DIY History | Transcribe | Hevelin Fanzines | Science Fiction Forward, v. 1, issue 1, September 1940

Transcribe
Translate

Science Fiction Forward, v. 1, issue 1, September 1940

Page 11

SCIENCE FICTION FORWARD   Page 11.

wrong. In the case of Duncan it finally led to a complete renunciation of science-fiction altogether. Wollheim, it is true, hit much closer to the real issue. He realized that science-fiction is a force which looks into the future. Not a bad future, but a good future. He realized that science-fiction must bend all its efforts towards progress. And he said that it was not performing this duty to the best of its ability. Which is perfectly, true, when you reflect that the vast majority of stories and films disseminated today are profoundly ANTI-SCIENTIFIC.
     But after that, he went haywire. His conclusion was the science-fiction needed an injection of politics in order to make it the world force that the fans said it was. His political views coincided with those of Mr. Earl Browder, and so he said: let us support the Communist party. If he had been a Seventh Day Adventist or a Nazi, he would have said the same thing with regards to John W. Bowman or Adolph Hitler.
     What Wollheim overlooked was that science-fiction does not need to be propped up with political ideology to make it have meaning. Defined from the standpoint of PRO-SCIENCE it has all the meaning that a rational man could desire. In a sense, the fact of Wollheim and Duncan shows that we do not even have to define science-fiction, because by its very nature, it is PRO-SCIENTIFIC. The present of ANTI-SCIENCE produced Wollheim and Duncan. Of course, this production resulted at the time in conclusions which were wholly erroneous, but that is not the point. The point is that there was a reaction, and this bodes well for science-fiction. It makes us think that no matter what happens, there will always be somebody to yell when we get off the track. The yell may be blurred and off-key, but it will be a yell nevertheless. And if we have anything to say about it, that yell will not come from the domain of politics or aesthetic, but from the domain of science-fiction!

(from page 3.).     We wish to thank Mr. Van Houten for the use of his mimeoing facilities, and for his invaluable help in getting together this first issue of the FORWARD. The editors hope that they will not have to lean so heavily upon Ray in the future, but will never be able to thank him enough for the work he has already done. We make him an Honorary Editor of our magazine in small token of our gratitude.

     You will find that the FORWARD isnot bound in the customary way, but has two stout, dependable stationery [cottar-pins] to hold it together. These have proven advantageous over the usual staples in two ways. They are much stronger, and need no expensive equipment to use. But don't stick yourself on the point.

     Just to give you some idea of what reception our policy has had in some preview propaganda, we would like you to know that John Victor Peterson, well-known author of "Atmosphercs", "The Reinmith Rider" and others, says "I believe science-fiction is being perverted when it is used for the dissemination of ANTI-SCIENTIFIC ideas." And that famous team of Westerners, FJA and Morojo have written to us: "We are PRO-SCIENTIFIC personally; Anti ANTI-SCIENCE in publications policy."
     Bob Studlet, newly active fan, and new manager of "SCIENTIAL" has also declared his support and has graciously offered to distrinute copies of "A WHITE PAPER" with the first issue of his magazine.

Saving...

SCIENCE FICTION FORWARD Page 11. wrong. In the case of Duncan it finally led to a complete renunciation of science-fiction altogether. Wollheim, it is true, hit much closer to the real issue. He realized that science-fiction is a force which looks into the future. Not a bad future, but a good future. He realized that science-fiction must bend all its efforts towards progress. And he said that it was not performing this duty to the best of its ability. Which is perfectly, true, when you reflect that the vast majority of stories and films disseminated today are profoundly ANTI-SCIENTIFIC. But after that, he went haywire. His conclusion was the science-fiction needed an injection of politics in order to make it the world force that the fans said it was. His political views coincided with those of Mr. Earl Browder, and so he said: let us support the Communist party. If he had been a Seventh Day Adventist or a Nazi, he would have said the same thing with regards to John W. Bowman or Adolph Hitler. What Wollheim overlooked was that science-fiction does not need to be propped up with political ideology to make it have meaning. Defined from the standpoint of PRO-SCIENCE it has all the meaning that a rational man could desire. In a sense, the fact of Wollheim and Duncan shows that we do not even have to define science-fiction, because by its very nature, it is PRO-SCIENTIFIC. The present of ANTI-SCIENCE produced Wollheim and Duncan. Of course, this production resulted at the time in conclusions which were wholly erroneous, but that is not the point. The point is that there was a reaction, and this bodes well for science-fiction. It makes us think that no matter what happens, there will always be somebody to yell when we get off the track. The yell may be blurred and off-key, but it will be a yell nevertheless. And if we have anything to say about it, that yell will not come from the domain of politics or aesthetic, but from the domain of science-fiction! (from page 3.). We wish to thank Mr. Van Houten for the use of his mimeoing facilities, and for his invaluable help in getting together this first issue of the FORWARD. The editors hope that they will not have to lean so heavily upon Ray in the future, but will never be able to thank him enough for the work he has already done. We make him an Honorary Editor of our magazine in small token of our gratitude. You will find that the FORWARD isnot bound in the customary way, but has two stout, dependable stationery [cottar-pins] to hold it together. These have proven advantageous over the usual staples in two ways. They are much stronger, and need no expensive equipment to use. But don't stick yourself on the point. Just to give you some idea of what reception our policy has had in some preview propaganda, we would like you to know that John Victor Peterson, well-known author of "Atmosphercs", "The Reinmith Rider" and others, says "I believe science-fiction is being perverted when it is used for the dissemination of ANTI-SCIENTIFIC ideas." And that famous team of Westerners, FJA and Morojo have written to us: "We are PRO-SCIENTIFIC personally; Anti ANTI-SCIENCE in publications policy." Bob Studlet, newly active fan, and new manager of "SCIENTIAL" has also declared his support and has graciously offered to distrinute copies of "A WHITE PAPER" with the first issue of his magazine.