Why did Hubbard write science fiction?

Many people marvel at why L. Ron Hubbard wrote fiction novels and novelettes and particularly why he wrote science fiction, when his main interest was in the field of religion and philosophy.

The truth is that Mr. Hubbard had many professions and primarily he was a writer and he started his writing career by writing fiction stories. This is excellently documented in the book, MASTER STORYTELLER, AN ILLUSTRATED TOUR OF THE FICTION OF L. RON HUBBARD.

Moreover in 1982, Mr. Hubbard said the following about his career as a science fiction writer:

"Recently there came a period when I had little to do. This was novel in a life so crammed with busy years, and I decided to amuse myself by writing a novel that was pure science fiction.

In the hard-driven times between 1930 and 1950, I was a professional writer not simply because it was my job, but because I wanted to finance more serious researches. In those days there were few agencies pouring out large grants to independent workers. Despite what you might hear about Roosevelt "relief," those were depression years. One succeeded or one starved. One became a top-liner or a gutter bum. One had to work very hard at his craft or have no craft at all. It was a very challenging time for anyone who lived through it.

I have heard it said, as an intended slur, "He was a science fiction writer," and have heard it said of many. It brought me to realize that few people understand the role science fiction has played in the lives of Earth's whole population.

I have just read several standard books that attempt to define "science fiction" and to trace its history. There are many experts in this field, many controversial opinions. Science fiction is favored with the most closely knit reading public that may exist, possibly the most dedicated of any genre. Devotees are called "fans," and the word has a special prestigious meaning in science fiction.

Few professional writers, even those in science fiction, have written very much on the character of "sf." They are usually too busy turning out the work itself to expound on what they have written. But there are many experts on this subject among both critics and fans, and they have a lot of worthwhile things to say.

However, many false impressions exist, both of the genre and of its writers. So when one states that he set out to write a work of pure science fiction, he had better state what definition he is using."

....

"So what would pure science fiction be?

It has been surmised that science fiction must come from an age where science exists. At the risk of rising dispute and outcry - which I have risked all my life and received but not been bothered by, and have gone on and done my job anyway - I wish to point out some things:
Science fiction does not come after the fact of a scientific discovery or development. It is the herald of possibility. It is the plea that someone should work on the future. Yet it is not prophecy. It is the dream that precedes the dawn when the inventor or scientist awakens and goes to his books or his lab saying, "I wonder whether I could make that dream come true in the world of real science."

Excerpt from "Introduction to BATTLEFIELD EARTH"

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