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Fantasy Commentator, v. 1, issue 11, Summer 1946
Page 288
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288 FANTASY COMMENTATOR The Immortal Storm A History of Science-Fiction Fandom by Sam Moskowitz (part 4) During the depression period jobs were extremely difficult to obtain, so Julius Schwartz and Mort Weisinger struck upon the idea of agenting fantasy stories as a means of earning a living. Weisinger, who had some abilities as an author, began by peddling his own yarns, some of which he eventually sold. The close contacts the two had with all the important authors and editors of the day (as a result of Fantasy Magazine) soon bore fruit, and it was not long before no less a personage than Stanley G. Weinbaum was a client of their Solar Sales Agency. Schwartz and Weisinger sold virtually all of the stories that Weinbaum ever wrote, and the sheaf of correspondence concerning them is one of the most treasured items in Schwartz' files today. Henry Hasse was another author on their list, as were P. Schuyler Miller, J. Harvey Haggard, Dr. David H. Keller, Thomas S. Gardner and others. It was through the Solar Sales Agency that Weisinger first came in contact with Leo Margolies' comparitively new magazine-chain, Standard Publications. And later, when Standard purchased Wonder Stories, events showed that Margolies had not forgotten the young fellow who had continually tried to sell stories to him. Schwartz took over the agency himself when Margolies left in 1936, and several years later, when newstand fantasy titles were cropping up every month, his reputation as "science-fiction specialist" bore fruit, and his business became even more successful. At times, complete issues of science-fiction magazines were composed of material purchased from the Schwartz agency. His early start in the field had gained for him such popular writers as Eando Binder, John Russell Fearn, Manly Wade Wellman, Malcolm Jameson, Leigh Brackett, Ray Bradbury, David V. Reed, and many, many others. (Later fans turned agent---such as Frederick Pohl, Robert W. Lowndes and Sam Moskowitz---found the pickings lean indeed, and theirs was the harder task of selling the work of new writers.) Shortly after the inception of the Science Fiction League, Hornig created another new feature for Wonder Stories, "The Science Fiction Swap Column." This column was composed of advertisements of fans who had anything to buy, sell or exchange, and the rate charged (two cents a word) was eminently reasonable. It was through this medium that many readers learned that fan magazines existed, and it was the first important means whereby these fan magazines could reach the attention of new converts. The column also encouraged fans to issue their own amateur efforts,and a number of such publications did spring up as a result. They were mostly of a poor grade, however. One was The Science-Fiction Review, edited and published by R. M. Holland, Jr., of Owensboro, Kentucky. Holland's attempt was juvenile in almost every respect---the format, method of duplication and type of material varying with every issue. It can be imagined that the magazine did not have a very large circulation as a result. Nevertheless, by the time Holland reached a sixth number The Science-Fiction Review was at least an interesting commentary on current news, and boasted a single worthwhile column, E. H. Lichtig's "Science-Fiction Film Comment." However, in November, 1935 one Claire P. Beck of Reno, Nevada advertised a publication of his own in the Wonder Stories Column, this also being entitled The Science-Fiction Review. This small-sized, four-paged, mimeographed affair showed no virtue other than neatness, and immediately incurred the wrath of Holland, who felt he had enough trouble on his hands without the title of his
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288 FANTASY COMMENTATOR The Immortal Storm A History of Science-Fiction Fandom by Sam Moskowitz (part 4) During the depression period jobs were extremely difficult to obtain, so Julius Schwartz and Mort Weisinger struck upon the idea of agenting fantasy stories as a means of earning a living. Weisinger, who had some abilities as an author, began by peddling his own yarns, some of which he eventually sold. The close contacts the two had with all the important authors and editors of the day (as a result of Fantasy Magazine) soon bore fruit, and it was not long before no less a personage than Stanley G. Weinbaum was a client of their Solar Sales Agency. Schwartz and Weisinger sold virtually all of the stories that Weinbaum ever wrote, and the sheaf of correspondence concerning them is one of the most treasured items in Schwartz' files today. Henry Hasse was another author on their list, as were P. Schuyler Miller, J. Harvey Haggard, Dr. David H. Keller, Thomas S. Gardner and others. It was through the Solar Sales Agency that Weisinger first came in contact with Leo Margolies' comparitively new magazine-chain, Standard Publications. And later, when Standard purchased Wonder Stories, events showed that Margolies had not forgotten the young fellow who had continually tried to sell stories to him. Schwartz took over the agency himself when Margolies left in 1936, and several years later, when newstand fantasy titles were cropping up every month, his reputation as "science-fiction specialist" bore fruit, and his business became even more successful. At times, complete issues of science-fiction magazines were composed of material purchased from the Schwartz agency. His early start in the field had gained for him such popular writers as Eando Binder, John Russell Fearn, Manly Wade Wellman, Malcolm Jameson, Leigh Brackett, Ray Bradbury, David V. Reed, and many, many others. (Later fans turned agent---such as Frederick Pohl, Robert W. Lowndes and Sam Moskowitz---found the pickings lean indeed, and theirs was the harder task of selling the work of new writers.) Shortly after the inception of the Science Fiction League, Hornig created another new feature for Wonder Stories, "The Science Fiction Swap Column." This column was composed of advertisements of fans who had anything to buy, sell or exchange, and the rate charged (two cents a word) was eminently reasonable. It was through this medium that many readers learned that fan magazines existed, and it was the first important means whereby these fan magazines could reach the attention of new converts. The column also encouraged fans to issue their own amateur efforts,and a number of such publications did spring up as a result. They were mostly of a poor grade, however. One was The Science-Fiction Review, edited and published by R. M. Holland, Jr., of Owensboro, Kentucky. Holland's attempt was juvenile in almost every respect---the format, method of duplication and type of material varying with every issue. It can be imagined that the magazine did not have a very large circulation as a result. Nevertheless, by the time Holland reached a sixth number The Science-Fiction Review was at least an interesting commentary on current news, and boasted a single worthwhile column, E. H. Lichtig's "Science-Fiction Film Comment." However, in November, 1935 one Claire P. Beck of Reno, Nevada advertised a publication of his own in the Wonder Stories Column, this also being entitled The Science-Fiction Review. This small-sized, four-paged, mimeographed affair showed no virtue other than neatness, and immediately incurred the wrath of Holland, who felt he had enough trouble on his hands without the title of his
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