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Inspiration, v. 4, issue 1, April 1946
Page 5
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INSPIRATION 5 The February 1932 AMAZING has two stories which I liked. One was Leinster's "The Racketeer Ray" and the other Jones' "Planet of the Double Sun". The latter was the second of the Professor Jameson series, which was enjoyable until it became boring thru repitition. Unfortunately, I don't have the first of the series. June finds another good, and somewhat sarcastic, story by Leinster, "Politics". July's cover deservedly goes to the Vincent adventure story "Thia of the Drylands." August has the start of Cloukey's "Swardsman of Sarvon", which I liked but don't just why. It also has "The Last Evolution" by J. W. Campbell; a bit different from his usual type, but good. Every story in the September 1932 issue is worthy of note, especially Williamson's "The Lady of Light." A new and fairly popular series was started with Skidmore's "The Romance of Posi and Nega." Later atomic developments have antedated this series, but it seemed good at the time. Also in this issue was the last of a generally good series which I haven't mentioned before, Burtt's "Lomurian Documents", an attempt at translating mythology into ultra-science. Jon"Suicide Durkee's Last Ride" rounds out the issue, and shows that Jones can write stuff other than Professor Jameson. The October 1930 AMAZING has Binder's excellent "The First Martian." In November we find Olsen's "Captain Brink of the Space Marines". Titles in the December issue disclose nothing which I particularly remember. In January 1933, AMAZING tried an experiment. From the earliest days of Science-fiction, covers had always supposedly illustrated a scene from one of the stories therein -- but now AMAZING tried a series of symbolic covers by Sigmond, delegating Morey to the interiors for the time being. The first of those symbolic covers wasn't bad, being a spaceship design done in a subdued blue. But later Sigmond showed a strange penchant for fish swimming in what was apparently space and for dragons. As for stories, as is often the case with me the story at the back of the magazine is the one remembered most. Name was "Radicalite" and author was Murray. I was quite interested in chemistry at the time, which probably explains my liking fro that particular story. The February issue seems unimportant, altho perhaps it's just the trouble I had turning past that Sigmond cover showing a dragon clutching a spherical spaceship as tho it was a bowling ball. The March 1933 AMAZING has a Campbell story, which is invariably worthy of note. but this one, "Beyond the End of Space", is especially so because of its handling and scope. In April I find a short, Bird's "Universal Merry-Go-Round" which I liked. May had Jones's excellent and long remembered "Martian and Troglodyte". I missed Tarner's "Tumithak of the Corridors", but liked the sequel, "Tumithak in Shawn", which was in the June issue. Also of merit in June 1932 was Olsen's "Crime Crusher". July and August were the last of the large size AMAZINGs and contain nothing I especially remember. 1933 was a generally bad year for the pros, but AMAZING seemingly held out longer than the others. The old Clayton ASTOUNDING had already folded and WONDER was on bi-monthly status before AMAZING missed an issue. At that, AMAZING skipped only one issue in 1933 and had a record of 7 1/2 years as a monthly before it happened. That record wasn't broken for another 7 1/2 years. With the October issue, AMAZING resumed monthly publication and went to small size. Unfortunately, the event is only of historical note, as none of the stories has any special merit. In December 1933 we find our old pal Jules Verne again on the contents page, but that issue did at least have Olsen's "Four Dimensional Escape" and a fair Professor Jameson story to lift it partially out of the rut. But, by the end of 1933 AMAZING had settled into a groove from which it was never to revive. It's stories were too quiet for its era, and altho it would continue for over 4 years longer, the old AMAZING was in its death throes. There were many of us who mourned, for the signs were plain even then.
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INSPIRATION 5 The February 1932 AMAZING has two stories which I liked. One was Leinster's "The Racketeer Ray" and the other Jones' "Planet of the Double Sun". The latter was the second of the Professor Jameson series, which was enjoyable until it became boring thru repitition. Unfortunately, I don't have the first of the series. June finds another good, and somewhat sarcastic, story by Leinster, "Politics". July's cover deservedly goes to the Vincent adventure story "Thia of the Drylands." August has the start of Cloukey's "Swardsman of Sarvon", which I liked but don't just why. It also has "The Last Evolution" by J. W. Campbell; a bit different from his usual type, but good. Every story in the September 1932 issue is worthy of note, especially Williamson's "The Lady of Light." A new and fairly popular series was started with Skidmore's "The Romance of Posi and Nega." Later atomic developments have antedated this series, but it seemed good at the time. Also in this issue was the last of a generally good series which I haven't mentioned before, Burtt's "Lomurian Documents", an attempt at translating mythology into ultra-science. Jon"Suicide Durkee's Last Ride" rounds out the issue, and shows that Jones can write stuff other than Professor Jameson. The October 1930 AMAZING has Binder's excellent "The First Martian." In November we find Olsen's "Captain Brink of the Space Marines". Titles in the December issue disclose nothing which I particularly remember. In January 1933, AMAZING tried an experiment. From the earliest days of Science-fiction, covers had always supposedly illustrated a scene from one of the stories therein -- but now AMAZING tried a series of symbolic covers by Sigmond, delegating Morey to the interiors for the time being. The first of those symbolic covers wasn't bad, being a spaceship design done in a subdued blue. But later Sigmond showed a strange penchant for fish swimming in what was apparently space and for dragons. As for stories, as is often the case with me the story at the back of the magazine is the one remembered most. Name was "Radicalite" and author was Murray. I was quite interested in chemistry at the time, which probably explains my liking fro that particular story. The February issue seems unimportant, altho perhaps it's just the trouble I had turning past that Sigmond cover showing a dragon clutching a spherical spaceship as tho it was a bowling ball. The March 1933 AMAZING has a Campbell story, which is invariably worthy of note. but this one, "Beyond the End of Space", is especially so because of its handling and scope. In April I find a short, Bird's "Universal Merry-Go-Round" which I liked. May had Jones's excellent and long remembered "Martian and Troglodyte". I missed Tarner's "Tumithak of the Corridors", but liked the sequel, "Tumithak in Shawn", which was in the June issue. Also of merit in June 1932 was Olsen's "Crime Crusher". July and August were the last of the large size AMAZINGs and contain nothing I especially remember. 1933 was a generally bad year for the pros, but AMAZING seemingly held out longer than the others. The old Clayton ASTOUNDING had already folded and WONDER was on bi-monthly status before AMAZING missed an issue. At that, AMAZING skipped only one issue in 1933 and had a record of 7 1/2 years as a monthly before it happened. That record wasn't broken for another 7 1/2 years. With the October issue, AMAZING resumed monthly publication and went to small size. Unfortunately, the event is only of historical note, as none of the stories has any special merit. In December 1933 we find our old pal Jules Verne again on the contents page, but that issue did at least have Olsen's "Four Dimensional Escape" and a fair Professor Jameson story to lift it partially out of the rut. But, by the end of 1933 AMAZING had settled into a groove from which it was never to revive. It's stories were too quiet for its era, and altho it would continue for over 4 years longer, the old AMAZING was in its death throes. There were many of us who mourned, for the signs were plain even then.
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