DIY History | Transcribe | Hevelin Fanzines | Reader and Collector, v. 3, issue 6, January 1946

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Reader and Collector, v. 3, issue 6, January 1946

Page 3

3.

scientific fiction exists as a recognizable separate genre of literature. The men where scholars; few, if any, knew anything about the out-of-the-way books dealing with this type of literature. Bailey had to describe the books and summarize their contents as a basis for chapters that attempted to present their patterns and ideas. Then he had to defend the thesis that this literature is worth serious attention.
In this connection, I'd like to call attention to something that the average fan is apt to overlook; except for the works of Edgar Allan Poe, Jules Verne, H. G. Wells and a few volumes on some of the "utopias," the world of scholarship has never read any scientific fiction. Once in a while an unusual scholar may be found in fandom; but I'll wager that most scholars in literature have never looked inside a copy of Amazing Stories, have never seen a copy of the Astounding magazine.
To a somewhat lesser extent, the same thing is true of the general reading public. Many of them have read an "amazing" story now and then; many would find the stories excessively plotted, silly and untrue to anything in life as they know it. This attitude has resulted in the general reader judging unjustly a form of literature that in many stories (both in magazine and book form) has demonstrated excellent, human and thoughtful reasons for its existence. So fine a writer as Olaf Stapledon has not received wide recognition in this country, because, I think, the whole genre of scientific fiction is felt to be fantastic foolery.
Prof. Bailey's book was written for the general public -- a public only dimly aware of scientific fiction. It was written to show that many pieces of scientific fiction have something important to say. I am quite sure that Prof. Bailey had some hope that his book would result in many people who had never read scientific fiction being intrigued sufficiently to read some pieces of it. Personally; I do not think they would be attracted by the ballooning of a fantasy, the number of light years covered, the whale of a world in the atom, etc. as much as by the feeling that men like Wells, Stapledon and others may have something to contribute to their grasp of reality.
Undoubtedly, Pilgrims Through Space and Time will not please the rank and file of fandom; it omits too many favorites; it throws emphasis on consistency of pattern and thought, rather than on amazingness; it treats only a few, intendedly typical stories from the magazines (most of which do perish from the earth). But, after all, scientific-fiction fandom is an extremely small part of the general reading public. However, I think most readers will agree with me, Prof. Bailey's discussion in the second half of the book is a sound and careful analysis. Also, I believe (and Mr. Moskowitz is apparently in accord) that prof. Bailey's book will do some service to the cause of scientific fiction in general and thus some service to fandom. I certainly hope that Prof. Bailey's book will eventually be found on the bookshelves of every member of fandom.

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3. scientific fiction exists as a recognizable separate genre of literature. The men where scholars; few, if any, knew anything about the out-of-the-way books dealing with this type of literature. Bailey had to describe the books and summarize their contents as a basis for chapters that attempted to present their patterns and ideas. Then he had to defend the thesis that this literature is worth serious attention. In this connection, I'd like to call attention to something that the average fan is apt to overlook; except for the works of Edgar Allan Poe, Jules Verne, H. G. Wells and a few volumes on some of the "utopias," the world of scholarship has never read any scientific fiction. Once in a while an unusual scholar may be found in fandom; but I'll wager that most scholars in literature have never looked inside a copy of Amazing Stories, have never seen a copy of the Astounding magazine. To a somewhat lesser extent, the same thing is true of the general reading public. Many of them have read an "amazing" story now and then; many would find the stories excessively plotted, silly and untrue to anything in life as they know it. This attitude has resulted in the general reader judging unjustly a form of literature that in many stories (both in magazine and book form) has demonstrated excellent, human and thoughtful reasons for its existence. So fine a writer as Olaf Stapledon has not received wide recognition in this country, because, I think, the whole genre of scientific fiction is felt to be fantastic foolery. Prof. Bailey's book was written for the general public -- a public only dimly aware of scientific fiction. It was written to show that many pieces of scientific fiction have something important to say. I am quite sure that Prof. Bailey had some hope that his book would result in many people who had never read scientific fiction being intrigued sufficiently to read some pieces of it. Personally; I do not think they would be attracted by the ballooning of a fantasy, the number of light years covered, the whale of a world in the atom, etc. as much as by the feeling that men like Wells, Stapledon and others may have something to contribute to their grasp of reality. Undoubtedly, Pilgrims Through Space and Time will not please the rank and file of fandom; it omits too many favorites; it throws emphasis on consistency of pattern and thought, rather than on amazingness; it treats only a few, intendedly typical stories from the magazines (most of which do perish from the earth). But, after all, scientific-fiction fandom is an extremely small part of the general reading public. However, I think most readers will agree with me, Prof. Bailey's discussion in the second half of the book is a sound and careful analysis. Also, I believe (and Mr. Moskowitz is apparently in accord) that prof. Bailey's book will do some service to the cause of scientific fiction in general and thus some service to fandom. I certainly hope that Prof. Bailey's book will eventually be found on the bookshelves of every member of fandom.