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Fantasite, v. 1, issue 6, November-December 1941
31858063099505_018
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MFS MEMBERS as seen by Squanchfoot ************************************** I knew it would happen. Sooner or later they'd put me on the spot, and there just isn't any way out of it. They've asked me, Squanchfoot, (of all people, I mean dogs) to tell what I know about my master. Well, you must admit that is an assignment. Right away I asked Bronson if his rag -- pardon me -- his mag was big enough, and what possibilities there were of libel. But since he said everything was okay, and that he'd stand responsible for damages, I'll go ahead. It sure is a dog's life. Clifford D. Simak, prominent fantasy author and director of the Minneapolis Fantasy Society during its first year, usually can be found, in his spare time from writing science-fiction, filling in time at the copy desk of the Minneapolis Star-Journal. It's a hobby Cliff picked up several years ago, this newspaper racket. In fact, it can be said without hesitation that his success in fantasy can be traced to his years of experience with several midwest news firms. Going back father still, records show that a Simak C. D. was born in Millville, Wisconsin some time after the turn of the century. This undoubtedly is the same Simak who can break a new typewriter in a week, who cooks up a story in five minutes, likes old-time jazz, devotes himself to his garden, visits the library regularly, collects Lauder recordings, reads more s-f than the average fan, and is said to have in his possession a Scottie pooch. Simak's newspaper career began several years ago in Iron River, Michigan, after which various reporting jobs forced him to leave a trail of battered typewriters in Spencer, Iowa, Dickinson, N. Dak., Excelsior Spings, Mo. and Worthington and Brainard Minnesota. And while he was pounding his way through the midwest he was acquiring a desire to put a few pet ideas on paper, all of which was helped along by the monthly appearance of Astounding, Amazing and Wonder. His collection grew rapidly, and he was on the verge of owning an admirable heap of scientifiction when he lost interest for sometime and discarded his magazines. As yet he hasn't forgiven himself for that particular incident, for his soon returned to s-f, his interest stronger than ever. Tales of Simak's newspaper experiences would make wonderful reading if it were possible to relate them exactly as Cliff tells them. After hearing a few of his harrowing accounts, one can understand easily the origin of his unique style of science fiction. Should you meet Simak some day, ask him about the time he was sent to report a fire, and found his home ablaze. The first science fiction story Cliff wrote was entitled "Cubes of Ganymede" a short which reposed four years at Amazing before rejection. The shock must have been terrific, for Cliff still has that manuscript, untouched since its return. The second attempt, however, met with swift success. The story was "World of the Red Sun", one of the best time-travel stories in science-fiction, which appeared in Gernsback's Wonder Stories in 1931. Though the yarn strays somewhat from the usual Simak style, it will be long remembered as one of his better efforts. "World of the Red Sun" was followed by "Mutiny on Mercury", "The Voice in the Void", and "Asteroid of Gold", all of which appeared in Wonder. His fifth published story was "Hellhounds of the Cosmos", an interplanetary novelette appearing in the Clayton Astounding. Following was a four year interim in which Cliff devoted his time solely to newspaper work, apparently having decided to give up science fiction. When the era of Campbell came to Astounding, Simak's interest returned, and that was decidedly a move toward the better. "Rule 18" was the start of a long chain of successful stories, namely "Hunger Death", "Reunion on Ganymede", the very popular "Cosmic Engineers", "Hermit of Mars", "Rim of the Death", "Clerical Error", "Sunspot Purge", "Masquerade", "Spaceship in a Flask", and the forthcoming Venue story, "Tools". "Loot of Time", "Madness from Mars" and "Earth for Inspiration" appeared in Thrilling Wonder Stories. "The Street that Wasn't There", a collaboration with Carl Jacobi, was published in Comet. Of late Simak has strayed for the first time from science fiction. Besides his constant preparation of a historical novel, two air-war stories, "Green Flight Out!", and "A Bomb for Number 10 Downing", have been accepted and will be published soon by Leo Margulies' Thrilling group.
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MFS MEMBERS as seen by Squanchfoot ************************************** I knew it would happen. Sooner or later they'd put me on the spot, and there just isn't any way out of it. They've asked me, Squanchfoot, (of all people, I mean dogs) to tell what I know about my master. Well, you must admit that is an assignment. Right away I asked Bronson if his rag -- pardon me -- his mag was big enough, and what possibilities there were of libel. But since he said everything was okay, and that he'd stand responsible for damages, I'll go ahead. It sure is a dog's life. Clifford D. Simak, prominent fantasy author and director of the Minneapolis Fantasy Society during its first year, usually can be found, in his spare time from writing science-fiction, filling in time at the copy desk of the Minneapolis Star-Journal. It's a hobby Cliff picked up several years ago, this newspaper racket. In fact, it can be said without hesitation that his success in fantasy can be traced to his years of experience with several midwest news firms. Going back father still, records show that a Simak C. D. was born in Millville, Wisconsin some time after the turn of the century. This undoubtedly is the same Simak who can break a new typewriter in a week, who cooks up a story in five minutes, likes old-time jazz, devotes himself to his garden, visits the library regularly, collects Lauder recordings, reads more s-f than the average fan, and is said to have in his possession a Scottie pooch. Simak's newspaper career began several years ago in Iron River, Michigan, after which various reporting jobs forced him to leave a trail of battered typewriters in Spencer, Iowa, Dickinson, N. Dak., Excelsior Spings, Mo. and Worthington and Brainard Minnesota. And while he was pounding his way through the midwest he was acquiring a desire to put a few pet ideas on paper, all of which was helped along by the monthly appearance of Astounding, Amazing and Wonder. His collection grew rapidly, and he was on the verge of owning an admirable heap of scientifiction when he lost interest for sometime and discarded his magazines. As yet he hasn't forgiven himself for that particular incident, for his soon returned to s-f, his interest stronger than ever. Tales of Simak's newspaper experiences would make wonderful reading if it were possible to relate them exactly as Cliff tells them. After hearing a few of his harrowing accounts, one can understand easily the origin of his unique style of science fiction. Should you meet Simak some day, ask him about the time he was sent to report a fire, and found his home ablaze. The first science fiction story Cliff wrote was entitled "Cubes of Ganymede" a short which reposed four years at Amazing before rejection. The shock must have been terrific, for Cliff still has that manuscript, untouched since its return. The second attempt, however, met with swift success. The story was "World of the Red Sun", one of the best time-travel stories in science-fiction, which appeared in Gernsback's Wonder Stories in 1931. Though the yarn strays somewhat from the usual Simak style, it will be long remembered as one of his better efforts. "World of the Red Sun" was followed by "Mutiny on Mercury", "The Voice in the Void", and "Asteroid of Gold", all of which appeared in Wonder. His fifth published story was "Hellhounds of the Cosmos", an interplanetary novelette appearing in the Clayton Astounding. Following was a four year interim in which Cliff devoted his time solely to newspaper work, apparently having decided to give up science fiction. When the era of Campbell came to Astounding, Simak's interest returned, and that was decidedly a move toward the better. "Rule 18" was the start of a long chain of successful stories, namely "Hunger Death", "Reunion on Ganymede", the very popular "Cosmic Engineers", "Hermit of Mars", "Rim of the Death", "Clerical Error", "Sunspot Purge", "Masquerade", "Spaceship in a Flask", and the forthcoming Venue story, "Tools". "Loot of Time", "Madness from Mars" and "Earth for Inspiration" appeared in Thrilling Wonder Stories. "The Street that Wasn't There", a collaboration with Carl Jacobi, was published in Comet. Of late Simak has strayed for the first time from science fiction. Besides his constant preparation of a historical novel, two air-war stories, "Green Flight Out!", and "A Bomb for Number 10 Downing", have been accepted and will be published soon by Leo Margulies' Thrilling group.
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