DIY History | Transcribe | Hevelin Fanzines | Variant, v. 1, issue 2, whole no. 2, May 1947

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Variant, v. 1, issue 2, whole no. 2, May 1947

Page 13

May 1947  VARIANT  Page 13

This review stands in place of the May Forgotten Classic. For a time I intended to use it as such, but I decided that the name would give a false impression. While the book may be classic, I doubt if it is forgotten. It is certainly quite rare, however, and therefore unfamiliar -- in content if not in name -- to many people. Hence this review. Mr. Moskowitz tells me the NFFF is considering reprinting it. Judging by what he has to say, I certainly hope they do.

THE SIGN OF THE BURNING HART
A personalized book review
by
Sam Moskowitz

THE SIGN OF THE BURNING HART: by David H. Keller (A Tale of Arcadia). Printed by C. Barbaroux, Saint-Lo, France (in English). January, 1938 in a strictly limited edition of 100 (of which only 85 ever reached this country...Introduction by Regis Massac, and frontispiece by Reslanges, 163 pages, stiff paper cover.

Col. Keller had paused a moment in the midst of his talk to the Eastern Science Fiction Association. He had reached the chapter in the summary of his career where he told how Harpers had offered to buy and publish his story The Sign of the Burning Hart. All he had to do was tell them what it was about. Reluctantly, Dr. Keller asked for the return of his child. Again and again notes came from Harpers offering to purchase the story if he would explain its significance, but Dr. Keller remained silent. "When the humming bird is alive, and flitting from flower to flower it is a thing of beauty, but when it is coldly dissected there remains nothing at all." So Dr. Keller let fly a golden opportunity. And now he was trying to explain to us the story itself and he groped for words and found none, then fell back upon his old time-worn cliche:

"It sings!"

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May 1947 VARIANT Page 13 This review stands in place of the May Forgotten Classic. For a time I intended to use it as such, but I decided that the name would give a false impression. While the book may be classic, I doubt if it is forgotten. It is certainly quite rare, however, and therefore unfamiliar -- in content if not in name -- to many people. Hence this review. Mr. Moskowitz tells me the NFFF is considering reprinting it. Judging by what he has to say, I certainly hope they do. THE SIGN OF THE BURNING HART A personalized book review by Sam Moskowitz THE SIGN OF THE BURNING HART: by David H. Keller (A Tale of Arcadia). Printed by C. Barbaroux, Saint-Lo, France (in English). January, 1938 in a strictly limited edition of 100 (of which only 85 ever reached this country...Introduction by Regis Massac, and frontispiece by Reslanges, 163 pages, stiff paper cover. Col. Keller had paused a moment in the midst of his talk to the Eastern Science Fiction Association. He had reached the chapter in the summary of his career where he told how Harpers had offered to buy and publish his story The Sign of the Burning Hart. All he had to do was tell them what it was about. Reluctantly, Dr. Keller asked for the return of his child. Again and again notes came from Harpers offering to purchase the story if he would explain its significance, but Dr. Keller remained silent. "When the humming bird is alive, and flitting from flower to flower it is a thing of beauty, but when it is coldly dissected there remains nothing at all." So Dr. Keller let fly a golden opportunity. And now he was trying to explain to us the story itself and he groped for words and found none, then fell back upon his old time-worn cliche: "It sings!"