Transcribe
Translate
Fantasia, v. 1, issue 1, January 1941
Page 12
More information
digital collection
archival collection guide
transcription tips
The RISE & DECLINE of Unk by Harold Elliot God knows there is enough imbecile slop concentrated between the covers of science-fiction and fantasy magazines to make a man clutch at his quivering intestines and sink into a comatose condition. I know whereof I speak, and my files are laden with issues of certain publications whose stench is so rank and so pervading that they shall rot on the shelves for all eternity -- their asinine contents unread, their malodorous pages unopened -- save for a brief glance at their low-grade illustrations. Still, there are some magazines in which only 75% of the stories reek, and others whose generally high standards are marred only be an occasional stinkeroo; therefore it is inevitable that a certain varying percentage of my reading time is wasted on yarns which never should have been written, much less foisted on a damn-fool public that will shell out hard cash for junk. But I'm not kicking on that score. I used to be satisfied with my monthly quota of good stories that I could enjoy, with a few excellent yarns sprinkled in and an occasional top-flight narrative. I didn't expect anything spectacular in any one magazine --- until February 9, 1939. I remember that rainy evening when I pulled the first UNKNOWN off the racks at Sutter & Fillmore Streets. No crapulous "GREAT STORIES" blurbs, no cheap blatant color; just "Sinister Barrier" on a cover that made a shiver jump along my vertebrae. Well, overnight UNKNOWN displaced ASTOUNDING as my harem favorite. I saw here the luscious fruit of Campbell's indefinite story policy -- the best policy yet formulated. The only letdown came in the third issue, and from then on UNKNOWN rolled along at the head of the parade. I submit that never before was there gathered under one masthead anything approaching in either quantity or quality the sheer entertainment value presented for 20c in UNKNOWN. I contend that UNKNOWN hit a new high in every respect. I maintain that of the accompanying list of UNKNOWN stories, all of which I have read twice at least, a greater proportion merit the rating of classic than of tales published in any other magazine over a similar period of time. I am inclined to attribute the excellence of UNKNOWN to the policy which permitted first-class authors to write as they wanted to write, and first-class artists to draw as they wanted to draw. Hubbard's amazing literary fertility I interpret as evidence that he enjoyed writing the yarn as well as getting paid for it. DeCamp's magnificent imagery indicates that he was actually writing as he pleased. And Cartier's illustrations --- !!! Comes the dawn. UNKNOWN goes bi-monthly. Not enough reader say S & S. I don't know why, unless s-f fans are surely enough a lot of saps. Anyway, I weep for UNKNOWN; it can never regain its former stature on a bi-monthly basis. So, for Campbell, who must feel as bad about it as I do, my sympathy and for Street and Smith, who have ruined my happiness, a loud, juicy, vulgar and resounding raspberry. SINISTER BARRIER TROUBLE WITH WATER DIVIDE AND RULE ULTIMATE ADVENTURE THE CHANGELING THE CLOAK FLAME WINDS THE GNARLY MAN PAROLE SLAVES OF SLEEP NOTHING IN THE RULES THE GHOUL FORSAKING ALL OTHERS NONE BUT LUCIFER THE ELDER GODS ENCHANTED WEEKEND A GOD IN THE GARDEN THE BRONZE DOOR LEST DARKNESS FALL VANDERDECKEN ON KNEES OF THE GODS THE SEA THING DEATH'S DEPUTY REIGN OF WIZARDRY GATEWAY INDIGESTIBLE TRITON HE SHUTTLES THE ROARING TRUMPET BUT WITHOUT HORNS FEAR SPARK OF ALLAH MATHEMATICS OF MAGIC IT DEVIL MAKES THE LAW WHEELS OF IF THE HATERS WARM, DARK PLACES THE DEVIL'S RESCUE TYPEWRITER IN THE SKY CARGO THRESHOLD DARKER THAN YOU THINK FRUIT OF KNOWLEDGE HARDWOOD PILE ALL ROADS THE DREAM THE KRAKEN WELL OF ANGELS PIPES OF PAN THE AFRICAN TRICK THE BLACK FARM WISDOM OF AN ASS DOUBLED IN BRASS 5 FATHOMS OF PEARLS DREAMS MAY COME DON'T DREAM THE JOKER THE SUMMONS DANGER IN THE DARK WHO WANTS POWER
Saving...
prev
next
The RISE & DECLINE of Unk by Harold Elliot God knows there is enough imbecile slop concentrated between the covers of science-fiction and fantasy magazines to make a man clutch at his quivering intestines and sink into a comatose condition. I know whereof I speak, and my files are laden with issues of certain publications whose stench is so rank and so pervading that they shall rot on the shelves for all eternity -- their asinine contents unread, their malodorous pages unopened -- save for a brief glance at their low-grade illustrations. Still, there are some magazines in which only 75% of the stories reek, and others whose generally high standards are marred only be an occasional stinkeroo; therefore it is inevitable that a certain varying percentage of my reading time is wasted on yarns which never should have been written, much less foisted on a damn-fool public that will shell out hard cash for junk. But I'm not kicking on that score. I used to be satisfied with my monthly quota of good stories that I could enjoy, with a few excellent yarns sprinkled in and an occasional top-flight narrative. I didn't expect anything spectacular in any one magazine --- until February 9, 1939. I remember that rainy evening when I pulled the first UNKNOWN off the racks at Sutter & Fillmore Streets. No crapulous "GREAT STORIES" blurbs, no cheap blatant color; just "Sinister Barrier" on a cover that made a shiver jump along my vertebrae. Well, overnight UNKNOWN displaced ASTOUNDING as my harem favorite. I saw here the luscious fruit of Campbell's indefinite story policy -- the best policy yet formulated. The only letdown came in the third issue, and from then on UNKNOWN rolled along at the head of the parade. I submit that never before was there gathered under one masthead anything approaching in either quantity or quality the sheer entertainment value presented for 20c in UNKNOWN. I contend that UNKNOWN hit a new high in every respect. I maintain that of the accompanying list of UNKNOWN stories, all of which I have read twice at least, a greater proportion merit the rating of classic than of tales published in any other magazine over a similar period of time. I am inclined to attribute the excellence of UNKNOWN to the policy which permitted first-class authors to write as they wanted to write, and first-class artists to draw as they wanted to draw. Hubbard's amazing literary fertility I interpret as evidence that he enjoyed writing the yarn as well as getting paid for it. DeCamp's magnificent imagery indicates that he was actually writing as he pleased. And Cartier's illustrations --- !!! Comes the dawn. UNKNOWN goes bi-monthly. Not enough reader say S & S. I don't know why, unless s-f fans are surely enough a lot of saps. Anyway, I weep for UNKNOWN; it can never regain its former stature on a bi-monthly basis. So, for Campbell, who must feel as bad about it as I do, my sympathy and for Street and Smith, who have ruined my happiness, a loud, juicy, vulgar and resounding raspberry. SINISTER BARRIER TROUBLE WITH WATER DIVIDE AND RULE ULTIMATE ADVENTURE THE CHANGELING THE CLOAK FLAME WINDS THE GNARLY MAN PAROLE SLAVES OF SLEEP NOTHING IN THE RULES THE GHOUL FORSAKING ALL OTHERS NONE BUT LUCIFER THE ELDER GODS ENCHANTED WEEKEND A GOD IN THE GARDEN THE BRONZE DOOR LEST DARKNESS FALL VANDERDECKEN ON KNEES OF THE GODS THE SEA THING DEATH'S DEPUTY REIGN OF WIZARDRY GATEWAY INDIGESTIBLE TRITON HE SHUTTLES THE ROARING TRUMPET BUT WITHOUT HORNS FEAR SPARK OF ALLAH MATHEMATICS OF MAGIC IT DEVIL MAKES THE LAW WHEELS OF IF THE HATERS WARM, DARK PLACES THE DEVIL'S RESCUE TYPEWRITER IN THE SKY CARGO THRESHOLD DARKER THAN YOU THINK FRUIT OF KNOWLEDGE HARDWOOD PILE ALL ROADS THE DREAM THE KRAKEN WELL OF ANGELS PIPES OF PAN THE AFRICAN TRICK THE BLACK FARM WISDOM OF AN ASS DOUBLED IN BRASS 5 FATHOMS OF PEARLS DREAMS MAY COME DON'T DREAM THE JOKER THE SUMMONS DANGER IN THE DARK WHO WANTS POWER
Hevelin Fanzines
sidebar
