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Science Fiction Collector, v. 5, issue 4, November-December 1939
Page 27
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Science Fiction Collector- Page Twenty-Seven used one word that summed up the plot of one of his short stories -- "wacky." What's the matter with Mr. Pete Duncan? Doesn't he know what a hack is? I was always under the impression that a hack is one who sits and grinds out story after story with only one thing in view-- money; no attention whatever paid to plot or characterization -- just enough to make the story passable. Now, how in the world can A. Merritt be called a hack? It takes the man about three years to complete a serial, writing and rewriting it a number of times, adding new paragraphs here, deleting sentences there, in order to get the final draft exactly the way it is wanted. Back breaking work it is, too. Figure out his total wordage since 1917, and you will find out how comparatively small it is. Hack? Listen, Mr. Duncan, it's about time you learned that if you say you dislike something, don't let it pass as criticism. State your reasons; but just because you don't like Merritt's material, don't call him a hack. I will pass up your comments on the other writers since I am not familiar with their work. By the way, do you like anything, Pete? Seems to me you are forever running something or somebody down -- and with no reason save personal dislike. Now that the "Gray Lensman" is finished I guess I can start reading it. Everyone says that it is Smith's best story. During the time it ran serially, I was strongly tempted to begin it before I had all the parts, due to the praises heaped upon it by all of my friends. But I stuck to my policy of waiting to read something by Smith till it is complete. Now all I have to do is wait for a nice long, quiet evening with nothing else to do but sit down and read "Gray Lensman."
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Science Fiction Collector- Page Twenty-Seven used one word that summed up the plot of one of his short stories -- "wacky." What's the matter with Mr. Pete Duncan? Doesn't he know what a hack is? I was always under the impression that a hack is one who sits and grinds out story after story with only one thing in view-- money; no attention whatever paid to plot or characterization -- just enough to make the story passable. Now, how in the world can A. Merritt be called a hack? It takes the man about three years to complete a serial, writing and rewriting it a number of times, adding new paragraphs here, deleting sentences there, in order to get the final draft exactly the way it is wanted. Back breaking work it is, too. Figure out his total wordage since 1917, and you will find out how comparatively small it is. Hack? Listen, Mr. Duncan, it's about time you learned that if you say you dislike something, don't let it pass as criticism. State your reasons; but just because you don't like Merritt's material, don't call him a hack. I will pass up your comments on the other writers since I am not familiar with their work. By the way, do you like anything, Pete? Seems to me you are forever running something or somebody down -- and with no reason save personal dislike. Now that the "Gray Lensman" is finished I guess I can start reading it. Everyone says that it is Smith's best story. During the time it ran serially, I was strongly tempted to begin it before I had all the parts, due to the praises heaped upon it by all of my friends. But I stuck to my policy of waiting to read something by Smith till it is complete. Now all I have to do is wait for a nice long, quiet evening with nothing else to do but sit down and read "Gray Lensman."
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