"Seriously, Walt, it may well be that the release of your intended memoir marks the passing of an era in sf-fanhistory. There are signs and portents which I interpret to indicate that your good friends and mine are gradually withdrawing from activity. Lee, Max, Shelby and a number of others have not shown their wonted industry of late ... methinks it's the beginning of the end. But they have left their mark on fandom with their greasy little paws; and god bless their greasy little hearts, they've done a lot which we can all be grateful for, whatever their activity in the future. I may be wrong ... this may only be the lull before the storm ... but something tells me that the Ides of March have come. You will remain as the Living Memorial of Sixth Fandom. Dunno what to predict of the new group. I have a horrid fear that fandom may one day be dominated again by a Serious Element. There may be Committees and Plans and Purposes and Crusades and Positive, Right-Thinking Constructive Attitudes. If that comes to pass, I'll be down in the bar with Tucker, crying in my beer of the good old days and wishing it wasn't a bar but a pub and not beer but Black Ben. There is, fortunately, a heartening note. If HYPHEN and SLANT are any indication, and if Harris, Clarke, Shaw and others are representative, a new Sixth Fandom is arising mightily in the Isles. From Bangor to Donaghadee, from Carrick-fergus and across the Strangford Lough comes the clarion call, "Pyromaniacs of the World, Ignite!" Yes, I have high hopes for you in this endless struggle against the Decent Element, this battle against the Better Things."
-- letter from Robert Bloch to Walt Willis, 3/10/53
"I Remember Me" by W. A. Willis SCOTTISHE 36, 6/64
Data entry by Judy Bemis
Hard copy provided by Geri Sullivan
Data entry by Judy Bemis
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