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Amazing Wonder Tales, v. 1, issue 1, August 1938

Page 23

THE FIRST SCIENCE FICTION FAN
by Robert G. Thompson

     We present here Robert G. Thompsen, of when you see drawings  of on the opposite
page. He did not pose for it, 
it was drawn from memory by our artist, for once we have made him write a story other than time. And we are sure you will like it. ED. 

George Richardson, chief of
the archaeological expedition, glared at David Greggins. "You mean to tell me that in Paleolithic caves, formerly inhabited by Cromagnons, you
found pictures depicting fairly accurate bows and arrows, canoes, and huts?"
    "I do." was the simple answer.
    "And did you even hint that you found a crude representation of a flying machine."
    "No, sir," was the answer, "I
did not. I found a picture of what looked like a hollow log with the wings of a bird. Hinting is inexcusable in science. What is more I saw a log which seemed to be moving with being pushed or pulled. On it was representing a man--typical Cromagnon, by the way, who was pulling some strings. I saw a few more prophecies of things that had not come into being during the later Paleolithic."
   "Absurd!" was the indignant reply. George Richardson continued in a very pompous manner. "These wild fancies 
shall cost you your job."
    "Perhaps, sir," suggested David Greggings, "You would like to see these pictures yourself."
   "No," replied the chief, "I would not like to see your pipe-dreams anymore than I would like to go insane
in other manner."
   "Well come along!" replied the enthusiastic young archaelogist. "Maybe I can convince you I'm right."
     So George Richardson came along. After arriving at the prehistoric cave, they went in. Sure enough, there were
the pictures exactly as David had described them.
    "Well," David asked, "does that change your opinion?" 
    His boss was more indignant than ever. "It certainly does. Formerly, I
thought you were a liar. I did not expect however. that you would desecrate you**
profession to the extent of painting these plctures and  pretend that they were drawn  by a Cromagnon Artist."
     "Alright," sighed David, "see for yourself."
     After making a geological investigation, Dr Richardson was forced to admit that they were genuine.
     "But what," he asked, "is the explanation?"
     "This," was the reply, "is the answer. First, have you heard of a group of magazines called
"science-fiction"? There are
three: AWE-INSPIRING STORIES, ASTONISHING SCIENCE-FICTION, and THRILLING FANTASY STORIES." '
   "You have mentioned them," replied Richardson. "And I must say that your reading such literature has at times interferred with your scientific judgment."
     "These magazines," continued David, "print stories dealing with scientific inventions, and discoveries that are not yet definitely achieved but which are logical and may occur in the future."
     "Yes," impatiently answered George, "And I suppose you would tell me that the artist get these things from a man from Mars or a time traveller."
    "No," answered David, "The history of science-fictlon in magazine form began a
few years ago, but it has been going on in some form longer than that. Jules Verne wrote the first science-fiction stories definitely known, "but in Gulliver's Travels, Dean <sic>
Swift had what might be called science-fiction. But these drawings prove that the first science-fiction fan was a Comagnon Artist who drew the picture you see in the
cave!"
    "Well," reluctantly agreed Richardson, "I guess that is the best explanation you can
get."
     Far awhile they stood in silence. Finally Richardson spoke. "I guess all we do now
is take the drawings back with us."
     "Yeah," answered Greggings, "and I'll join the American Rocket Society."
     "What do you mean?" asked his startled boss.
     The answer was plain. Dave pointed to a drawing which showed the flying machine reaching the Moon.     
(THE END)

Saving...

THE FIRST SCIENCE FICTION FAN by Robert G. Thompson We present here Robert G. Thompsen, of when you see drawings of on the opposite page. He did not pose for it, it was drawn from memory by our artist, for once we have made him write a story other than time. And we are sure you will like it. ED. George Richardson, chief of the archaeological expedition, glared at David Greggins. "You mean to tell me that in Paleolithic caves, formerly inhabited by Cromagnons, you found pictures depicting fairly accurate bows and arrows, canoes, and huts?" "I do." was the simple answer. "And did you even hint that you found a crude representation of a flying machine." "No, sir," was the answer, "I did not. I found a picture of what looked like a hollow log with the wings of a bird. Hinting is inexcusable in science. What is more I saw a log which seemed to be moving with being pushed or pulled. On it was representing a man--typical Cromagnon, by the way, who was pulling some strings. I saw a few more prophecies of things that had not come into being during the later Paleolithic." "Absurd!" was the indignant reply. George Richardson continued in a very pompous manner. "These wild fancies shall cost you your job." "Perhaps, sir," suggested David Greggings, "You would like to see these pictures yourself." "No," replied the chief, "I would not like to see your pipe-dreams anymore than I would like to go insane in other manner." "Well come along!" replied the enthusiastic young archaelogist. "Maybe I can convince you I'm right." So George Richardson came along. After arriving at the prehistoric cave, they went in. Sure enough, there were the pictures exactly as David had described them. "Well," David asked, "does that change your opinion?" His boss was more indignant than ever. "It certainly does. Formerly, I thought you were a liar. I did not expect however. that you would desecrate you** profession to the extent of painting these plctures and pretend that they were drawn by a Cromagnon Artist." "Alright," sighed David, "see for yourself." After making a geological investigation, Dr Richardson was forced to admit that they were genuine. "But what," he asked, "is the explanation?" "This," was the reply, "is the answer. First, have you heard of a group of magazines called "science-fiction"? There are three: AWE-INSPIRING STORIES, ASTONISHING SCIENCE-FICTION, and THRILLING FANTASY STORIES." ' "You have mentioned them," replied Richardson. "And I must say that your reading such literature has at times interferred with your scientific judgment." "These magazines," continued David, "print stories dealing with scientific inventions, and discoveries that are not yet definitely achieved but which are logical and may occur in the future." "Yes," impatiently answered George, "And I suppose you would tell me that the artist get these things from a man from Mars or a time traveller." "No," answered David, "The history of science-fictlon in magazine form began a few years ago, but it has been going on in some form longer than that. Jules Verne wrote the first science-fiction stories definitely known, "but in Gulliver's Travels, Dean Swift had what might be called science-fiction. But these drawings prove that the first science-fiction fan was a Comagnon Artist who drew the picture you see in the cave!" "Well," reluctantly agreed Richardson, "I guess that is the best explanation you can get." Far awhile they stood in silence. Finally Richardson spoke. "I guess all we do now is take the drawings back with us." "Yeah," answered Greggings, "and I'll join the American Rocket Society." "What do you mean?" asked his startled boss. The answer was plain. Dave pointed to a drawing which showed the flying machine reaching the Moon. (THE END)