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Southern Star, v. 1, issue 3, August 1941
Page 20
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The P. P. Of Tim O'Nautisshan SOUTHERN STAR PAGE Republic should ever again make such a foolhardy attempt. I do not think that the pessimistic picture you present would go well with the great majority of Americans and other people all over the world who, almost without exception, live under Republcian forms of government and would not think of going backward. Apparently the only reason which you assign for the breakdown of faith in democracy is world-wide depression which you predict for 1929 and thereabout. I believe you will find that nearly all competent economists will tell you that the post-war depression came and passed in 1921. There is no reason to believe that the present cycle of prosperity and higher standards of living will not go on rising indefinitely. And certainly, if such a tale as yours were published between now and the November elections, it would be construed as an attempt to influence those elections, and work to our disfavor. There is no reason why scientifiction should become involved in party politics, as I have had to tell a number of writers who have submitted veiled political propaganda to Amazing Stories. Some of your characters act rather unconvincingly. Governor Roosevelt is not untrue to type, nor are a number of other well-known figures you mention. Adolf Hitler, however, who seems to be the central character of your story, if it has one, is said by you to be a maniac, a raving madman, a fool, a power-mad Nero, a screaming lunatic, and other things indicating mental imbalance, and his lcutenants are referred to as former dope addicts, sadists, and other abnormal things; yet you depict them carrying through successfully an impossibly difficult diplomacy, and finally defeating the French Army, the finest in the world, in the face of insuperable obstacles. Certainly this does not ring true. I believe that there is a German political leader named Hitler, and we would be in peril of very serious trouble if we published a story naming and depicting him thus. The love story of the Prince of Wales and the American woman is very pastel, as the art critics say, but a little too improbable. Also quite improbable is the series of incidents which you have named "the cruxifixion of Lindbergh". Lindy is firmly enshrined in the heart of America, and his name will rank high on the roll of great Americans as long as Aviation enures. These last few criticisms bring up a point which, alone, would make it impossible to publish your story without drastic revision. You probably do not know of the rule in publishing circles that living persons and deceased persons with members of their families still living, will not be used as characters in fiction. Since most of your story rests on the activities of persons you name again and again, and some of whom could not be possibly disguised, it would be impracticable for you to attempt to rewrite it. However, as I said at the beginning, I hope to see more of your work, and believe that you will be able to sell us a story some day. By the way, thanks for the "plug" for scientifiction that you worked in with the description of the "War of the Worlds" broadcast; but take it from one who knows through long experience, it will be many, many years before the ideas of scientifiction get that firmly implanted in people's minds! Yours truly, Hugo Gernsback, Editor. July 5 Dear Gernsy-- Heh, heh! Tim P O' Nautisshan
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The P. P. Of Tim O'Nautisshan SOUTHERN STAR PAGE Republic should ever again make such a foolhardy attempt. I do not think that the pessimistic picture you present would go well with the great majority of Americans and other people all over the world who, almost without exception, live under Republcian forms of government and would not think of going backward. Apparently the only reason which you assign for the breakdown of faith in democracy is world-wide depression which you predict for 1929 and thereabout. I believe you will find that nearly all competent economists will tell you that the post-war depression came and passed in 1921. There is no reason to believe that the present cycle of prosperity and higher standards of living will not go on rising indefinitely. And certainly, if such a tale as yours were published between now and the November elections, it would be construed as an attempt to influence those elections, and work to our disfavor. There is no reason why scientifiction should become involved in party politics, as I have had to tell a number of writers who have submitted veiled political propaganda to Amazing Stories. Some of your characters act rather unconvincingly. Governor Roosevelt is not untrue to type, nor are a number of other well-known figures you mention. Adolf Hitler, however, who seems to be the central character of your story, if it has one, is said by you to be a maniac, a raving madman, a fool, a power-mad Nero, a screaming lunatic, and other things indicating mental imbalance, and his lcutenants are referred to as former dope addicts, sadists, and other abnormal things; yet you depict them carrying through successfully an impossibly difficult diplomacy, and finally defeating the French Army, the finest in the world, in the face of insuperable obstacles. Certainly this does not ring true. I believe that there is a German political leader named Hitler, and we would be in peril of very serious trouble if we published a story naming and depicting him thus. The love story of the Prince of Wales and the American woman is very pastel, as the art critics say, but a little too improbable. Also quite improbable is the series of incidents which you have named "the cruxifixion of Lindbergh". Lindy is firmly enshrined in the heart of America, and his name will rank high on the roll of great Americans as long as Aviation enures. These last few criticisms bring up a point which, alone, would make it impossible to publish your story without drastic revision. You probably do not know of the rule in publishing circles that living persons and deceased persons with members of their families still living, will not be used as characters in fiction. Since most of your story rests on the activities of persons you name again and again, and some of whom could not be possibly disguised, it would be impracticable for you to attempt to rewrite it. However, as I said at the beginning, I hope to see more of your work, and believe that you will be able to sell us a story some day. By the way, thanks for the "plug" for scientifiction that you worked in with the description of the "War of the Worlds" broadcast; but take it from one who knows through long experience, it will be many, many years before the ideas of scientifiction get that firmly implanted in people's minds! Yours truly, Hugo Gernsback, Editor. July 5 Dear Gernsy-- Heh, heh! Tim P O' Nautisshan
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