In June, 1929, in the first issue of Science Wonder Stories, Hugo Gernsback, the editor of that revered and lamented publication, had this to say: "Taste in reading matter changes with each generation."
I quite sincerely hope I may be pardoned for my presumption if I (the editor of UNICORN STORIES) bring forth at this date my opinion that the time has cone for -- to borrow an unquestionably resounding phrase -- an agonizing re-appraisal of the words of the renowned Mr. Gernsback.
Let it be clearly understood that no detraction from the reputation of Mr. Gernsback is indicated or implied by my statements. True it is that Mr. Gernsback was the father of the science fiction field; no dishonor is inherently attached to my mild and modest whisper that science fiction as a genre was inevitable, and if Hugo hadn't invented it, someone else would have. I might have done it myself, given the time and opportunity.
Be that as it may, what does the dictionary (a book which has my wholehearted recommendation -- no true science fiction fan should be without one, or possibly even two) say about this word, "generation"? Bypassing the irrelevant definitions, the relevant one which remains (by a process of ilimination, as detective story writers are so fond of saying) is simply this: "the age or average lifetime of a generation; term of years (commonly 30) accepted as the average difference of age between one generation of a family and the next."
Semantics aside for the moment (although, be it noted, only a language ineluctably bound up with the essential meaningness of meaning could possibly set semantics -- the science of meaning -- aside for even a moment), what does this mean? It means, and this may shock you, but, if you grant that Gernsback's words carried any weight whatever (and, as a science fiction reader, you must by definition grant that Gernsback's words carried some weight, although of course exactly how much weight they carried for any individual is an extremely individual, i.e., personal, proposition), you must admit that a generation has almost come and gone since Mr. Gernsback wrote (or published, anyway) these words.
In other words, reading tastes are about to undergo another change. In June, 1959, to be exact. In that month, science fiction will disappear completely. Unless Mr. Gernsback was wrong. And how could Mr. Gernsback have been wrong, when he is said to have been the father of science fiction?
In any event, no new books were published this month.
--lts
Data entry by Judy Bemis
Hard copy provided by Geri Sullivan
Data entry by Judy Bemis
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