DIY History | Transcribe | Hevelin Fanzines | En Garde, whole no. 2, June 1942

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En Garde, whole no. 2, June 1942

Page 5

page 5.
THOSE MISSING RIBS

After long procrastination, the time ha come when the Red Lensman must write her article for FAPA. ((In a moment of aberration, Doc Smith termed Abby Lu the "Red Lensman" because of her flaming tresses. Finding it pleasing to her fancy, she forthwith seized upon this cognomen with feminine firmness, and permanently adopted it. --A.A.)) Alas and alack-a-day -- what to write about..? The problem is as hard to solve as the one of "what shall I fix for supper?" My husband is about as much help in one case as in the other. He says, "Oh, just fix anything." I suggest porkchops, and he doesn't feel like pork chops. I suggest steak, and he doesn't want steak. ((Beast, isn't he?)) Veal, hamburg, cold cuts, chop suey all receive the same veto. In the same way I suggest this, that, and the other as a FAPA subject -- with the identical result. None of them quite suit. In the end "Everight Evans" comes through as usual. He says why don't you enlarge on your La NOVA Femme theme? Go into a bit more detail about what you gals gotta do while the boys are off to the wars.

"Lovely, lovely", I say. "What'll I write? Come on with some detail." ((It's even writing it we should be doing yet.)) Then Al says, "Honey, if you would make me some coffee I would love you like anything." So I make him a pot of coffee. I get another line or two written and Everett says, "Beautiful, I know a good job for you. Cut the buttons off this old shirt so we can use it for rags." So I cut the buttons off the shirt and write ten words more. Jack chimes in next with, "Gorgeous, do you know where that [o]ld Astounding is from back in '39 or '40 sometime? The one with that swell picture by what's-his-name in it?" So I search diligently from the attic to the bottom-most box in the basement. After it has been located, and the boys have fresh coffee and coca-colas, I once more return to my article. Why did I ever let myself in for this,anyway?

As has been mentioned by others at various times, the first need for feminine fandom seems to be a more closely knit organization than exists at present. The next thing is how one should go about achieving this. Unfortunately, I am handicapped, never having learned to knit. It has been suggested that an all-girl fanzine would be a great help. Possibly so. Yet those that have been tried have met with little success. However, I'll naturally be very happy to do all I can in the space I have in La NOVA Femme and in EN GARDE.

I do know there is a great deal of work being done in Fandom by girls at the present time. Helen Bradleigh of Indiana does a lot toward getting out INFINITE, and is developing into a very good writer. Janie Tucker, since being converted, has taken a lot more interest in LE ZOMBIE. Frances Blomstrand, of Minnesota, has been working hard on FANTASITE, and with no blowing of her own horn. Then of course, there is the one and only Morojo; Trudy, and the Finns.. These are some who are doing their bit toward keeping Fandom active.

Fred Hunter mentions in CENSORED that most of the Canadian fans seem to be girls. It appears quite possible that the same situation may prevail here. As more and more boys go into the armed forces and the war industries, the burden of keeping Fandom alive and active will fall upon us, even as it has and will in many other things.

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page 5. THOSE MISSING RIBS After long procrastination, the time ha come when the Red Lensman must write her article for FAPA. ((In a moment of aberration, Doc Smith termed Abby Lu the "Red Lensman" because of her flaming tresses. Finding it pleasing to her fancy, she forthwith seized upon this cognomen with feminine firmness, and permanently adopted it. --A.A.)) Alas and alack-a-day -- what to write about..? The problem is as hard to solve as the one of "what shall I fix for supper?" My husband is about as much help in one case as in the other. He says, "Oh, just fix anything." I suggest porkchops, and he doesn't feel like pork chops. I suggest steak, and he doesn't want steak. ((Beast, isn't he?)) Veal, hamburg, cold cuts, chop suey all receive the same veto. In the same way I suggest this, that, and the other as a FAPA subject -- with the identical result. None of them quite suit. In the end "Everight Evans" comes through as usual. He says why don't you enlarge on your La NOVA Femme theme? Go into a bit more detail about what you gals gotta do while the boys are off to the wars. "Lovely, lovely", I say. "What'll I write? Come on with some detail." ((It's even writing it we should be doing yet.)) Then Al says, "Honey, if you would make me some coffee I would love you like anything." So I make him a pot of coffee. I get another line or two written and Everett says, "Beautiful, I know a good job for you. Cut the buttons off this old shirt so we can use it for rags." So I cut the buttons off the shirt and write ten words more. Jack chimes in next with, "Gorgeous, do you know where that [o]ld Astounding is from back in '39 or '40 sometime? The one with that swell picture by what's-his-name in it?" So I search diligently from the attic to the bottom-most box in the basement. After it has been located, and the boys have fresh coffee and coca-colas, I once more return to my article. Why did I ever let myself in for this,anyway? As has been mentioned by others at various times, the first need for feminine fandom seems to be a more closely knit organization than exists at present. The next thing is how one should go about achieving this. Unfortunately, I am handicapped, never having learned to knit. It has been suggested that an all-girl fanzine would be a great help. Possibly so. Yet those that have been tried have met with little success. However, I'll naturally be very happy to do all I can in the space I have in La NOVA Femme and in EN GARDE. I do know there is a great deal of work being done in Fandom by girls at the present time. Helen Bradleigh of Indiana does a lot toward getting out INFINITE, and is developing into a very good writer. Janie Tucker, since being converted, has taken a lot more interest in LE ZOMBIE. Frances Blomstrand, of Minnesota, has been working hard on FANTASITE, and with no blowing of her own horn. Then of course, there is the one and only Morojo; Trudy, and the Finns.. These are some who are doing their bit toward keeping Fandom active. Fred Hunter mentions in CENSORED that most of the Canadian fans seem to be girls. It appears quite possible that the same situation may prevail here. As more and more boys go into the armed forces and the war industries, the burden of keeping Fandom alive and active will fall upon us, even as it has and will in many other things.