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Fantasy Fictioneer, issue 4, August 1940

Page 9

BLITZKREIG, BEER & BOREDOM
Ted Carnell

   Have you ever read a newspaper editorial which didn’t weave an obscure path around some entirely irrelevant point?  Have you ever soaked up a subtle piece of propaganda without first sorting out the “puff” from the facts?  Just as news-sheet editorials carry their necessary load of bilge for those who can’t think for themselves, so also does the fanmag editorials occasionally deviate from essential facts.
   Bearing in mind that all editorials must have a focal point of interest, it was with considerable surprise that I read the not-so-subtle editorial of Sully Roberds in the March-April Fantasy Fictioneer.  That the Chicago Convention should not discuss the European War except in dark corners I heartily endorse, but I can see no real reason for drawing useless similes to the fact by ridiculing so-called colleagues who happen to be in the thick of things.  It is a known fact that there is not a lot of open love between the American and British democracies -- I am speaking of the people and not the Governments.  The “average” American never meets that “average” Britisher, and vice versa.  The only people one or the other side meet are those with too much money or leisure; a class of individual, while small in number, who seem to successfully create a false impression of what the man-in-the-street of the other nation is really like.
   Antagonism is bound to creep in at times, but it can usually be corrected by careful explanation, bearing in mind the difference in opinions.  I feel that Roberds forgets the difference when he writes about British fan activities since the war commenced.  Also the 4000 miles is a mighty long way off to try and analyse the reactions of anyone under work conditions.
   When the war started here last September many issues of fanmags were already in course of preparation.  My own pet in particular, New Worlds, was three-parts completed, the cost amounting to about $10 or so.  The logical thing to do was to try and complete it in as short a time as possible, to save the waste of money, material and time, and to suspend operations untill a more propitious era loomed on the sky line.  This was done.  Some of the other mags eventually did likewise, and I quite fail to see where any flood of amateur magazines have been issued from this country during the past six months.  That one or two have managed to continue at long intervals is true, but all of them fail to guarantee that there will ever be a further issue or when such an issue can be expected.
   Also on the contrary, Mr. Roberds, our fandom did not blossom anew under war conditions, it was merely carried on under difficult conditions for the sake of the friendships it entailed.  About one half of the active fans in Britain either evacuated with their firms to the country or were called to service with one of the Forces.  The other half endeavoured to keep contact with all the absent colleagues and also the vital link with America, so that we should not become to out of touch with happenings in the fantasy market.  Very few fans or readers have had an opportunity to read even one professional magazine since the outbreak of war (except the reprint editions), yet the links of friendship which were formed in a calmer age seem to survive when one missing focal point of fandom.
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BLITZKREIG, BEER & BOREDOM Ted Carnell Have you ever read a newspaper editorial which didn’t weave an obscure path around some entirely irrelevant point? Have you ever soaked up a subtle piece of propaganda without first sorting out the “puff” from the facts? Just as news-sheet editorials carry their necessary load of bilge for those who can’t think for themselves, so also does the fanmag editorials occasionally deviate from essential facts. Bearing in mind that all editorials must have a focal point of interest, it was with considerable surprise that I read the not-so-subtle editorial of Sully Roberds in the March-April Fantasy Fictioneer. That the Chicago Convention should not discuss the European War except in dark corners I heartily endorse, but I can see no real reason for drawing useless similes to the fact by ridiculing so-called colleagues who happen to be in the thick of things. It is a known fact that there is not a lot of open love between the American and British democracies -- I am speaking of the people and not the Governments. The “average” American never meets that “average” Britisher, and vice versa. The only people one or the other side meet are those with too much money or leisure; a class of individual, while small in number, who seem to successfully create a false impression of what the man-in-the-street of the other nation is really like. Antagonism is bound to creep in at times, but it can usually be corrected by careful explanation, bearing in mind the difference in opinions. I feel that Roberds forgets the difference when he writes about British fan activities since the war commenced. Also the 4000 miles is a mighty long way off to try and analyse the reactions of anyone under work conditions. When the war started here last September many issues of fanmags were already in course of preparation. My own pet in particular, New Worlds, was three-parts completed, the cost amounting to about $10 or so. The logical thing to do was to try and complete it in as short a time as possible, to save the waste of money, material and time, and to suspend operations untill a more propitious era loomed on the sky line. This was done. Some of the other mags eventually did likewise, and I quite fail to see where any flood of amateur magazines have been issued from this country during the past six months. That one or two have managed to continue at long intervals is true, but all of them fail to guarantee that there will ever be a further issue or when such an issue can be expected. Also on the contrary, Mr. Roberds, our fandom did not blossom anew under war conditions, it was merely carried on under difficult conditions for the sake of the friendships it entailed. About one half of the active fans in Britain either evacuated with their firms to the country or were called to service with one of the Forces. The other half endeavoured to keep contact with all the absent colleagues and also the vital link with America, so that we should not become to out of touch with happenings in the fantasy market. Very few fans or readers have had an opportunity to read even one professional magazine since the outbreak of war (except the reprint editions), yet the links of friendship which were formed in a calmer age seem to survive when one missing focal point of fandom. (next page)