DIY History | Transcribe | Hevelin Fanzines | Voice of the Imagination (VOM), whole no 17, August 1941

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Voice of the Imagination (VOM), whole no 17, August 1941

Page 20

20

the last 'bus from the City round about 10.p.m. if one is lucky and does not catch a blitz also. (Even now, several night-fighters are whistling hopefully overhead).  Returning to the letters, I suppose it's inevitable to us bloodthirsty Saxons but they do. appear somewhat nebulous if that's what Milton A.R. etc. means. To be strictly logical the only significant event is Tucker's babe which, to a slightly blockaded warmonger y'understand, is exceeded in importance only by the gift of three cigars. "How pleasant to know Mr. Ackerman. With golden hair and cherubic pan. Immaculate of ferocity He plainly possesses precosity. Such coy
disposition, one so young, Is born to be painted, not to be hung. And although on this world  He has been hurled. Until his harped and angeled day. His picture In a nice gilt frame   Will definitely frighten the birds away.    Useful chap.
you."

J̲.̲ ̲E̲.̲ ̲R̲E̲N̲N̲I̲S̲O̲N̲ ̲o̲f̲ ̲8̲2̲ ̲R̲a̲m̲s̲g̲r̲e̲a̲v̲e̲ ̲D̲r̲.̲ ̲B̲l̲a̲c̲k̲b̲u̲r̲n̲,̲ ̲L̲a̲n̲c̲a̲s̲h̲i̲r̲e̲,̲ ̲E̲n̲g̲.̲ ̲1̲2̲ ̲J̲u̲n̲:̲
"Introduction:- the name, John Edward Rennison, the age 16 1/2 (still a juvenile), the occupation, solicitor's clerk (and I am going in for that profession), the description, about 5ft. 11 ins. tall, wear glasses, light brown hair, fairly slim ( a nice way of stating the fact that I am thin), have a flair for wearing all blue clothes, blue suit, shirt, coat etc..     The hobbies, cycling and reading sfn., corresponding with the British twerps who are as mad as I am about it, the ambitions, to wander over the face of the earth and do no work. Fandom over here is car
rying on much better than was anticipated when war broke out - cost of the "old guard" have been called up, but into their shoes have stepped new fans like myself who have yet some time to go before call up.   Actually after the war I think fandom in this country will be pretty well 100% better than it was before war broke out.     The war has really drawn us all more together, as we are for r great part dependent more on one another now then what we were in peacetime."

J̲u̲n̲e̲ ̲1̲s̲t̲ ̲f̲r̲o̲m̲ ̲D̲o̲u̲g̲l̲a̲s̲ ̲W̲e̲b̲s̲t̲e̲r̲ ̲o̲f̲ ̲I̲d̲l̲e̲w̲i̲l̲d̲,̲ ̲F̲o̲u̲n̲t̲a̲i̲n̲h̲a̲l̲l̲ ̲R̲d̲.̲ ̲A̲b̲e̲r̲d̲e̲e̲n̲,̲ ̲S̲c̲o̲t̲l̲a̲n̲d̲: 
Eric lately got his issue of VOM, 4 says Thank 'ee kindly.     Wants to know how to pay
for it,, but out of spite since you hadn't sent me any Issues for a while - o̲r̲ any DAMN THINGs - I told him you sent it free to English fans (which you do anyway!) If such dastardly treatment revolts you, I can imagine but one course of action open for you - one dark night after the revelries, creep down to the Pacific Ocean and just for sheer cussedness, s̲p̲i̲t̲ ̲i̲n̲ ̲i̲t̲. You might go further - but no, I deem it inadvisable. While we're on the subject, I think Rita Pitman, Jimmy Rathbone's fiancée, would like VOM a whole lot, especially since she doesn't see him for
months on end now, & naturally feels pretty miserable. Rita said they'd like to spend the honeymoon in Scotland & they might come up to Aberdeen 4 visit me.
Since I ain't never seen a stfan in my life except by looking in the mirror), the prospect leaves me at a loss how to feel. Latest VOM arrived, accepted & amply appreciated.     (R̲e̲f̲e̲r̲s̲ ̲t̲o̲ ̲A̲p̲r̲ ̲i̲s̲h̲)     Bradbury is very handsome. I must send
you a sketch of me sometime whether you want it or not.     I'm handsome too; well, I think so. Kuslan will never get his Equal Rights any more than Shroyer will ever spread Burpocracy: they don't know English fans, who are stolidly conservative & oppose all novaciousness. I've felt in the mood for several months past that I agree with Youd's sentiments re fighting.     However, I've never even missed the chocolate, & anyway, there's plenty of it here. Also plenty of cigarettes, but I don't smoke. Also plenty of beer. And plenty of women..... I do love Ed
Chamberlain. Yerke's Mimeographer's Imp or something, wasn't he? I m̲u̲s̲t̲ send you a drawing of DWebster sometime. You'd be surprised."   1̲5̲ ̲J̲u̲n̲: "Seems Smith send you rather a scorcher saying he didn't think that copy of VOM was much of an issue for a sample. Forgive him - he didn't realise it was (I spose) a gift, gratis & gracious."   All for VOM & VOM for all---"

Arthur "Ego" Clarke

C/o "Ballifants", Bishops Lydeard, Tauton, Som.,
Eng, 2 July:    "Many thanks for the April and May 
VoM's which arrived this morning. For the last couple of months I have been in 
London learning all about radio. This is the sort of work that suits me down to the
ground so I am having a fine time with vector diagrams, resonant circuits, valve [tube]
characteristics, and the intriguing complexities of A.C. theory. I am hoping that I
shall be able to learn about radiolocation eventually - the dear old 'detector screen' of science fiction at last! Another scoop for sf, when you think about it.

I'm thinking that the rocket will be the next thing that will hit the war (in more ways than one!) as it is a well-known fact that the Italians have had a jet propelled plane flying for some time, and the Nazis have been using rockets to assist take-off of heavily loaded bombers. After that (or perhaps before) will be atomic power, I fear. Then the fat will be in the fire.....

Saving...

20 the last 'bus from the City round about 10.p.m. if one is lucky and does not catch a blitz also. (Even now, several night-fighters are whistling hopefully overhead). Returning to the letters, I suppose it's inevitable to us bloodthirsty Saxons but they do. appear somewhat nebulous if that's what Milton A.R. etc. means. To be strictly logical the only significant event is Tucker's babe which, to a slightly blockaded warmonger y'understand, is exceeded in importance only by the gift of three cigars. "How pleasant to know Mr. Ackerman. With golden hair and cherubic pan. Immaculate of ferocity He plainly possesses precosity. Such coy disposition, one so young, Is born to be painted, not to be hung. And although on this world He has been hurled. Until his harped and angeled day. His picture In a nice gilt frame Will definitely frighten the birds away. Useful chap. you." J̲.̲ ̲E̲.̲ ̲R̲E̲N̲N̲I̲S̲O̲N̲ ̲o̲f̲ ̲8̲2̲ ̲R̲a̲m̲s̲g̲r̲e̲a̲v̲e̲ ̲D̲r̲.̲ ̲B̲l̲a̲c̲k̲b̲u̲r̲n̲,̲ ̲L̲a̲n̲c̲a̲s̲h̲i̲r̲e̲,̲ ̲E̲n̲g̲.̲ ̲1̲2̲ ̲J̲u̲n̲:̲ "Introduction:- the name, John Edward Rennison, the age 16 1/2 (still a juvenile), the occupation, solicitor's clerk (and I am going in for that profession), the description, about 5ft. 11 ins. tall, wear glasses, light brown hair, fairly slim ( a nice way of stating the fact that I am thin), have a flair for wearing all blue clothes, blue suit, shirt, coat etc.. The hobbies, cycling and reading sfn., corresponding with the British twerps who are as mad as I am about it, the ambitions, to wander over the face of the earth and do no work. Fandom over here is car rying on much better than was anticipated when war broke out - cost of the "old guard" have been called up, but into their shoes have stepped new fans like myself who have yet some time to go before call up. Actually after the war I think fandom in this country will be pretty well 100% better than it was before war broke out. The war has really drawn us all more together, as we are for r great part dependent more on one another now then what we were in peacetime." J̲u̲n̲e̲ ̲1̲s̲t̲ ̲f̲r̲o̲m̲ ̲D̲o̲u̲g̲l̲a̲s̲ ̲W̲e̲b̲s̲t̲e̲r̲ ̲o̲f̲ ̲I̲d̲l̲e̲w̲i̲l̲d̲,̲ ̲F̲o̲u̲n̲t̲a̲i̲n̲h̲a̲l̲l̲ ̲R̲d̲.̲ ̲A̲b̲e̲r̲d̲e̲e̲n̲,̲ ̲S̲c̲o̲t̲l̲a̲n̲d̲: Eric lately got his issue of VOM, 4 says Thank 'ee kindly. Wants to know how to pay for it,, but out of spite since you hadn't sent me any Issues for a while - o̲r̲ any DAMN THINGs - I told him you sent it free to English fans (which you do anyway!) If such dastardly treatment revolts you, I can imagine but one course of action open for you - one dark night after the revelries, creep down to the Pacific Ocean and just for sheer cussedness, s̲p̲i̲t̲ ̲i̲n̲ ̲i̲t̲. You might go further - but no, I deem it inadvisable. While we're on the subject, I think Rita Pitman, Jimmy Rathbone's fiancée, would like VOM a whole lot, especially since she doesn't see him for months on end now, & naturally feels pretty miserable. Rita said they'd like to spend the honeymoon in Scotland & they might come up to Aberdeen 4 visit me. Since I ain't never seen a stfan in my life except by looking in the mirror), the prospect leaves me at a loss how to feel. Latest VOM arrived, accepted & amply appreciated. (R̲e̲f̲e̲r̲s̲ ̲t̲o̲ ̲A̲p̲r̲ ̲i̲s̲h̲) Bradbury is very handsome. I must send you a sketch of me sometime whether you want it or not. I'm handsome too; well, I think so. Kuslan will never get his Equal Rights any more than Shroyer will ever spread Burpocracy: they don't know English fans, who are stolidly conservative & oppose all novaciousness. I've felt in the mood for several months past that I agree with Youd's sentiments re fighting. However, I've never even missed the chocolate, & anyway, there's plenty of it here. Also plenty of cigarettes, but I don't smoke. Also plenty of beer. And plenty of women..... I do love Ed Chamberlain. Yerke's Mimeographer's Imp or something, wasn't he? I m̲u̲s̲t̲ send you a drawing of DWebster sometime. You'd be surprised." 1̲5̲ ̲J̲u̲n̲: "Seems Smith send you rather a scorcher saying he didn't think that copy of VOM was much of an issue for a sample. Forgive him - he didn't realise it was (I spose) a gift, gratis & gracious." All for VOM & VOM for all---" Arthur "Ego" Clarke C/o "Ballifants", Bishops Lydeard, Tauton, Som., Eng, 2 July: "Many thanks for the April and May VoM's which arrived this morning. For the last couple of months I have been in London learning all about radio. This is the sort of work that suits me down to the ground so I am having a fine time with vector diagrams, resonant circuits, valve [tube] characteristics, and the intriguing complexities of A.C. theory. I am hoping that I shall be able to learn about radiolocation eventually - the dear old 'detector screen' of science fiction at last! Another scoop for sf, when you think about it. I'm thinking that the rocket will be the next thing that will hit the war (in more ways than one!) as it is a well-known fact that the Italians have had a jet propelled plane flying for some time, and the Nazis have been using rockets to assist take-off of heavily loaded bombers. After that (or perhaps before) will be atomic power, I fear. Then the fat will be in the fire.....