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Scientifictionist, issue 2, after 1945
Page 7
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SCIENTIFICTION IDEA CORNER by Walter A Coslet Our research into idea phases this issue is in "metempsychosis", a subject which stf has merely borrowed from strict fantasy. And so , though we are not concerned with fantasy herein, it will not be out of place to mention a couple uses made of the idea in non-scientific fiction to serve as a definition and introduction. AN ASTRAL GENTLEMAN by Robert Wilbur Lull and Lillian M. Ainsworth, first published in 1917 and reprinted in the Jan. 40 FFM, is perhaps the most usual and unimaginative interpretation. It tells how James Rogers, whose body was destroyed while he was on an "astral" journey and was thus stranded on an immaterial plane, attempts to take over dying bodies. He finally succeeds in taking over tramp David Lawrence's--with the help of another tramp who appears at the opportune moment. A much more imaginative fantasy of similar theme however, is Don Wilcox' THE SCARLET SWORDSMEN (June 45 Amazing). Here, Hindu gods repay Val Roman by transferring his consciousness to the body of his murderer each time he is murdered. Incidently this is one of the few fantasies I have ever enjoyed reading. The applications scientification authors have made of this idea are many and varied. We are not concerned here with distinctions between mere transfers and complete exchanges but we do want to distinguish three broad phases into which the subject can be conveniently divided. They are (1) surgical transposition of the brains, (2) various less messy methods of transferring the consciousness and intelligence--the soul, if you will--and (3) what might be termed "parasitism." In Anthony Gilmore's HAWK CARSE series in the old Clayton Astounding (Gilmore, they say, was really Harry Bates and Desmond Winter Hall) Kui Sui, a brilliant Oriental surgeon, succeeds in removing a number of scientists' brains and connecting them together for high-powered thinking until the Hawk forces him to restore them to bodies--and since their own bodies weren't available, it of course results in the minds being transferred to other bodies. Neil R. Jones tells of surgeons exiled for illegal brain surgery--leading to brain transfers--in DURNA RANGUE NEOPHYTE (June 37 Astounding). A mMartian switches and later returns the brains of a a Venusian and an Earhman in DOOM OVER VENUS by Edmond Hamilton (Feb. 40 TWS). Don Wilcox' THE WHISPERING GORILLA results when a murdered man's brain is transplanted in a gorilla's body (FA May 40). The brain, however, seems to have trouble retaining its hmanity. A world ruler who has his brain transferred to another body each time he wears a body out is E.A. Grosser's THE BRAIN OF MANY BODIES (Oct. 40 SF). Though perhaps it stretches a point, THE SMALLEST GOD by Lester del Ray (ASF jan 40) would fit here. While not a brain, the Bit of Tar assumes that responsibility in the braincase of an android. Ed Earl Repp goes to unusual lengths to overcome the difficulties of surgical brain transfers in THE BODY PIRATE (Mar. 35 Amz). By means of Fifth Dimension Surgery Dr. Merton Lape switches brains simultaneously without bloodshed or scars. Vibration seems to be the secret, and size differences are overcome. Repp tried another tacl with MASTER OF THE LIVING DEAD (Jan. 44 Amz). Here, he transposed complete heads in less than a second but the explanation is unsatisfactory. Because amnesia results, the heads are reeducated to the identity of their new body even though the amnesia is not quite complete. Several non-surgical methods of transfer have been dreamed up by authors although most of the methods are mere variations of a standard method. In SWORDSMEN OF SAVRON by Charles Cloukey (Cloutier), the Venusians exchange bodies with earthmen across space (Amazing Aug.-Oct. 32). Bob Olsen (Alfred Johannes Olsen Jr.) has worked out a very plausible theory for mind transfers in PERIL AMONG THE DRIVERS (Mar. 34 Amz). Perhaps it might be called the classic on the subject. The transfer is with driver ants. Carl Buchanan and Arch Carr's contribution to the subject, DISCUS MEN OF EKTA (Feb. 35 Astounding) contains a number of personality changes. Sequel to WARRIORS OF [illegible], it tells of de-animation to permit travel through time and space to Phenos where androids are made to house the intelligences of the dying inhabitants. A "discoid" is also made to house the intelligence of a spy. Festus Pragnell tells, in GREEN MAN OF GRAYPEC (which began in the July 35 Wonder) of the exchange of
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SCIENTIFICTION IDEA CORNER by Walter A Coslet Our research into idea phases this issue is in "metempsychosis", a subject which stf has merely borrowed from strict fantasy. And so , though we are not concerned with fantasy herein, it will not be out of place to mention a couple uses made of the idea in non-scientific fiction to serve as a definition and introduction. AN ASTRAL GENTLEMAN by Robert Wilbur Lull and Lillian M. Ainsworth, first published in 1917 and reprinted in the Jan. 40 FFM, is perhaps the most usual and unimaginative interpretation. It tells how James Rogers, whose body was destroyed while he was on an "astral" journey and was thus stranded on an immaterial plane, attempts to take over dying bodies. He finally succeeds in taking over tramp David Lawrence's--with the help of another tramp who appears at the opportune moment. A much more imaginative fantasy of similar theme however, is Don Wilcox' THE SCARLET SWORDSMEN (June 45 Amazing). Here, Hindu gods repay Val Roman by transferring his consciousness to the body of his murderer each time he is murdered. Incidently this is one of the few fantasies I have ever enjoyed reading. The applications scientification authors have made of this idea are many and varied. We are not concerned here with distinctions between mere transfers and complete exchanges but we do want to distinguish three broad phases into which the subject can be conveniently divided. They are (1) surgical transposition of the brains, (2) various less messy methods of transferring the consciousness and intelligence--the soul, if you will--and (3) what might be termed "parasitism." In Anthony Gilmore's HAWK CARSE series in the old Clayton Astounding (Gilmore, they say, was really Harry Bates and Desmond Winter Hall) Kui Sui, a brilliant Oriental surgeon, succeeds in removing a number of scientists' brains and connecting them together for high-powered thinking until the Hawk forces him to restore them to bodies--and since their own bodies weren't available, it of course results in the minds being transferred to other bodies. Neil R. Jones tells of surgeons exiled for illegal brain surgery--leading to brain transfers--in DURNA RANGUE NEOPHYTE (June 37 Astounding). A mMartian switches and later returns the brains of a a Venusian and an Earhman in DOOM OVER VENUS by Edmond Hamilton (Feb. 40 TWS). Don Wilcox' THE WHISPERING GORILLA results when a murdered man's brain is transplanted in a gorilla's body (FA May 40). The brain, however, seems to have trouble retaining its hmanity. A world ruler who has his brain transferred to another body each time he wears a body out is E.A. Grosser's THE BRAIN OF MANY BODIES (Oct. 40 SF). Though perhaps it stretches a point, THE SMALLEST GOD by Lester del Ray (ASF jan 40) would fit here. While not a brain, the Bit of Tar assumes that responsibility in the braincase of an android. Ed Earl Repp goes to unusual lengths to overcome the difficulties of surgical brain transfers in THE BODY PIRATE (Mar. 35 Amz). By means of Fifth Dimension Surgery Dr. Merton Lape switches brains simultaneously without bloodshed or scars. Vibration seems to be the secret, and size differences are overcome. Repp tried another tacl with MASTER OF THE LIVING DEAD (Jan. 44 Amz). Here, he transposed complete heads in less than a second but the explanation is unsatisfactory. Because amnesia results, the heads are reeducated to the identity of their new body even though the amnesia is not quite complete. Several non-surgical methods of transfer have been dreamed up by authors although most of the methods are mere variations of a standard method. In SWORDSMEN OF SAVRON by Charles Cloukey (Cloutier), the Venusians exchange bodies with earthmen across space (Amazing Aug.-Oct. 32). Bob Olsen (Alfred Johannes Olsen Jr.) has worked out a very plausible theory for mind transfers in PERIL AMONG THE DRIVERS (Mar. 34 Amz). Perhaps it might be called the classic on the subject. The transfer is with driver ants. Carl Buchanan and Arch Carr's contribution to the subject, DISCUS MEN OF EKTA (Feb. 35 Astounding) contains a number of personality changes. Sequel to WARRIORS OF [illegible], it tells of de-animation to permit travel through time and space to Phenos where androids are made to house the intelligences of the dying inhabitants. A "discoid" is also made to house the intelligence of a spy. Festus Pragnell tells, in GREEN MAN OF GRAYPEC (which began in the July 35 Wonder) of the exchange of
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