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Scientifictionist, v. 1, issue 6, August-October 1946
Page 13
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A WORD ABOUT THE PROS by Erik Thomassen Thrilling Wonder Stories, Fall 1946. This issue is slightly better than the previous one. One novel, two novelettes, four shorts, and the regular features compose the contents of this issue. The cover (by Bergey, of course) supposedly illustrates CALL HIM DEMON, but, granting that the story is right, it is just an excuse to get sex on the mag's cover. THE MULTILLIONTH CHANGE by J.R. Fearn; novel; poor. This is what can aptly be described as a marshmallow of a story. After the first few pages anyone can tell exactly how it is going to end. The science is faulty and the fiction is poor. It seems impossible that this is written by the same man who wrote such masterpieces as BEFORE EARTH CAME. Pics by Marchioni; notso hotso. CALL HIM DEMON by Keith Hammond; novelette; good. This straight fantasy story is beautifully done. The best story about children since Padgett's MIMSY WERE THE BOROGROVES. [Perhaps because they're both by Kuttner! -- ed.] Finlay did the pic, which is inferior to most of his work. POCKET UNIVERSES by Murray Leinster; novelette; good. This is an excellent piece of writing, but as the plot of this and the coming sequel remind me of Schachner's ENTROPY in the March 36 Astounding. Of interest is Leinster's proposal that the two laws of physics can both be correct although in a special case they are mutually contradictory. THE GOOD EGG by R. Rocklynne; short; poor. This is another variant on the E-T with exceptional abilities. Poor plot and writing. The Marchioni pic is better than average. NEVER THE TWAIN SHALL MEET by Brett Sterling; short; fair. Good writing, but an old plot in spite of the new seetee twist. I doubt that the conversion machine described would do more than explode, with catastrophic results. However, the idea intrigues me. The Marchioni conception of a spacesuit is very weird indeed. THE LITTLE THINGS by Henry Kuttner; short; good. Very good writing, although the plot unfolds a little slowly. This story calls for a sequel. A very good pic, looks like Stevens, but I couldn't find the signature. TUBBY, MASTER OF THE ATOM by Ray Cummings; short; stinks. Sure, Tubby was funny -- once. That was many long years ago. If two more of these atrocities (doesn't Cummings write them all with carbon paper!0 are printed, I will forget all the good things Ray has written and go on a one-man rampage. THE READER SPEAKS is really good, now that the Sarge has reformed. It is my opinion that the fans should stop yelling about Bergey's dames until they clean up the fanmags. Astounding Science Fiction, August 1946. This issue is up to the usual ASF level. It consists of three novelettes, one short, one serial instalment, one article and the usual features. The cover, illustrating SLAVES OF THE LAMP, is by Timmins, (by the way, the "Astounding" has shrunk, just as Campbell promised in the June ish); and all interior illustrations are by Swenson. SLAVES OF THE LAMP by Arthur Leo Zagat; serial; good. This is the first piece by Zagat in Astounding since his BEYOND THE SPECTRUM in the August 34 issue. This absence hasn't seemed to hurt his writing ability, however; characterization is as good as Van Vogt's. THE LAST OBJECTIVE by Paul Carter; novelette; good. The characterization is slightly fuzzy, but this contributes to the general mood admirably. I could almost feel the tenseness of the crew. Paul Carter is a name well known to the letter columns, so we may have another Asimov here. BANKRUPTCY PROCEEDINGS by E. Mayne Hill; novelette; fair. This is very poor for a Blord story. I liked the first four, but now I am afraid that Artur Blord and co. are going the way of the Venus Equilateral boys. R. I. P. CHILD OF THE GODS by A.E. Van Vogt; novelette; good. This is the second of page 13
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A WORD ABOUT THE PROS by Erik Thomassen Thrilling Wonder Stories, Fall 1946. This issue is slightly better than the previous one. One novel, two novelettes, four shorts, and the regular features compose the contents of this issue. The cover (by Bergey, of course) supposedly illustrates CALL HIM DEMON, but, granting that the story is right, it is just an excuse to get sex on the mag's cover. THE MULTILLIONTH CHANGE by J.R. Fearn; novel; poor. This is what can aptly be described as a marshmallow of a story. After the first few pages anyone can tell exactly how it is going to end. The science is faulty and the fiction is poor. It seems impossible that this is written by the same man who wrote such masterpieces as BEFORE EARTH CAME. Pics by Marchioni; notso hotso. CALL HIM DEMON by Keith Hammond; novelette; good. This straight fantasy story is beautifully done. The best story about children since Padgett's MIMSY WERE THE BOROGROVES. [Perhaps because they're both by Kuttner! -- ed.] Finlay did the pic, which is inferior to most of his work. POCKET UNIVERSES by Murray Leinster; novelette; good. This is an excellent piece of writing, but as the plot of this and the coming sequel remind me of Schachner's ENTROPY in the March 36 Astounding. Of interest is Leinster's proposal that the two laws of physics can both be correct although in a special case they are mutually contradictory. THE GOOD EGG by R. Rocklynne; short; poor. This is another variant on the E-T with exceptional abilities. Poor plot and writing. The Marchioni pic is better than average. NEVER THE TWAIN SHALL MEET by Brett Sterling; short; fair. Good writing, but an old plot in spite of the new seetee twist. I doubt that the conversion machine described would do more than explode, with catastrophic results. However, the idea intrigues me. The Marchioni conception of a spacesuit is very weird indeed. THE LITTLE THINGS by Henry Kuttner; short; good. Very good writing, although the plot unfolds a little slowly. This story calls for a sequel. A very good pic, looks like Stevens, but I couldn't find the signature. TUBBY, MASTER OF THE ATOM by Ray Cummings; short; stinks. Sure, Tubby was funny -- once. That was many long years ago. If two more of these atrocities (doesn't Cummings write them all with carbon paper!0 are printed, I will forget all the good things Ray has written and go on a one-man rampage. THE READER SPEAKS is really good, now that the Sarge has reformed. It is my opinion that the fans should stop yelling about Bergey's dames until they clean up the fanmags. Astounding Science Fiction, August 1946. This issue is up to the usual ASF level. It consists of three novelettes, one short, one serial instalment, one article and the usual features. The cover, illustrating SLAVES OF THE LAMP, is by Timmins, (by the way, the "Astounding" has shrunk, just as Campbell promised in the June ish); and all interior illustrations are by Swenson. SLAVES OF THE LAMP by Arthur Leo Zagat; serial; good. This is the first piece by Zagat in Astounding since his BEYOND THE SPECTRUM in the August 34 issue. This absence hasn't seemed to hurt his writing ability, however; characterization is as good as Van Vogt's. THE LAST OBJECTIVE by Paul Carter; novelette; good. The characterization is slightly fuzzy, but this contributes to the general mood admirably. I could almost feel the tenseness of the crew. Paul Carter is a name well known to the letter columns, so we may have another Asimov here. BANKRUPTCY PROCEEDINGS by E. Mayne Hill; novelette; fair. This is very poor for a Blord story. I liked the first four, but now I am afraid that Artur Blord and co. are going the way of the Venus Equilateral boys. R. I. P. CHILD OF THE GODS by A.E. Van Vogt; novelette; good. This is the second of page 13
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