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Fandemonium, issue 2, Summer 1948

Page 11

SUNSHINE uses some novel paper, to say the least; Ballantine's motto should be from now on: "The Beer that Made Alpaugh Famous". I can't say that I agree with or approve of your mailing review comments, but what mags were covered received a penetrating raking-over. Lurid Alpaugh is right in there with his next-to-last page of fictional biography and suggestive sketches; well done. The last page served its purpose, with only the invisible man item arousing my interest. Wish I had a few more words to shed, LIAjr, but there's just no more there.

Alas, TAILS O'PASSIONATE FANS failed to live up to its seductive promises on the cover. Unless you get a big thrill out of a page of prozine back issues for sale. However, the editorial was worth reading, so all was not lost. Shifting back to the present tense, I don't suppose we can expect this issue to follow the same high standards of the first. Incidentally anyone have a copy of that one I could read?

Naturally, the most valuable item in the mailing was Boff Perry's VAMPIRE INDEX. Even though I considered Boff's method of approaching the NFFF for backing after he had completed plans for the issue rather possessive, I still voted for him to receive funds, and consider it money well spent. The good job of duplicating makes it easy on the eyes, and the thorough cross-indexing renders it an invaluable reference. Further comment would be superfluous. 

YELLUM is nicely assorted mag of odds-and-ends. Three guesses as to which person the satire on the first page had reference to: one's enough, yuk, yuk. The news flashes and the piece by Alpox are nicely done, but the sudden jump into the labor contract is rather disconcerting. the Corners were hilarious, but the artwork on the next page was nefarious. The last page puts an appropriate finishing touch to a clever issue. Encore.
--------------------------------
THE SOPHISTRIES OF SERGEI -- cont.

(c) He made promises of speakers etc for the Norcon which he could not possibly fulfill. (d) After promising to come by with Doc Bailey to carry me to the 'con, he overslept and caused me to miss a good part of the first session, because I waited around for him. (e) At the Philcon, it was all I could do to persuade him not to bid on the convention, even though I was sure it would go to Toronto. He was all-out for it though, and if this state had been selected, it would have been a sorry mess indeed, for less than a month later he threw fandom and would have pitched all his high plans right in the laps of the rest of us that had no desire to hold a convention of any size. This bit of double-crossing is hard to forget. Incidentally, it was this time that he adopted the name "Sergei" in earnest, and I believe it is in indicative of the way his political beliefs swung at that time. I could go on endlessly, but space runs out.

After the Philcon, he refused to answer any of my letters, so I sent him an inquisitive note to which he caustically replied that he was quitting fandom and expressed his complete dislike of the field. I then wrote back and requested that he turn the funds of the club over to one of the rest of us. Following are some excerpts from his answer: "The bank account of the Carolina Science-Fiction group has been transferred to my account. It will remain in my name until I see fit to release it. Although you will fail, allow me to wish you luck with the organization. Sergei Burgess. See you in Toronto." This, plus some more trivial stuff and a card reading: "This is to certify that Andy Lyon is member No. 1611 in good standing of the SERGEI BURGESS FAN CLUB, and is hereby entitled to praise and worship Sergei Burgess." After several months of silence, the following cryptic note arrived: "Preparations are being made, easily, softly, and quietly. You'll never know just what happened to fandom until it's all over. Don't worry,

(See page two)

11

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SUNSHINE uses some novel paper, to say the least; Ballantine's motto should be from now on: "The Beer that Made Alpaugh Famous". I can't say that I agree with or approve of your mailing review comments, but what mags were covered received a penetrating raking-over. Lurid Alpaugh is right in there with his next-to-last page of fictional biography and suggestive sketches; well done. The last page served its purpose, with only the invisible man item arousing my interest. Wish I had a few more words to shed, LIAjr, but there's just no more there. Alas, TAILS O'PASSIONATE FANS failed to live up to its seductive promises on the cover. Unless you get a big thrill out of a page of prozine back issues for sale. However, the editorial was worth reading, so all was not lost. Shifting back to the present tense, I don't suppose we can expect this issue to follow the same high standards of the first. Incidentally anyone have a copy of that one I could read? Naturally, the most valuable item in the mailing was Boff Perry's VAMPIRE INDEX. Even though I considered Boff's method of approaching the NFFF for backing after he had completed plans for the issue rather possessive, I still voted for him to receive funds, and consider it money well spent. The good job of duplicating makes it easy on the eyes, and the thorough cross-indexing renders it an invaluable reference. Further comment would be superfluous. YELLUM is nicely assorted mag of odds-and-ends. Three guesses as to which person the satire on the first page had reference to: one's enough, yuk, yuk. The news flashes and the piece by Alpox are nicely done, but the sudden jump into the labor contract is rather disconcerting. the Corners were hilarious, but the artwork on the next page was nefarious. The last page puts an appropriate finishing touch to a clever issue. Encore. -------------------------------- THE SOPHISTRIES OF SERGEI -- cont. (c) He made promises of speakers etc for the Norcon which he could not possibly fulfill. (d) After promising to come by with Doc Bailey to carry me to the 'con, he overslept and caused me to miss a good part of the first session, because I waited around for him. (e) At the Philcon, it was all I could do to persuade him not to bid on the convention, even though I was sure it would go to Toronto. He was all-out for it though, and if this state had been selected, it would have been a sorry mess indeed, for less than a month later he threw fandom and would have pitched all his high plans right in the laps of the rest of us that had no desire to hold a convention of any size. This bit of double-crossing is hard to forget. Incidentally, it was this time that he adopted the name "Sergei" in earnest, and I believe it is in indicative of the way his political beliefs swung at that time. I could go on endlessly, but space runs out. After the Philcon, he refused to answer any of my letters, so I sent him an inquisitive note to which he caustically replied that he was quitting fandom and expressed his complete dislike of the field. I then wrote back and requested that he turn the funds of the club over to one of the rest of us. Following are some excerpts from his answer: "The bank account of the Carolina Science-Fiction group has been transferred to my account. It will remain in my name until I see fit to release it. Although you will fail, allow me to wish you luck with the organization. Sergei Burgess. See you in Toronto." This, plus some more trivial stuff and a card reading: "This is to certify that Andy Lyon is member No. 1611 in good standing of the SERGEI BURGESS FAN CLUB, and is hereby entitled to praise and worship Sergei Burgess." After several months of silence, the following cryptic note arrived: "Preparations are being made, easily, softly, and quietly. You'll never know just what happened to fandom until it's all over. Don't worry, (See page two) 11