WELL, IT HAS BEEN a long, bitter struggle, but at last the conductor of Fan Pubs yields to the readers of Cosmag. From now on reviews will be as long as I think you can stand -- but I intend to maintain my integrity. I refuse to criticize unnecessarily, as some think a fanzine reviewer should. If this doesn't satisfy you -- to heck with you.
DESTINY #6: 11848 S. E. Powell Blvd., Portland, Oregon. Editors: Malcolm Willits and Jim Bradley. 20¢ each, $1 for five. 32 pages. Offset.
Destiny seems to be the last remaining exponent of the Fanscient-sized miniature fanzine. I rather prefer this size -- it's very easy to handle, and, more important to the fanzine collector, requires far less storage space. Content, this time around, is even better than last issue's; which is saying plenty. The articles are all on the heavy side (for fanzine articles, that is), but are nevertheless quite readable. The two by Darrell C. Richardson, "The Father of John Carter and Tarzan - a tribute to Edgar Rice Burroughs" and "The Wheel as a Religious Symbol," are particularly interesting, though the latter, concerned mainly with the prayer-wheels of China and Tibet, seems hardly to belong in a stf fanzine. George Wetzel's "A Lovecraft Randomonium" will probably be of interest to HPL fans, but I found its intricacies somewhat difficult. The series of "Who's who in Science-Fiction" continues with August Derleth its subject this time. For the fan fan there is a reprint of an article which appeared last December in a Statesville, N. C., newspaper concerning Master Monster Lynn Hickman and his fan activities. The article was headlined: "Machinery Salesman Heads -- of All Things -- Science Fiction Fan Club." And Robert Bloch's article on fanzines (reprinted from the Chanticleer) is hilarious. Destiny's fiction and poetry is also above average and the mag is very well illustrated by some of the top fan artists. Obviously I have no criticism of Destiny.
THE JOURNAL OF SCIENCE-FICTION #2: 1331 W. Newport Ave., Chicago 13, Ill. Editors: Charles Freudenthal and Edward Wood. 25¢ per copy, 4/$1. 32 pp. Offset.
With its first issue a few months ago, the JofSF definitely established itself at the top of that group of fanzines whose appeal is more to the serious fan. This second issue shows improvement.
The first half of the mag is devoted to a capsule history of Amazing Stories, by Edward Wood. This may perhaps be considered sort of a tribute to magazine science-fiction's first quarter-century. Ed Wood is, in many respects a very capable historian; his own opinions though present, are recognizable as such, and do not intrude overmuch, which is a commendable trait. Of at least equal importance is Sam Moskowitz' "The Case Against Modern Science Fiction." Sam's argument is strong in the first half of his article; but I'm afraid he allowed his enthusiasm to overcome his better judgment when he brings forth Lovecraft as an authority. Also Sam seems to forget that he is presenting his "case" to modern fans who are presumably fans of modern stf -- that is, not science-fiction fans at all; but science-fiction fans --- and fails to present his argument accordingly.
SPACESHIP: #17, Bob Silverberg, editor, 760 Montgomery St., Brooklyn 13, N. Y. 10¢, 3 for 25¢. Quarterly. 40pp. Mimeoed.
This is the third anniversary issue, and a very good one it is, too. And a big one: forty pages of excellent material -- I mean excellent; there's not a bad piece in the mag. Sam Moskowitz leads the issue with his book preview of Dr. Keller's "The Ivory Tower," a four page review. WAW is present -- hilariously so -- with some observations anent the pro-ed's sudden display of affection for one another. Redd Boggs writes of a "Man WHO Might Have Been" a great weird writer had he lived. The stories, by Morton Paley, Fred Chappell and Paul Stephens are all worth reading. The regular features, particularly Roger Dard's "Report from Australia" and the ed's "Backtalk" seemed to be better, somehow, this issue.
The only sour note is Richard Elsberry's article, which is interesting mainly as an example of negative thinking. Ray Palmer is the recipient of Elsberry's vindictive (of which Elsberry is a past master), this time. The objection is that Palmer is not producing a magazine for the fans, although that was his announced intention. It is Elsberry's opinion that Rap was deliberately misleading the fans when he made the prediction of what "My Mag One Year From Now" would be like. True, issue #9 is not what Rap said it would be like. However, did you bother to read the editorial in that issue, Richard? Or the two before it? Ray Palmer at the time was in a hospital bed, paralysed from the waist down. The rest of the article is your opinion and you're welcome to it.
RHODOMAGNETIC DIGEST #19: 2524 Telegraph Ave., Berkeley 4, Calif. Don Fabun, editor. 25 ¢. Multilithed. 64 pages.
RD is fandom's heavy weight, inasmuch as it actually discusses the things fans of Science-Fiction are purportedly interested in -- the scientific facts on which the stories are supposedly based -- in an intelligent and, usually, adult manner. I employ the term "heavyweight" in a comparative sense, only (which, on second thought, is about the only way it can be employed). The lead article describes the Little Men's recent Moon stunt and the combination of wit and luck that carried it off. Very clever; but when I first heard of their stunt, on a midnight news broadcast, I somehow rather wished the words "Science-Fiction" weren't part of their club title. "Lunar Geopolitiks und Grossranmwirtschaft," the next article, is a completely abstruse attempt at humor, concerned mainly with who has jurisdiction over the Moon. Best articles in the issue are Gary Nelson's "Life in the Universe," and Bob Silverberg's "Notes on the Nautilus." The former so far (this is part 1) is involved in deciding which of the various theories of "creation" is most acceptable -- deciding finally that it doesn't matter too much, so long as the theory is favorable to the existence of planets. The Silverberg article is about Jules Verne and the Submarine.
Shudderingly, we slip past the "fanzine" in the middle of RD, only to run afoul of a letter from Ray Bradbury to Tony Boucher, wherein Ray bewails the fact that the "best" anthologies (O'Henry, O'Brian, etc.) never carry stf. No comment.
TYRANN # 3: Norbert Hirschhorn, 853 Riverside Dr., N.Y. 32, N.Y. Editors: Norbert Hirschhorn and Henry Ebel. 10 ¢ each, 3 for ¢/. June. 22 pages, Hectoed.
As RD is a heavyweight fanzine, so is Tyrann a lightweight. The friendly atmosphere pervading every article is a welcome change from the constant criticisms of all and sundry, to be found in many of the other zines. Ev Winne's "The Big Eye" is cast on collecting this time. He suggests that paper books are the easiest items to collect. Doesn't sound too satisfying to me. An intention to publish a booklet on "How to Form a S-F Fan Club" is announced by Orville W. Mosher, who seems to be going pretty deeply into the matter. Sounds like a worthy project. A. W. Haddon- tells of the growth of Australian fandom. Sounds like they had plenty of troubles, trying to get going.
Artwork by Bergeron and Keasler, very good.
S F CLUB DIRECTORY, 1952: Barclay Johnson, 878 Oak St., Winnetka, Illinois. 10 ¢. Mimeographed.
Don't know if this will be a regularly appearing directory or not -- the only information I can find is what you see above. Anyway, I hope Bark will at least keep it up to date. The Directory is not an index of facts and figures, but is an informal description of each club, interspersed with occasional editorial comment, and cartoons by R. M. Kidd. This is a worthwhile effort which should be supported and added to.
TLMA # 5: The Conference Publishing Co., 239 East Broad, Statesville, N. C. 25 ¢, $1 a year. Bimonthly. Lynn A. Hickman, editor. 30 pages. Multilithed.
This issue of TLMA is the first issue of any general fanzine I've ever seen in which the non-fiction is completely eclipsed by the fiction. In fact, Basil Wells' story, "Draftee" is the best story I've ever seen in any fanzine before -- and Richard Elsberry's "Assumption Unjustified" is head and shoulders above it! This may sound like an extravagent statement but I am quite serious. If there is any one thing in which Rich Elsberry and I are not disagreed, it is that Rich, is a writer of real ability -- and I only hope he'll continue to prove it as he has with "Assumption Unjustified."
The rest of the issue is fair to middlin'. Bill Venable's guest editorial being about the best of the non-fiction. How about getting some long articles, Lynn? Something we can sink our teeth into.
There's an announcement on page 28 that Lynn is issuing a book -- Basil Wells' 60,000 word novel, Sons of Thrane, for only a dollar. That's the prepublication price. It'll go up to $1.50 afterwards. If you like Wells -- or if you'd like to support this kind of undertaking -- send Lynn a buck for a copy.
SCIENCE-FICTION ADVERTISER, July, 1952: 1745 Kenneth Rd., Glendale 1, Calif. Bi-monthly. 44 pp. 75¢ per anum, 20¢ per copy. Offset. Editor: Roy Squires.
Although, the ads remain the chief concern of SFA, I would be the last to deny the increasing quality and importance of its recent series of articles. This issue concludes the article by Arthur J. Cox, begun last issue. Cox dissects Van Vogt, through his stories and private conversations, using a method far too involved to go into here; and discovers a man neither small not gigantic in stature, but who is, nevertheless a brilliant story technician. Perhaps you've arrived at the same conclusion -- but I'll bet you didn't reach that conclusion (unless you're Arthur Jean Cox) through so profound a study.
The book reviews are, as usual, capably and interestingly done. And the Dollens cover is, also as is usual, very beautiful.
If you decided to subscribe, say you saw it in Fan Pubs in C/SFD -- boy, has Squires got a sub contest on!
PEON #23: Charles Lee Riddle, 108 Dunham St., Norwich, Conn., 10¢ per copy, 12/$1. Quarterly. 27 pages. Mimeographed.
Peon is one of the steady fanzines; every issue consistently good quality material with neatness of format to produce entertaining and easy to read results. This issue's editorial is concerned with the hoaxes which have recently been perpretrated by over-enthusiastic fans. Actually the latest two -- the Willis "death" postcard and the "Invention" -- seem to be more on the order of practical jokes than hoaxes. Also concerned with hoaxes is T. E. Watkins, one of Peon's columnists, who was so impressed by the success of the Little Men's publicity stunt that he wants all fandom to try one. Watkins' plan is to land a manned flying saucer in Chicago's Grant Park during the SF Convention. That is just about all we need to gain the high esteem and respect we deserve.
The rest of the material is, as I have said, good.
JLB
(Data entered by Judy Bemis)