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Fantascience Digest, v. 3, issue 1, whole no. 12, January-February 1940

Page 21

FANTASCIENCE DIGEST                       Page 21

snappy, columnar/ reporting of interesting current news which the average reader can obtain nowhere else. That is the niche which none but the fan magazine may fill, and all else in the magazine, I feel, should be built around it. 

   One part of this list which does not seem fully developed is that of which Milton A, Rothman's 'moon-trip' article is an example. I feel sure that this type of article could be carried every issue---there is sufficient material at the Fles Planetarium and the Franklin Institute alone to supply subjects for report. And all science fiction activity is not concentrated in this institution. It is within reason that it could become one of the most important features of the magazine. Possibly short s[?] articles, from scientific workers and instructors at our local colleges, could be obtained, giving information of this sort which is not generally available. The field here is very wide.

   And here is a suggestion I should like to make: why not ask the readers for selections of science fiction which they think show literary value; short excerpts from published stories which they regard are really well-written, demonstrating not the scientific, but the literary ability of the author? It might be necessary to obtain permission to republish from the copyright holders, but, for a few lines, or a paragraph at most, I am sure this would be given.

   As regards fiction in the fan magazine, I am indifferent. The publication of fiction is, after all, the least important of the fan magazine's activities. On the other hand, fan magazine fiction should be non-formula, if any fiction is. Also, the fan magazine can act as a testing field for writers, beginners and professionals alike. Personally, I enjoyed both "Dawn of Death" and "Space Log Y 486 G," although Jack Speer's objection to this last story is certainly well grounded logically. 

   The arrangement of the contents page of Vol. 2, No. 5 issue is superior, in my opinion, to that of Vol. 2, No. 4 issue----it is much clearer, and more easily read.

   Cover illustrations, I feel, and always will feel, should refer to some text in the magazine. Fan magazines are not the only offenders in this respect. 

   And that about sums it up. A little longer than I expected, but it does cover my opinion in full. 
"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
                 [underlined] COMING SOON 

"DREAM'S END"
-a beautiful fantasy-
  By A.M. Phillips

"FABLE AND FANTASCIENCE"
-an article-
By Fred W. Fischer

"AN OLD-TIMER RETURNS"
-an article-
By Julius Unger

"A TALE OF THEN"
-a what-not-
By Dick Wilson

"TEN YEARS AGO IN SCIENCE FICTION"
-you demanded its return!-
By Robert W. Lowndes

Plus Many Others
""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""

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FANTASCIENCE DIGEST Page 21 snappy, columnar/ reporting of interesting current news which the average reader can obtain nowhere else. That is the niche which none but the fan magazine may fill, and all else in the magazine, I feel, should be built around it. One part of this list which does not seem fully developed is that of which Milton A, Rothman's 'moon-trip' article is an example. I feel sure that this type of article could be carried every issue---there is sufficient material at the Fles Planetarium and the Franklin Institute alone to supply subjects for report. And all science fiction activity is not concentrated in this institution. It is within reason that it could become one of the most important features of the magazine. Possibly short s[?] articles, from scientific workers and instructors at our local colleges, could be obtained, giving information of this sort which is not generally available. The field here is very wide. And here is a suggestion I should like to make: why not ask the readers for selections of science fiction which they think show literary value; short excerpts from published stories which they regard are really well-written, demonstrating not the scientific, but the literary ability of the author? It might be necessary to obtain permission to republish from the copyright holders, but, for a few lines, or a paragraph at most, I am sure this would be given. As regards fiction in the fan magazine, I am indifferent. The publication of fiction is, after all, the least important of the fan magazine's activities. On the other hand, fan magazine fiction should be non-formula, if any fiction is. Also, the fan magazine can act as a testing field for writers, beginners and professionals alike. Personally, I enjoyed both "Dawn of Death" and "Space Log Y 486 G," although Jack Speer's objection to this last story is certainly well grounded logically. The arrangement of the contents page of Vol. 2, No. 5 issue is superior, in my opinion, to that of Vol. 2, No. 4 issue----it is much clearer, and more easily read. Cover illustrations, I feel, and always will feel, should refer to some text in the magazine. Fan magazines are not the only offenders in this respect. And that about sums it up. A little longer than I expected, but it does cover my opinion in full. """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" [underlined] COMING SOON "DREAM'S END" -a beautiful fantasy- By A.M. Phillips "FABLE AND FANTASCIENCE" -an article- By Fred W. Fischer "AN OLD-TIMER RETURNS" -an article- By Julius Unger "A TALE OF THEN" -a what-not- By Dick Wilson "TEN YEARS AGO IN SCIENCE FICTION" -you demanded its return!- By Robert W. Lowndes Plus Many Others """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""