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Fantasy Magazine, v. 4, issue 4, whole no. 28, February-March 1935
Page 99
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FANTASY 99 MY BEST STORY by BOB OLSEN Sometimes it happens that the story which a writer thinks is his best work never gets into print. In my own opinion, the greatest yarn I ever attempted was not a science fiction story but was a historical tale entitled "The Vows of the Jom Vikings." It was based on exhaustive study of Viking lore printed in English, Modern Norwegian, and Old Norse or Icelandic, all of which I can read easily. Everybody that has read "The Vows of the Jom Vikings" raves about it, but I haven't been able to induce any editor to publish it yet -- due no doubt to present lack of popularity of the "costume" story. Of my published stories, the one that achieved the greatest distinction was written as a theme in a course in advanced composition while I was still a student at Brown University. It was submitted to Munsey's (long since passed). In the same issue were stories by a number of world famous writers, all unillustrated. My yarn -- the first attempt of a mere youth -- was illustrated with three fine pictures, reproduced in colors -- which was a very unusual thing even for important stuff in those days. Now for my science fiction which has been published. Judging from reactions of fans and other authors I have met personally, I believe that the story of mine which is best remembered is "The Educated Pill." Every time I meet a new fan or a new author, he invariably says, "Oh you're the fellow who wrote 'The Educated Pill'." Personally I don't consider that yarn particularly significant. The reason it is remember, no doubt, is because it was different and perhaps a bit funny. The story into which I put the greatest amount of "literary elbow grease" was -- well, I'm not going to tell you, for certain reasons. Anyway, it seemed to make an outstanding hit with the editors -- even with the ones who didn't accept it. The first editor who got a crack at it told me that he found it so interesting that he sat up all right to finish it. Nevertheless he turned it down, because -- well you know the kind of banana oil these editors give. I had similar reactions from two more editors, who raved about how fascinating they found it personally but refused to accept it for publication. The next publisher that got a peep at it couldn't wait for the mails, he wired! Believed it or not, he actually telegraphed an acceptance of the story! Sounds like a fairy tale but it turned out to be one with a sad ending. Before the importune editor had time to publish the masterpiece, his magazine folded up and went the way of all pulp. It took me six months to get my script back. Finally it went to the magazine where it should have gone in the first place and was published there. I really thought that particular yarn would win the Nobel prize or something equally spectacular, but, like the victims of the German U-boats, it was spurlos versenkt.
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FANTASY 99 MY BEST STORY by BOB OLSEN Sometimes it happens that the story which a writer thinks is his best work never gets into print. In my own opinion, the greatest yarn I ever attempted was not a science fiction story but was a historical tale entitled "The Vows of the Jom Vikings." It was based on exhaustive study of Viking lore printed in English, Modern Norwegian, and Old Norse or Icelandic, all of which I can read easily. Everybody that has read "The Vows of the Jom Vikings" raves about it, but I haven't been able to induce any editor to publish it yet -- due no doubt to present lack of popularity of the "costume" story. Of my published stories, the one that achieved the greatest distinction was written as a theme in a course in advanced composition while I was still a student at Brown University. It was submitted to Munsey's (long since passed). In the same issue were stories by a number of world famous writers, all unillustrated. My yarn -- the first attempt of a mere youth -- was illustrated with three fine pictures, reproduced in colors -- which was a very unusual thing even for important stuff in those days. Now for my science fiction which has been published. Judging from reactions of fans and other authors I have met personally, I believe that the story of mine which is best remembered is "The Educated Pill." Every time I meet a new fan or a new author, he invariably says, "Oh you're the fellow who wrote 'The Educated Pill'." Personally I don't consider that yarn particularly significant. The reason it is remember, no doubt, is because it was different and perhaps a bit funny. The story into which I put the greatest amount of "literary elbow grease" was -- well, I'm not going to tell you, for certain reasons. Anyway, it seemed to make an outstanding hit with the editors -- even with the ones who didn't accept it. The first editor who got a crack at it told me that he found it so interesting that he sat up all right to finish it. Nevertheless he turned it down, because -- well you know the kind of banana oil these editors give. I had similar reactions from two more editors, who raved about how fascinating they found it personally but refused to accept it for publication. The next publisher that got a peep at it couldn't wait for the mails, he wired! Believed it or not, he actually telegraphed an acceptance of the story! Sounds like a fairy tale but it turned out to be one with a sad ending. Before the importune editor had time to publish the masterpiece, his magazine folded up and went the way of all pulp. It took me six months to get my script back. Finally it went to the magazine where it should have gone in the first place and was published there. I really thought that particular yarn would win the Nobel prize or something equally spectacular, but, like the victims of the German U-boats, it was spurlos versenkt.
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