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Scientifictionist, v. 1, issue 2, whole no. 2, 1945

Page 12

SCIENTIFICTION IDEA CORNER
by Walter Coslet

Scientifiction! What inaccuracies are committed in thy name!
Which is true because it is so easy to take for granted or overlook little things (and sometimes big ones) that can invalidate an otherwise likable story. But even beyond that, it must be admitted that practically all scientifiction, for one reason or another, will in all probability, never happen. Did you ever stop to consider how many of the ideas are mutually exclusive?

Since this issue is "off-trail", we are going to go semi-statistical on you and present a complete and enlivened Author-Index of that portion of pro-published Stf which specialized in glossed-over scientific errors; that now-defunct section of Campbell's ASTOUNDING known as "Probability Zero". And in conclusion we will present a yarn by one of the first-prize winners which was completed about the time "Probability Zero" made its final appearance.

During the three-year period in which Probability Zero made its 12 appearances, 57 yarns and 47 authors were in the race for the $20. first prizes, $10. second prizes, and $5.. third prizes. Two letters in Brass Tacks also received votes for Probability Zero prizes, one of which won first prize, but the other appeared after Probability Zero was discontinued. PZ's first appearance was in the April 1942 ASF with 3 non-contest stories to give an idea of the kind of material acceptable. It bowed out in the Dec. '44 issue. Apparently, no information as to the winners of the Dec. '42 contest was published. To facilitate findign the Probability Zero issues of ASTOUNDING, they are herewith listed and numbered: #1 April 42   #2 July 42   #3 August 42   #4 November 42   #5 December 42   #6 February 43   #7 April 43   #8 September 43   #9 January 44   #10 June 44   #11 September 44   #12 December 44   #13 January 45 (one letter in Brass Tacks receiving votes).

AUTHOR-INDEX OF PROBABILITY ZERO

John K. Aiken--3rd prize--CAMOUFLAGE--#7 April 1943
The Centralist invasion of Katzelbogenstein defeated by a reverse camouflage job so perfect that minds acquired power to reverse gravity.

P. Anderson--3rd prize--A METTER OF RELATIVITY--#11 September 1944
Pvt. Bill Wilson, ultimate authority on relativity, invents a vibrator to alter the view of simultaneity giving accurate (?) knowledge of the future: War over: June 55. Space travel: 1953

Jack Bivins--VALADUSIA--#5 December 42
Valadusia, once pleasure planet with its five-colored moons, thirst-quenching plants, nymph-mists, and music trees--till swing music brought discord. Did this yarn inspire Cliff Simak's OGRE of the January 44 ASTOUNDING?

Nelson S. Bond--DOUBLE, DOUBLE, TOIL AND TROUBLE--#7 April 43
The 12 communications that result from selling a short story, TEST CASE, after being accidently doubled in a time travel experiment.

Ray Bradbury--1st prize--EAT, DRINK AND BE WARY--#2 July 42
To survive super-banquets use a contraction belt! Anything in its field of action enters the speedy fourth dimension and is thus reduced in size in accordance with the Fitzgerald Contraction theory.

---1st prize--AND WATCH THE FOUNTAINS--#8 September 43
Bradbury won more than a single first prize. Time travel and psychological vengeance. More of a Stf short-short than a PZ.

Robert Browning--3rd prize--SECRET WEAPON--#10 June 44
He means Jules Verne. Somewhat reminiscent of Bond's MR. BIGGS GOES TO TOWN (Oct. 42 AMAZING), which, like many Bond yarns, is scientifically inaccurate.

R. Creighton Buck--3rd prize--THE QWERTY OF HROTHGAR--#2 July 42
Truly a prose companion to "Ain't We Crazy?"

Ted Carnell--1st prize--TIME MARCHES ON--#3 August 42
Perhaps this proves that tales about scientifictionists are popular--I'd like to see more of them. However, it is stated on the contents page that no actual persons are designated by name. Oh, oh!

page 12

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SCIENTIFICTION IDEA CORNER by Walter Coslet Scientifiction! What inaccuracies are committed in thy name! Which is true because it is so easy to take for granted or overlook little things (and sometimes big ones) that can invalidate an otherwise likable story. But even beyond that, it must be admitted that practically all scientifiction, for one reason or another, will in all probability, never happen. Did you ever stop to consider how many of the ideas are mutually exclusive? Since this issue is "off-trail", we are going to go semi-statistical on you and present a complete and enlivened Author-Index of that portion of pro-published Stf which specialized in glossed-over scientific errors; that now-defunct section of Campbell's ASTOUNDING known as "Probability Zero". And in conclusion we will present a yarn by one of the first-prize winners which was completed about the time "Probability Zero" made its final appearance. During the three-year period in which Probability Zero made its 12 appearances, 57 yarns and 47 authors were in the race for the $20. first prizes, $10. second prizes, and $5.. third prizes. Two letters in Brass Tacks also received votes for Probability Zero prizes, one of which won first prize, but the other appeared after Probability Zero was discontinued. PZ's first appearance was in the April 1942 ASF with 3 non-contest stories to give an idea of the kind of material acceptable. It bowed out in the Dec. '44 issue. Apparently, no information as to the winners of the Dec. '42 contest was published. To facilitate findign the Probability Zero issues of ASTOUNDING, they are herewith listed and numbered: #1 April 42 #2 July 42 #3 August 42 #4 November 42 #5 December 42 #6 February 43 #7 April 43 #8 September 43 #9 January 44 #10 June 44 #11 September 44 #12 December 44 #13 January 45 (one letter in Brass Tacks receiving votes). AUTHOR-INDEX OF PROBABILITY ZERO John K. Aiken--3rd prize--CAMOUFLAGE--#7 April 1943 The Centralist invasion of Katzelbogenstein defeated by a reverse camouflage job so perfect that minds acquired power to reverse gravity. P. Anderson--3rd prize--A METTER OF RELATIVITY--#11 September 1944 Pvt. Bill Wilson, ultimate authority on relativity, invents a vibrator to alter the view of simultaneity giving accurate (?) knowledge of the future: War over: June 55. Space travel: 1953 Jack Bivins--VALADUSIA--#5 December 42 Valadusia, once pleasure planet with its five-colored moons, thirst-quenching plants, nymph-mists, and music trees--till swing music brought discord. Did this yarn inspire Cliff Simak's OGRE of the January 44 ASTOUNDING? Nelson S. Bond--DOUBLE, DOUBLE, TOIL AND TROUBLE--#7 April 43 The 12 communications that result from selling a short story, TEST CASE, after being accidently doubled in a time travel experiment. Ray Bradbury--1st prize--EAT, DRINK AND BE WARY--#2 July 42 To survive super-banquets use a contraction belt! Anything in its field of action enters the speedy fourth dimension and is thus reduced in size in accordance with the Fitzgerald Contraction theory. ---1st prize--AND WATCH THE FOUNTAINS--#8 September 43 Bradbury won more than a single first prize. Time travel and psychological vengeance. More of a Stf short-short than a PZ. Robert Browning--3rd prize--SECRET WEAPON--#10 June 44 He means Jules Verne. Somewhat reminiscent of Bond's MR. BIGGS GOES TO TOWN (Oct. 42 AMAZING), which, like many Bond yarns, is scientifically inaccurate. R. Creighton Buck--3rd prize--THE QWERTY OF HROTHGAR--#2 July 42 Truly a prose companion to "Ain't We Crazy?" Ted Carnell--1st prize--TIME MARCHES ON--#3 August 42 Perhaps this proves that tales about scientifictionists are popular--I'd like to see more of them. However, it is stated on the contents page that no actual persons are designated by name. Oh, oh! page 12