Magazine Summary
FANTASTIC UNIVERSE SCIENCE FICTION
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Summary
This issue features an in-depth article by L. Sprague de Camp on Ignatius Donnelly, a 19th-century figure known for his pseudoscientific theories. Donnelly popularized the idea of Atlantis, proposed that Sir Francis Bacon wrote Shakespeare's plays, and authored speculative novels like 'Caesar's Column.' The article critiques Donnelly's lack of self-criticism and the enduring, though often debunked, influence of his ideas on fringe theories and science fiction.
Magazine Overview
Title: FANTASTIC UNIVERSE SCIENCE FICTION
Issue: December
Price: 35c
Publisher: KING-SIZE PUBLICATIONS, Inc.
This issue of Fantastic Universe Science Fiction features a prominent article by L. Sprague de Camp examining the life and pseudoscientific theories of Ignatius Donnelly. The cover art depicts a robot artist painting a scene with astronauts and a rocket, set against a surreal, alien landscape.
Ignatius Donnelly: Pseudomath and Popularizer of Fringe Theories
The main feature, "Ignatius Donnelly Pseudomath" by L. Sprague de Camp, delves into the life and work of Ignatius Donnelly (1831-1901), a figure described as "America's greatest pseudomath." Donnelly, a lawyer, politician, and author, possessed an active mind but lacked critical self-assessment, leading him to promote several durable pseudo-intellectual cults.
Donnelly's early life in Philadelphia and his move to Minnesota are detailed, including his involvement in a failed real estate venture to create "Nininger City." Despite this setback, he entered politics, becoming Lieutenant-Governor of Minnesota and later serving two terms in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Atlantis: The Antediluvian World
Donnelly's most famous work, "Atlantis: The Antediluvian World" (1882), proposed that Atlantis was a real continent, the origin of human civilization, and the source of various global mythologies. De Camp outlines Donnelly's ten key points, which included the idea that Atlantis was the Garden of Eden, its inhabitants were the gods of ancient mythologies, and its civilization influenced Egypt, Peru, and the Americas.
De Camp critically assesses Donnelly's arguments, noting that they were based on a flawed assumption that similar customs among widely separated peoples necessarily indicate a common origin. He points out that Donnelly assumed Egyptian civilization arose without antecedents and that his theories were not supported by scientific evidence.
Other Theories and Novels
Donnelly's influence extended beyond Atlantis. He also popularized the idea of cometary catastrophism in "Ragnarok: The Age of Fire and Ice" (1883), suggesting that Earth had collided with a comet, leading to a global prehistoric civilization's destruction.
In "The Great Cryptogram" (1888), Donnelly attempted to prove that Sir Francis Bacon wrote Shakespeare's plays using complex cryptographic analysis. De Camp dismisses this as "nonsense," highlighting the absurdity of Donnelly's methods, which could be used to "prove" anything.
Donnelly also ventured into fiction with novels like "Caesar's Column: A Story of the Twentieth Century" (1890), a prophetic work that sold a million copies, and "Dr. Huguet" (1891), which explored racial issues through soul transposition. "The Golden Bottle" (1892) was an alchemical dream narrative.
Populism and Legacy
Beyond his pseudoscientific and fictional works, Donnelly was a key figure in the Populist Party, helping to draft the Omaha Platform of 1892 and running for Vice-President. His novels often reflected Populist principles, including advocacy for low tariffs and a fear of international bankers.
De Camp concludes that while Donnelly's political proposals have seen some acceptance, his pseudoscientific theories, like Atlantis and the Baconian authorship, have largely become "intellectual fossils." Donnelly's legacy is one of a brilliant but undisciplined mind, whose "discoveries" were amusing but ultimately impotent, lacking the crucial power of self-criticism.
Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance
This issue focuses on the history of fringe theories and their impact on science fiction. The editorial stance, as presented by L. Sprague de Camp, is critical of pseudoscientific claims, emphasizing the importance of critical thinking and empirical evidence. The article serves as a cautionary tale about intellectual enthusiasm untempered by rigorous analysis. The magazine itself, "Fantastic Universe Science Fiction," appears to be a platform for exploring speculative ideas, both fictional and historical, with a particular interest in the origins of such concepts and their influence on the genre.
Despite his virtues, Donnelly's Atlantean commentary, and Baconian speculations have left no more mark on serious science and literary history than his mansion has left on the plains of Minnesota. His "discoveries" have withered away to mere intellectual fossils, amusing but impotent.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Ignatius Donnelly?
Ignatius Donnelly (1831-1901) was an American lawyer, politician, author, and promoter known for popularizing pseudoscientific theories, most notably the concept of Atlantis and the idea that Sir Francis Bacon wrote Shakespeare's plays.
What is 'Atlantis: The Antediluvian World' about?
Published in 1882, Ignatius Donnelly's book argued that Atlantis was a real continent in the Atlantic Ocean, the origin of civilization, and the source of various mythologies and ancient technologies.
What was Donnelly's theory about Shakespeare?
In 'The Great Cryptogram' (1888), Donnelly claimed to prove through code-analysis that Sir Francis Bacon, not William Shakespeare, was the true author of the plays attributed to Shakespeare.
What were some of Donnelly's novels?
Donnelly wrote speculative novels such as 'Caesar's Column: A Story of the Twentieth Century' (1890), 'Dr. Huguet' (1891), and 'The Golden Bottle; or, The Story of Ephraim Ben-Zet of Kansas' (1892).
What is the author's assessment of Donnelly's work?
L. Sprague de Camp describes Donnelly's work as a 'careless, tendentious, and worthless opus, a solid mass of misstatements of fact and errors of interpretation,' largely due to his lack of self-criticism.
In This Issue
People Mentioned
- Ignatius Donnellylawyer, promoter, politician, reformer, scholar, author, lecturer, science-fiction writer, pseudo-scientific cultist
- L. Sprague de Campauthor
- Platophilosopher
- Edward H. Thompsonarchaeologist
- L. H. Hoseascholar
- Helena P. Blavatskyfounder of Theosophy
- Augustus Le PlongeonFrench physician
- Jules Verneauthor
- Horace Walpoleauthor
- Delia Baconschool-teacher
- William H. Smithscholar
- Joseph G. Hartscholar
- +8 more
Organisations
- KING-SIZE PUBLICATIONS, Inc.
- Historical Society of Minnesota
Locations
- Atlantis
- Mediterranean Sea
- Europe
- Africa
- Baltic
- Black Sea
- Caspian
- Egypt
- Peru
- Gulf of Mexico
- Mississippi River, USA
- South America
- Central America
- Mayas
- +6 more