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Horizons, v. 7, issue 4, whole 27, June 1946
Page 10
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RECENT TRENDS IN SCIENCE FICTION by Thomas S. Gardner III. Thrilling Wonder Stories, Startling Stories and the Ghost of Captain Future Life Magazine featured a woman in England who had refused to grow up. This woman played with dolls, dressed like a ten year old even after she had married and had had children. Emotionally the woman refused to face reality. We have somewhat the same thing in the field of Science Fiction in the Standard magazines of Thrilling Wonder, Startling Stories, and Captain Future. The Standard magazines have a good distribution and a fairly regular sale, judging by the magazines on the stands. Let us examine them in detail. First of all, let us kick strongly against the proof reading of these magazines. Either the proof reader does not know the difference between such things as lavatories and laboratories, or he has a peculiar sense of humor. In place after place, the result of sloppy proof reading shows up. We probably cannot comment upon the grade of paper because of the conditions caused by the war, but it is inferior to Astounding and Famous Fantastic Mysteries most of the time. Ever since Standard took over Wonder, the quality has slowly slumped. Very poor humorous stories appear in it from time to time. The reader's department is so wacky that at least two readers whom I know have ceased to read it, all because of the silliness of Sergeant Saturn. It is possible that the amiable Sergeant doesn't care to keep up his readers' interest or increase their number, but I strongly suspect that Standard has deliberately adopted a policy of trying to put out a juvenile magazine, and really believe that the crap the Sergeant bestows appeals to the juvenile mind. I have taught elementary, junior high, and high school in earlier days, and I do not believe that young people appreciate such put-on of silly humor and foolishness. Juveniles like to think
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RECENT TRENDS IN SCIENCE FICTION by Thomas S. Gardner III. Thrilling Wonder Stories, Startling Stories and the Ghost of Captain Future Life Magazine featured a woman in England who had refused to grow up. This woman played with dolls, dressed like a ten year old even after she had married and had had children. Emotionally the woman refused to face reality. We have somewhat the same thing in the field of Science Fiction in the Standard magazines of Thrilling Wonder, Startling Stories, and Captain Future. The Standard magazines have a good distribution and a fairly regular sale, judging by the magazines on the stands. Let us examine them in detail. First of all, let us kick strongly against the proof reading of these magazines. Either the proof reader does not know the difference between such things as lavatories and laboratories, or he has a peculiar sense of humor. In place after place, the result of sloppy proof reading shows up. We probably cannot comment upon the grade of paper because of the conditions caused by the war, but it is inferior to Astounding and Famous Fantastic Mysteries most of the time. Ever since Standard took over Wonder, the quality has slowly slumped. Very poor humorous stories appear in it from time to time. The reader's department is so wacky that at least two readers whom I know have ceased to read it, all because of the silliness of Sergeant Saturn. It is possible that the amiable Sergeant doesn't care to keep up his readers' interest or increase their number, but I strongly suspect that Standard has deliberately adopted a policy of trying to put out a juvenile magazine, and really believe that the crap the Sergeant bestows appeals to the juvenile mind. I have taught elementary, junior high, and high school in earlier days, and I do not believe that young people appreciate such put-on of silly humor and foolishness. Juveniles like to think
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