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This article focuses on the book "The Hucksters," by Frederic Wakeman. Ad fiction was born out of the success of the novel in 1946. Since then variations on Wakeman's theme have preempted a footage of shelf space almost comparable to that occupied by science fiction, adventure fiction, murder fiction, etc. Ad fiction has become a popular art. But in 1958 and 1959, the martini mix of 1946 was altered. The hero is no longer a huckster. In fact, he hates hucksters. The dirty work this fellow does, he does it because it's got to be done. The theme is self-sacrifice, discipline of the will, the overcoming of personal revulsion.

This article focuses on science fiction writer John Campbell. In the efforts to get a man into space, science-fiction fans feel they have overlooked the fact that a certain middle-aged New Jerseyan already has been there for years. Campbell has been blazing like an asteroid in the special wild blue yonder of space literature since before World War II. He has a powerful hold on these disciples because, first of all, Campbell pioneered modern science fiction and in the process largely killed off the hackneyed type of tales dealing with bug-eyed monsters. Like most nuclear physicists at the time, he was not absolutely certain that a chain reaction could be stopped.