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Spaceways, v. 4, issue 1, whole no. 24, December 1941
23
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SPACEWAYS 32 THE READERS ALWAYS WRITE Roamers and Yours Truly in search of an eating place, had the same difficulty; for, after walking around three corners, and getting over some eight blocks of ground, we were, actually, just two blocks from S-S. As for me; well, the streetcar I had to take daily passed just a block from the Hotel, but I invariably started in the wrong direction, and walked at least six blocks, without backtracking once, before getting to the carline, from which I could see the lobby of the Shirley-Savoy. " As Fortier's letter indicates, and as some other stuff he has written lately would seem to indicate, he has gotten a chip on his shoulder for some reason, since the Denvention. I'm positive the selection of the 1942 Convention site had nothing to do with this seeming change, so it must be something else that got under his skin. As for sex in the fan-field; well, the very few attempts at "handling" it that I have seen have been almost ludicrous, when they were not simply in very bad taste. I'm not much worried about the danger that sex discussions in fanzines will "corrupt" the fan-field; after all, books of all degrees of frankness are readily available to anyone who wants to spend his money for them; I just don't think its discussion can possibly add anything of value. Paul H. Spencer, 259 Yale Station, New Haven, Conn., reports: "20,00 Leagues over the Road" was very interesting, though I began with the idea that it was about the Denvention, and shortly became rather confused. 8. "How to Win Fans and Influence Stf." was pretty good, nothing wonderful. I'm afraid the idea is impractical, though (or maybe I mean impracticable). Maybe it's just my personal inclination, but it doesn't seem to me that such a library would be of interest to very many people, and I really can't see how it could create new fans. Collectors, maybe, but not fans. And whereas the "Skylark" issues would probably circulate a good deal, who's going after the July, 1929 Amazing Stories for example? Even if for some ungodly reason you wanted to read it, you could probably buy a copy for [[underline in pencil]]not very much more than a dime[[end underline]]--certainly that holds true of more recent issues. I'll give the article a 7. It's constructive, anyhow. " Farsaci continues to be interesting, though horribly tantalizing, particularly in regard to Lovecraft. I have "The Shadow over Innsmouth" (and by the way, who and where is Frank A. Utpatel, who did those wonderfully grotesque illustrations?); but "The Outsider and Others" is just a dream. I had faint hopes that the Yale library (which has a first edition copy of "The Moon Pool") might have it, but no. Farsaci gets--oh, lemmesee, let's say 7 1-2. " "Something's Wrong" (rather a dangerous title, what?) was mediocre. It says nothing that hasn't been said before--and anyhow, there have been some good stfilms, though not dealing with the future. I have always had a shame-faced sort of admiration for the scientifiKarloffilm "The Invisible Ray", and there have been one or two other good ones. Not as many desirable, of course, and an awful lot of sheer junk. But right now I don't think anyone cares and to make any predictions about the future....This piece gets 6 (barely passing). And, while I think of it, the idea of having a campaign for more and better stfilms has been tried before, more than once, without result. " "J. Hale, Dealer in Rare Books" was a hideous mess of cliches, yet oddly effective, considering. Hack stuff, subtly promising. 6. " .....The Cynic was good this issue, maybe better than usual--about 7 1-2. His remarks on ASF struck me as being unhappily true. I hadn't noticed much of a decline until the October issue, but that and the November number are mediocre to put it mildly. How is Campbell going to fill out the larger magazine? (Hideous thought!) Incidentally, why can't JWC change to the large size (which is swell) without adding wordage (which is not so swell)? [[writing to the right of the paragraph above]] Just try![[end writing]] Larry Shaw, 1301 State St., Schenectady, New York notes: The October cover rates 4. Doc seems to believe in simplicity. Too much so for me. The lettering is pretty good, but I wish you'd choose one type and stick to it. The continuous change is more monotonous than the same thing every ish would be. " Control Room--7. "If I Werewolf" sounds great. I've got the glimmerings of a killer of an idea already. Not that I'll ever write it...... " Beling gets
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SPACEWAYS 32 THE READERS ALWAYS WRITE Roamers and Yours Truly in search of an eating place, had the same difficulty; for, after walking around three corners, and getting over some eight blocks of ground, we were, actually, just two blocks from S-S. As for me; well, the streetcar I had to take daily passed just a block from the Hotel, but I invariably started in the wrong direction, and walked at least six blocks, without backtracking once, before getting to the carline, from which I could see the lobby of the Shirley-Savoy. " As Fortier's letter indicates, and as some other stuff he has written lately would seem to indicate, he has gotten a chip on his shoulder for some reason, since the Denvention. I'm positive the selection of the 1942 Convention site had nothing to do with this seeming change, so it must be something else that got under his skin. As for sex in the fan-field; well, the very few attempts at "handling" it that I have seen have been almost ludicrous, when they were not simply in very bad taste. I'm not much worried about the danger that sex discussions in fanzines will "corrupt" the fan-field; after all, books of all degrees of frankness are readily available to anyone who wants to spend his money for them; I just don't think its discussion can possibly add anything of value. Paul H. Spencer, 259 Yale Station, New Haven, Conn., reports: "20,00 Leagues over the Road" was very interesting, though I began with the idea that it was about the Denvention, and shortly became rather confused. 8. "How to Win Fans and Influence Stf." was pretty good, nothing wonderful. I'm afraid the idea is impractical, though (or maybe I mean impracticable). Maybe it's just my personal inclination, but it doesn't seem to me that such a library would be of interest to very many people, and I really can't see how it could create new fans. Collectors, maybe, but not fans. And whereas the "Skylark" issues would probably circulate a good deal, who's going after the July, 1929 Amazing Stories for example? Even if for some ungodly reason you wanted to read it, you could probably buy a copy for [[underline in pencil]]not very much more than a dime[[end underline]]--certainly that holds true of more recent issues. I'll give the article a 7. It's constructive, anyhow. " Farsaci continues to be interesting, though horribly tantalizing, particularly in regard to Lovecraft. I have "The Shadow over Innsmouth" (and by the way, who and where is Frank A. Utpatel, who did those wonderfully grotesque illustrations?); but "The Outsider and Others" is just a dream. I had faint hopes that the Yale library (which has a first edition copy of "The Moon Pool") might have it, but no. Farsaci gets--oh, lemmesee, let's say 7 1-2. " "Something's Wrong" (rather a dangerous title, what?) was mediocre. It says nothing that hasn't been said before--and anyhow, there have been some good stfilms, though not dealing with the future. I have always had a shame-faced sort of admiration for the scientifiKarloffilm "The Invisible Ray", and there have been one or two other good ones. Not as many desirable, of course, and an awful lot of sheer junk. But right now I don't think anyone cares and to make any predictions about the future....This piece gets 6 (barely passing). And, while I think of it, the idea of having a campaign for more and better stfilms has been tried before, more than once, without result. " "J. Hale, Dealer in Rare Books" was a hideous mess of cliches, yet oddly effective, considering. Hack stuff, subtly promising. 6. " .....The Cynic was good this issue, maybe better than usual--about 7 1-2. His remarks on ASF struck me as being unhappily true. I hadn't noticed much of a decline until the October issue, but that and the November number are mediocre to put it mildly. How is Campbell going to fill out the larger magazine? (Hideous thought!) Incidentally, why can't JWC change to the large size (which is swell) without adding wordage (which is not so swell)? [[writing to the right of the paragraph above]] Just try![[end writing]] Larry Shaw, 1301 State St., Schenectady, New York notes: The October cover rates 4. Doc seems to believe in simplicity. Too much so for me. The lettering is pretty good, but I wish you'd choose one type and stick to it. The continuous change is more monotonous than the same thing every ish would be. " Control Room--7. "If I Werewolf" sounds great. I've got the glimmerings of a killer of an idea already. Not that I'll ever write it...... " Beling gets
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