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Fantasy Commentator, v. 1, issue 10, Spring 1946

Page 248

248
FANTASY COMMENTATOR

gree of intelligence remain virtually unknown, although the latter can be deduced to be higher than man's by the caliber of the weapons they use. Another race of beings with immense density and titanic strength are found in "Little Hercules," which tells of the problems of a victim of Durna Rangue, a scientific religious cult controlling the earth of that day. The story's concluding paragraphs grant Little Hercules the freedom he has sought throughout his entire captivity.

Marvell's Minimum Man presents a species of foot-high humans with gigantic intelligence and physical stamina, exhibiting as a species the ultimate in specialization. The author emphasizes this point by naming the heads of each field after some character of mythology or real life who was noted for the same speciality. Thus the wise ruler of the colony is called Solomon, the leader of aviation (an art they have mastered completely) Icarus, the general of the army Napoleon, chemical specialists Lavoisier and Priestly---and so on. After living initially in secrecy, the Minimum Men seek recognition, which they win by playing a leading role in the overthrow of the tyrannical government then in power.

A similar specialization is carried to the further degree imaginable in "Short Wave Castle," even bodily form being altered to suit the requirements of its owner's profession. Reaching daring heights in the sciences, these supermen seek to escape from their confining environment, eliminate the population of the world, and spread themselves over the entire planet. But an anachronism in their midst, the greatest of living violinists, destroys the death machine that was to be their offensive weapon and the entire midget civilization itself as he puts his entire heart and soul into the playing of his Stradivarius, whose tones shatter the protective glass surrounding the supermen's domain.

"Microcosmic God" also presents a picture of confined supermen, the Neoterics. Here, however, we find a race working together for their creator without imperialistic desires. The fears and power-lusts of mankind foment an attack upon the colony, and to protect this an impenetrable shell of force that isolates it forever from the outer world is thrown about the island.

...that great grey shell will bear watching. Men die, but races live. Some day the Neoterics, after innumerable generations of inconceivable advancement, will take down their shield and come forth. When I think of that I feel frightened.

V
The Adaptive Superman

"The Changeling" of Van Vogt could well be considered to fit in the "perfect" superman category, the entire race's main claim to superhuman status resting upon its uncanny powers of toti-potency. The power of regenerating any lost or injured member gives those beings virtual immortality. Hounded from place to place by people desiring specimens of his blood that will endow them with the selfsame attribute, the Changeling is at last taken into a group of organized toti-potents as leader. Thenceforth all attacks are averted, and work for the ultimate benefit of the human race is carried forward. Presented here is a superbeing who possesses the enviable combination of immortality and adaptability, coupled with a highly advanced physique and mentality. Though this race has been excelled in some of these respects by those possessing no other attributes, the Changeling represents the highest possible reach of all fictional supermen.

Book Three: Criticism upon the Theme

Despite the fact that this concept has been utilized often, it has not been overworked to the degree that one might suspect. Rather, instead, many phases of the theme remain still undeveloped. The limited number of treatments

(continued on page 254)

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248 FANTASY COMMENTATOR gree of intelligence remain virtually unknown, although the latter can be deduced to be higher than man's by the caliber of the weapons they use. Another race of beings with immense density and titanic strength are found in "Little Hercules," which tells of the problems of a victim of Durna Rangue, a scientific religious cult controlling the earth of that day. The story's concluding paragraphs grant Little Hercules the freedom he has sought throughout his entire captivity. Marvell's Minimum Man presents a species of foot-high humans with gigantic intelligence and physical stamina, exhibiting as a species the ultimate in specialization. The author emphasizes this point by naming the heads of each field after some character of mythology or real life who was noted for the same speciality. Thus the wise ruler of the colony is called Solomon, the leader of aviation (an art they have mastered completely) Icarus, the general of the army Napoleon, chemical specialists Lavoisier and Priestly---and so on. After living initially in secrecy, the Minimum Men seek recognition, which they win by playing a leading role in the overthrow of the tyrannical government then in power. A similar specialization is carried to the further degree imaginable in "Short Wave Castle," even bodily form being altered to suit the requirements of its owner's profession. Reaching daring heights in the sciences, these supermen seek to escape from their confining environment, eliminate the population of the world, and spread themselves over the entire planet. But an anachronism in their midst, the greatest of living violinists, destroys the death machine that was to be their offensive weapon and the entire midget civilization itself as he puts his entire heart and soul into the playing of his Stradivarius, whose tones shatter the protective glass surrounding the supermen's domain. "Microcosmic God" also presents a picture of confined supermen, the Neoterics. Here, however, we find a race working together for their creator without imperialistic desires. The fears and power-lusts of mankind foment an attack upon the colony, and to protect this an impenetrable shell of force that isolates it forever from the outer world is thrown about the island. ...that great grey shell will bear watching. Men die, but races live. Some day the Neoterics, after innumerable generations of inconceivable advancement, will take down their shield and come forth. When I think of that I feel frightened. V The Adaptive Superman "The Changeling" of Van Vogt could well be considered to fit in the "perfect" superman category, the entire race's main claim to superhuman status resting upon its uncanny powers of toti-potency. The power of regenerating any lost or injured member gives those beings virtual immortality. Hounded from place to place by people desiring specimens of his blood that will endow them with the selfsame attribute, the Changeling is at last taken into a group of organized toti-potents as leader. Thenceforth all attacks are averted, and work for the ultimate benefit of the human race is carried forward. Presented here is a superbeing who possesses the enviable combination of immortality and adaptability, coupled with a highly advanced physique and mentality. Though this race has been excelled in some of these respects by those possessing no other attributes, the Changeling represents the highest possible reach of all fictional supermen. Book Three: Criticism upon the Theme Despite the fact that this concept has been utilized often, it has not been overworked to the degree that one might suspect. Rather, instead, many phases of the theme remain still undeveloped. The limited number of treatments (continued on page 254)