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Spaceways, v. 4, issue 1, whole no. 24, December 1941
15
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SPACEWAYS 15 A COLLECTOR SPEAKS meritorious even if obscure, which could be talked about in an article such as this, and given the opportunity would make of this an exceedingly long and detailed bibliographical listing. But life is far too short for one individual to busy himself in the attempt--especially with the realization that there is original work being written every day and as yet unpublished writing that would make delightful and thought-provocative reading--besides the fact that one has one's own life to live. So I will close this article now by pointing out one such piece--a bit of poetry, as yet unpublished and possibly--tragic thought!--lost, which has caught my idealistic fancy and its allied companion collector's spirit. The item I refer to is "The Last Martian", "A beautiful poem by the late Stanley G. Weinbaum"--forecast in the Fourth Anniversary Issue of Fantasy Magazine, the second last number. Ever since reading the little three-line forecast I was in a glad suspense over the thought of seeing a poem by Stanley Weinbaum whose stories I had always liked. And, when Fantasy Magazine supposedly combined with the Science-Fantasy Correspondent, I had expected the poem to be included some time in the latter magazine's contents. But this never occurred. Naturally, common sense would dictate that such a triviality--say, a poem, good or bad--is not anything to be concerned over. And so, consciously, my mind weathered the years as it was accustomed to. But finally something in it awoke --a little something long buried in its depths. I had meanwhile been editing Golden Atom, and had been getting quite enthusiastic in my new-found interest to make of it a glamorous and more alive thing with each number. And it suddenly dawned on me that the reason for my intense activity was to make, if possible, actualities of vague dreams and hopes which might end as sad frustrations otherwise. That little poem by Stanley I realized was in itself a living example of what I feared--a lovely thing, in all probability, which I might never see. I knew then that subconsciously I had never forgotten Stanley Weinbaum's looked-forward-to poem. So, with definite awareness of the item I wanted to read, I made plans to obtain it, if possible, and to publish it in my own publication, Stars. The following letters are the result of my attempt. My sincerest wish now as a stf. editor-collector-and-critic would be a letter containing Stanley's poem, for an all-original poetry issue of Stars' I hope--as I hope you do, too!--that this is possible and that his little verse is not lost or destroyed. Already, at least one issue of Stars is overdue, and may likely be so a long time. The explanation for the delay is this: without Stanley Weinbaum's expected and hoped-for poem, I just haven't had the heart o publish a third number of Stars. For as some of my correspondents know, I did vow to make this number the best ever! From Helen Weinbaum, January 4, 1941: "I asked Julie Schwartz, who used to publish Fantasy, about the poem you wish to include in Stars, and found that when Fantasy closed he turned over all material to someone who wanted to carry on. The Last Martian was undoubtedly among it. However, he is going to try to trace it for you. " And if you are successful in getting the poem, won't you let me know? I'd like to buy a couple of copies of Golden Atom for myself and my folks. We have never seen The Last Martian, and naturally, anything of Stanley's is of great interest to us." From Julius Schwartz, in the same mails: "Helen Weinbaum just phoned me and said you were inquiring about Stanley Weinbaum's poem "The Last Martian" that was forecast for publication in the old Fantasy Magazine. When I turned the magazine over to Willis Conover I gave him all the material I had on hand including this poem, so I suggest you query him about it." From Willis Conover, January 11, 1941: "It must be two years since I last wrote to a "fellow fantaisiste"--I've been out of the field for so long. But your letter, which has been forwarded twice to reach me, is obviously of an urgent nature, and so I'm writing at once. " What news I have for you must be rather discouraging, I'm afraid. you see, I haven't been home for nearlya year and a half. I don't know where any of my science-fiction trappings are packed (concluded on page 17)
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SPACEWAYS 15 A COLLECTOR SPEAKS meritorious even if obscure, which could be talked about in an article such as this, and given the opportunity would make of this an exceedingly long and detailed bibliographical listing. But life is far too short for one individual to busy himself in the attempt--especially with the realization that there is original work being written every day and as yet unpublished writing that would make delightful and thought-provocative reading--besides the fact that one has one's own life to live. So I will close this article now by pointing out one such piece--a bit of poetry, as yet unpublished and possibly--tragic thought!--lost, which has caught my idealistic fancy and its allied companion collector's spirit. The item I refer to is "The Last Martian", "A beautiful poem by the late Stanley G. Weinbaum"--forecast in the Fourth Anniversary Issue of Fantasy Magazine, the second last number. Ever since reading the little three-line forecast I was in a glad suspense over the thought of seeing a poem by Stanley Weinbaum whose stories I had always liked. And, when Fantasy Magazine supposedly combined with the Science-Fantasy Correspondent, I had expected the poem to be included some time in the latter magazine's contents. But this never occurred. Naturally, common sense would dictate that such a triviality--say, a poem, good or bad--is not anything to be concerned over. And so, consciously, my mind weathered the years as it was accustomed to. But finally something in it awoke --a little something long buried in its depths. I had meanwhile been editing Golden Atom, and had been getting quite enthusiastic in my new-found interest to make of it a glamorous and more alive thing with each number. And it suddenly dawned on me that the reason for my intense activity was to make, if possible, actualities of vague dreams and hopes which might end as sad frustrations otherwise. That little poem by Stanley I realized was in itself a living example of what I feared--a lovely thing, in all probability, which I might never see. I knew then that subconsciously I had never forgotten Stanley Weinbaum's looked-forward-to poem. So, with definite awareness of the item I wanted to read, I made plans to obtain it, if possible, and to publish it in my own publication, Stars. The following letters are the result of my attempt. My sincerest wish now as a stf. editor-collector-and-critic would be a letter containing Stanley's poem, for an all-original poetry issue of Stars' I hope--as I hope you do, too!--that this is possible and that his little verse is not lost or destroyed. Already, at least one issue of Stars is overdue, and may likely be so a long time. The explanation for the delay is this: without Stanley Weinbaum's expected and hoped-for poem, I just haven't had the heart o publish a third number of Stars. For as some of my correspondents know, I did vow to make this number the best ever! From Helen Weinbaum, January 4, 1941: "I asked Julie Schwartz, who used to publish Fantasy, about the poem you wish to include in Stars, and found that when Fantasy closed he turned over all material to someone who wanted to carry on. The Last Martian was undoubtedly among it. However, he is going to try to trace it for you. " And if you are successful in getting the poem, won't you let me know? I'd like to buy a couple of copies of Golden Atom for myself and my folks. We have never seen The Last Martian, and naturally, anything of Stanley's is of great interest to us." From Julius Schwartz, in the same mails: "Helen Weinbaum just phoned me and said you were inquiring about Stanley Weinbaum's poem "The Last Martian" that was forecast for publication in the old Fantasy Magazine. When I turned the magazine over to Willis Conover I gave him all the material I had on hand including this poem, so I suggest you query him about it." From Willis Conover, January 11, 1941: "It must be two years since I last wrote to a "fellow fantaisiste"--I've been out of the field for so long. But your letter, which has been forwarded twice to reach me, is obviously of an urgent nature, and so I'm writing at once. " What news I have for you must be rather discouraging, I'm afraid. you see, I haven't been home for nearlya year and a half. I don't know where any of my science-fiction trappings are packed (concluded on page 17)
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