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New Fandom, v. 1, issue 6, 1939

Page 14

14 NEW FANDOM

S̲C̲I̲E̲N̲C̲E̲ ̲F̲I̲C̲T̲I̲O̲N̲ ̲A̲N̲D̲ ̲N̲E̲W̲ ̲F̲A̲N̲D̲O̲M̲

The Gist of an Extemporaneous
Talk Delivered At the WSFC,
By William S. Sykora,

Chairman Moskowitz, Fellow Science Fiction Fans, and Friends:

     Some people suppose that we fans are a group of   impotent, frustrated, day dreamers and wishful thinkers. Some of our fellow fans do not go quite so far, but they do maintain that we are, in the main, escapists.   If these beliefs were entirely   true, then there never could
have been a First, Second, or Third Eastern Science Fiction Convention;
there could never have been a  First National Science Fiction Convention; there never could have been a   Queens Chapter of the SFL; there never could have been a cooperative general fan organization like New
Fandom; and this, the.great World Science Fiction Convention would never have taken place.
     Life is as we live it. To try to "escape" via Science Fiction is just as cowardly in my opinion, as "escape by suicide. Only the science fiction pseudo-intelligentsia, who try, somewhat  unsuccessfully, to emulate the Greenwich Village "arty" set, are defeatists and
escapists. With such people who dishonor fandom by trying to include themselves in it, it is difficult, if not impossible, to obtain the
cooperation and good fellowship so necessary for a progressive advance
of fan activities.
   On the other hand, such men as Dr. John D. Clark,.even though they insist that science fiction is escape.literature, nevertheless have that mature attitude and good sense to realize that the pure entertainment value of science fiction may be sufficient to justify its existence. Such people have no "save the world" complexes nor do they have that phobia which causes them to fear oblivion so much, that they feel forced to attract attention to their miserable selves by any means, no matter how lacking in common sense or good taste.
     My message then, to you delegates from far and near to this great gathering, is this:- Whether we believe that science fiction justifies its existence purely as entertainment or not, let us not permit ourselves to be labelled as "save the world" crackpots, and let us rather take the messages of the authors of scienoe fiction, and working together, hand in hand with progressive New Fandom, strive to make the fancies of science fiction become reality.

NEW FANDOM  -o-  NEW FANDOM

The Philadelphia Science Fiction Conference held in October, 1939 approved NEW FANDOM's tentative constitution by a large majority vote. This tentative constitution was written by William S. Sykora after several conferences with New Fandom's present Governing Committee. NEW FANDOM's present Governing Committee, which consists of Sam Moskowitz, Managing Secretary, William S. Sykora, James V. Taurasi, Mario Racic, Jr., and Raymond Van Houten are now engaged in revising this tentative constitution along the lines suggested by the discussions entered into at the Philadelphia Conference.  It will be presented along with other constitutions drawn up by some of our members for the approval of the membership at large.   Watoh for it!

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14 NEW FANDOM S̲C̲I̲E̲N̲C̲E̲ ̲F̲I̲C̲T̲I̲O̲N̲ ̲A̲N̲D̲ ̲N̲E̲W̲ ̲F̲A̲N̲D̲O̲M̲ The Gist of an Extemporaneous Talk Delivered At the WSFC, By William S. Sykora, Chairman Moskowitz, Fellow Science Fiction Fans, and Friends: Some people suppose that we fans are a group of impotent, frustrated, day dreamers and wishful thinkers. Some of our fellow fans do not go quite so far, but they do maintain that we are, in the main, escapists. If these beliefs were entirely true, then there never could have been a First, Second, or Third Eastern Science Fiction Convention; there could never have been a First National Science Fiction Convention; there never could have been a Queens Chapter of the SFL; there never could have been a cooperative general fan organization like New Fandom; and this, the.great World Science Fiction Convention would never have taken place. Life is as we live it. To try to "escape" via Science Fiction is just as cowardly in my opinion, as "escape by suicide. Only the science fiction pseudo-intelligentsia, who try, somewhat unsuccessfully, to emulate the Greenwich Village "arty" set, are defeatists and escapists. With such people who dishonor fandom by trying to include themselves in it, it is difficult, if not impossible, to obtain the cooperation and good fellowship so necessary for a progressive advance of fan activities. On the other hand, such men as Dr. John D. Clark,.even though they insist that science fiction is escape.literature, nevertheless have that mature attitude and good sense to realize that the pure entertainment value of science fiction may be sufficient to justify its existence. Such people have no "save the world" complexes nor do they have that phobia which causes them to fear oblivion so much, that they feel forced to attract attention to their miserable selves by any means, no matter how lacking in common sense or good taste. My message then, to you delegates from far and near to this great gathering, is this:- Whether we believe that science fiction justifies its existence purely as entertainment or not, let us not permit ourselves to be labelled as "save the world" crackpots, and let us rather take the messages of the authors of scienoe fiction, and working together, hand in hand with progressive New Fandom, strive to make the fancies of science fiction become reality. NEW FANDOM -o- NEW FANDOM The Philadelphia Science Fiction Conference held in October, 1939 approved NEW FANDOM's tentative constitution by a large majority vote. This tentative constitution was written by William S. Sykora after several conferences with New Fandom's present Governing Committee. NEW FANDOM's present Governing Committee, which consists of Sam Moskowitz, Managing Secretary, William S. Sykora, James V. Taurasi, Mario Racic, Jr., and Raymond Van Houten are now engaged in revising this tentative constitution along the lines suggested by the discussions entered into at the Philadelphia Conference. It will be presented along with other constitutions drawn up by some of our members for the approval of the membership at large. Watoh for it!