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Voice of the Imagination, whole no. 23, June 1942

Page 13

IMAGI-NATION  13

LOUIS RUSSELL CHAUVENET 1920 Thomson Rd. Charlottesvllle, Va: A
Vomissive.'     "Larry Shaw's idea that women are entitled to special consideration, and
that a woman, if evil, should not receive the same treatment which would be meted out to an evil man, is to my mind follv.    The age of so-called chivalry is past; with equal privileges, women must accept equal responsibilities.    Indeed- why not?

This humble one is desolated at the news his last epistle bored Tom Wright. Honor-
able seppuku is indicated; farewell, cruel world, goodbye.   Or, no, on second thought I don't think I'll kill myself today; I'm too busy and can't spare the time. Perhaps I can attend to it within the next hundred years, tho; all is not lost.
I was amused, but withal a little saddened, to see my good friend Moffatt bravely advancing the familiar thesis that atheists & agnostics are such only because of ignorance. How that old delusion still survives to comfort those of religious mind: You must know, Len,  that 1 was brought up as a Catholic, with all the 'advantages' of Sunday School, communion. confirmation, & all the rest."   Later spent 2 yrs at a Jesuit 
college. In consequence, not only familiar with old & new testaments, but has
studied Roman Catholic Church's position in its efforts to assert its authority as the
one true church of Christ.    Combining all this with independent thot & study of the non-ecclesiastical viewpoint has resulted in his having no more faith in the literal truth of everything in the Bible than the Egyptian "Book of the Dead", Mohammedan "Koran", or any such.

Admires Moff's adherence to Christian principles. As ethical philosofical system, C. has definite appeal to Elarcy; as an organized religion, thinks it's a force doing almost as much evil as good; in past, balance more heavily on evil side than now since Church has lil temporal power at presentime. 

Moffatt surely ryt in saying he wishes to destroy evil in people, not people them-
selves; but Elarcy's point was:   organized churches have not always been of that opinion.    The Inquisition... 

"It is the merit of science fiction that it aids greatly in opening up new vistas to the imagination; we learn of worlds beyond our earth and solar system, and of  innumerable races of beings both far and alien. We read speculations on the ultimate fate of the human race, which show us our true place in the cosmos, and point the lesson that all we can hope to obtain must be by our own efforts.       The effect of all this is to sweep the mind clean of the comfortable bu hampering delusion that we are the Chosen of God, his special care & pride, etc., and that the whole universe has nothing higher than we save perhaps the angels. This is why science fiction fans in general are non-religious; they may well believe in a God beyond infinity, but they cannot return to the cramped confines of an orthodox creed.  So Moffat is an exception; yet, from what he says, it might seem that
the attractions Christianity hold for him lie more in its ethics and philosophy than
its mystical doctrines, which he may also accept,"   But asks Len to consider if an
ethical doctrine is effective & good, it will not need any supernatural enforcement.
"The photo Vomermaid on the Feb. cover seemed neither sexy nor especially attractive; I was surprised to note strenuous protests. She isn't a hag, 2j, and hardly lewd, Len!  

Rennison's letter reminds me: what would be the reaction of US fans if one tried to set up a branch of that delightful British organization, the SPC?
((Socy for Propagation of Coitus—minors please refer to a dictionary & don't ask
your parents what that funny word in Vom means.))    There's no doubt in my mind that the "furriners" are by & large more emotionally & psychologically mature than US fans." #

A repeat appearance from one   the "advanced furriners", DOUG WEBSTER, who
rote from Scotland on 29 Mar:    "Gee. One most bee-utiful cover.  It leaves you with a hunger for more, much more. Pity you couldn't have had a larger proportion of English fans.     In a scrabbling desire to crash VOM, I'll have a snap of me taken at once. Even the Vomermaiden is a luscious piece of work, & displays a delicious touch of humour. I note the V-for-victory patch meticulously placed where it will stir up the most amount of lust among your customers;    good for you."    Didn't notice the flashy Tomoro display til had examined all the other pix, indicating the future citizens featured around it far more important than that superficial aspect of things to come.   Or they will be mighty good citizens (like Milty or Birchby or Turner, for instance) "once they've given up their science-fictional delusions & taken a bite out of life.

I rise on my hind legs with a couple of good hearty cheers.      One for Arthur Young, who's the goods - though I disagree with quite a bit of what he says. And one for the Prof's delicious nude. Her expression is nothing sort of masterly." 

Misses old names doesn't see often enuf such as Speer,
Milty, Lowndes, Carnell, Widner, Youd..."and no fights.     Gad, can't we have some
really juicy fights?   

Secondly, am I the only dope in all fandom who isn't interested in the Cause, in forming clubs, in forming national associations, in preserving the Unity of Fandom, in spreading the gospel of stf, in Getting Together & Doing Things? It all makes me slightly sick. What the Hell? Can't the kids relax and just live fairly normal lives? Why all this crusading?     It seems to be the fashion again for fans to act like they were a mass of repressions, aping the Messiah."    ((And This Goes On for a goodly footage, the essence of which is "Why get so het up about such a footling thing as stf ?   ((Well, Art Widner, for whom U have exprest an admiration, has given one ansr to that earlier in the ish.   Do Evans or
Tackett or Connor, for instance, wish to respond at greater length to our anarchist
across the Pond; or perhaps Trudy Kuslan side with the Webv)) "Of Fortier. This is indeed a wondrous specimen of humanity! I am fascinated by it. Of the three possibilities he gives, personally I'd say he was a dope; because otherwise he should obviously realise what he's saying one week, & what he says the next; which he doesn't seem to.      He should try regarding himself dispassionately, I think.
Like most fans, it can truly be said of him that he should know better. That applies to me too, of course  

On condensing letters, I can only say that if you print mine without condensing, you'll need a hell of a lot of Vom's to do it in!" Liked the pic of Tig but doesn't like the devilady herself. Thinks she might profitably try growing up for a change. Got a beautiful laff out of EESmith; "he seems to
be just like his stories."   And concludes: "I weep over the last of the green ink."

Saving...

IMAGI-NATION 13 LOUIS RUSSELL CHAUVENET 1920 Thomson Rd. Charlottesvllle, Va: A Vomissive.' "Larry Shaw's idea that women are entitled to special consideration, and that a woman, if evil, should not receive the same treatment which would be meted out to an evil man, is to my mind follv. The age of so-called chivalry is past; with equal privileges, women must accept equal responsibilities. Indeed- why not? This humble one is desolated at the news his last epistle bored Tom Wright. Honor- able seppuku is indicated; farewell, cruel world, goodbye. Or, no, on second thought I don't think I'll kill myself today; I'm too busy and can't spare the time. Perhaps I can attend to it within the next hundred years, tho; all is not lost. I was amused, but withal a little saddened, to see my good friend Moffatt bravely advancing the familiar thesis that atheists & agnostics are such only because of ignorance. How that old delusion still survives to comfort those of religious mind: You must know, Len, that 1 was brought up as a Catholic, with all the 'advantages' of Sunday School, communion. confirmation, & all the rest." Later spent 2 yrs at a Jesuit college. In consequence, not only familiar with old & new testaments, but has studied Roman Catholic Church's position in its efforts to assert its authority as the one true church of Christ. Combining all this with independent thot & study of the non-ecclesiastical viewpoint has resulted in his having no more faith in the literal truth of everything in the Bible than the Egyptian "Book of the Dead", Mohammedan "Koran", or any such. Admires Moff's adherence to Christian principles. As ethical philosofical system, C. has definite appeal to Elarcy; as an organized religion, thinks it's a force doing almost as much evil as good; in past, balance more heavily on evil side than now since Church has lil temporal power at presentime. Moffatt surely ryt in saying he wishes to destroy evil in people, not people them- selves; but Elarcy's point was: organized churches have not always been of that opinion. The Inquisition... "It is the merit of science fiction that it aids greatly in opening up new vistas to the imagination; we learn of worlds beyond our earth and solar system, and of innumerable races of beings both far and alien. We read speculations on the ultimate fate of the human race, which show us our true place in the cosmos, and point the lesson that all we can hope to obtain must be by our own efforts. The effect of all this is to sweep the mind clean of the comfortable bu hampering delusion that we are the Chosen of God, his special care & pride, etc., and that the whole universe has nothing higher than we save perhaps the angels. This is why science fiction fans in general are non-religious; they may well believe in a God beyond infinity, but they cannot return to the cramped confines of an orthodox creed. So Moffat is an exception; yet, from what he says, it might seem that the attractions Christianity hold for him lie more in its ethics and philosophy than its mystical doctrines, which he may also accept," But asks Len to consider if an ethical doctrine is effective & good, it will not need any supernatural enforcement. "The photo Vomermaid on the Feb. cover seemed neither sexy nor especially attractive; I was surprised to note strenuous protests. She isn't a hag, 2j, and hardly lewd, Len! Rennison's letter reminds me: what would be the reaction of US fans if one tried to set up a branch of that delightful British organization, the SPC? ((Socy for Propagation of Coitus—minors please refer to a dictionary & don't ask your parents what that funny word in Vom means.)) There's no doubt in my mind that the "furriners" are by & large more emotionally & psychologically mature than US fans." # A repeat appearance from one the "advanced furriners", DOUG WEBSTER, who rote from Scotland on 29 Mar: "Gee. One most bee-utiful cover. It leaves you with a hunger for more, much more. Pity you couldn't have had a larger proportion of English fans. In a scrabbling desire to crash VOM, I'll have a snap of me taken at once. Even the Vomermaiden is a luscious piece of work, & displays a delicious touch of humour. I note the V-for-victory patch meticulously placed where it will stir up the most amount of lust among your customers; good for you." Didn't notice the flashy Tomoro display til had examined all the other pix, indicating the future citizens featured around it far more important than that superficial aspect of things to come. Or they will be mighty good citizens (like Milty or Birchby or Turner, for instance) "once they've given up their science-fictional delusions & taken a bite out of life. I rise on my hind legs with a couple of good hearty cheers. One for Arthur Young, who's the goods - though I disagree with quite a bit of what he says. And one for the Prof's delicious nude. Her expression is nothing sort of masterly." Misses old names doesn't see often enuf such as Speer, Milty, Lowndes, Carnell, Widner, Youd..."and no fights. Gad, can't we have some really juicy fights? Secondly, am I the only dope in all fandom who isn't interested in the Cause, in forming clubs, in forming national associations, in preserving the Unity of Fandom, in spreading the gospel of stf, in Getting Together & Doing Things? It all makes me slightly sick. What the Hell? Can't the kids relax and just live fairly normal lives? Why all this crusading? It seems to be the fashion again for fans to act like they were a mass of repressions, aping the Messiah." ((And This Goes On for a goodly footage, the essence of which is "Why get so het up about such a footling thing as stf ? ((Well, Art Widner, for whom U have exprest an admiration, has given one ansr to that earlier in the ish. Do Evans or Tackett or Connor, for instance, wish to respond at greater length to our anarchist across the Pond; or perhaps Trudy Kuslan side with the Webv)) "Of Fortier. This is indeed a wondrous specimen of humanity! I am fascinated by it. Of the three possibilities he gives, personally I'd say he was a dope; because otherwise he should obviously realise what he's saying one week, & what he says the next; which he doesn't seem to. He should try regarding himself dispassionately, I think. Like most fans, it can truly be said of him that he should know better. That applies to me too, of course On condensing letters, I can only say that if you print mine without condensing, you'll need a hell of a lot of Vom's to do it in!" Liked the pic of Tig but doesn't like the devilady herself. Thinks she might profitably try growing up for a change. Got a beautiful laff out of EESmith; "he seems to be just like his stories." And concludes: "I weep over the last of the green ink."