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Interim Newsletter, November 1949

Page 3

THE CUSTODIAN AND THE DREAM
  --An Editorial--

   It's characteristic of fandom that a new idea, such as the one back of this new adult society, should be greeted by rather violent reactions. On one hand we have the enthusiasts who feel that this is what fandom has been needing for a long time: on the other, there are those who think fandom should remain the adolescent playground it has been throughout the 'Forties, and state their opinions in no uncertain words.

   In addition, we can also class with the opposition those of the Keep Quiet and Maybe It'll Go Away school.

   Let us assure you that we have no intention of going away. During the two decades fantasy fandom has been in existence it has gone through two separate phases: in the early days of science fiction's youth, most of its devotees were of the semi-serious genre. Fantasy was their hobby - scorned and maligned by the literary world though it was - and an honorable hobby at that.

   During the 'Forties we had the rise of organized fandom - and the subsequent decline of the dignity of fandom. Who can say that this is not the case? Who can glance over the letter columns of the Standard Publications and say that this is untrue? 

   It is not the mere fact of organization itself that has brought us to this state of affairs; none of us can attribute the decline to any one specific cause. But the fact remains that THE DECLINE EXISTS ........ and the fandom which so recently vaunted the "coming of age" of its literature is not adult itself.

   We are coming in to a new decade; one which will, if the predictions if science are to be believed, give men the stars at last. We of fantasy fandom are about to see the dream we have kept all these years become a reality in fact. The question is, will the custodians be worthy of the dream? We have done a good job guarding it; such a good job that we have neglected to guard ourselves.

   1950, the new decade, can be the third phase of fandom. We can present a mature face to the world if we only chose to do so; we can be worthy of the dream.

   But only if we WILL.

   What is it to be?
_______________________
_______________________

      Parlez-vous Francais.

   One other amateur science fiction publication which has a number of firsts to its credit claims to be the first to have a complete edition in the Spanish language. We, not to be outdone, claim that to the best of our knowledge we are the first to publish humour in the French language.

   Hereunder are some "Propos feminins", "Feminine wisecracks" to you. Firstly: "Je ne la connais pas suffisamment pour lui parler, seulement pour en parler." Then we have: "Naturellement, je pourrais vivre avec ce que tu gagnes, mais toi, de quoi vivrais-tu?"

   That's all folks; tres drole, n'est-ce pas?

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THE CUSTODIAN AND THE DREAM --An Editorial-- It's characteristic of fandom that a new idea, such as the one back of this new adult society, should be greeted by rather violent reactions. On one hand we have the enthusiasts who feel that this is what fandom has been needing for a long time: on the other, there are those who think fandom should remain the adolescent playground it has been throughout the 'Forties, and state their opinions in no uncertain words. In addition, we can also class with the opposition those of the Keep Quiet and Maybe It'll Go Away school. Let us assure you that we have no intention of going away. During the two decades fantasy fandom has been in existence it has gone through two separate phases: in the early days of science fiction's youth, most of its devotees were of the semi-serious genre. Fantasy was their hobby - scorned and maligned by the literary world though it was - and an honorable hobby at that. During the 'Forties we had the rise of organized fandom - and the subsequent decline of the dignity of fandom. Who can say that this is not the case? Who can glance over the letter columns of the Standard Publications and say that this is untrue? It is not the mere fact of organization itself that has brought us to this state of affairs; none of us can attribute the decline to any one specific cause. But the fact remains that THE DECLINE EXISTS ........ and the fandom which so recently vaunted the "coming of age" of its literature is not adult itself. We are coming in to a new decade; one which will, if the predictions if science are to be believed, give men the stars at last. We of fantasy fandom are about to see the dream we have kept all these years become a reality in fact. The question is, will the custodians be worthy of the dream? We have done a good job guarding it; such a good job that we have neglected to guard ourselves. 1950, the new decade, can be the third phase of fandom. We can present a mature face to the world if we only chose to do so; we can be worthy of the dream. But only if we WILL. What is it to be? _______________________ _______________________ Parlez-vous Francais. One other amateur science fiction publication which has a number of firsts to its credit claims to be the first to have a complete edition in the Spanish language. We, not to be outdone, claim that to the best of our knowledge we are the first to publish humour in the French language. Hereunder are some "Propos feminins", "Feminine wisecracks" to you. Firstly: "Je ne la connais pas suffisamment pour lui parler, seulement pour en parler." Then we have: "Naturellement, je pourrais vivre avec ce que tu gagnes, mais toi, de quoi vivrais-tu?" That's all folks; tres drole, n'est-ce pas?