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Fanfare, v. 1, issue 3, August 1940

Page 12

12
FANFARE

when he is not straining himself to be satirical, he becomes quite effective, as with In Caverns Below and The Man from Tomorrow...David H. Keller possess the ability to insert one abnormal element into a story, while keeping the other elements normal. This method can yield good results for example, The Metal Doom and The Fireless Age..."

It is plain from these comments that Russell likes stories dealing with the possible future stati of man, on earth or elsewhere. His opinion that a story, to be Sf., should deal with the inter-relation of science and society -- a theme that no other type of fiction deals with at the present time -- explains why he so strongly favors H. G. Wells. Russell cares for few weird stories, but think that Clark Ashton Smith and H. P. Lovecraft sometimes turn out good work, and that C. A. Moore, in her Bright Illusion, is better than either.

This past year, Russell has been taking the premedical course at Boston College. Don't give him an opportunity to get going on a disquisition, complete with drawings, of the unpaired branches of the dorsal aorta in the dog-fish -- unless you are as fascinated by biology as he is. Personally, I'm glad he is willing, in general, to keep his interest in the inner workings of living organism to himself. Next fall he will probably continue his studies at the University of Virginia, near his home at Tallwood Plantation, Esmont, Virginia, to which he is at present bicycling on a very circuitous route that will include visits to many Eastern fans.

There is a possibility that Russell will be present at the Chicon as he plans to make a trip to Chicago after his bicycle tour is ended. If he does attend, there is a rumor that he will impersonate Professor Jameson. Incidentally, the current rumor that he is Edward Elmer Campbell, Jr. (Captain of Frolic Apace, of Fantascience Digest) has no foundation in fact. Let me suggest that E.E.C., Jr. is more likely to be a synthesis of Jack (Cupid) Agnew and Bob (Stupor-epic) Madle.

An accomplished chess player, Russell has carried off several tournament trophies (Widner and Avery take notice). Mrs. Swisher has a theory that his deafness gives him an advantage in such games, by enabling him to concentrate undisturbed by outside influences. Perhaps; but his exceptionally keen mind does not hamper him, either. Russell's ability to understand the relation of things to their surroundings -- a necessity for successful chess playing -- is again manifested in his poetry. For the writing of poetry is one aspect of Russell's reaction to his environment. His short lyrics show him transforming both reality and imagination into disturbing word pictures. Inevitably and inextricably entwined with a strand of fantasy, these poems reveal a mind questioning the actuality of things as they appear to be; probing beneath the surface of commonplace scenes and events; and uncovering ordinarily unguesses (and sometimes beautiful, sometimes sinister) potentialities. In consistence with the fact that most of his poetry is lyrical, Russell professes to write poetry only "when he has to"; let us hope that he finds it necessary to write much more. Some of his favorites are Stephen Vincent Benet, A. E. Housman, Lord Byron, and the great modern American, Robinson Jeffers.

That's about all the information available concerning "Pedal-pusher" Chauvenet's past. He has a past. As for the future, he is firmly convinced (in agreement with Rsven's scholarly history, The Shapes of Things to Come) that regardless of the outcome of the present European struggle, there will be inflation, famine, war, revolution, general chaos, and finally bleak desolation in the United States prior to 1960. Not at all unnaturally, he intends to gather about him a group of kindred-spirits and retire early and permanently to the island of Moorea near Tahiti in the South Pacific, there to fish, sail, swim, and raise ce-

(continued on page 17)

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12 FANFARE when he is not straining himself to be satirical, he becomes quite effective, as with In Caverns Below and The Man from Tomorrow...David H. Keller possess the ability to insert one abnormal element into a story, while keeping the other elements normal. This method can yield good results for example, The Metal Doom and The Fireless Age..." It is plain from these comments that Russell likes stories dealing with the possible future stati of man, on earth or elsewhere. His opinion that a story, to be Sf., should deal with the inter-relation of science and society -- a theme that no other type of fiction deals with at the present time -- explains why he so strongly favors H. G. Wells. Russell cares for few weird stories, but think that Clark Ashton Smith and H. P. Lovecraft sometimes turn out good work, and that C. A. Moore, in her Bright Illusion, is better than either. This past year, Russell has been taking the premedical course at Boston College. Don't give him an opportunity to get going on a disquisition, complete with drawings, of the unpaired branches of the dorsal aorta in the dog-fish -- unless you are as fascinated by biology as he is. Personally, I'm glad he is willing, in general, to keep his interest in the inner workings of living organism to himself. Next fall he will probably continue his studies at the University of Virginia, near his home at Tallwood Plantation, Esmont, Virginia, to which he is at present bicycling on a very circuitous route that will include visits to many Eastern fans. There is a possibility that Russell will be present at the Chicon as he plans to make a trip to Chicago after his bicycle tour is ended. If he does attend, there is a rumor that he will impersonate Professor Jameson. Incidentally, the current rumor that he is Edward Elmer Campbell, Jr. (Captain of Frolic Apace, of Fantascience Digest) has no foundation in fact. Let me suggest that E.E.C., Jr. is more likely to be a synthesis of Jack (Cupid) Agnew and Bob (Stupor-epic) Madle. An accomplished chess player, Russell has carried off several tournament trophies (Widner and Avery take notice). Mrs. Swisher has a theory that his deafness gives him an advantage in such games, by enabling him to concentrate undisturbed by outside influences. Perhaps; but his exceptionally keen mind does not hamper him, either. Russell's ability to understand the relation of things to their surroundings -- a necessity for successful chess playing -- is again manifested in his poetry. For the writing of poetry is one aspect of Russell's reaction to his environment. His short lyrics show him transforming both reality and imagination into disturbing word pictures. Inevitably and inextricably entwined with a strand of fantasy, these poems reveal a mind questioning the actuality of things as they appear to be; probing beneath the surface of commonplace scenes and events; and uncovering ordinarily unguesses (and sometimes beautiful, sometimes sinister) potentialities. In consistence with the fact that most of his poetry is lyrical, Russell professes to write poetry only "when he has to"; let us hope that he finds it necessary to write much more. Some of his favorites are Stephen Vincent Benet, A. E. Housman, Lord Byron, and the great modern American, Robinson Jeffers. That's about all the information available concerning "Pedal-pusher" Chauvenet's past. He has a past. As for the future, he is firmly convinced (in agreement with Rsven's scholarly history, The Shapes of Things to Come) that regardless of the outcome of the present European struggle, there will be inflation, famine, war, revolution, general chaos, and finally bleak desolation in the United States prior to 1960. Not at all unnaturally, he intends to gather about him a group of kindred-spirits and retire early and permanently to the island of Moorea near Tahiti in the South Pacific, there to fish, sail, swim, and raise ce- (continued on page 17)