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Fantasite, v. 1, issue 6, November-December 1941
31858063099505_019
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MFS MEMBERS contd. Unknown to readers of fantasy, Simak's foremost ambition as an author is to write the most realistic and plausible s-f stories of each of the planets. By realistic and plausible he means a basically sound story, a plot carefully presenting life and conditions on each world, scientific facts as we now know them. The result is a fictional picture of each planet just as science sees it today. Four of these stories have been completed. The first was "Hermit of Mars". The second, "Clerical Error", depicted life on Jupiter. "Masquerade", suggesting life on Mercury, was the third. "Tools", soon to appear in Astounding, presents Venus. Just how soon Cliff will be able to cover the remaining planets, he can't tell, but he won't rest until the job is done. So the last few years have been busy one for Cliff Simak. He wouldn't admit it, but it looks as though his moving days are over, and he's going to settle down at last. We're glad he picked the Twin Cities. Today he lives quietly in a Minneapolis suburb with Mrs. Simak and that dog everybody's hollering about. His battered but not lifeless typewriter promises us another science fiction novel this winter, though we must admit it will have to be good to top "Cosmic Engineers". And who knows -- maybe he will be chosen to write the biography of Squanchfoot! *********************************** Scholar of the Minneapolis Fantasy Society, so christened by director Simak, is scholarly SAM RUSSELL, -- Sameul D. Russell, business school student, author, playwright, actor, critic, dramatist, orator. That's a pretty high-toned list, isn't it? Well, for all we know, Sam may have a lot more up his sleeve, ready to spring at some future MFS meeting. Mr. Russell's MFS chums are of the stern opinion that a man like Sam D. should be termed an absolute necessity to every science fiction group. Or any such organization which requires sound appliance in order to survive. Mr. Russell has had a great deal to do with the rise of the society, for which the members are very grateful. Sam is 22, and was born in Minneapolis, where he has lived all his life. Having graduated form the University of Minnesota in 1940, Sam spent several months absorbing business courses, finally turning to his present task, writing NYA radio scripts at the university station, W-L-B. He began reading science fiction in 1934, since having acquired an extremely varied knowledge of fantasy fiction. Upon this he bases many excellent criticisms of current stories. If Russell likes a yarn, there is always a good reason. His favorite story is Wells' "Time Machine". Lovecraft, Stuart and Heinlein are the authors he likes best. The club's business in every manner is Sam's business. He's our briefcase boy, always ready with the facts or perhaps a brief history of fantasy or an anthology of H.G. Wells or a new recording script or almost anything of unusual interest. His talents as a dramatist have been proven continually since the club began its science fiction recordings. Sam figures in every phase of the job, writing, acting, script-forming and producing, so to speak. His style of writing is in a class by itself, as you may note in the "The World Accursed", which appeared in a previous Fantasite. We're
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MFS MEMBERS contd. Unknown to readers of fantasy, Simak's foremost ambition as an author is to write the most realistic and plausible s-f stories of each of the planets. By realistic and plausible he means a basically sound story, a plot carefully presenting life and conditions on each world, scientific facts as we now know them. The result is a fictional picture of each planet just as science sees it today. Four of these stories have been completed. The first was "Hermit of Mars". The second, "Clerical Error", depicted life on Jupiter. "Masquerade", suggesting life on Mercury, was the third. "Tools", soon to appear in Astounding, presents Venus. Just how soon Cliff will be able to cover the remaining planets, he can't tell, but he won't rest until the job is done. So the last few years have been busy one for Cliff Simak. He wouldn't admit it, but it looks as though his moving days are over, and he's going to settle down at last. We're glad he picked the Twin Cities. Today he lives quietly in a Minneapolis suburb with Mrs. Simak and that dog everybody's hollering about. His battered but not lifeless typewriter promises us another science fiction novel this winter, though we must admit it will have to be good to top "Cosmic Engineers". And who knows -- maybe he will be chosen to write the biography of Squanchfoot! *********************************** Scholar of the Minneapolis Fantasy Society, so christened by director Simak, is scholarly SAM RUSSELL, -- Sameul D. Russell, business school student, author, playwright, actor, critic, dramatist, orator. That's a pretty high-toned list, isn't it? Well, for all we know, Sam may have a lot more up his sleeve, ready to spring at some future MFS meeting. Mr. Russell's MFS chums are of the stern opinion that a man like Sam D. should be termed an absolute necessity to every science fiction group. Or any such organization which requires sound appliance in order to survive. Mr. Russell has had a great deal to do with the rise of the society, for which the members are very grateful. Sam is 22, and was born in Minneapolis, where he has lived all his life. Having graduated form the University of Minnesota in 1940, Sam spent several months absorbing business courses, finally turning to his present task, writing NYA radio scripts at the university station, W-L-B. He began reading science fiction in 1934, since having acquired an extremely varied knowledge of fantasy fiction. Upon this he bases many excellent criticisms of current stories. If Russell likes a yarn, there is always a good reason. His favorite story is Wells' "Time Machine". Lovecraft, Stuart and Heinlein are the authors he likes best. The club's business in every manner is Sam's business. He's our briefcase boy, always ready with the facts or perhaps a brief history of fantasy or an anthology of H.G. Wells or a new recording script or almost anything of unusual interest. His talents as a dramatist have been proven continually since the club began its science fiction recordings. Sam figures in every phase of the job, writing, acting, script-forming and producing, so to speak. His style of writing is in a class by itself, as you may note in the "The World Accursed", which appeared in a previous Fantasite. We're
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