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FMS Digest, v. 1, issues 1-5, February - July 1941
v.1:no.1: Page 11
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FUTURE HISTORY By Milty Rothman Condensed from VOICE OF THE IMAGI-NATION January 1941 9 Oct 40, 1730 P NW, Wn/DC: "...Since science fiction is supposed to be prophecy, we are interested in knowing just how good it is at prophecying. To do this, the literature must be treated statically, and to do that, it must be condensed into a form from which it would be an easy matter to make comparisons between what was prophecied and what happened. In other words, a history of the future as written in science fiction must be compiled. This is a tremendous task. How many pages would it take to list the form of civilization in every science story that has told of such matters? ' ' One person cannot do it. The task must be divided up between many fans, each of whom would take a section of science-fiction magazines, compile the data, and send them to a central editor, who would arrange them in the order of the historic dates of the events in the stories, and send out the material. in chronologic sections, to the other workers, who would stencil and mimoegraph them, giving the completed papers to the central editor who would bind them and mail them out. ' ' How do you like that idea? POET'S LAMENT By Jean Howard From STARS December-January, 1941 The soul of beauty lies within my soul And tinges me with all its throbbing life. ...When frought by glimpses of Olympic peaks And driven by Creation's stinging lash, My world can know no greater tragedy Than this--the pen lies mute within my hand. Fantasy - Enemy of Peace By D. R. Smith Condensed from FUTURIAN WAR DIGEST January 1941 I have been wondering of late what can be the real reason for my not being a pacifist. Examined in the light of reason there it little to commend war as a state of international affairs. The conclusion of any one round of hostilities naturally causes a spasm of extreme happiness, similar to that achieved by the lunatic banging his head against the wall in order to sample the delight of ceasing to do so, but afterwards comes that lengthy period of vast confusion while the nations wait for the next outbreak of active belligerancy. *** As a logically minded person, then, I ought to be against war (and when I say war I mean war in general). For I am not a belligerent person by nature or training but a sound believer to the soft answer to wrath. My nature is a sensitive one & greatly affected by the prospect of danger to my person, so that it is strange indeed that I cannot violently despise war. The whole thing points to me being affected by some malignant influence. ** Which influence is obviously fantasy. It is difficult to call to mind an outstanding fantasy not built up on one or all of the ideals of battle, murder & sudden death. All the really important storys are built up on the theme of war, & major war at that. Campbell, Smith, Merritt, Howard, Taine & the rest of them form the bloodiest-minded clique of authors in any one branch of fiction. Wells started with a few timid murders, worked on to massacres... while Stapledon's name is revered for a colossal compilation of successive annihilations of humanity. The red gods of war never had stronger propagandists than the writers of fantasy. it is no wonder that such an ardent follower of fantasy as myself should be unable to view war from the rational aspect. The only thing that science-fiction teaches us is that science is only useful as a way to bigger and better wars. And this is the "Literature of the Future!"
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FUTURE HISTORY By Milty Rothman Condensed from VOICE OF THE IMAGI-NATION January 1941 9 Oct 40, 1730 P NW, Wn/DC: "...Since science fiction is supposed to be prophecy, we are interested in knowing just how good it is at prophecying. To do this, the literature must be treated statically, and to do that, it must be condensed into a form from which it would be an easy matter to make comparisons between what was prophecied and what happened. In other words, a history of the future as written in science fiction must be compiled. This is a tremendous task. How many pages would it take to list the form of civilization in every science story that has told of such matters? ' ' One person cannot do it. The task must be divided up between many fans, each of whom would take a section of science-fiction magazines, compile the data, and send them to a central editor, who would arrange them in the order of the historic dates of the events in the stories, and send out the material. in chronologic sections, to the other workers, who would stencil and mimoegraph them, giving the completed papers to the central editor who would bind them and mail them out. ' ' How do you like that idea? POET'S LAMENT By Jean Howard From STARS December-January, 1941 The soul of beauty lies within my soul And tinges me with all its throbbing life. ...When frought by glimpses of Olympic peaks And driven by Creation's stinging lash, My world can know no greater tragedy Than this--the pen lies mute within my hand. Fantasy - Enemy of Peace By D. R. Smith Condensed from FUTURIAN WAR DIGEST January 1941 I have been wondering of late what can be the real reason for my not being a pacifist. Examined in the light of reason there it little to commend war as a state of international affairs. The conclusion of any one round of hostilities naturally causes a spasm of extreme happiness, similar to that achieved by the lunatic banging his head against the wall in order to sample the delight of ceasing to do so, but afterwards comes that lengthy period of vast confusion while the nations wait for the next outbreak of active belligerancy. *** As a logically minded person, then, I ought to be against war (and when I say war I mean war in general). For I am not a belligerent person by nature or training but a sound believer to the soft answer to wrath. My nature is a sensitive one & greatly affected by the prospect of danger to my person, so that it is strange indeed that I cannot violently despise war. The whole thing points to me being affected by some malignant influence. ** Which influence is obviously fantasy. It is difficult to call to mind an outstanding fantasy not built up on one or all of the ideals of battle, murder & sudden death. All the really important storys are built up on the theme of war, & major war at that. Campbell, Smith, Merritt, Howard, Taine & the rest of them form the bloodiest-minded clique of authors in any one branch of fiction. Wells started with a few timid murders, worked on to massacres... while Stapledon's name is revered for a colossal compilation of successive annihilations of humanity. The red gods of war never had stronger propagandists than the writers of fantasy. it is no wonder that such an ardent follower of fantasy as myself should be unable to view war from the rational aspect. The only thing that science-fiction teaches us is that science is only useful as a way to bigger and better wars. And this is the "Literature of the Future!"
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