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Scientifictionist, vol. 1, issue 5, June-July 1946
Page 11
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A WORD ABOUT THE PROS by Kent Bone This article is the first to be produced for a regular prozine review column in the Scientifictionist. Its purpose is the purpose of any book or mag review. I'm sure Slanry will welcome any comments or constructive criticism. Only three mags are being reviewed this time, as I haven't been able to obtain the latest issue of Planet Stories. [You didn't miss anything -- ed.] The greatest number of mags that will be reviewed in this column at one time will probably not exceed 5, and will average 4. The reason for this is that Ed Elsner wants only stf mags reviewed. (For an obvious reason.) I don't read any of the Ziff-Davis efforts, so they won't be included. As a whole the Summer issue of Thrilling Wonder Stories wasn't up to the higher standard that it has established of late. The novel, TITAN OF THE JUNGLE is the worst TWS has used for a long time. Mainly it was the plot that I disliked. A scientist produces two elixirs, one of which checks the activity of the brain, the other having the opposite effect. He inoculates an ape with a man-hatred complex with the "Fluid of Enlightenment." The ape captures the scientist and inoculates many other animals with the fluid. Of course the hero comes to the rescue. DEAD CITY, a novelette by Murray Leinster, illustrated by beautiful Stevens ("Lawerence") pics, was the best story in the issue. It had a good plot and was well handled. Archeologists discover the remains of a great city in Central America. While they are examining the city, some of its inhabitants, who have traversed time, appear on the scene. They enjoy torturing humans and plan to bring their race forward in time because of the great number of humans present. One of the archeologists causes the disruption of their atomic power plant when they return to their own time. Thus the city along with its sadistic inhabitants was destroyed. The story is one of those time-paradox things, but is well done -- especially interesting are hints of the alien psychology and art-forms. I'll mention only two of the short stories because I'm pressed for time. The same basic plot has been used for the 3rd time by the same author, Fearn, in TWILIGHT PLANET. Of course, each time he gives it a new twist, but basically it's the same. This time a young scientist produces a progressive matter cancer which destroys the earth. In the process he is bathed in cosmic rays and begins to evolve. Eventually he realizes that he would produce a new solar system. FOREVER IS TODAY is based on the "carousel of time" plot. A person in some way causes the repetition of one instant. The title is therefore somewhat self-explanatory. The summer issue of Startling Stories is no improvement over the previous issue. The novel, THE DARK WORLD, is another of Kuttner's fantasies. The writing is magnificent. If I hadn't seen the title I'd have thought that it was one of Merritt's works. Two identical personalities, one of Earth and one of another dimension, are exchanged between dimensions. False memories are given to the one who comes to Earth. The other-dimension-being returns to his dimension, thereby automatically returning the Earthman to Earth. On the Dark World, "Edward Bond", really Lord Ganelon, thinking he is the earthman because of the false memories, plots and carries out the destruction of his former colleagues when they betray him and plan to sacrifice him to their "god", a rip-snortin' monster in good Merritt style. The identical beings are forced to battle. The hero loses, but his intellect is transferred to the body of the earthman. In it he returns to the heroine. The Hall of Fame story was, as usual, undeserving of its title. THE MAN WITH THE X-RAY EYES seemed to content that everything in the world is not what it seems to be. A reporter is given a treatment which produces X-ray eyes. He discovers that the gubernatorial candidate is crooked; a revered philanthropist is also a crook, and that his fiancée really didn't love him. He then, naturally, jumps in the river. THE VICIOUS CIRCLE has, I think, an unfitting title. I would have used page 11
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A WORD ABOUT THE PROS by Kent Bone This article is the first to be produced for a regular prozine review column in the Scientifictionist. Its purpose is the purpose of any book or mag review. I'm sure Slanry will welcome any comments or constructive criticism. Only three mags are being reviewed this time, as I haven't been able to obtain the latest issue of Planet Stories. [You didn't miss anything -- ed.] The greatest number of mags that will be reviewed in this column at one time will probably not exceed 5, and will average 4. The reason for this is that Ed Elsner wants only stf mags reviewed. (For an obvious reason.) I don't read any of the Ziff-Davis efforts, so they won't be included. As a whole the Summer issue of Thrilling Wonder Stories wasn't up to the higher standard that it has established of late. The novel, TITAN OF THE JUNGLE is the worst TWS has used for a long time. Mainly it was the plot that I disliked. A scientist produces two elixirs, one of which checks the activity of the brain, the other having the opposite effect. He inoculates an ape with a man-hatred complex with the "Fluid of Enlightenment." The ape captures the scientist and inoculates many other animals with the fluid. Of course the hero comes to the rescue. DEAD CITY, a novelette by Murray Leinster, illustrated by beautiful Stevens ("Lawerence") pics, was the best story in the issue. It had a good plot and was well handled. Archeologists discover the remains of a great city in Central America. While they are examining the city, some of its inhabitants, who have traversed time, appear on the scene. They enjoy torturing humans and plan to bring their race forward in time because of the great number of humans present. One of the archeologists causes the disruption of their atomic power plant when they return to their own time. Thus the city along with its sadistic inhabitants was destroyed. The story is one of those time-paradox things, but is well done -- especially interesting are hints of the alien psychology and art-forms. I'll mention only two of the short stories because I'm pressed for time. The same basic plot has been used for the 3rd time by the same author, Fearn, in TWILIGHT PLANET. Of course, each time he gives it a new twist, but basically it's the same. This time a young scientist produces a progressive matter cancer which destroys the earth. In the process he is bathed in cosmic rays and begins to evolve. Eventually he realizes that he would produce a new solar system. FOREVER IS TODAY is based on the "carousel of time" plot. A person in some way causes the repetition of one instant. The title is therefore somewhat self-explanatory. The summer issue of Startling Stories is no improvement over the previous issue. The novel, THE DARK WORLD, is another of Kuttner's fantasies. The writing is magnificent. If I hadn't seen the title I'd have thought that it was one of Merritt's works. Two identical personalities, one of Earth and one of another dimension, are exchanged between dimensions. False memories are given to the one who comes to Earth. The other-dimension-being returns to his dimension, thereby automatically returning the Earthman to Earth. On the Dark World, "Edward Bond", really Lord Ganelon, thinking he is the earthman because of the false memories, plots and carries out the destruction of his former colleagues when they betray him and plan to sacrifice him to their "god", a rip-snortin' monster in good Merritt style. The identical beings are forced to battle. The hero loses, but his intellect is transferred to the body of the earthman. In it he returns to the heroine. The Hall of Fame story was, as usual, undeserving of its title. THE MAN WITH THE X-RAY EYES seemed to content that everything in the world is not what it seems to be. A reporter is given a treatment which produces X-ray eyes. He discovers that the gubernatorial candidate is crooked; a revered philanthropist is also a crook, and that his fiancée really didn't love him. He then, naturally, jumps in the river. THE VICIOUS CIRCLE has, I think, an unfitting title. I would have used page 11
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