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Saturday, August 30, 2008

JULY-AUGUST 1945 / THE PHANTAGRAPH, Volume 14 Number 4


The JULY-AUGUST 1945 issue of the fanzine THE PHANTAGRAPH, Volume 14 Number 4, edited and published by Donald A. WOLLHEIM, featuring:
Invitation (verse, by Roy St. John LECLAIRE) Germs (verse) After Reading Hegel (verse) I Dream’d in a Dream (verse, by Walt WHITMAN) Proverbs from the Dawnish Warning (verse, by John MICHEL
A NEAR FINE-FINE copy. Digest-sized. 4 pages.

Friday, August 29, 2008

JANUARY 1945 / THE PHANTAGRAPH, Volume 13 Number 1


The JANUARY 1945 (Edgar Allan Poe) issue of the fanzine THE PHANTAGRAPH, Volume 13 Number 1, edited and published by Donald A. WOLLHEIM (Forest Hills, NY.), featuring:
Shadow—A Parable (by Edgar Allan POE)
“In memoriam PAUL FREEHAFER of Polaris
A NEAR FINE-FINE copy. Digest-sized. 4 pages.

Thursday, August 28, 2008

JANUARY 1945 / THE PHANTAGRAPH, Volume 13 Number 1

The JANUARY 1945 (Edgar Allan Poe) issue of the fanzine THE PHANTAGRAPH, Volume 13 Number 1, edited and published by Donald A. WOLLHEIM (Forest Hills, NY.), featuring: Shadowâ / A Parable (by Edgar Allan POE) / In memoriam PAUL FREEHAFER of Polaris A NEAR FINE-FINE copy. Digest-sized. 4 pages.

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Fantasy Review Vol III No 15 Summer 1949


Fantasy Review Vol III No 15 Summer 1949
EXTENSION In discussing the disproportionate production costs which hamper any publishing venture catering for a limited circle of readers, Mr. August Derleth. editor and publisher of the Arkham Sampler, announces the imminent. suspension of that valuable periodical. Which prompts us to point out that, had it been launched as a profit-making proposition. Fantasy Review would long since have given up the struggle. Only the continued support of its advertisers — which made it possible in the first place — has enabled it to survive and encouraged by the tangible enthusiasm of its comparatively small number at subscribers develop into something more substantial than it was in itsfirst two years of life.
The letters we have published since its enlargement give evidence of the desire of its readers for more frequent. Publication: and we wish we were in a position to respond to this demand. Instead of which, due to production difficulties which we are powerless to resolve at present, we have to announce that it becomes necessary foe us to issue Fantasy Review at quarterly intervals, as a temporary measure. Only thus can we contrive to maintain both the standard of contents and regularity of appearance which have made its reputation, and at the same time embark on the further development which is essential to its progress in other respects.
At first sight., this might seem a retrogressive step. But although subscribers must now wait longer for each Issue, they will soon be aware of the improvements which the less frequent publishing schedule will permit us to introduce as from the next. (Autumn, ‘49) issue, which will see a modification in the title of this journal the better so convey the greater scope of its articles and features, With the subsequent issue, we intend to add still more pages to the magazine, without any alteration in the price or the subscription rate, except insofar as this will now be based on publication of four issues a year. the period of existing subscriptions being extended accordingly.
You will help to ensure the restitution of the bi-monthly schedule, which we shall resume at the earliest opportunity, if you can persuade a friend of the value of placing a subscription at the reduced rate immediately. For as soon as we are assured of the maximum circulation we can expect — and it is all the time increasing, if slowly — we can establish Fantasy Review on a basis sound enough to ensure its future unequivocally.
The Editor

Monday, August 25, 2008

Stev Fabian Art






Sunday, August 24, 2008

FANTASY ADVERTISER-3/1948 PULP FANZINE



FANTASY ADVERTISER-3/1948-PULP FANZINE

Saturday, August 23, 2008

Jerry Siegel & Joe Shuster (1933)



SCIENCE FICTION FANZINE #4 includes the concept of SUPERMAN 1933
Starting bid: $3,499.99
Issue: V.1 #4Year: 1933

The seller states: Very Rare Fanzine produced by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster when they were a couple of young Science Fiction fans in Cleveland, OH. Their concept for Superman first appeared in the third issue of this title. This issue features King Kong and the 1933 World's Fair. This is a mimeo fanzine that originally had about 50 - 100 copies printed. Overall there were 5 issues produced. A decade ago the set of 5 (in heavily restored condition) sold at auction for almost $20,000. In over 4 decades of collecting this is the only copy of any of the issues that we have had. Obviously not many copies have survived the 75 years since they were printed. this copy is in VG condition with slightly rusty staples. The mimeo quality is a bit fuzzy on a couple of pages. This was published by young kids and is a cornerstone of science fiction and comic book history.

Friday, August 22, 2008

August Derleth in 1950

Great Art!
_____

The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction
Published by Fantasy House Inc.
Fall 1950
Vol. 1 no. 4
Cover illustration by George Salter
authors: Bill Brown, August Derleth, Roger Angell, James S. Hart, C.M. Kornbluth, Phyllis Lee Peterson, Charles Harness, G. Whitley, D. Grinnell, H. Schoenfeld, H. Nearing Jr.
128 pages

Thursday, August 21, 2008

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Tuesday, August 19, 2008

L Sprague de Camp (1950)


Fanscient No. 13,14 1950

In the last couple of years, a host of new friends have joined his many old ones to rejoice in the return to the fantasy field of L Sprague de Camp, author of many of the most enjoyable stories in the science-fiction realm.

One of the mainstays of Unknown Worlds in its heyday, he has else appeared .notably in ASF {Astounding Science Fiction} and a number of other magazines with a number of their most memorable stories and articles. Few who have read them will forget such stories as “None but Lucifer” (on which he collaborated with H. L. Gold) and “The Undesired Princess” or such articles as “Language for Time Travelers”.

In addition to his fantasy writing, Mr. de Camp has aided in popularizing various branches of science thru his articles in some two dozen different magazines, both popular and scholarly. He. has also sold many book reviews and radio scripts, has done ghost writing and is the author of two textbooks, “Inventions and Their Management” (with Alfred K. Berle, International Textbook Co., Scranton. 1937) and “The Evolution of Naval Weapons.” (U. S. Government, 1947). Mr. de Camp also lectures professionally.

Mr. de Camp is best known for his humorous stories. Many of the more recent ones are set in a background that includes the
planet Krishna, site of his .recent ASF serial, "The Hand of Zei". As for his plans for the future, we’ll let Mr. de Camp tell you about
them. —The Editor


I was born in New York City forty-odd years ago and educated in various parts of the country, but more in Southern California than anywhere else. In 1933 I found myself with degrees in aeronautical engineering and in economics in a time when engineers were still being fired faster than they were being hired. I had worked at various odd jobs in between— saw-mill hand, chainman on a surveying crow, and draftsman, for instance— and had travelled in North America, Europe and Asia. So when a man offered me a job as editor and (I suppose you’d call it) consulting patent engineer I grabbed it.
For the next five years I held several such jobs with publishing and educational institutions. For a year I was principal of the School of Inventing and Patenting of the International Correspondence Schools. In addition to the publicity, textbook and trade-journal writing that comprised part of my jobs I started on fiction in 1936.

My first efforts were a short story, “The Hairless Ones Come”, (which appeared in a now defunct magazine of historical adventure stories, GOLDEN FLEECE) and a novel, “Genus Homo”, in collaboration with P. Schuyler Miller and recently published in book form.

When I saw that first check, my reaction was: This certainly beats working; why hasn’t somebody told as about it before. Hence in 1938 I quit editing for full-time freelance writing, and except for the war years have been at it ever since.. With the sale of “The Command” (the first Johnny Black story) I found I could make money being funny, which neither I nor my friends would have suspected, as in private life I'm a ratter serious gent. In fact my admirers have called as a stuffed shirt, and not altogether without reason.

During World War II I was first a civilian engineer for the U.S. Navy and then an officer (Lt., Lt. Comdr.) in the Naval Reserve. My work was what in romantic moments I call being a mad scientist inventing secret weapons, which gives no idea ef the paperwork and frustration involved in the process. Bob Heinlein and Isaac Asimov worked in the sane place as technical civil—service employees, though it is not true (as a writer for the late Philadelphia Record asserted) that we three were put to work on a space-suit project and made a hash of it. The nearest any of us get to space-suits was that at various times I had charge of the laboratory's cold-room end altitude chamber in which pressure suits were sometimes tested.

Since then I’ve gone back to turning out copy at an average rate of a quarter-million words a year, nearly all or which I sell. In 1939 I married a beautiful blonde named Catherine Crooke. Eleven years later we’re still married and have a red-haired nine— year-old son who shows every sign of becoming a science-fiction fan. We own a house in Wallingford, Pennsylvania (a Philadelphia suburb between Swarthmore and Media) and cope with crab-grass, contractors and cocktail parties like other bourgeois suburbanites.

I wouldn’t say that I had any special hobbies, but I have betimes gone in for many games, sports and hobies, not so much as ends in themselves as to expand my own experiences to use in my writing. Thus one year I say be taking up Spanish, the next shorthand and the next square-dancing, As a result I can do quite a let of things more or less badly; fencing, archery, horseback riding, home photography and sign-painting, for instance. In case anybody is planning a pass at Catherine. I’m a passably good shot with almost any kind of hand firearm. I'm active in several clubs and societies, mostly of a literary nature; and travel when I get the change. Right now I'm polishing my French for a hoped-for visit to Europe en famille next year.

I read a lot, sometimes for fun and sometimes in connection with my work. In the last year I’ve read a let of hard-cover science- fiction and fantasy stories; a few detective stories; about twenty lost-continent novels (by Ashton, Birkmaier, Bond, Cox &c.); some prophetic l9th century science-fiction novels (by Donnelly, Bellamy, Wells, &c.); in Classical literature, parts of Aristophanes, Pausanias, Plutarch, Polybius, Thucydides, and Xenophon; and thirty-odd other non-fiction books such as Abu'1 Fida's "Geographie d’Aboulfeda"; Bok, "The Milky Way"; Bonestell & Ley, "The Conquest of Space"; Brown, "The Story of Maps"; Butler, "The Myth of the Magus"; Chatterton, "Sailing Ships"; Davis, "A Day in Old Athens"; Dixon, "The Building of Cultures"; Duncan, "Astronomy"; Durant, "The Life of Greece"; Pratt, "The Third King"; Thevenin, "Les Pays Legendaires"; Thompson, "Studies in the Odyssey"; &c., &c. At the moment I'm deep in Perkins’ "Elements of Police Science”. I also read regularly about 26 magazines (half of them science-fiction) and two newspapers.

I work about 60 hours a week and belong to the careful, systematic school of writers who meticulously outline everything before starting and rewrite it at least once after it’s done. It takes me anywhere up to six weeks to plot a novel, but on final draft I turn out thirty or more pages a day. One of my little tricks is that when I lay a story in an imaginary setting (like Krishna) I invent a language for it with logical grammar and phonetics. Being a pretty good amateur phonetician, I base the phonetics of my language on that of a real language. Hence, Gozashtandou is a kind of pig-Persian, and Avtinyk (in “Rogue Queen”) a kind of pig-Welsh. I have made very little use of pseudonyms because my own name sounds more like a literary pseudonym than most pseudonyms do.

I keep branching out, trying new things, trying to break into new markets, trying to learn more about writing technique, on the theory that competition. is getting tougher all the time and a writer who stands still will find himself stranded. Sometimes my experiments work and sometimes they don’t. My writing has been influenced by too many people to list, but I might mention Burroughs, Dunsany, Addison, Thorne Smith and Wodehoose. I also learned a lot from the Bread Loaf Conference, where I was a fellow in 1941 and which I have revisited since.

My attitude toward ay profession is frankly commercial. I write primarily to make a living and secondarily because I like writing and like to be self-employed and to work by myself. I don’t mean that I am an unprincipled scoundrel who will do anything for money; but I know of no reason why writers haven't as much right to eat as other people. On the other hand I wouldn’t advise anybody to go into the field unless he has a pretty strong urge; it’s a tough racket, and while it has great compensations it also entails great frustrations and disappointments. 1've had my share of both sucesses and failures, and at that I've gotten off easily compared to some people.

Perhaps you’d like to know what I have in the works. Any time now the Fantasy Publishing Co. should bring out my old novel, “The Undesired Princess”. then about January Prime Press will publish my non-fiction book, “Lost Continents: The Atlantis Theme in History, Science and Literature”. This is 90,000 words of text and 20,000 of appendices and other end matter, and excerpts have appeared in my recent articles in ASF and GSF {Galaxy Science Fiction}. After that, Doubleday will publish another novel, ‘Rogue Queen”, which is told from the viewpoint of a female e. t. and is all about 1ove.. Willy Ley and I are collaborating on a non-fiction book about geographical legends (Sinbad, Prester John, &c.),and I'm. working on stories of various lengths including two book-length novels (at least one of which will probably be published in 1951) and one collaboration with Fletcher Pratt. I'm also revising Berle’s and my old textbook on inventions and patents for its third edition. While I don't know if there will be anymore Krishna magazine serials, I may, if sufficiently encouraged by readers, write more. Krishna novels as book originals; I should like to make an endless series of these a la Tarzan.

So, you see, I keep busy, which is how I like it.

-L. Sprague de Camp.

Monday, August 18, 2008

Sunday, August 17, 2008

Saturday, August 16, 2008

Bradbury signed fanzine


_____
This copy signed by Ackerman, too.
Elsewhere on the blog, the text is typed out of this from another copy.
_____

The seller states:

THE CASE OF THE BAROQUE BABY-KILLER: A Teenage Chum (Forry Ackerman) Rattles Some Skeletons in the Closet of Ray Bradbury
by (Ray Bradbury). Forrest J. Ackerman
[no place]. [no publisher noted]. [undated].
5-page fanzine article offprint.
First page unnumbered, then pages numbered 14, 15, 16, 17, evidently from the original, unidentified publication.
Faint crease at staple, pages age-toned, as expected, else fine: three sheets, stapled at upper left corner.
Ackerman has used a red pen to cross out "Raymond" in the first paragraph, asterisked it and in a footnote writes "It's plain Ray--FJA."
Ray Bradbury has recently SIGNED the front page, at top
Fascinating fanzine bio of Bradbury by pal Ackerman, chronicling Bradbury's youth, his hopes and fears, his working methods and career, up to 1949. Laced with the expected effusive, pun-laden Forryisms but also with some unusual insights into his friend.

Friday, August 15, 2008

Fantasy Review Vol II No 8 April-May 1948


Fantasy Review Vol II No 8 April-May 1948

Future Fiction O.K. Now : Heinlein No Model — Critic
From Forest J. Ackerman

The recent tendency towards science fiction in the slicks such as Robert Heinlein’s spece-travel stories in Satevepost may only be a flash in the pan. Although the general magazines are now prepared to entertain tales with futuristic settings the accent must still be on the story rather than the setting. In this respect, the editorial attitude hasn't changed according to Peter Granger who devoted his Review Page in the March Writer's Market and Methods to "Unusual Fiction".
Says Granger: The World of Tomorrow seems at last close enough, or at least predictable enough, to be acceptable in most magazines as the stage for characters to be on. This is that rather limited formula future which is no further from today than transatlantic airways were in the 1920's, and certainly not so far away as was the atom bomb in ‘40. The writer interested in the field for general magazine submissions must be content. with the non-prophetic story it seems, and must keep in mind that editorial eyes are hardly further ahead of fact than is the newsreel. This tends to bring the story close to to-day...”

Mentioning Heinlein's recent Post story, “The Black Pits of Luna he maintains that, for the writer interested in this form of fiction. It "should serve as a warning rather than an example or model to be followed. The author has depended so much upon the novelty of the setting, the strangeness of the locale, to hold the reader that he has worked no tangible story, bet has used an incident to keep his characters moving against his scenery. It would seem that this story would represent the extreme limits to which an author could go without a a story and still make a sale. A writer trying this field would be on firmer ground giving considerably more attention in story value and characters of some interest to the render".

At the same time Granger recommends writers of the more everyday story to study fantasy-fiction for the methods it employs to induce plausibility. "Characterisation usually must be very strong to keep the reader feeling there is a human connection between himself and the story. Plot details are usually clear-cut and definite, with the relation of the actions and results to the characters very distinct," he admits.

Thursday, August 14, 2008

Fantasy Review Vol II No 7 February-March 1948



Fantasy Review Vol II No 7 February-March 1948

With its March issue the American Weird Tales, which pioneered the development of the supernatural story as a specialized form of popular fiction and was one of the first magazines to feature science-fantasy. celebrates a quarter century of regular publication. During that time it has published thousands of stories, of which a very high percentage remain memorable to its devoted readers and are acceptable today to a bigger audience: for no other pulp magazine has contrived to maintain such a high literary standard as was imposed by the late Farnsworth Wright. who for sixteen years occupied its editorial chair.
Much of the material which has been and is still being used in anthologies of modern weird stories originally appeared hi Weird Tales, which cradled dozens of fantasy fiction’s most popular writers. including H. P. Lovecraft, Clark Ashton Smith, Edmond Hamilton, C. L.. Moore, Robert Bloch, Ray Bradbury, and many others, It has also featured the work of writers whose names, though they became familiar enough to its followers, were seldom if ever encountered in other magazines: such as Arthur William Bernal. Greye La Spina, Robert H. Leitfred, Ariton Eadle. Nietzin Dyalhla, Mary Elizabeth Counselman, and the late Robert E. Howard. Authors whose interest was and is to write for the magazine which, in spite of garish covers, had gained a following of discriminating readers interested in "the bizarre and unusual" in fiction.
Since the first issue, dated March 1923, some 240 numbers of Weird Tales have appeared; It is now in its fortieth volume. Though many scattered collections have been jealously hoarded, only a half-dozen complete files are believed to exist, and early issues are of almost fabulous value. For most of its life it has been published monthly, but of recent years has appeared only bi-monthly under the capable editorship of Dorothy McIlwraith, with Lamont Buchanan as Associate Editor. Though older renders, recalling its pre-war days, declare that. its standards have deteriorated. It still nurtures new writers and artists and. In spite of radical changes, maintains a type of render-Interest that has always been peculiarly its own.
Overleaf, Arthur F, Hillman, who has watched it with a critical eye for many years, tells the story of Weird Tales from the beginning. On behalf of its readers. FANTASY REVIEW here tenders congratulations to this unique publication on its enviable record, with the wish that it will continue to delight its devotees for many years to come.

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Fantasy Review Vol.1 No. 6 Dec 1947 – Jan 1948


Fantasy Review Vol.1 No. 6 Dec '47 – Jan '48

Reviver

With this issue of Fantasy Review completes a year of publication within its new lease on life. During that time it has gained a staunch following of readers which is still growing and extending to many parts of the world. There is evidence that all have found it of inestimable value in their pursuance of fantasy-fiction as an abiding interest, or as one which some had neglected for lack of a reliable source of information and guidance in the field. To others it has made apparent for the first time the full extent of the medium and aroused in them an enthusiasm which has been reflected in their letters.

Fantasy Review is, manifestly, fulfilling a unique service, not only to its devotees but to fantasy-fiction itself. Through all its critical articles and reviews it is performing a desirable function in maintaining and improving the standards of the literature it covers. By providing a contact between writers, editors, publishers and readers it is assisting all concerned towards a better appreciation of their activities and their varying points of view. As a means whereby all may ventilate their opinions, it has already proved itself an essential to the healthy development of the medium on both sides of the Atlantic.

For the future, Fantasy Review has many plans for the further expansion of the interests it fosters and caters for as adequately as it can in these days of austerity. As we proceed we shall introduce new features whenever space allows and continue to present the best available articles to interest our widening circle of readers. Our book reviews, which have brought countless expressions of appreciation for their discerning and informative character, will always be an important feature of each issue. In the series of interviews with famous fantasy writers, we have many interesting personalities to present, including Dr. Edward E. Smith, creator of the popular "Lensman" stories.

If a subscription blank is enclosed, it means that your subscription has expired with this issue. You would be well advised to renew it without delay, before you run the risk of missing our next or subsequent issues – and please note the new address to which all communications should be sent. We look forward to hearing from any of our readers who have not yet sent us their suggestions or criticisms, and to the letters we invite from all for the new feature we have introduced in this issue. - Fantasy Forum.

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Fantasy Review Vol. 1, No. 5 Oct-Nov 1946


Fantasy Review Vol. 1, No. 5 Oct-Nov 1946

Reverse by Wallter Gillings

The paper shortage has forced the suspension of Fantasy – the Magazine of Science Fiction, after only three issues. It is not expected that it will be able to resume publication for at least two years.

It is no less than 17 years since, impressed with the growing interest in the American science fiction magazines entering this country {UK}, I began to draw the attention of British publishers to the possibilities of this field. That was in days when an English magazine so specialized in its appeal was a rare thing, and the numbers of readers keen enough to seek out "remainders" of Amazing and Wonder Stoires at htreepence a copy were comparatively small. Looking back now, I can see that the publishers I pestered were probably right in their contention that it was not enough to make a British magazine a profitable proposition: though I never would accept the objection that, anyway, Verne and Wells had done it all before.

However, one very reputable firm did issue a twopenny weekly which sought to emulate the Gernsback touch and, when it transpired that all its readers were not errand boys, tried to make itself more respectable, only to fall dismally and wind up altogether. After that another big publishing house, affected by the trend towards specialization in fiction, seriously considered the project of a shilling magazine which would interest the enlarging fraternity of science fiction readers and appeal to a wider public at the same time. This project occupied them, and the few British writers competent to meet its literary requirements for over a year before it was decided to abandon the idea.

Then, as a result of y importunings elsewhere, came Tales of Wonder, whose first trial issue was followed in due time y its regular quarterly publication – and, in turn, by revival of the project which brought forth three issues of Newnes' Fantasy. Then, inconsiderately, came World War II. Only Tales of Wonder struggled on, until after 16 issues the beginnings of the paper shortage forced its suspension.

In between times the American "remainders" (always a thorn in the flesh to British publishers) had given place to home-produced editions of Astounding and Unknown which, fortunately, are still with us. And when, before the war was over, more impressed that ever with the prospects … {All the text available}.

Monday, August 11, 2008

Fantasy Review Vol. 1 No 3 Jun-Jul 1947


Fantasy Review Vol. 1 No 3 Jun-Jul 1947

Walter Gillings' Fantasia

Noted American science fictionist Theodore Sturgeon carried off L250 prize offered by English Argosy is hort story contest. Winning piece, presented "with pride" in May issue, praised for its "strange imaginative quality," was "Bianca's Hands," reputedly spurned by several U.S. mags, including Unknown Worlds, in which Sturgeon started. British fantasy authors who entered contest feeling slightly piqued … "Homecoming." Story by Ray Bradbury originally in Street & Smith's Mademoiselle, selected for O. Henry Memorial Award, to be reprinted in Avon Fantasy Reader. His fantastic, "The Meadow" also won prize in radioscript contest. Collection of his weird tales, "Dark Carnival," forthcoming from Arkham House. … Recipient of Atlantic Award to encourage novel writers is C. S. Youd, editor New Frontiers, now suspended.

Television versions of "Mr. Mergenthwirker's Lobbies," much-radioed fantasy by Nelson S. Bond (see book reviews, last issue), presented recently from London. … Following death at 81 of M. P. Shiel, appreciation of his work, with special reference to "The Purple Cloud," given on Third Programme … H. P. Heard, author of "Doppelgangers" (reviewed this issue) and "The Great Fog and Other Weird Tales." Is – or was – famous British science writer Gerald Heard, now living in Hollywood …

Another Mag. Coming

New magazine to carry original s-f, fantasy, weird and ghost story material, with Donald Wolheim editing, being planned by Avon Publications, New York, producers of Fantasy Reader. First issue due before year's end … Leo Marguiles, Thrilling Wonder's editorial director, writing in American Writer on science fiction field, warned would-be specialists its readers were "most articulate group in the world." … Max J. Hertzberg, prominent U.S. educator, literary editor Newark Evening News, encourages reading of s-f among pupils … Saturday Review of Literature featured article by L. Sprague de Camp, "The Unwritten Classics," dealing with fictitious books invented by fantasy writers, e.g. Lovecraft's "Necronomicon" … Earlier issue carried letters from P. Schuyler Miller Frederick B. Shroyer, on current s-f book boom and efforts to compile bibliography of fantasy, now proceeding in various directions … /

Sunday, August 10, 2008

Fantasy Review Vol. 1 No 4 Aug-Sep 1947


Fantasy Review Vol. 1 No 4 Aug-Sep 1947

An End to Banality: It's Curtains for Space Opera
From Forest J. Ackerman

July and August issues of Writer's Digest featured articles by Margaret St. Clair, science fiction writer, surveying the field from the viewpoint of the newcomer who wants to break into it and detailing the individual requirements of the magazines. The second article gives names and addresses of fan clubs and their publications, so that writers may "catch the spirit of what readers want and get the mood of the fan seated in his own armchair."

The July article advised new authors to pay particular attention to fan letters in the magazines. "The typical science fiction fan is young, male (though some are devoted feminine ones), literate, quite intelligent, interested in ideas. His mental horizon is broader that that of the average citizen. He is strongly aware of what his likes and dislikes are, and the writer who succeeds in pleasing him will hear of it. In my belief the science fiction fan is a definitely superior type, but I may be prejudiced."

Dealing with current trends in the medium, Mrs. St. Clair says, "Certainly the present trend is dead away from the aptly-named 'space opera'. Blood and thunder is more or less on its way ou, though I suppose we shall never be rid of it entirely … Of late, Astounding Science-Fiction has been going in rather heavily for stories about the post-atomic bomb world. They take but a dim view of the future which is probable for humanity, and on this point all thinking persons must agree with them. But desolation and death, no matter how likely, offer unsustaining subject matter for an extended programme of fiction.

"What will the future be like? No one can see very far into it. It may be that at first we shall have a considerable enrichment in material things. Science fiction might, then, devote itself at least partially to an imaginative depiction of the impact of this enrichment on humanity, with increased emphasis on humour, on character, on human interest. The life and social sciences will receive more stress. I believe we shall have more domestic interiors and fewer spaceships, more people and fewer robots and captured suns. Anyhow, it's more darned fun to write."

Saturday, August 9, 2008

Fantasy Review (UK) April-May 1947

UK from 1947
20 pages
features :
an interview with Arthur C Clarke (3 in-depth pages)
Maurice Hugi dies
John W Campbell / Geoff Conklin - Can Science Fiction Prophesy (pro and con )
book reviews (and they are in-depth) include :
AE van Vogt - Slan
Henry Whitehead - West India Lights
Will Jenkins - The Murder Of The USA (reviewed by Arthur C Clarke )
+ more book reviews
+ magazine/pulp reviews
+ fanzine reviews
+ much more editorial content

Friday, August 8, 2008

Fantasy Review (UK) Feb-Mar, 1947


features :
an interview with A Bertram Chandler
Otis Kline dies
"Fantasy" Magazine makes it start
New Worlds surprise debut
book reviews (and they are in-depth) include :
William Hope - The House On The Borderland
Robert E Howard - Skull Face And Others
Olaf Stapleton - Death Into Life (reviewed by A Bertram Chandler )
Arthur Wilcox - Moon Rocket / Harry Harper - Dawn Of The Space Age (reviewed by Arthur C Clarke )

Thursday, August 7, 2008

Fantasy Times # 71 (1948)

The only details are that this 'zine is from Fandom House 1948
12 pages cover John Giunta
with essays on
Xerography - Ray Van Houten
Fantasy In Radio And TV
Book Notes

John Giunta (1920-1970) was an artist that focused on the fantastic.
He's listed in his early career:
Art Director: 1939 Scienti-Tales [fanzine]
BERNARD BAILY STUDIO (pen/ink/) 1944
CHESLER STUDIO (let/col/) 1938-39
FUNNIES INC. (pen/ink/) c1941-c45
BAILY PUBLICATIONS
CISCO KID, THE (pen/ink/) 1944
Covers (pen/ink/) 1944-45
FUNNYMAN (pen/ink/) 1944 (A Shuster and Siegel item}
HURRY KANE (pen/ink/) c1945 unconfirmed
MR. LUCIFER (pen/some ink/) 1945-46
CENTAUR COMICS
MAGICIAN FROM MARS (pen/ink/) 1939-40
Text (wr/) c1939 about fanzines
SNOWMAN (pen/) 1944

Wednesday, August 6, 2008

Lawrence Manning (1933)


1933 WONDER STORIES pulp the scientifiction story MAN WHO AWOKE by Laurence Manning (part one). Illustration.

Tuesday, August 5, 2008

A Murray Leinster Story Illustrated (1929)


December 28, 1929 ARGOSY. Murray Leinster story CITY OF THE BLIND. Image should expand when clicked.

Monday, August 4, 2008

Otis Adelbert Kline (1931)


Pulp ORIENTAL STORIES (Summer 1931) with fiction by Otis Adelbert Kline (and also this issue included E. Hoffman Price).

Sunday, August 3, 2008

Xenon # 2 & # 3 (w/ Hannes Bok)


XENON, a Science Fiction fanzine: #2 (July 1944) & #3 (1944) includes 2 Hannes Bok poems!

Saturday, August 2, 2008

A Sam Moskowitz Fanzine


NEW FANDOM #5 (1939) Sam Moskowitz publication.

Friday, August 1, 2008

Unusual Fanzine: Planit Stories


The seller of this item states: PANIT STORIES June 1945 mimeo Science Fiction fanzine with illustrations of various fans, including Walter Dougherty (who published the mag). This copy was sent to Roy Squires but returned by the USPS as Squires had moved & it was also 1.5 cents postage due! VG+ condition (median mailing fold). {Interesting anecdote: Roy Squires was to be a future associate of Arkham House}
{Also note that this has the infamous "bug-eyed monster" with tentacles no less. One eye, to boot. - CP}

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