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Kay-Mar Trader, v. 2, issue 1, March 1947

Page 7

"T_H_I_S_'N'_T_H_A_T"
Volume One...R. Vernon Cook...Number Four

Before me lies the book, "SPACEHOUNDS OF IPC" by E.E.Smith, I have been waiting for this book to appear for some time. Just finished reading this new volume for science fiction readers. The physical appearance of the book impressed me very much. Bound in blue cloth, the title stamped in gold on the spine only, it really is nice looking. The tan creamy paper, good style of type and the fine looking, impressive headings of each chapter, really is distinctive. I also enjoyed the three full page illustrations.

Now as to the contents, I am somewhat at a loss to really evaluate this story, after reading and thinking it over, my opinion is, I like the contents, but I receive the impression that Mr Smith gets rather involved in the plot and throws so many different ideas into the material that you receive the same impression when you read about "SUPERMAN" nothing is impossible, everything will end properly.

The book is entertaining, however, and in my opinion, that is the primary requisite of and book and in this, I wish to go along with Don Wilson in his opinion as stated in "THE BLATANT BEAST" as per the last issue of "THE FANTASY ADVERTISER". I agree with Mr. Wilson when he state "Entertainment is 99% and literary value 1% in nine cases out of ten". Mr. Wilson places Gerry de la Ree and Art Widner in the limelight as authorities. I say; "What constitutes their authority?" I cannot agree with Mr. Wilson when he says "Most anthologists use only stories that entertained them," some of the material now appearing, surely couldn't have entertained the compiler.

Those who are against science fiction will be somewhat surprised at the appearance of Mr. Robert A. Heinlein's story "THE GREEN HILLS OF EARTH" in the February eight issue of The Saturday Evening Post. I; for one, am extremely pleased with this, it shows that our field is recognized by the quality publications.

I feel that Mr. Heinlein's story was beautifully written, it had verve and style in a way that was easily read, nothing extremely technical about it at all. Quite different from "SPACEHOUNDS OF IPC". My hat is off to Mr. Heinlein for crashing the slicks. Now let us see some of our other "hotshots" do this. How about it Mr. Van Vogt?

Also appearing in the Saturday Evening Post for March eight is, "DON'T SCOFF AT SEA MONSTERS" by Mr. I. Vant Sanderson. While this may not be fantasy, everyone should read this. Can anyone really tell where truth and fantasy divide? Speaking further of sea monsters, in Wyoming where I used to live, there is Lake DeSmet, named after Father DeSmet an early explorer, this lake is very deep and the Indians have a legend about a monster in the lake. A funny thing about the legend and the lake is that you cannot get an Indian to go near the lake. It is in an eerie location in the midst of red volcanic red shale hills, no shrubbery and when the wind blows through the passes in the hills and the moon is rather bright, believe me brother it doesn't take much to believe in sea monsters!

Have you read Leslie Charteris's "THE MAN WHO LIKED ANTS"? You can find it in the book "THE SAINT AT LARGE".

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"T_H_I_S_'N'_T_H_A_T" Volume One...R. Vernon Cook...Number Four Before me lies the book, "SPACEHOUNDS OF IPC" by E.E.Smith, I have been waiting for this book to appear for some time. Just finished reading this new volume for science fiction readers. The physical appearance of the book impressed me very much. Bound in blue cloth, the title stamped in gold on the spine only, it really is nice looking. The tan creamy paper, good style of type and the fine looking, impressive headings of each chapter, really is distinctive. I also enjoyed the three full page illustrations. Now as to the contents, I am somewhat at a loss to really evaluate this story, after reading and thinking it over, my opinion is, I like the contents, but I receive the impression that Mr Smith gets rather involved in the plot and throws so many different ideas into the material that you receive the same impression when you read about "SUPERMAN" nothing is impossible, everything will end properly. The book is entertaining, however, and in my opinion, that is the primary requisite of and book and in this, I wish to go along with Don Wilson in his opinion as stated in "THE BLATANT BEAST" as per the last issue of "THE FANTASY ADVERTISER". I agree with Mr. Wilson when he state "Entertainment is 99% and literary value 1% in nine cases out of ten". Mr. Wilson places Gerry de la Ree and Art Widner in the limelight as authorities. I say; "What constitutes their authority?" I cannot agree with Mr. Wilson when he says "Most anthologists use only stories that entertained them," some of the material now appearing, surely couldn't have entertained the compiler. Those who are against science fiction will be somewhat surprised at the appearance of Mr. Robert A. Heinlein's story "THE GREEN HILLS OF EARTH" in the February eight issue of The Saturday Evening Post. I; for one, am extremely pleased with this, it shows that our field is recognized by the quality publications. I feel that Mr. Heinlein's story was beautifully written, it had verve and style in a way that was easily read, nothing extremely technical about it at all. Quite different from "SPACEHOUNDS OF IPC". My hat is off to Mr. Heinlein for crashing the slicks. Now let us see some of our other "hotshots" do this. How about it Mr. Van Vogt? Also appearing in the Saturday Evening Post for March eight is, "DON'T SCOFF AT SEA MONSTERS" by Mr. I. Vant Sanderson. While this may not be fantasy, everyone should read this. Can anyone really tell where truth and fantasy divide? Speaking further of sea monsters, in Wyoming where I used to live, there is Lake DeSmet, named after Father DeSmet an early explorer, this lake is very deep and the Indians have a legend about a monster in the lake. A funny thing about the legend and the lake is that you cannot get an Indian to go near the lake. It is in an eerie location in the midst of red volcanic red shale hills, no shrubbery and when the wind blows through the passes in the hills and the moon is rather bright, believe me brother it doesn't take much to believe in sea monsters! Have you read Leslie Charteris's "THE MAN WHO LIKED ANTS"? You can find it in the book "THE SAINT AT LARGE".