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Bizarre, v. 4, issue 1, Janurary 1941
Page 18
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Page 18 BIZARRE Kaleidoscope By Walter E. Marconette A Column of Comment As many of you are probably reading "Kaledioscope" for the first time, a few words of explanation would be in order. This is not primarily a news column, although stray bits of news may creep in from time to time. Rather it is a collection of purely personal opinions on many and varied subjects. Naturally, if you enjoy this type of material I am extremely gratified; but if you don't I still have a lot of fun writing it... ----------------------- Famous Fantastic Mysteries is rapidly becoming one of your columnist's "pet peeves". No one can deny that it does print fine stories, and it most assuredly fills a long felt need in the fantasy world. But why does the editor ignore certain stories that the readers request time and again? Why was "The Face in the Abyss" reprinted while nothing is said of the same author's "The Metal Monster"? It's quite true that the former story is excellent in every respect, but the fact remains that it has been issued in book form and is still occasionally available in second-hand shops. On the other hand, "The Metal Monster" is Merritt's only novel that has never been published as a book in English, though I understand it has been printed in the Soviet Union. Then, too, we are promised "The Spot of Life" in Fantastic Novels at an early date. Why? It's not exactly ancient, for it was originally published in 1932. Are stories of this late vintage to be given precedence over such almost legendary yarns as the "Palos of the Dog-Star Pack" trilogy and the "Polaris" series? ---------------- Speaking of 1932, that was the year that Charles R. Tanner's famous "Tumithak of the Corridors" appeared in Amazing. A sequel, "Tumithak in Shawn," followed in 1933; and fans have been calling for more ever since. Now Charlie is putting the finishing touches on "Tumithak at Kaymak" (the title is, of course, subject to change), and I understand that Editor Pohl will probably see it first. Incidentally, would you readers like to see a new "Tumithak" story in Bizarre? If enough of you answer in the affirmative, I think that your columnist can arrange things... ----------------- In this era of unrest and frightfulness, when our papers are filled with wars, "fifth columns," national defense, crime, and a horde of other equally distressing matters, one feels a need to soar away to a happy land of make-believe and nonsense. All too frequently science fiction fails to fulfill that duty. So in desperation one turns to fantasy, and, sooner or later, finds Thorne Smith. He stands almost alone as the master of a peculiar, "screwball" form of humor that will force a chuckle from all except the sourest of readers. The fantasy fan will surely enjoy "Skin and Bones," "Turnabout," "Topper," "Topper Takes a Trip," "The Glorious Pool," "The Night Life of the Gods," and "The Stray Lamb." It is interesting to note that no less than four of the novels mentioned have been produced on the screen, and all have been box-office successes. Don't growl at your neighbors; don't glare at your fellow pedestrians! Wise up, pal: read Thorne Smith!
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Page 18 BIZARRE Kaleidoscope By Walter E. Marconette A Column of Comment As many of you are probably reading "Kaledioscope" for the first time, a few words of explanation would be in order. This is not primarily a news column, although stray bits of news may creep in from time to time. Rather it is a collection of purely personal opinions on many and varied subjects. Naturally, if you enjoy this type of material I am extremely gratified; but if you don't I still have a lot of fun writing it... ----------------------- Famous Fantastic Mysteries is rapidly becoming one of your columnist's "pet peeves". No one can deny that it does print fine stories, and it most assuredly fills a long felt need in the fantasy world. But why does the editor ignore certain stories that the readers request time and again? Why was "The Face in the Abyss" reprinted while nothing is said of the same author's "The Metal Monster"? It's quite true that the former story is excellent in every respect, but the fact remains that it has been issued in book form and is still occasionally available in second-hand shops. On the other hand, "The Metal Monster" is Merritt's only novel that has never been published as a book in English, though I understand it has been printed in the Soviet Union. Then, too, we are promised "The Spot of Life" in Fantastic Novels at an early date. Why? It's not exactly ancient, for it was originally published in 1932. Are stories of this late vintage to be given precedence over such almost legendary yarns as the "Palos of the Dog-Star Pack" trilogy and the "Polaris" series? ---------------- Speaking of 1932, that was the year that Charles R. Tanner's famous "Tumithak of the Corridors" appeared in Amazing. A sequel, "Tumithak in Shawn," followed in 1933; and fans have been calling for more ever since. Now Charlie is putting the finishing touches on "Tumithak at Kaymak" (the title is, of course, subject to change), and I understand that Editor Pohl will probably see it first. Incidentally, would you readers like to see a new "Tumithak" story in Bizarre? If enough of you answer in the affirmative, I think that your columnist can arrange things... ----------------- In this era of unrest and frightfulness, when our papers are filled with wars, "fifth columns," national defense, crime, and a horde of other equally distressing matters, one feels a need to soar away to a happy land of make-believe and nonsense. All too frequently science fiction fails to fulfill that duty. So in desperation one turns to fantasy, and, sooner or later, finds Thorne Smith. He stands almost alone as the master of a peculiar, "screwball" form of humor that will force a chuckle from all except the sourest of readers. The fantasy fan will surely enjoy "Skin and Bones," "Turnabout," "Topper," "Topper Takes a Trip," "The Glorious Pool," "The Night Life of the Gods," and "The Stray Lamb." It is interesting to note that no less than four of the novels mentioned have been produced on the screen, and all have been box-office successes. Don't growl at your neighbors; don't glare at your fellow pedestrians! Wise up, pal: read Thorne Smith!
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