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Fantasy Commentator, v. 1, issue 11, Summer 1946
Page 294
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294 FANTASY COMMENTATOR of relief. Frowns creased their brows anew, however, when they learned that the new magazine was to be titled Thrilling Wonder Stories. Furthermore, Margolies was reported to have stated point-blank that he did not plan on catering to the active fans, who he claimed were "a loud minority". But the SFL would be continued, nevertheless. Fans naturally wondered how this would affect the Independent League for Science Fiction. The answer was swift in appearing. Despite the fact that the ILSF had no personal argument with the new SFL sponsors, the same aura of commercialism and dictatorship surrounded the latter organization; therefore, although the ILSF would remain ostensibly at peace with the SFL, it would continue its status of an active, independent body. And shortly thereafter it published its constitution. Pride of the greater New York fans was the monthly publication Arturus. From the attractively artistic covers through to last-page advertisements it was a periodical of absorbing interest. "The Circle," by "The Ringmaster," kept fandom informed, in political commentary style, of late developments in the SFL-ISA strife, as well as on other topical items. The magazine carried a column of the most recent science-fiction news of Britain, written by Edward J. Carnell. Articles on early fan magazines, interviews with professionals in the fantasy field, reviews of current science-fiction and occasional fan-written stories were also regularly in evidence. Undoubtedly the most popular feature, however, was a column titled "13," conducted by "Willy the Wasp," a pseudonym of Donald Wollheim, "13" was composed of squibs on thirteen prominent characters or fans in science-fiction---sometimes complimentary, always newsy, frequently barbed. It was the forerunner of a similar, but more detailed, column "As Others See Us," published in The Science Fiction Fan, which proved equally popular. In the January, 1936 installment of "13" Wollheim had this to say about Forrest J. Ackerman: He doesn't know it, but when his name is mentioned in stf circles, it causes considerable snickers and suppressed laughter. This obstreperous author-pester, silly-letter writer, and what-have-you, is now going off half-baked on Esperanto and Universal Languages, a subject which he really doesn't know any too much about. Recently renounced citizenship in the United States by joining the World Society of Nationless People. Ackerman could scarcely allow such slurs to remain uncommented upon, and he dispatched a heated letter to the editor of Arcturus, condemning "Willy the Wisp" and denying some of his accusations. But in a special two-page reply entitled "Sez You" Wollheim added insult to an injury by elaborating in humorous fashion on his previous remarks, retracting only his statement that Ackerman was no longer a United States citizen, though he added that he considered Ackerman hypocritical for joining the World Society of Nationless People if he did not intend to renounce national citizenship. Through inability or disinclination, Ackerman did not counter further, and the incident was duly recorded in fan journals of the period as the Wollheim-Ackerman feud despite the brief period of its duration. That Ackerman was not sufficiently embittered to bear any grudge is indicated by his ready collaboration with Wollheim on several later occasions. Finally, Arcturus is of historical interest because of the appearance in its pages of some of the earliest examples of "Ghughuism," a mock religion of Wollheim's concoction that might well be relegated to the same position as the previously mentioned SPWSSTFM affair. Wollheim took the god's position in this parody of religion, gathering about him a lavishly titled circle of adherents.
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294 FANTASY COMMENTATOR of relief. Frowns creased their brows anew, however, when they learned that the new magazine was to be titled Thrilling Wonder Stories. Furthermore, Margolies was reported to have stated point-blank that he did not plan on catering to the active fans, who he claimed were "a loud minority". But the SFL would be continued, nevertheless. Fans naturally wondered how this would affect the Independent League for Science Fiction. The answer was swift in appearing. Despite the fact that the ILSF had no personal argument with the new SFL sponsors, the same aura of commercialism and dictatorship surrounded the latter organization; therefore, although the ILSF would remain ostensibly at peace with the SFL, it would continue its status of an active, independent body. And shortly thereafter it published its constitution. Pride of the greater New York fans was the monthly publication Arturus. From the attractively artistic covers through to last-page advertisements it was a periodical of absorbing interest. "The Circle," by "The Ringmaster," kept fandom informed, in political commentary style, of late developments in the SFL-ISA strife, as well as on other topical items. The magazine carried a column of the most recent science-fiction news of Britain, written by Edward J. Carnell. Articles on early fan magazines, interviews with professionals in the fantasy field, reviews of current science-fiction and occasional fan-written stories were also regularly in evidence. Undoubtedly the most popular feature, however, was a column titled "13," conducted by "Willy the Wasp," a pseudonym of Donald Wollheim, "13" was composed of squibs on thirteen prominent characters or fans in science-fiction---sometimes complimentary, always newsy, frequently barbed. It was the forerunner of a similar, but more detailed, column "As Others See Us," published in The Science Fiction Fan, which proved equally popular. In the January, 1936 installment of "13" Wollheim had this to say about Forrest J. Ackerman: He doesn't know it, but when his name is mentioned in stf circles, it causes considerable snickers and suppressed laughter. This obstreperous author-pester, silly-letter writer, and what-have-you, is now going off half-baked on Esperanto and Universal Languages, a subject which he really doesn't know any too much about. Recently renounced citizenship in the United States by joining the World Society of Nationless People. Ackerman could scarcely allow such slurs to remain uncommented upon, and he dispatched a heated letter to the editor of Arcturus, condemning "Willy the Wisp" and denying some of his accusations. But in a special two-page reply entitled "Sez You" Wollheim added insult to an injury by elaborating in humorous fashion on his previous remarks, retracting only his statement that Ackerman was no longer a United States citizen, though he added that he considered Ackerman hypocritical for joining the World Society of Nationless People if he did not intend to renounce national citizenship. Through inability or disinclination, Ackerman did not counter further, and the incident was duly recorded in fan journals of the period as the Wollheim-Ackerman feud despite the brief period of its duration. That Ackerman was not sufficiently embittered to bear any grudge is indicated by his ready collaboration with Wollheim on several later occasions. Finally, Arcturus is of historical interest because of the appearance in its pages of some of the earliest examples of "Ghughuism," a mock religion of Wollheim's concoction that might well be relegated to the same position as the previously mentioned SPWSSTFM affair. Wollheim took the god's position in this parody of religion, gathering about him a lavishly titled circle of adherents.
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