NINETEEN FORTY SIX

By Clement Masloff

A series of stories cover several inventions and breakthroughs that could have occurred in an imagined Post-World War II America. They cover microwave faxing and storage, brain wave mental therapy, alongevity serum from the Soviet Union, synthetic gasoline from corn, electronic medical treatments, new zodiacs in astrology, cloud-seeding for whet

• Language: English
• Publisher: The Mulberry Books
• Release date: Sep 21, 2020
• ISBN: 9781952405853

Clement Masloff

The author has been involved with science fiction and speculative literature since teaching himself to read in 1941-1942. He served in the Army as a linguist and translator in four Balkan Slavic languages. For several decades, he taught sociology in Ohio after graduating research in Russian social history. In his retirement years, he has been writing science fiction, a return to dreams of the early 1940s.

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Copyright © 2020 by Clement Masloff.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the publisher and author, except by reviewers, who may quote brief passages in a review.

This publication contains the opinions and ideas of its author. It is intended to provide helpful and informative material on the subjects addressed in the publication. The author and publisher specifically disclaim all responsibility for any liability, loss, or risk, personal or otherwise, which is incurred as a consequence, directly or indirectly, of the use and application of any of the contents of this book.

ISBN: 978-1-952405-86-0 [Paperback Edition]

978-1-952405-85-3 [eBook Edition]

Printed and bound in The United States of America.

Published by

The Mulberry Books, LLC.

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CLEMENT•MASLOFF

The Mulberry Books, LLC.

Aftertime

15 DEC

Oscar Duncan entered the new year of 1946 with great exhilaration, his fingers on the pulse of what seemed to be coming for post-war science and technology.

His monthly magazine, Aftertime, was a leader in futurist publishing. As owner and editor, his own column attracted interest on a grand scale. Oscar’s predictions were convincing and credible to a readership mesmerized by the glorious, glowing future he foresaw.

Where else could one learn about the potential for geothermal, tidal, and aero generated energy? About resojets, aerial rams, and flying wings?

On Jan. 8, two apparently unconnected events occurred that shaped and determined his future as a prophet of science.

Telegraph service in the New York City region was shut down by a strike of 7,000 workers of Wire Union.

The same day, Oscar Duncan received a telephone call inviting him to meet with the publisher of the New York Vertex. There was no indication what this summons might concern. The young writer-editor was perplexed. Why had he been invited to see the newspaper magnate?

In his best blue serge suit, Oscar appeared on the morning of January 9 at the Vertex Tower in Lower Manhattan. He had never been here before. A receptionist led him to the office of the famed press lord, John Ramage.

As Oscar sat waiting, a side door swung open and a large, heavy figure rushed in. He approached, holding out an enormous hand. Milky eyes twinkled in the gigantic head, small sparks glinted in each iris. Ramage continued standing as he addressed his visitor.

"I have read your magazine with fascination. It is enjoyable and enlightening. There is much there that is inspiring. I myself share your confidence in the future. There will be no limits to us in the years to come. Science will attain what we today can barely imagine.

I envy you. Everyone in publishing does. You are a genuine pioneer, making an enviable contribution. All that you write and all that you publish is exciting, Mr. Duncan.

Thank you, sir, smiled Oscar. What you say makes me happy. It is very gratifying to hear such words from you.

I imagine that you have higher ambitions, my friend, bluntly said the press lord. My hope is that the Vortex can cooperate with you on a coming project. What I am thinking of is this: a regular column by you in my paper. A weekly digest of highlights from the frontiers of science. Such a column would raise interest in your Aftertime. Think what the results could be!

I cannot answer you immediately, apologized Duncan. It is a momentous step that has to be considered from all sides. The possible consequences are not clear. Not yet. Can you grant me some time to think it over, Mr. Ramage?

Of course, replied the latter in an even voice. If you agree, the pay will be generous. You will start at top scale. But we can discuss that later. I deeply hope you decide to climb aboard with us."

Oscar changed the subject to something that intrigued him within the other man’s communication kingdom.

I have kept an eye on the F.M. radio project of the Vortex. When will your new station begin broadcasting?

Early this spring. There are technical problems that have stretched out the time required to get it going. It is a financial gamble, but holds the promise of winning a great listening audience in the future. The transmission will be clear and strong. Imagine what it can mean for musical programming. Frequency modulation will revolutionize radio as we know it.

Oscar hesitated a moment, but then made a revelation.

There will be an Aftertime article in the next issue about the possibility of combining F.M. radio with visual facsimile so that electronic versions of a newspaper can be delivered directly to public sites and to homes. The transmission will be by radio wave. In the future, the promise for the press is unlimited. You could be reading your daily paper through radioed fax. Have you ever envisioned such a development?

No immediate answer came from the publisher. Finally, he muttered a candid reply.

Yes, something like that rests in the back of my mind. But there are business competitors who would certainly try to block any such innovation. Existing radio networks and stations, and the new television broadcasters who are preparing to go into operation soon. There would be terrible opposition to facsimile news sent by radio.

Oscar looked down at the Prussian blue carpet of the office.

That is true. Our country has hundreds of radio stations. There are the networks that produce programs for them. And the manufacturers of transmitters and receivers. One can foresee what their attitude would be to F.M.facsimile, how vehemently they would fight and oppose it.

But there is another path that can be taken, said the newspaper publisher in a low voice. But he did not reveal what it might be. Come back after you have considered my offer. Just call and my secretary will set up an appointment at once. I will drop everything I am doing to talk with you, Oscar. He looked the latter directly in the eye. To me, you are already like an old friend I have not seen for some time. Were you in the war?

North Africa and Italy, answered Duncan. A lot of field action, but no medals. My job was in military intelligence.

Ramage looked distracted. I stayed here on the home front, though I tried to enlist several times. You began Aftertime in 1944, didn’t you?

Oscar nodded yes. An awkward silence lasted several seconds, until the futurist excused himself and left.

John Ramage had stood on his feet all through their unusual conversation.

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Several sleepless nights followed, until Oscar Duncan decided that he had to accept the offer. The potential benefits to his futuristic thinking outweighed the possible risks. Aftertime exploration would expand and soar high if he could make his new column a success. That was the way to win public support for scientific research and technological exploration. In this postwar world, the people of America needed new goals and inspiration. Futuric science literature could make a major contribution, believed the writer-editor.

In a week, a second meeting with Ramage took place. This time the giant sat at his large, dark oak desk. The multimillionaire was all business. He thought he had the power to shape what the other would be writing in his weekly newspaper column.

I can think of nothing in applied science as important as the facsimile project here in New York. I believe there is a potential partner for the venture. Can you guess who that might be?

Bewildered, Oscar made no response.

Ramage told him who it was.

Wired Union is going to work with me on this. They possess the expertise that is needed. In New York harbor, they are experimenting with navigation controls by radio wave. Their plans are to build a fleet of telecars with receivers that can take in telegraphic messages sent to them over the air. Then the telegram can be delivered to any address by one of these roving automobiles. But that is still in the future for Wire Union. Their aim will be to utilize radio frequencies in coming years. What do you think of them as a partner?

The workers of Wire Union are on strike in New York City, said Oscar. All of the newspapers, including the Vertex, are full of the story. Their operations are shut down in the city and its whole region. Nothing at all is being transmitted, received, or delivered by that firm.

Ramage frowned darkly.

Yes, and their President, Richard North, is too busy to finish the deal that I discussed with him before the strike began. But we will resume our talks once the labor trouble ends. In fact, I want to have you present when negotiations are renewed with Wire Union.

So, the partnership for radio facsimile is not yet completed?

The publisher gave a sly grin.

My hope is that, with your help, I can convince him to permit Wire Union to connect by their telegraph wires a series of New York F.M. stations. They will be a network. These associated broadcasters will then be able to send out over radio the daily Vertex to fax receivers placed in public buildings about the city. In time, this system could be converted to using microwave frequencies instead of telegraphic wire. I know that the Army experimented with similar relays during the war. They are marvelously efficient carriers of messages, and they can be quickly improved so as to communicate great volumes of material. That is what I envision the future will hold for us, in time.

Oscar gulped. I’ve long believed in the capabilities of the new microwave radiation that is at the center of military radar, he declared. The civilian applications could be revolutionary. There would be no limits to how far we could take it.

The big man nodded approval of what he heard.

You can begin your work by writing about the F.M. system of facsimile that the Vertex and its partner plan to build. It is a topic that will fill our readers with enthusiasm and make them eager to see this new system in operation as soon as possible.

I’ll start on it at once, promised Oscar.

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The new column appeared in the Vertex on January 13, 1946, in the Sunday supplement. It dealt with the future of F.M. radio. A week later, a second column was about facsimile radio transmission of written text. On January 27, Oscar turned his attention to stratavision, the transmission of television signals by reflection from a flying aircraft at a high altitude.

The column on February 3 took up microwave communication of private telegrams and news dispatches. On the Monday that followed, an unexpected telephone call came to the writer of the column at his Aftertime office in lower Grammercy Park.

A secretary-like woman’s voice spoke to Oscar.

Mr. Duncan? This is the office of Wire Union in Manhattan. Mr. Richard North, our President, wishes to see you. Would four o’clock today be convenient for you?

Oscar swallowed hard, then answered he would be there.

The invitation shook him so hard that it took time after the secretary hung up for him to do the same.

What was this about? the startled young futurist wondered. What did such an important, busy person want with him? It had to involve the facsimile developments he had described in his Vertex column, nothing else could it be.

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The chief of Wire Union was a surprise in almost every way. He was the exact physical opposite of John Ramage, his partner-to-be.

North worked in a tiny, cluttered room with no special furnishings or signs of authority. A small, short man with blond hair and almond brown eyes, he was in shirtsleeves as he met Oscar at the door and ushered him to a plain Scandinavian chair of pinewood.

I am so glad you came on short notice, Mr. Duncan, said the executive, sitting down in the swivel work chair behind a small desk covered with papers. As you surely know, Wire Union is in a serious strike situation here in New York. No rest and little sleep for me or my staff. But the time came when I had to talk with you directly, and I hope candidly. I have been deeply impressed by your columns in the Sunday Vertex. They are extremely impressive.

Thank you, said the writer.I appreciate what you say.

North furrowed his brow as he went on.

Critical decisions must be made before this year, 1946, ends. I refer to the direction that future technical development is to take. How are the existing communication carriers and new inventions going to be combined? That will determine much about future life in America and around the world.

I understand, sir, Oscar managed to say at this point. His guess had been correct. The man wished to discuss his columns on the F.M.-fax conjunction then in the planning stage.

You know of the program for F.M. facsimile, with electronic news material. Eventually, a nationwide microwave network will be able to replace all my company’s land lines that use copper wire. Everything will finally travel over microwave radio frequencies. It would be far more advanced that what we now use. There will be many times more traffic and business than we ever saw before the war.

Mr. Ramage and I have talked about that system in very general terms, said Oscar. I agreed that it might be feasible in time, but would need a large investment of resources. I was informed of the role that Wire Union could play in an intermediate, less complicated venture using F.M. radio.

North’s eyes and voice suddenly seemed distant. "There are other interests that would be affected besides ours. Can you conceive of what the radio industry will say if we begin the project, or the baby television broadcasters? And what they might attempt in order to block us? I am especially worried about Azimuth Radio. They are the leading manufacturer of radio sets and equipment, as well as the largest broadcaster and producer of programming. And Azimuth is ahead of everyone in the field of television transmission.

I have several times informed John Ramage that nothing can be settled between us until we know how Azimuth will react, and then how the entire radio-television crowd will respond. But it is Azimuth that is the leader and the key to what can be accomplished in the immediate future. I fear that they will be negative. There is no doubt about that in my mind. That is our greatest obstacle. Those who now dominate the air waves can block our plans if they decide to. They can fight us to a standstill, preventing the public use of the F.M. frequencies as common carries of all types of messages. Our plan for the near future would be halted in the name of their far distant superior system.

Yes, there could be contention and strife between the two, said Oscar with concern.

"The Federal Communications Commission is the judge in these matters, and finally come the courts. It could take years to settle questions of licensing and authorization. I have numerous times pleaded with John that we consult with Azimuth before proceeding with any actual plan.

For example, there is the question of whether we should build one-way or two-way facsimile devices. That is a crucial matter for Wire Union. Telegraph, as we have had it for a century, has been a public carrier of messages. Any person or company can use our public system for their private purposes. The same, of course, goes for the telephone. But we do not yet know whether F.M. facsimile will have the same open duality. Can individuals use the new system that we build for their own ends and purposes? Can a person sitting at home or in some office send a radio telegram over our network to any particular receiver in the United States? Or will the system operate on a different basis?

I see what you are getting at, Mr. North, nodded the writer.

These questions must be answered before anything can go further. That is the reason I want you to talk with my Wire Union engineers. They will reveal to you ideas never before made public. Your column can then present these concepts to the general public, many for the first time. I believe that even Azimuth Radio, with its dominant position in radio, will react positively to what your newspaper column will disclose about what we plan to develop in F.M. facsimile.

Oscar was now breathless with excitement.

This sounds intriguing, I must admit, he managed to say.

Thus it came about that the research laboratories of Wire Union opened up to the editor of Aftertime, who also now wrote for the New York Daily Vertex.

Oscar Duncan decided he had no obligation to inform John Ramage of his visits to the Wire Union technical facility on Long Island. After all, he was there merely to obtain material for future articles on a topic that the publisher of the Vertex had first raised with him. Besides, this was a facility of a