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PSFS News, v. 5, issue 6, July 1945
Page 10
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July, 1945 PSFS NEWS Page 10 * * * * * * * * * BY THE WATERS OF LETHE.... Or, The Forgotten Man Of Science Fiction....... In these afterdays when many of the old idols of science fiction have toppled and have begun to live a sublimated existance in the memories of those who will not let themselves forget a better day, flame burns more warmly in the mind than the name of David H. Keller, M. D. A man of compelling intelligence and shining humanity, a doctor of the mind as well as the body, he labored for love 30 years before he sold his first work at the age of 46. Hugo Gernsback was well aware when the original manuscribt of "The Revolt Of The Pedestrians" was set down after first reading that he had stumbled on an author who could extrapolate upon minutely exact science, apply to it the psychology of human being that made contemporary science fiction authors seem as cold blooded as icicles by comparison. FOr Keller was interested in one thing predominantly. How would the inexorable advance of science affect the person as a human being. What would be the physical and mental results of a too artificial life. For Keller preached a new gospel. He believed in science as a devout man believes in God. But he believed that science must be adapted to the emotions and psychological reactions of man, and that man must never ben himself to fit the mold of science. In his semi-classic "Revolt of the Pedestrians" he showed how too great dependence upon vehicular conveyance would physically effect man, and the inevitable gap that would grow between those who continued to live normally and the majority who claimed superiority because they were a majority and for no other logical reason. In over one hundred published stories he displayed a fecundity of new ideas that was absolutely astounding. In psychology written scientifacally to fiction form he had discovered an inexhaustible gold mine of plot variations and he mined this rich field in his own easy going manner. "The Pent House" gave a sketch of a maney crazed world of advanced science slowly perishing by the over-incidence of dread cancer. Computing that the entire race will be dead in ten years the doctor chooses a young man and woman to live with him in a marvelous pent house wonderfully stocked against the necessities of life and completely insulated against all infection from outside. These two, he hopes, will start a new, more perfect race when every one else is gone. Ten years of idyllic happiness passes in which a child is born to the couple. At the end of ten years the door swings open and the doctor emerges to view the chaos of the world. But Dr. Keller has given the victory to science. A cure for cancer has been discovered. The world still pursues its slap-happy course. The doctor tells the couple that judging from existing conditions nothing can save the world from extinction by their own hands in the next ten years. The couple seem to understand him, for they allow the door to be closed on them for another ten
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July, 1945 PSFS NEWS Page 10 * * * * * * * * * BY THE WATERS OF LETHE.... Or, The Forgotten Man Of Science Fiction....... In these afterdays when many of the old idols of science fiction have toppled and have begun to live a sublimated existance in the memories of those who will not let themselves forget a better day, flame burns more warmly in the mind than the name of David H. Keller, M. D. A man of compelling intelligence and shining humanity, a doctor of the mind as well as the body, he labored for love 30 years before he sold his first work at the age of 46. Hugo Gernsback was well aware when the original manuscribt of "The Revolt Of The Pedestrians" was set down after first reading that he had stumbled on an author who could extrapolate upon minutely exact science, apply to it the psychology of human being that made contemporary science fiction authors seem as cold blooded as icicles by comparison. FOr Keller was interested in one thing predominantly. How would the inexorable advance of science affect the person as a human being. What would be the physical and mental results of a too artificial life. For Keller preached a new gospel. He believed in science as a devout man believes in God. But he believed that science must be adapted to the emotions and psychological reactions of man, and that man must never ben himself to fit the mold of science. In his semi-classic "Revolt of the Pedestrians" he showed how too great dependence upon vehicular conveyance would physically effect man, and the inevitable gap that would grow between those who continued to live normally and the majority who claimed superiority because they were a majority and for no other logical reason. In over one hundred published stories he displayed a fecundity of new ideas that was absolutely astounding. In psychology written scientifacally to fiction form he had discovered an inexhaustible gold mine of plot variations and he mined this rich field in his own easy going manner. "The Pent House" gave a sketch of a maney crazed world of advanced science slowly perishing by the over-incidence of dread cancer. Computing that the entire race will be dead in ten years the doctor chooses a young man and woman to live with him in a marvelous pent house wonderfully stocked against the necessities of life and completely insulated against all infection from outside. These two, he hopes, will start a new, more perfect race when every one else is gone. Ten years of idyllic happiness passes in which a child is born to the couple. At the end of ten years the door swings open and the doctor emerges to view the chaos of the world. But Dr. Keller has given the victory to science. A cure for cancer has been discovered. The world still pursues its slap-happy course. The doctor tells the couple that judging from existing conditions nothing can save the world from extinction by their own hands in the next ten years. The couple seem to understand him, for they allow the door to be closed on them for another ten
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