Astounding Science Fiction, British Edition — page 44: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

86 ASTOUNDING SCIENCE FICTION genetic ability to stay alive in this rough and tumble universe than the vanquished. During the battle the defective specimens of both sides would be destroyed thus causing mutual enrichment. The division of food would insure the conqueror against famine—and incidently insure that more of the inferior vanquished would die. Not only that, but, because the conquer- ing armies would be occupying the fallen land, they would be spreading their seed, improving the stock of the conquered to a marked degree. War, then, not only provides for the survival of the best society, but selects the best of the current crop of youngsters for breeding. This is why the entire population, including civilians, should always be involved in wars. It would be improper that people who have escaped military service should altogether escape this rigorous test of their genetic suitability. I will have to elaborate because I anticipate objections. What of the radiation from atomic bombs? Wouldn’t it do terrible things to the genetics of the race? Probably not. So far as is known, atomic radiation has little or no effect upon human genetics. We are not fruit flies, remember. Trying to mutate genes with gamma or X radiation is like trying to crack an egg with a pile-driver.. The egg is cracked but inedible; the gene is mutated—or destroyed—to the extent that any cell it forms a part of is nonviable. Of course, if evidence comes in to the contrary, atomic weapons must be out- awed and we must go back to more conventional forms of war. But is the annihilation of a whole city a selective process? It is in a way. A human must have a certain intelligence and foresight and adaptability to know when not to be in a city which is about to be bombed. That is a very desirable characteristic. It is just such esoteric capacities we wish to preserve. The principal advantage of atomic war, however, is that it would create a severe change for the survivors. For a survivor to survive the aftermath would require real adaptability, stamina, intelligence. He would not only have to show a high capacity for self-preservation, but would also have to show in abundance those qualities which give the race its high survival potential—a compassion for one’s enemy, a selfless devotion to the survival of others, love, charity, mercy. A man cannot survive alone. We could hardly imagine a better all around test of the human organism than atomic war. And the test would involve civilians, soldiers, women, everybody. The selection of breeding stock by testing the young adult’s resistance to destruction is a valid breeding program proved by a billion years of successful operation. War helps to place us on the main line of evolution. When a better-than-human type comes along and succeeds in the test of war we will be disposed of and the superior type will be proven despite our objections. By breeding more than enough soldiers, by fighting, by putting ourselves to the test of life, by flinging ourselves into the struggle with a Death which shows little mercy and allows few survivors we can achieve the knowledge that we belong to the Earth, that we are part of that growing, tenacious, flowering life structure which has evolved from the most insignificant of seeds planted in this planet’s seas so many million years ago. Our bodies can nurture that plant. i We are a great race of fighters and I think we always will be as long as we last on this Earth. We have the courage to face the fight even though THE RIGHT TO BREED 87 we know that no matter how strong and clever we become, nature will always have more than enough strength to hit back at us. The casualties are high but it is not a futile fight. We gain strength, always, in every direction. We know that by fighting we belong to a purpose greater than ourselves—the creation of that which will be the end product of Earth’s long evolution. Toward this purpose the best shall survive exercising their Right to Breed, While the weak shall be the casualties receiving for their essential death eternal gratitude. THE ANALYTICAL LABORATORY The ideal story, I feel, is one that induces each reader to do some thinking and judging of the ideas presented. And to have such a characteristic, the story must present a genuinely debatable problem. So—I wonder if the pretty even distribution of votes in an An Lab report can't have a number of interpretations? They were quite evenly distributed in the votes on the June issue :-— Place Story Author Points 1. Field Expedient Chad Oliver 2.17 2. The Darfstellar Walter M, Miller, Jr. 2.29 3. Nothing New Eric Frank Russell 3.31 4. Without Portfolio James E, Gunn ee 5. Armistice _ K. Houston Brunner 3.58 EComichooks-co =}