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Fantasy Fiction Field, v. 2, issue 4, whole no. 27, May 19, 1941

Page 13

Vol 2 #4                Page 13
FANTASY FICTION FIELD ILLUSTRATED NEWS WEEKLY comes from Julius Unger, at 1702 Dahill Road, Brooklyn, New York. Associate [etc?] editor, Doc Lowndes; publisher, John B.Michel. FFF sells fro 5 ¢ per copy - you can get six for 25¢. Our thanks to John W. Campbell, Jr., editor of Astounding Science-Fiction for his cooperation and assistance in regard to this week's foto. 

THE BATTLE OF ASIKOV BAY
We recently heard of a little encounter in a recent War Game in New York. We refer to the famous [Navy Game?] which is occupying many of the great minds of science-fiction these days (for details see LLD and other picture mage-zines). It seems that Isaac Asimov was invited to visit one of these great games - - laid out on a few hundred square ft. of floor somewhere and engaging hundreds of craft in terrific conflicts. Taking pity on him after a few hours, Admiral M. Jameson gave Isaac command of a mighty craft - - a tiny minc-sweeper with which he could amuse himself while the real fight was on. Undaunted, Isaac conceived a terrific plan. While Admiral F. Pratt, in command of the British fleet, was occupied elsewhere, out Asimov slipped his super row-boat up under the gun wales of the monster super-dreadnought, H M S Horrible! But, alas, Pratt looked around. Sizing up the situation and stifling a yawn, Pratt directed the fire of one of the dreadnoughts dozens of less creannon and behold - - Ikc was sunk! And that, my friends, is the sad sad tale of the one and only naval exploit of Commodore Asimov. (Ed note: We know not what the truth may be; we tell the tale as twas told to we.) 

CITY DESK 
RECENTLY IT HAS out fortune, or perhaps we should say misfortune to happen on a copy of "The Other World", a forthcoming mythology of weird and stf tales, which has been culled from the various and sundry pulps in the field by that "foremost authority in America on weird and fantastic literature"(honest! that's exactly the claim that is made) the unforgettable Phil Stong, author of such fine works of imaginative fiction as "State Fair", "Stranger's Return", and others - you must have seen them in the cinema.
       This opus malodorus is published by Wilfred Funk and can be obtained for the modest sum of $2.50. Sometimes we feel that fan #1 Stong really wasn't trying very hard; we are sure that, with just a little more application he could have thrown together a fare more mediocre collection of insipid tripe, still less represcntativo of science fiction. In his favor, we'll admit that the weird [salce?]tions are not awfully bad - - they are not particularly god, either. 
        The little pile of offal is further graced with commentaries by the anthologist and here we find what our outstanding authority thinks of science fiction -- and imaginative writing in general. It would indeed be difficult to find a more cynical and generally vicious mass of wisorceks and insults to the intelligence of science fiction lovers. Out Mr Stong tells the world for example that the sole criterion of merit in science-fiction is that the story must be utterly impossible. (Of course, he does admit such things as good writing, and in all fairness we must grant that the assembled mediocritics in "The Other World" are well written.) There is not a single interplanetary tale in the entire collection; well, that might be taken as a bow to the essential practicality of space travel if you wish to split hairs. 
        The commens upon H.P. Lovecraft are as nauseating a compilation if vicious wit as we have ever seen. Mr.Stong has picked one Lovecraft story for the anthology, one of the lesser straight -- horror stories: "In the Vault".  The cosmic sweep of Lovecraft is entirely ignored or  dismissed in a welter of brilliant disparagement. In science fiction, Stong mentions David H. Keller and very grudgingly admits that his works had a great influence upon the field, -- but you will not find a single Keller story in the entire collection. 
      I said above that Stong has not shown himself an utter goop when it comes to fair writing. He has selected a few

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Vol 2 #4 Page 13 FANTASY FICTION FIELD ILLUSTRATED NEWS WEEKLY comes from Julius Unger, at 1702 Dahill Road, Brooklyn, New York. Associate [etc?] editor, Doc Lowndes; publisher, John B.Michel. FFF sells fro 5 ¢ per copy - you can get six for 25¢. Our thanks to John W. Campbell, Jr., editor of Astounding Science-Fiction for his cooperation and assistance in regard to this week's foto. THE BATTLE OF ASIKOV BAY We recently heard of a little encounter in a recent War Game in New York. We refer to the famous [Navy Game?] which is occupying many of the great minds of science-fiction these days (for details see LLD and other picture mage-zines). It seems that Isaac Asimov was invited to visit one of these great games - - laid out on a few hundred square ft. of floor somewhere and engaging hundreds of craft in terrific conflicts. Taking pity on him after a few hours, Admiral M. Jameson gave Isaac command of a mighty craft - - a tiny minc-sweeper with which he could amuse himself while the real fight was on. Undaunted, Isaac conceived a terrific plan. While Admiral F. Pratt, in command of the British fleet, was occupied elsewhere, out Asimov slipped his super row-boat up under the gun wales of the monster super-dreadnought, H M S Horrible! But, alas, Pratt looked around. Sizing up the situation and stifling a yawn, Pratt directed the fire of one of the dreadnoughts dozens of less creannon and behold - - Ikc was sunk! And that, my friends, is the sad sad tale of the one and only naval exploit of Commodore Asimov. (Ed note: We know not what the truth may be; we tell the tale as twas told to we.) CITY DESK RECENTLY IT HAS out fortune, or perhaps we should say misfortune to happen on a copy of "The Other World", a forthcoming mythology of weird and stf tales, which has been culled from the various and sundry pulps in the field by that "foremost authority in America on weird and fantastic literature"(honest! that's exactly the claim that is made) the unforgettable Phil Stong, author of such fine works of imaginative fiction as "State Fair", "Stranger's Return", and others - you must have seen them in the cinema. This opus malodorus is published by Wilfred Funk and can be obtained for the modest sum of $2.50. Sometimes we feel that fan #1 Stong really wasn't trying very hard; we are sure that, with just a little more application he could have thrown together a fare more mediocre collection of insipid tripe, still less represcntativo of science fiction. In his favor, we'll admit that the weird [salce?]tions are not awfully bad - - they are not particularly god, either. The little pile of offal is further graced with commentaries by the anthologist and here we find what our outstanding authority thinks of science fiction -- and imaginative writing in general. It would indeed be difficult to find a more cynical and generally vicious mass of wisorceks and insults to the intelligence of science fiction lovers. Out Mr Stong tells the world for example that the sole criterion of merit in science-fiction is that the story must be utterly impossible. (Of course, he does admit such things as good writing, and in all fairness we must grant that the assembled mediocritics in "The Other World" are well written.) There is not a single interplanetary tale in the entire collection; well, that might be taken as a bow to the essential practicality of space travel if you wish to split hairs. The commens upon H.P. Lovecraft are as nauseating a compilation if vicious wit as we have ever seen. Mr.Stong has picked one Lovecraft story for the anthology, one of the lesser straight -- horror stories: "In the Vault". The cosmic sweep of Lovecraft is entirely ignored or dismissed in a welter of brilliant disparagement. In science fiction, Stong mentions David H. Keller and very grudgingly admits that his works had a great influence upon the field, -- but you will not find a single Keller story in the entire collection. I said above that Stong has not shown himself an utter goop when it comes to fair writing. He has selected a few