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Shangri-La, July 1941
Page 21
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---------------------------------------------------------------------- SHANGRI-LA PAGE 21 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Here are the recordings, including 1934. In that year, two yarns, McClary's REBIRTH and Jack Williamson's LEGION OF SPACE, 1935: Campbell's THE MIGHTIEST MACHINE, and two of Weinbaum's -- THE RED PERI and PARASITE PLANET. 1936: Williamson again with the COMETEERS, Lovecraft's SHADOW OUT OF TIME, Stuart's FRICTIONAL LOSSES, (One of the purest literary efforts he ever had published), and Leinster's THE INCREDIBLE INVASION. 1937: Stuart again --- FORGETFULNESS. 1938: McCLary's 3000 YEARS, and Hubbard's THE TRAMP. Bot a very lengthy list, is it, I can almost sense the rumble of brains going into action and asking "Where is . . ?" -- and naming many stories not rated above. Perhaps they are in the 4-star category. In any case, something must have been wrong with them if they are not listed above. Minute though it may be. For instance, where is Dr. Smith? Right in the 4-star class, and is the only author to keep his graph level. Judging by the extreme reaction accorded to Smith stories through the ages, he cannot possibly record 5-star ratings. Many readers bluntly state that his stories are puerile junk -- another section rave that his works stand entirely above the level of any other author. Until the majority agree one way or the other, if ever, I am reserving final judgment. Personally, I have never fallen for that type of super-cosmic adventure, but you will not that I can log a 5-star for such a story -- Campbell's. Smith therefore, has been a very big problem. But I have been able to carry out a unique experiment----one very few fans of long standing can lay claim to. I recently read GALACTIC and GRAY LENSMAN through, as one story -- the first Smith epics I had ever read! I said "epics" -- those reckoned to be in the top class. Then, through a fortunate instance, I acquired the missing issues and read The SKYLARK series through without a break. While I must admit that from SKYLARK THREE the Smith genius really comes to the front, he still does not rate the coveted 5-stars. His literary standard has improved 100% since SKYLARK OF SPACE (which, incidentally, I found to be the funniest yarn ever published in science fiction. Unconsciously so, of course. And only because times have changed). Smith loses out because he stretches imaginative writings beyond the bounds of reasonable comprehension. Let us take a look at these 4-star recordings, then. There are only 24 of them excluding 1939, and you may be able to work out for yourself just why they didn't reach the top class. 1934: SKYLARK OF VALERON. 1935: THE EINSTEIN EXPRESS, Weinbaum's THE LOTUS EATERS, Taine'S TWELVE-EIGHTY-SEVEN, Bates' ALAS, ALL THINKING, Stuart's THE INVADERS and NIGHT, and Schacner's I AM NOT GOD. (Who threw that brick?) ----------------------------------------------------------------- [image] "THERE'S ONLY ONE THING I LIKE BETTER THAN CHORUS GIRLS AND THATS::::::" SNIDE 143 n. high st Salem Oregon
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---------------------------------------------------------------------- SHANGRI-LA PAGE 21 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Here are the recordings, including 1934. In that year, two yarns, McClary's REBIRTH and Jack Williamson's LEGION OF SPACE, 1935: Campbell's THE MIGHTIEST MACHINE, and two of Weinbaum's -- THE RED PERI and PARASITE PLANET. 1936: Williamson again with the COMETEERS, Lovecraft's SHADOW OUT OF TIME, Stuart's FRICTIONAL LOSSES, (One of the purest literary efforts he ever had published), and Leinster's THE INCREDIBLE INVASION. 1937: Stuart again --- FORGETFULNESS. 1938: McCLary's 3000 YEARS, and Hubbard's THE TRAMP. Bot a very lengthy list, is it, I can almost sense the rumble of brains going into action and asking "Where is . . ?" -- and naming many stories not rated above. Perhaps they are in the 4-star category. In any case, something must have been wrong with them if they are not listed above. Minute though it may be. For instance, where is Dr. Smith? Right in the 4-star class, and is the only author to keep his graph level. Judging by the extreme reaction accorded to Smith stories through the ages, he cannot possibly record 5-star ratings. Many readers bluntly state that his stories are puerile junk -- another section rave that his works stand entirely above the level of any other author. Until the majority agree one way or the other, if ever, I am reserving final judgment. Personally, I have never fallen for that type of super-cosmic adventure, but you will not that I can log a 5-star for such a story -- Campbell's. Smith therefore, has been a very big problem. But I have been able to carry out a unique experiment----one very few fans of long standing can lay claim to. I recently read GALACTIC and GRAY LENSMAN through, as one story -- the first Smith epics I had ever read! I said "epics" -- those reckoned to be in the top class. Then, through a fortunate instance, I acquired the missing issues and read The SKYLARK series through without a break. While I must admit that from SKYLARK THREE the Smith genius really comes to the front, he still does not rate the coveted 5-stars. His literary standard has improved 100% since SKYLARK OF SPACE (which, incidentally, I found to be the funniest yarn ever published in science fiction. Unconsciously so, of course. And only because times have changed). Smith loses out because he stretches imaginative writings beyond the bounds of reasonable comprehension. Let us take a look at these 4-star recordings, then. There are only 24 of them excluding 1939, and you may be able to work out for yourself just why they didn't reach the top class. 1934: SKYLARK OF VALERON. 1935: THE EINSTEIN EXPRESS, Weinbaum's THE LOTUS EATERS, Taine'S TWELVE-EIGHTY-SEVEN, Bates' ALAS, ALL THINKING, Stuart's THE INVADERS and NIGHT, and Schacner's I AM NOT GOD. (Who threw that brick?) ----------------------------------------------------------------- [image] "THERE'S ONLY ONE THING I LIKE BETTER THAN CHORUS GIRLS AND THATS::::::" SNIDE 143 n. high st Salem Oregon
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