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Fanzine Digest, v. 1, issue 1, April 1942
Page 7
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[Lytte? Sytte?] ye seconde SPACEWAYS: MARCH 1942 Beacon Light --The Sf. Critic-- We have just finished Second Stage Lensmen and are still laughing. It is positively the most hilarious burlesque on the science fiction epic novel we have ever seen, and we've seen quite a few. Frankly, we didn't think Dr. Smith had it in him, but we apologize now, freely, gaily. Well, he did it. There were some rather bad inconsistencies in the first two Patrol stories, but this time Smith went the whole hog. Let's see how many of them we can spot (and hope we can justify Smith's opinion of fans by not completely missing what he considered his best.) First of all, the easy ones. Civilization and Boskone, says Smith, differ basically in one respect. Civilization recognizes the equality of women; Boskone does not. Uh-huh. So in civilization, no woman (before MacDougal) had ever been a Lensman, and no woman could be. When MacDougal was made a Lensman, she never took advantage of the privileges of Lensmanship, sported their get up, etc., because she realized that she was an inferior creature. Uh-huh. And in Boskone, where a theory of female inferiority is supposed to prevail, any woman who shows herself to be more capable for a certain position than anyone else, gets that position, sex disregarded. Secondly, civilization is supposed to be more advanced than Boskone. So, in civilization, people are shoved into their various positions whether they like it or not. Civilization is chock-full of square pegs in round holes and malcontents of all kinds. How do we know? Simple: Look at the thionite business. The taking of drugs is a way of escape from what the individual considers to be a hopelessly unbearable existence. When people are content and happy in their work, they don't take dope. There is no need for drugs. The very existence of a widely flourishing dope-trade is an unmistakable proof that the society is rotten to the core. So, in Boskone, which cannot stand up against the advanced form of society which is the galactic civilization, anyone at all can work his way up from the lowest rung of the ladder to the top rung. True, they get ahead by cutting down those above them, but the point is, the way is open for the more capable person, and as long as that person is the best man for the job, he has the job. Thirdly, Clarissa MacDougal is supposed to be a great brain. Now, it's one of the principles of the Patrol that at all times, when operating on an alien planet, the patrolman shall adhere to the customs of that planet. MacDougl is sent to Lyrane, a planet of women. The Lyranians do not wear clothes. So this great brain goes there, nicely togged out. The Lyranians apparently do not notice that this stranger wears clothing while they do not. At least, they don't do anything about it. Well, these are just a few. All in all, Second Stage Lensmen is a lovely thing, and just about the funniest tale ever. And that gorgeous wedding---the greatest anti-climax in stf. history. That "solemn zone"! A four ring circus! However, despite it all, Smith is unable to keep from putting in some of his seriously excellent touches. The characterization of Worsel is among the finest we've seen in stf; Worsel is one of the few sensible and logical creatures in the tales. We hope you've gotten the impression from all this that SSL is a must read affair.l * * * * *
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[Lytte? Sytte?] ye seconde SPACEWAYS: MARCH 1942 Beacon Light --The Sf. Critic-- We have just finished Second Stage Lensmen and are still laughing. It is positively the most hilarious burlesque on the science fiction epic novel we have ever seen, and we've seen quite a few. Frankly, we didn't think Dr. Smith had it in him, but we apologize now, freely, gaily. Well, he did it. There were some rather bad inconsistencies in the first two Patrol stories, but this time Smith went the whole hog. Let's see how many of them we can spot (and hope we can justify Smith's opinion of fans by not completely missing what he considered his best.) First of all, the easy ones. Civilization and Boskone, says Smith, differ basically in one respect. Civilization recognizes the equality of women; Boskone does not. Uh-huh. So in civilization, no woman (before MacDougal) had ever been a Lensman, and no woman could be. When MacDougal was made a Lensman, she never took advantage of the privileges of Lensmanship, sported their get up, etc., because she realized that she was an inferior creature. Uh-huh. And in Boskone, where a theory of female inferiority is supposed to prevail, any woman who shows herself to be more capable for a certain position than anyone else, gets that position, sex disregarded. Secondly, civilization is supposed to be more advanced than Boskone. So, in civilization, people are shoved into their various positions whether they like it or not. Civilization is chock-full of square pegs in round holes and malcontents of all kinds. How do we know? Simple: Look at the thionite business. The taking of drugs is a way of escape from what the individual considers to be a hopelessly unbearable existence. When people are content and happy in their work, they don't take dope. There is no need for drugs. The very existence of a widely flourishing dope-trade is an unmistakable proof that the society is rotten to the core. So, in Boskone, which cannot stand up against the advanced form of society which is the galactic civilization, anyone at all can work his way up from the lowest rung of the ladder to the top rung. True, they get ahead by cutting down those above them, but the point is, the way is open for the more capable person, and as long as that person is the best man for the job, he has the job. Thirdly, Clarissa MacDougal is supposed to be a great brain. Now, it's one of the principles of the Patrol that at all times, when operating on an alien planet, the patrolman shall adhere to the customs of that planet. MacDougl is sent to Lyrane, a planet of women. The Lyranians do not wear clothes. So this great brain goes there, nicely togged out. The Lyranians apparently do not notice that this stranger wears clothing while they do not. At least, they don't do anything about it. Well, these are just a few. All in all, Second Stage Lensmen is a lovely thing, and just about the funniest tale ever. And that gorgeous wedding---the greatest anti-climax in stf. history. That "solemn zone"! A four ring circus! However, despite it all, Smith is unable to keep from putting in some of his seriously excellent touches. The characterization of Worsel is among the finest we've seen in stf; Worsel is one of the few sensible and logical creatures in the tales. We hope you've gotten the impression from all this that SSL is a must read affair.l * * * * *
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