We should have been colonizing the solar system by now.

[klook]

722. Thanks!

This tempest in the teapot of science fiction is interesting on various levels: science vs. art (as though they're incompatible!), conservative vs. progressive, men vs. women (some of the early sliderule-toting "hard science" fiction fans thought SF should remain a boys' club), methodical craft vs. intuitive freedom, socially conscious vs. escapist fiction, etc.

And, as my sparring partner noted, in the 1930s there was a real rift between a few of the early fans (the Futurians from New York) and most of the rest of the tiny SF fan world at the time over a) the role of science fiction in society (pure entertainment or serious literature -- including, some would say, childishness and pretensions on both sides) and b) whether the SF community should support the leftist uprisings in Europe. (This, of course, coincided with the Spanish Civil War as well as the ascent of the National Socialist German Workers' Party -- the Nazis. So there were SF fans who sympathized more with the communists than with the fascists, as in the rest of American society; allegiances for which they were often castigated either at the time or later.)

There's more on the history of SF fandom here: http://fancyclopedia.wikidot.com/

Excellent point about "The Marching Morons." I was thinking the other day I need to re-read that one in light of recent discussions of Ayn Rand.

Like you (and as I noted in my previous posts), I've never felt like a member of one "club" or another within the SF universe. There is much to enjoy from many brilliant writers in the field.