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Fantasy Commentator, v. 1, issue 5, Winter 1944-1945
Page 79
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FANTASY COMMENTATOR 79 the foremost authors in the weird fiction field. We believe it to be one of the best stories this author has ever produced." It had one illustration by Frank Utpatel bearing the legend "I looked out over a squalid sea of roofs below"; this also appears, it will be remembered, in the Crawford edition of The Shadow over Innsmouth both on the book's dust-jacket and as an interior illustration. A third feature of the proposed Marvel was the reprinting (from the third anniversary issue of Fantasy Magazine) of "The Challenge from Beyond"---both the science-fiction and weird sections being retained. The former was written by Stanley G. Weinbaum, Donald Wandrei, Dr. Edward E. Smith, Murray Leinster and Harl Vincent. Contributors to the latter were A. Merritt, C. L. Moore, H. P. Lovecraft, Robert E. Howard and Frank B. Long, Jr. "Searching for an unusual story to print in the first newsstand issue of Marvel Tales---something that would be a real treat to our new readers," read the editorial introduction, "we decided to reprint from Fantasy Magazine these two great novelettes written by ten of the top-notch authors of the weird and fantastic." Clay Ferguson, Jr. drew one illustration for the two stories; it is not exceptional in quality. It showed a girl, clad in a space-suit, stepping out of a spaceship's airlock; in the latter were two men---one young, the second middle-aged. And below the illustration was this: "'Since when did anybody obtain exclusive rights to a hole, especially a hole in space?' Leora inquired sweetly and stepped into the vortex." The next story was a short tale by Stanton A. Coblentz entitled "The Sixth Sense." "A battery failed...a man died...an invention was lost," read the "blurb." There was a small, modernistic (and very well done) illustration accompanying it; this was drawn by Ferguson, and showed a man peering through binoculars which cast a ray before them. Following this was "The Ghost Mother," apparently a super-natural tale, by the popular Francis Flagg. No illustration accompanied it, and it merely bore the editorial remark "the strength of a mother's love..." Next was "The Shape," this being the second-prize winner in Marvel's previous story contest; the author was the well-known Richard Tooker. This had neither illustrations nor editorial comment. After these was Raymond Z. Callun's "Sun Tempest." Crawford called it an example of courage on the spaceways, and Ferguson had executed a superb line drawing for it. This showed an Earthman saying "It's gonna rain, Armalu," to a leathery little Callistan crouched beside him. The name "Armalu" is of especial interest, since it leads one to wonder if this story can be in any way identified with Gallun's later effort, "Son of Armalu," which appeared in Astounding Stories magazine. The author Miles J. Breuer was represented by "Imitation of Life." The usual recommendary editorial comment accompanied the tale, which bore a fine Ferguson illustration. The final tale in the issue was written by the formerly active fan Louis G. Smith. It was titled "The Window in Space," and had no illustration. Unlike the other yarns, which appeared in eight-point type, Smith's was printed on the larger eleven-point type. On the whole, the printing job strikes one as slightly amateurish. The context was replete with typographical errors, though of course these might well have been slated for later correction, since proof-reading was probably intended. All these faults aside, the magazine could probably have held its own in circulation (granted proper distribution) for the material was of unquestioned quality, and its illustrations were on the whole more than acceptable. And certainly the line-up of authors featured was unique. That the plans for Marvel's publication and distribution never reached materialization can be regretted most keenly only by one who, like myself, has had an opportunity to see for himself just how superb a magazine it would have been.
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FANTASY COMMENTATOR 79 the foremost authors in the weird fiction field. We believe it to be one of the best stories this author has ever produced." It had one illustration by Frank Utpatel bearing the legend "I looked out over a squalid sea of roofs below"; this also appears, it will be remembered, in the Crawford edition of The Shadow over Innsmouth both on the book's dust-jacket and as an interior illustration. A third feature of the proposed Marvel was the reprinting (from the third anniversary issue of Fantasy Magazine) of "The Challenge from Beyond"---both the science-fiction and weird sections being retained. The former was written by Stanley G. Weinbaum, Donald Wandrei, Dr. Edward E. Smith, Murray Leinster and Harl Vincent. Contributors to the latter were A. Merritt, C. L. Moore, H. P. Lovecraft, Robert E. Howard and Frank B. Long, Jr. "Searching for an unusual story to print in the first newsstand issue of Marvel Tales---something that would be a real treat to our new readers," read the editorial introduction, "we decided to reprint from Fantasy Magazine these two great novelettes written by ten of the top-notch authors of the weird and fantastic." Clay Ferguson, Jr. drew one illustration for the two stories; it is not exceptional in quality. It showed a girl, clad in a space-suit, stepping out of a spaceship's airlock; in the latter were two men---one young, the second middle-aged. And below the illustration was this: "'Since when did anybody obtain exclusive rights to a hole, especially a hole in space?' Leora inquired sweetly and stepped into the vortex." The next story was a short tale by Stanton A. Coblentz entitled "The Sixth Sense." "A battery failed...a man died...an invention was lost," read the "blurb." There was a small, modernistic (and very well done) illustration accompanying it; this was drawn by Ferguson, and showed a man peering through binoculars which cast a ray before them. Following this was "The Ghost Mother," apparently a super-natural tale, by the popular Francis Flagg. No illustration accompanied it, and it merely bore the editorial remark "the strength of a mother's love..." Next was "The Shape," this being the second-prize winner in Marvel's previous story contest; the author was the well-known Richard Tooker. This had neither illustrations nor editorial comment. After these was Raymond Z. Callun's "Sun Tempest." Crawford called it an example of courage on the spaceways, and Ferguson had executed a superb line drawing for it. This showed an Earthman saying "It's gonna rain, Armalu," to a leathery little Callistan crouched beside him. The name "Armalu" is of especial interest, since it leads one to wonder if this story can be in any way identified with Gallun's later effort, "Son of Armalu," which appeared in Astounding Stories magazine. The author Miles J. Breuer was represented by "Imitation of Life." The usual recommendary editorial comment accompanied the tale, which bore a fine Ferguson illustration. The final tale in the issue was written by the formerly active fan Louis G. Smith. It was titled "The Window in Space," and had no illustration. Unlike the other yarns, which appeared in eight-point type, Smith's was printed on the larger eleven-point type. On the whole, the printing job strikes one as slightly amateurish. The context was replete with typographical errors, though of course these might well have been slated for later correction, since proof-reading was probably intended. All these faults aside, the magazine could probably have held its own in circulation (granted proper distribution) for the material was of unquestioned quality, and its illustrations were on the whole more than acceptable. And certainly the line-up of authors featured was unique. That the plans for Marvel's publication and distribution never reached materialization can be regretted most keenly only by one who, like myself, has had an opportunity to see for himself just how superb a magazine it would have been.
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