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Fantasite, v. 1, issue 6, November-December 1941

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Page 10.................................................THE FANTASITE
Poe, I regret to say, remains virtually the same through all editions. Verne, as all French and Germans, affords vast variety throughout the license of translator and expired copyrights.
Which means, of course, that it is a fascinating side-line for the phantastophile to trace down these various differing editions.
There are many attractions to our avocation, you see.
********************
Some months ago, I was most fortunate in obtaining a copy of the first American edition of Wells' "Time Machine", issued in 1895 by Henry Holt and Company of New York. A neatly done little volume on fine paper, bound in tan buckram.
A curious circumstances occurs on the title page, however; one which I have not been able to fathom. But there, the author's preface - by Wells himself, of course - was sighted with the initials, "H.S.W."
Now, what I am driving at: did Wells change his middle name from mysterious "S" to George after the publication of this, his first, volume? Of little important, perhaps, but curious.
******************
What has happened to Edgar Rice Burroughs, Inc.? As a corporation Mr. Burroughs was bringing out his own books in fine style, with a promising future outlook--Now the publication of new volumes seems to have returned to the more widely known firms of Metropolitan, McClurg, etc....Why?
******************
Victor Rousseau wrote "The Dark Disk", a tale of super-physics and electricity, in COMPLETE STORIES for March, 1928.
*****************
Book titles are so often misleading.... What fan, eagerly snatcjing [sic] a volume from the shelves of a book store, has failed to learn that--to his dismay and disgust? An example of such an incident is the almost criminal use by Vin Delmar of that enticing title, "The End of the World". Of course, it was an exceedingly sappy love story.
*****************
FAMOUS FLOPS DEPARTMENT
FANTASTIC FICTION magazine, and the Futurist's Club ( do not confuse with any present organizations of similar name ).
This was a projected magazine-club organized by Jerome Siegel in 1931. Siegel, you know, subsequently brought out that very swell mimeographed magazine SCIENCE FICTION. Also COSMIC STORIES and COSMIC STORIES QUATERLY ( or so it was claimed....has anyone actually ever seen copies of the latter two magazines?)
Subscriptions were taken for FANTASTIC FICTION, a great amount of advance ballyhoo was given out and amvitious [sic] plans were made. The magazine was to be written an illustrated by members of the club. But the noise of its flop--- brought about by that usual bugbear, financial difficulties-- echoed loudly across the continent, and subscription money had to be returned. But real ambition it seems, cannot be downed. Siegel, later, was connected with the FUTURISTS' SOCIETY, a mental uplift organization designed to teach the world how to think properly, thereby becoming a planet of super-beings.
That, too, seemed to expire quietly. So, true enthusiast that he was, Siegel combined with Joe Schuster to produce "The Siegel-Schuster School of Humor", giving mail order lessons in the fine art of writing wit for radio, stage, screen and paper.
Finally they gave up in disgust and turned to authoring and drawing a little thing for the syndicates called "Superman". I hear it's paying for their cake and coffee quite nicely. You may have heard of it.
*******************
There is a fine biography and bibliography of H. G. Wells by J. D. Beresford. The not recent (1915--Henry Holt and Co.) it is most complete in reference to his fantasies--almost all of which are earlier productions.

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Page 10.................................................THE FANTASITE Poe, I regret to say, remains virtually the same through all editions. Verne, as all French and Germans, affords vast variety throughout the license of translator and expired copyrights. Which means, of course, that it is a fascinating side-line for the phantastophile to trace down these various differing editions. There are many attractions to our avocation, you see. ******************** Some months ago, I was most fortunate in obtaining a copy of the first American edition of Wells' "Time Machine", issued in 1895 by Henry Holt and Company of New York. A neatly done little volume on fine paper, bound in tan buckram. A curious circumstances occurs on the title page, however; one which I have not been able to fathom. But there, the author's preface - by Wells himself, of course - was sighted with the initials, "H.S.W." Now, what I am driving at: did Wells change his middle name from mysterious "S" to George after the publication of this, his first, volume? Of little important, perhaps, but curious. ****************** What has happened to Edgar Rice Burroughs, Inc.? As a corporation Mr. Burroughs was bringing out his own books in fine style, with a promising future outlook--Now the publication of new volumes seems to have returned to the more widely known firms of Metropolitan, McClurg, etc....Why? ****************** Victor Rousseau wrote "The Dark Disk", a tale of super-physics and electricity, in COMPLETE STORIES for March, 1928. ***************** Book titles are so often misleading.... What fan, eagerly snatcjing [sic] a volume from the shelves of a book store, has failed to learn that--to his dismay and disgust? An example of such an incident is the almost criminal use by Vin Delmar of that enticing title, "The End of the World". Of course, it was an exceedingly sappy love story. ***************** FAMOUS FLOPS DEPARTMENT FANTASTIC FICTION magazine, and the Futurist's Club ( do not confuse with any present organizations of similar name ). This was a projected magazine-club organized by Jerome Siegel in 1931. Siegel, you know, subsequently brought out that very swell mimeographed magazine SCIENCE FICTION. Also COSMIC STORIES and COSMIC STORIES QUATERLY ( or so it was claimed....has anyone actually ever seen copies of the latter two magazines?) Subscriptions were taken for FANTASTIC FICTION, a great amount of advance ballyhoo was given out and amvitious [sic] plans were made. The magazine was to be written an illustrated by members of the club. But the noise of its flop--- brought about by that usual bugbear, financial difficulties-- echoed loudly across the continent, and subscription money had to be returned. But real ambition it seems, cannot be downed. Siegel, later, was connected with the FUTURISTS' SOCIETY, a mental uplift organization designed to teach the world how to think properly, thereby becoming a planet of super-beings. That, too, seemed to expire quietly. So, true enthusiast that he was, Siegel combined with Joe Schuster to produce "The Siegel-Schuster School of Humor", giving mail order lessons in the fine art of writing wit for radio, stage, screen and paper. Finally they gave up in disgust and turned to authoring and drawing a little thing for the syndicates called "Superman". I hear it's paying for their cake and coffee quite nicely. You may have heard of it. ******************* There is a fine biography and bibliography of H. G. Wells by J. D. Beresford. The not recent (1915--Henry Holt and Co.) it is most complete in reference to his fantasies--almost all of which are earlier productions.