Page:Astounding Science Fiction (1950-01).djvu/119

 of social evolution, will such a civilization ever be realized? I think it will have to be realized if anything galaxy-wide is to be established. It seems possible that somewhere along the line a peak will be reached without benefit of political empires and ideological wars, a peak which will collapse from the weight of accumulated gimmicks of civilization rather than mass revolt against tyranny. O'Donnell came close to describing it in his novel, "Fury," and Williamson laid a possible background for it in his "The Equalizer," though the latter had a totalitarian-proletariat conflict. It might conceivably involve the attainment of immortality, or virtual immortality. But once it is realized, the pathological reaction to the collapse might be the thing which awakens the mental consciousness to the gimmick-free possibilities of ESP and PK practices. In other words, it might be effected in an historic moment when the impetus of mass-psychology fell in its direction. If Van Vogt's "Centaurus II" had led to the climax of Williamson's "The Equalizer"—that might suggest the required circumstances.—Joe Gibson, 24 Kensington Avenue, Jersey City 4, New Jersey.

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