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Mutant, v. 2, issue 2, May 1948
Page 16
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ASF, 1947 this is the first of two parts. The second will appear in the next issue of THE MUTANT by REDD BOGGS FOREWORD: During the year 1947 the so-called "aristocrat of stf," Astounding Science-Fiction, continued its leadership in the field, and despite increasingly tough competition from TWS and Startling (who more and more were featuring authors that ASF had developed), by year's end ASF was even increasing its lead slightly. Considering the year as a whole, I believe the most significant developments of 1947 were the adoption by ASF of a revised format, which made the magazine once more impressive-looking as of yore, and the return of Hubert Rogers to the cover. ASF's best stories during 1947 were, in my opinion, as follows: "The Equalizer," "Maturity," "E For Effort," "Aesop" and "Child's Play" -- with others, as "The End Is Not Yet," "Tomorrow's Children," "Fury" and "Thunder and Roses," not far behind. While ASF in 1947 rated considerably lower than it did in 1939-42 in sheer interest, the magazine was unmistakably headed toward a new golden era similar to the one that ended in the middle war years. A detailed account of its twelve issues for 1947 follows. ((This first part presents the issues from January to June, inclusive. The latter half of the year will be treated in part two.)) * * * JANUARY: The year 1947 began, conventionally enough, at Astounding Science Fiction with the January 1947 issue -- but it was not until the February issue that Campbell made his first real break with the so-called "atomic war" cycle, thus presenting the "fresh something" which we like to believe the New Year will bring. The best tale in the last issue of the old regime -- that is to say, the January 1947 issue -- was Part I of "Tomorrow and Tomorrow" by Lewis Padgett. Significantly enough, it was a rather uninspired variation on the Campbellian "atomic tomorrow" theme, with twisted dimensions brought in for good measure. The fact that this story has not remained clear in the memory is proof that it was not a particularly "classical" yarn. The story rates a B. Fully as uninspired a variation on another decrepit theme was "Housing Shortage" by oldtimer Harry Walton. A story about a house that encloses a time-warp, it followed others such as "House of Tomorrow," "And He Built a Crooked House," and "A Guest In The House" but ranked with none of them. Rating: C-. "Sinecure 6" (C) by another oldtimer, H.B.Fyfe, had a nice kick at the end. Bernard I. Kahn's "Command" was an interplanetary with a difference, although the gimmick itself may not have been new. It rates an even C. The other stories missed the mark, especially one stinker by Leinster, which was the sheerest hack he has been doing recently. PAGE 10 DID YOU GET YOUR SUPER SNOOZ **COMES IN THREE SIZES 10 15 AND 20 LB MALLETS. DON'T WORRY SLEEP LIKE SPACEMEN
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ASF, 1947 this is the first of two parts. The second will appear in the next issue of THE MUTANT by REDD BOGGS FOREWORD: During the year 1947 the so-called "aristocrat of stf," Astounding Science-Fiction, continued its leadership in the field, and despite increasingly tough competition from TWS and Startling (who more and more were featuring authors that ASF had developed), by year's end ASF was even increasing its lead slightly. Considering the year as a whole, I believe the most significant developments of 1947 were the adoption by ASF of a revised format, which made the magazine once more impressive-looking as of yore, and the return of Hubert Rogers to the cover. ASF's best stories during 1947 were, in my opinion, as follows: "The Equalizer," "Maturity," "E For Effort," "Aesop" and "Child's Play" -- with others, as "The End Is Not Yet," "Tomorrow's Children," "Fury" and "Thunder and Roses," not far behind. While ASF in 1947 rated considerably lower than it did in 1939-42 in sheer interest, the magazine was unmistakably headed toward a new golden era similar to the one that ended in the middle war years. A detailed account of its twelve issues for 1947 follows. ((This first part presents the issues from January to June, inclusive. The latter half of the year will be treated in part two.)) * * * JANUARY: The year 1947 began, conventionally enough, at Astounding Science Fiction with the January 1947 issue -- but it was not until the February issue that Campbell made his first real break with the so-called "atomic war" cycle, thus presenting the "fresh something" which we like to believe the New Year will bring. The best tale in the last issue of the old regime -- that is to say, the January 1947 issue -- was Part I of "Tomorrow and Tomorrow" by Lewis Padgett. Significantly enough, it was a rather uninspired variation on the Campbellian "atomic tomorrow" theme, with twisted dimensions brought in for good measure. The fact that this story has not remained clear in the memory is proof that it was not a particularly "classical" yarn. The story rates a B. Fully as uninspired a variation on another decrepit theme was "Housing Shortage" by oldtimer Harry Walton. A story about a house that encloses a time-warp, it followed others such as "House of Tomorrow," "And He Built a Crooked House," and "A Guest In The House" but ranked with none of them. Rating: C-. "Sinecure 6" (C) by another oldtimer, H.B.Fyfe, had a nice kick at the end. Bernard I. Kahn's "Command" was an interplanetary with a difference, although the gimmick itself may not have been new. It rates an even C. The other stories missed the mark, especially one stinker by Leinster, which was the sheerest hack he has been doing recently. PAGE 10 DID YOU GET YOUR SUPER SNOOZ **COMES IN THREE SIZES 10 15 AND 20 LB MALLETS. DON'T WORRY SLEEP LIKE SPACEMEN
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