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Alchemist, v. 1, issue 4, December 1940
Page 7
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----- ALCHEMIST ----- 7 and vision do not fall, do not resort to suicide as a last desperate means of wiping clean a slate to them hopelessly mired. Yet here we have two cases, within a relatively short time, of prominent science-fiction fans, one already a writer of not a little ability and success, taking the farroad of self-destruction. It is true, that, in both cases, (as with the case of the late Robert E. Howard) the motives for their suicide might have had no connection with the antagonism between science-fiction and reality. We do not know, we cannot possibly know the full reasons for the suicide of these two fans. But a question, a burning doubt has been raised by their acts, and we, now, must inquire, must look deeply into the situation of science-fiction and science-fiction fandom to see if there we can find any clue, any fault inherent which would account for a science-fiction fan's suicide. Briefly: we must ask and answer the question: "Is it conceivable that a science-fiction fan would despair, through some defect in science-fiction itself?" The question is not an idle one. Great men have, in the past died, either by their own hands, or more indirectly through illnesses brought on from no other cause than a shattered illusion. If science fiction visions and hopes are an illusion, then the answer to our question is all too apparent. Yes, given a highly sensitive and intellectual individual addicted to science-fiction, any sharp turn of reality which would shatter effectively this illusion would be ample motive for suicide. There are now two more questions we must ask and answer: (1) Are the dreams, visions, and soul-strengthening qualities of science-fiction illusionary, fragile webs to be broken abruptly by any given economic, social or psychological disas-
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----- ALCHEMIST ----- 7 and vision do not fall, do not resort to suicide as a last desperate means of wiping clean a slate to them hopelessly mired. Yet here we have two cases, within a relatively short time, of prominent science-fiction fans, one already a writer of not a little ability and success, taking the farroad of self-destruction. It is true, that, in both cases, (as with the case of the late Robert E. Howard) the motives for their suicide might have had no connection with the antagonism between science-fiction and reality. We do not know, we cannot possibly know the full reasons for the suicide of these two fans. But a question, a burning doubt has been raised by their acts, and we, now, must inquire, must look deeply into the situation of science-fiction and science-fiction fandom to see if there we can find any clue, any fault inherent which would account for a science-fiction fan's suicide. Briefly: we must ask and answer the question: "Is it conceivable that a science-fiction fan would despair, through some defect in science-fiction itself?" The question is not an idle one. Great men have, in the past died, either by their own hands, or more indirectly through illnesses brought on from no other cause than a shattered illusion. If science fiction visions and hopes are an illusion, then the answer to our question is all too apparent. Yes, given a highly sensitive and intellectual individual addicted to science-fiction, any sharp turn of reality which would shatter effectively this illusion would be ample motive for suicide. There are now two more questions we must ask and answer: (1) Are the dreams, visions, and soul-strengthening qualities of science-fiction illusionary, fragile webs to be broken abruptly by any given economic, social or psychological disas-
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