Page:Astounding Science Fiction v54n06 (1955-02).djvu/157

light source. The screen would be perhaps one inch deep and as large as is desired. However, I need a crystal which will rotate the plane of polarized light when it is excited at its resonant frequency. Assume further that I am not aware of the existence of such a crystal.

The thing for me to do is get the idea to appear in our hypothetical publication which we will say enjoys circulation among scientists as well as nonscientists. Now assume 1) that such a crystal is known to exist; or 2) that it is not. In the first case our wafer-thin TV screen would be a reality in a very short time. In the second case some enthusiastic chemist or solid state physicist would possibly be on the lookout for such a crystal, or might even take it upon himself to search for one. In either case it seems probable to me that if we are ever to have such a screen we would certainly have it much sooner than if the publication did not exist.

Subjects could range from possibly theory—although the inclusion of "speculative theories" might lead to a publication of considerable bulk!—to would-be inventions, and from psychology and biology to mathematics and physics.

I grant you that the undertaking suggested here would doubtless be a tremendous task; however, the contribution to humanity would likewise be tremendous.

Do you want atomic rockets, interstellar travel, a microscopic atomic generator in every home appliance, antigravity, matter transmitters, et cetera?

The articles would be similar to the recent three-part article in ASF, "Achilles and the Tortoise." This is the missing link between science and science fiction and we need much more of it.

You, sir, are the man for the job: 1) ASF is read by scientists and non-scientists. The new publication would need association with your name and the publicity ASF could give it. 2) You seem to have a natural flair for this sort of thing as evidenced by your editorials and the articles in ASF. This would make your editorship of the publication invaluable. What do you think?—Homer B. Tilton.

Dear Sir:

In your November issue you featured an article called "It Didn't Come from Mars," by Roy F. Clough, Jr. It was as far as it went, but it didn't go anywhere.