Authentic Science Fiction Monthly No. 46 — page 15: what you’re looking at

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

AUTHENTIC SCIENCE FICTION since a state of total war exists we're getting simply three sorts of people: fighters, technologists and general labourers.”’ “But surely, since total war does exist and these three types are necessary, it’s better to have them than to have mis- fits who don’t fit in anywhere.” He sighed. “I know, I know. Logically you’re right. But I can’t help feeling that it’s wrong. And don’t come back at me and start saying that because I’m a soldier I should think more logically and un- emotionally than anyone else. I just don’t like the idea of making everyone the same, no matter what the circum- stances are. The world isn’t always going to be kept under ground. Once the war’s over and the radioactivity cleared away men will go back to the surface and start trying to build up a new life for them- selves. A fine sort of life they’Il build if we’ve removed, by this psychosurgery and so on, all strains but those leading to soldiers, technologists and general jabourers.” “I’m not arguing about the future of the world, Steve,” sighed the General’s wife. “’m simply concerned with my son’s future. Is there anything about this psycho- 14 surgery that can possibly . harm him ?” ‘Nothing that I know of, providing it is simply some- thing that happened to him in childhood or early youth. But if not...’ He caught his wife’s eye and forced himself to continue. “If he’s got any attributes of deviants that haven’t yet risen to the con- scious part of his mind but are still in his subconscious .. . Well, if they find them and think them serious it may not be so good.”’ He swallowed. He wanted to stop talking because he didn’t want to speak of this thing that he had learned quite recently, by chance. But his wife’s eyes held him and he forced him- self, as before, to go on. “Harry Lake. You remember Harry. Pal of Pat’s when he was about nine or thereabouts?” She nodded. “‘What about him ?”’ . “You remember how friendly they were? Harry must have been the best friend Pat had, I should think. They used to go off walking together, and wouldn’t mix with the other boys.” “‘[ remember. Harry’s father got moved to one of the west tunnel outposts, didn’t he?’ The General nodded. “‘His son was reported killed when comiclooks.conn