse activities of the universe are inextricable interconnected. Each process that takes place in this universe affects every other process. Theoretically, the rasing of your hand to your forehead moves Alpha Centauri. Newton said that every particle of matter in the universe attracts every other particle of matter. The correlation of a species of living being with its environment is a further description of this law. Upon this foundation, man has built a structure which has dragged his race out of the wells of barbarism. Science-fiction is the expression of the progressive yearnings of the human race. It is a picture of the future world as indicated by the progress of science. Science-fiction is the herald announcing the coming of a new world of science, a world of the maximum amount of happiness for the greatest number of people. It is from this viewpoint which we will examine today's science-fiction. In a preliminary examination we find that certain tendencies exist whichddepart from the path outlined above. Chief among these we may mention the unabashed "Frankenstein" influence, which states that science is a monster which has turned upon its creator. Such stories general pattern exemplify this, and have no place in science-fiction. Another tendency which has no place in science-fiction is the inclination for modern science-fiction authors to fall into the current crazy of tub-thumping for war. Stories wherein Pan-Asiatic combines conquer our country, preferably with the aid of some mind-constricting invention and subject us to horrible dictatorship, should never be written at all let alone included in the pages of a science-fiction magazine. And stories wherein the known facts of science are contradicted or mis-applied defeat the very purpose of science-fiction. These tendencies must be checked. We therefore adopt an uncompromising opposition to the inclusion of the ANTI-SCIENCE in science-fiction, and will advance a steadfast policy of thorough-going adherence to the policies outlined herein. The first issue of the Science-Fiction FORWARD follows. It explains in full detail several points of our policy. Future issues will
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