Fantasy, Ancient and Modern

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"Nevertheless, in fairness to the ancients one must say that they were not more indulgent in this respect than the moderns are in there comparably structured state of existential disorientation, for, ever since the plurality of worlds has been introduced again to the general public through Fontenelle's Entriens sur la pluralité des mondes (1686), Western society has descended to the vulgarian grotesque of flying saucers, an invasion from Mars, investment of public funds in listening to signals from other worlds, a wave of excitement that the pulsar admissions could be such signals, and the industry of science fiction that is based on this conceit." -- Eric Voegelin, The Ecumenic Age, p. 81

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