Gunn 'liberates' young people's minds
Prof writes science fiction
By MINA RELPH
Kansan Staff Writer
Long before the days of Ponce de Leon's fabled search for the fountain of youth, imaginative persons have dreamed of eternal life. Speculation about immortality continues today, still in imaginative minds, and particularly in the works of science fiction writers.
A book by KU's James Gunn, administrative assistant to the chancellor and instructor in English, soon will make its television debut to share Gunn's impression of immortality with science fiction fans throughout the nation.
The book, "The Immortals," explores the logical consequences of immortality—its implications for individuals and for societies.
"The Immortals" is not the first of Gunn's creations to deal with societal relationships
K-State to host clinic on cities
A conference entitled "Crisis in Our Changing Communities" will be held Friday and Saturday at Kansas State University.
The conference is sponsored by the Kansas East Conference Board of Social Concerns of the United Methodist Church and the Manhattan Council of Churches, a spokesman for the conference said yesterday.
It will focus on the crisis of change in small Kansas cities, he said. "How can communities respond?" is the question to be posed concerning problems, racial problems, care of the aged, the decay of housing units and other such problems.
Conference discussion will be led by area persons who are involved with these problems in their respective communities. They will conduct problem-action clinics where participants will have a chance to work on their community's problems.
Registration fee for the conference is $5.50 and will include conference costs and one meal. Student registration is $2. Registrants should write United Ministries—Wesley Foundation, 1427 Anderson, Manhattan, Kansas, 66502.
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between groups and between individuals. "Most of my stories have been sociological or philosophical in nature," he said, "and all of my published fiction has been science fiction."
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Gunn said his interest in science fiction did not stem from a particular knowledge of science, but rather it was the result of personal curiosity.
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"I began reading science fiction in the late 1930's," he said, "and under rather unusual circumstances."
Gunn explained that printing had always been the occupational tradition in his family. The result, he said, was an interest in reading and a big, old house full of books.
In addition to these, there was an abundance of pulp magazines which were published furing the depression. And many of these he said, were the first science fiction magazines.
"Comic books were not really popular during that time," he said, "but pulp magazines, particularly 'science fiction, represented to the teen-agers of that era what television represents to teen-agers of today—a form of entertainment."
There were also several second-hand magazine stores, he said, where old magazines cost five cents or could be traded for two old magazines.
Wasn't anything else to do
Since there wasn't much else to do, he said, most young people read. "I always read as much as I could," he said. "And I was particularly interested in the science fiction magazines."
Gunn said his literary background interested him in science, and his first semester of college work at KU was concentrated in that area.
"After my first semester, it occurred to me there are people who were born to be scientists, for whom scientific things work right. I decided I was not one of those who could command the cooperation of nature."
His subsequent choice of majors in the field of English and journalism was also a result of his early interest in reading, he said.
In his senior year his interest in writing was firmly established. He wrote a play as a class exercise which was produced on campus. The play, called a satire by some, was actually more a fantasy combined with moral
principles and commentary, he said.
Tried science fiction
A few months later he decided to try his hand at science fiction.
The result was "Paradox," a short story which was published in one of the popular pulp magazines.
"From that time on, I was completely hooked," he said. "Anyone who has ever sold something of his own creation can understand the thrill and the satisfaction I felt."
During that time, Gunn wrote a series of ten science fiction stories, nine were published.
When he finished his graduate work at KU, he took a job as editor of the paperback section for an eastern publishing house, but he never gave up writing he said.
He sold several more articles, including his master's thesis, an analysis of modern science fiction. "I think I was the first to have my master's thesis serialized in a pulp magazine," he laughed.
Writing interrupted
Gunn said his writing career was interrupted when he returned to KU to teach English and, later, to manage the
University public relations. He was also managing editor of an alumni publication.
In the last three or four years, he said, hw has again tried to devote his spare time to writing. "The Immortals," published in 1962, was followed by two more science fiction books.
"Some science fiction writers are concerned with things they would like to see happen. Others write about things they fear will happen," he said.
"I always try to make my stories logical and reasonable," he added, "and many times I deal with the 'too much' of a good thing.
Science fiction necessary
"Science fiction is necessary and constructive today because society tends to narrow down for children the scope of things which are possible to do and to think.
"Science fiction has the opposite influence-it liberates the minds of the young people."
Enrollment hits high
A record high of 749 foreign students are enrolled this spring semester, Dr. Clark Coan, dean of foreign students, said yesterday.
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