Authentic Science Fiction Monthly No. 53 — page 140: what you’re looking at

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

AUTHENTIC SCIENCE FICTION SAVIOURS I am not a fiction fan, a science fan nor a science fiction fan; but I am an enthusiast for life itself, and I find that the subject matter of good S.F. comes closest to my ex- perience with life and reality— closer than either the scientists on the one hand and the theologians, psychologists, philosophers, etc., on the other. The story Saviour, by Bryan Berry, is, in my opinion, and with a little modification and interpretation, little less than a statement of fact. There are people like Pat Vane and his girl friend. This is not surprising since all our deepest instincts—the psycho- physical wonders of the universe— of both race and self preservation are seriously activated by the im- mediate threat of H-bomb war. This is fact, not fiction. The set of circumstances is ripe for saviours, and they would cer- tainly come from and in reaction to conventional, though intelligent, parents with fairly strong wills. Saviours must be, by the very mean- ing of the word, opposed to the accepted thought of the day. Such Saviours are most certainly con- cerned with the group conscience— the race preservation instinct. Bryan Berry is himself activated— which is why, beyond all personal considerations, he wrote the story at this time, and also why the story is psychologically accurate. The entry of telepathy into his story comes from treating a real psycho- logical fact as fiction. It is symbolic of the “telepathic” contact with his own unconscious saviour—unless he did it deliberately and is using _ Authentic to carry his message. Whether or not this is the case, the telepathic symbols will be recognised by the unconscious of some suitable readers and will aid in the activation of the instinct. I was very pleased to see that the note at the climax was upon in- fluencing other people’s thinking, and not upon the old power bug of mind over matter. Perhaps these symbols will eventually do much more good by “speaking’’ to the unconscious saviour ‘in others than would hundreds of serious letters and sociological articles. I do not know. There may thus be a certain **telepathic’’ contact with the group conscience which makes Pat Vane Bryan Berry himself within cer- tain limits; aided of course by Authentic, in which case Authentic is a happy choice of name, because we are dealing, not with fiction, but with the serious use of fiction, much as Jesus used parables. Perhaps the choice of Bryan Berry’s Saviour has a deeper root than simple profes- sional publication. Perhaps that itself is just the difference between good and bad S.F. I, personally, see no reason why good entertain- ment should not add a cubit or so to our stature. Perhaps, on this ship flying through space we call the Earth, saviours are nothing more than emergency repair crews. R. Carvier, 39 Falcon Street, Crow’s Nest, Sydney, Australia. Your letter speaks for itself, Mr. Carvier. We were very pleased to receive it. We only hope it is not misunderstood by some readers. FILM? I feel I must congratulate you for including Death Deferred by E. C. Tubb in Authentic No. 45. It is a pity that this story could not be made into a film, as I feel it would make a forceful impact on all who viewed it, and perhaps act as a 139 comicloooks.conrn