DIY History | Transcribe | Hevelin Fanzines | Fanfare, v. 1, issue 1, December 1939

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Fanfare, v. 1, issue 1, December 1939

Page 11

Standard. Astounding takes a few more licks at the dying carcasses of her competitors, culminating in the arrival of smooth edges, and then Astounding begins to deteriorate. Tremaine has too many mags to concentrate any more time on Astounding. But Amazing isn't licked, yet. All through 1936, issue after issue of Amazing appears on a high standard of quality which puts Astounding and the new Thrilling Wonder to shame. However, fans are so drunk on the superb fiction handed them in '34 and '35 by Astounding that they can't recognize the fact that they are cutting their own throats by deserting the old-timers. That is essentially what I was telling them in Feb., 1936, but it was sheer blasphemy then, and I even suspect that Dollens purposely held up publication of the article because he did not quite support it's [sic] views. Time has proven my contentions accurate. Fans now realize that Amazing during 1936 and 1937 and the first two issues of '38 was a much superior magazine in quality of fiction than was Astounding. I think that Astounding began to realize it too, when circulation was down to 35,000 (a magazine like Astounding can break even about 30,000, so it was still making a profit). Actual confirmation of those rumours were had when S & S fired Tremaine (after giving him more work than he could handle) and hired Campbell to edit Astounding. Tremaine, before Campbell had to handle six or seven monthlies by himself. Campbell had only one Astounding. It is my firm belief that had S & S handed back Tremaine his job as editor of Astounding, and gotten another man for the other mags, Astounding would have attained a standard higher than the marvelous years of '34 and '35. Campbell, essentially a writer and not an editor as exemplified by his blurbs did a fairly good job on Astounding thereafter, certainly improving it, but finally placing it in a rut which it enjoys today, of conservatism and Campbellism. Almost every story in the magazine is tainted with Campbell to a sickening degree. Apparently John W. believes that the only good style is a Campbell style and writers who don't turn out Campbell material don't get into Astounding. Even the titles are not free from this trend: "Design For Life," "Nothing in the Rules," "Worlds Don't Care," "Forces Must Balance," "Who Wants Power?" etc., etc. The force, that driving impeteus [sic], the sterling intoxicating quality of fiction that once typified a magazine that drove two other first class magazines out of the field is gone. It exists-- along with dozens of other fantastic concoctions. Even "Amazing Stories," the fallen aristocrat claims higher circulation, and already a few fans begin to call Astounding "the aristocrat of science fiction," a dangerous trend.

[CARTOON]

Recession Victim

John, I hear a burglar in the house.

Ah, opportunity! Give me my ray gun and I'll go downstairs and rob him!

Saving...

Standard. Astounding takes a few more licks at the dying carcasses of her competitors, culminating in the arrival of smooth edges, and then Astounding begins to deteriorate. Tremaine has too many mags to concentrate any more time on Astounding. But Amazing isn't licked, yet. All through 1936, issue after issue of Amazing appears on a high standard of quality which puts Astounding and the new Thrilling Wonder to shame. However, fans are so drunk on the superb fiction handed them in '34 and '35 by Astounding that they can't recognize the fact that they are cutting their own throats by deserting the old-timers. That is essentially what I was telling them in Feb., 1936, but it was sheer blasphemy then, and I even suspect that Dollens purposely held up publication of the article because he did not quite support it's [sic] views. Time has proven my contentions accurate. Fans now realize that Amazing during 1936 and 1937 and the first two issues of '38 was a much superior magazine in quality of fiction than was Astounding. I think that Astounding began to realize it too, when circulation was down to 35,000 (a magazine like Astounding can break even about 30,000, so it was still making a profit). Actual confirmation of those rumours were had when S & S fired Tremaine (after giving him more work than he could handle) and hired Campbell to edit Astounding. Tremaine, before Campbell had to handle six or seven monthlies by himself. Campbell had only one Astounding. It is my firm belief that had S & S handed back Tremaine his job as editor of Astounding, and gotten another man for the other mags, Astounding would have attained a standard higher than the marvelous years of '34 and '35. Campbell, essentially a writer and not an editor as exemplified by his blurbs did a fairly good job on Astounding thereafter, certainly improving it, but finally placing it in a rut which it enjoys today, of conservatism and Campbellism. Almost every story in the magazine is tainted with Campbell to a sickening degree. Apparently John W. believes that the only good style is a Campbell style and writers who don't turn out Campbell material don't get into Astounding. Even the titles are not free from this trend: "Design For Life," "Nothing in the Rules," "Worlds Don't Care," "Forces Must Balance," "Who Wants Power?" etc., etc. The force, that driving impeteus [sic], the sterling intoxicating quality of fiction that once typified a magazine that drove two other first class magazines out of the field is gone. It exists-- along with dozens of other fantastic concoctions. Even "Amazing Stories," the fallen aristocrat claims higher circulation, and already a few fans begin to call Astounding "the aristocrat of science fiction," a dangerous trend. [CARTOON] Recession Victim John, I hear a burglar in the house. Ah, opportunity! Give me my ray gun and I'll go downstairs and rob him!