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Fantasy Commentator, v. 1, issue 11, Summer 1946

Page 291

FANTASY COMMENTATOR    291

ISA, becoming so well known by this abbreviation that most fans forgot that there had ever been an older version of the organization.
     With this bit of business consummated, the new ISA prepared to launch a counterblow at the SFL for expelling three of its members. For this purpose they resurrected yet another old-time club organ, The Planet, official publication of the Scienceers. Its name was changed to The Scienceer, but continuity with the old volume-numbering was retained, so that the magazine proved eventually to be the final issue of The Planet. (Permission to use the old title, it might be noted, had long since been obtained by Sykora in his abortive attempt to revive the Scienceers prior to formation of the ISA.) It was quite outspokenly termed "the first political fan magazine," and, as a slap at the Fantasy Magazine group, was dedicated to Allan Glasser, "former editor, knifed in the back by his 'best friend'." The exact incident referred to is obscure, but probably is the plaigarism incident in which Glasser was involved.
     The Scienceer featured an article titled "The Fall of the New York Science Fiction League," in which Sykora, Wollheim and Michel gave the reasons for the local chapter's lack of success, rehashed again the story of Gernsback's non-payment scandal, and denied that they had been guilty of actions treasonous to the SFL's ideals and purposes, claiming their activities in the field as evidence of their loyalty. To quote from the article---

...The SFL has only one purpose and that is to continually broaden the scope and popularize the art of science-fiction. ... Is it treasonous and disloyal to collect from Wonder Stories, the backer of the SFL, what is justly owed? Perhaps it is against the advancement of science-fiction to permit authors to be paid for their work....

To these uncomfortable questions posed by the "outcasts" Charles D. Hornig's reply was not forthcoming. Readers were urged to shun the reshuffled chapter of the New York City SFL, emphasizing its "dictatorial aspects" by inviting them to join instead the local ISA group, titling it "a free man's club."
     Had The Scienceer received wider distribution, and had its subject-matter been presented with a trifle more restraint, the results could have been damaging to the league indeed. The magazine is of further interest in that
   there was published the first official announcement of the ICSC's changing its name to the International Scientific Association. This information was not even mentioned, strangely enough, in the current International Observer---possibly because the issue was stencilled some time in advance of publication.
     All this time Sykora and Wollheim had been regular attendants at meetings of the East New York SFL chapter, phenomenally successful offshoot of the dormant Brooklyn group and publishers of Arcturus. At one of these Hornig happened to be present; indignant at finding expelled members about, he asked that they be barred from attending future gatherings. But Sykora and Wollheim, quite popular with fans of the time, were defended by others present, who demanded that Hornig express his views on the matter more explicitly before they would consent to take any action. Realizing that he was edging into the non-payment angle, however, Hornig wisely did not press his point nor elaborate on his accusations.
     But this was the last straw. The spark had reached the magazine, and the long-awaited explosion took place. It was without precedent in drama, and superceded in brute dictatorial force anything the ISA had hitherto resorted to. The second meeting of the reorganized New York chapter was in progress, with Hornig presiding, in a New York school room. Suddenly the clumping of many shoes was heard, and in burst Sykora and Wollheim at the head of eight other youths (not all science-fiction fans) recruited from the streets for rough action if

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FANTASY COMMENTATOR 291 ISA, becoming so well known by this abbreviation that most fans forgot that there had ever been an older version of the organization. With this bit of business consummated, the new ISA prepared to launch a counterblow at the SFL for expelling three of its members. For this purpose they resurrected yet another old-time club organ, The Planet, official publication of the Scienceers. Its name was changed to The Scienceer, but continuity with the old volume-numbering was retained, so that the magazine proved eventually to be the final issue of The Planet. (Permission to use the old title, it might be noted, had long since been obtained by Sykora in his abortive attempt to revive the Scienceers prior to formation of the ISA.) It was quite outspokenly termed "the first political fan magazine," and, as a slap at the Fantasy Magazine group, was dedicated to Allan Glasser, "former editor, knifed in the back by his 'best friend'." The exact incident referred to is obscure, but probably is the plaigarism incident in which Glasser was involved. The Scienceer featured an article titled "The Fall of the New York Science Fiction League," in which Sykora, Wollheim and Michel gave the reasons for the local chapter's lack of success, rehashed again the story of Gernsback's non-payment scandal, and denied that they had been guilty of actions treasonous to the SFL's ideals and purposes, claiming their activities in the field as evidence of their loyalty. To quote from the article--- ...The SFL has only one purpose and that is to continually broaden the scope and popularize the art of science-fiction. ... Is it treasonous and disloyal to collect from Wonder Stories, the backer of the SFL, what is justly owed? Perhaps it is against the advancement of science-fiction to permit authors to be paid for their work.... To these uncomfortable questions posed by the "outcasts" Charles D. Hornig's reply was not forthcoming. Readers were urged to shun the reshuffled chapter of the New York City SFL, emphasizing its "dictatorial aspects" by inviting them to join instead the local ISA group, titling it "a free man's club." Had The Scienceer received wider distribution, and had its subject-matter been presented with a trifle more restraint, the results could have been damaging to the league indeed. The magazine is of further interest in that there was published the first official announcement of the ICSC's changing its name to the International Scientific Association. This information was not even mentioned, strangely enough, in the current International Observer---possibly because the issue was stencilled some time in advance of publication. All this time Sykora and Wollheim had been regular attendants at meetings of the East New York SFL chapter, phenomenally successful offshoot of the dormant Brooklyn group and publishers of Arcturus. At one of these Hornig happened to be present; indignant at finding expelled members about, he asked that they be barred from attending future gatherings. But Sykora and Wollheim, quite popular with fans of the time, were defended by others present, who demanded that Hornig express his views on the matter more explicitly before they would consent to take any action. Realizing that he was edging into the non-payment angle, however, Hornig wisely did not press his point nor elaborate on his accusations. But this was the last straw. The spark had reached the magazine, and the long-awaited explosion took place. It was without precedent in drama, and superceded in brute dictatorial force anything the ISA had hitherto resorted to. The second meeting of the reorganized New York chapter was in progress, with Hornig presiding, in a New York school room. Suddenly the clumping of many shoes was heard, and in burst Sykora and Wollheim at the head of eight other youths (not all science-fiction fans) recruited from the streets for rough action if