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Fantasy Commentator, v. 1, issue 10, Spring 1946

Page 262

262
FANTASY COMMENTATOR

forming to these ideals might be found. In so doing he contacted the International Cosmos Science Club through Michel, his friend.

Realizing immediately in the ICSC's potentialities, Sykora lost no time in utilizing his newly-won powers in that organization. On the strength of Michel's association with The Radiogram, he was entrusted with the editorship of The International Observer, the revitalized club's official organ. Perhaps unexpectedly, Michel seemed to have a flare for this type of work. He created for The International Observer the first silk-screened cover ever seen in the fan world. From the first issue these covers, astoundingly well done for an amateur, lent to the magazine a distinctive, pleasing appearance unlike that found in the majority of its fan competitors. This enviable standard was maintained throughout its entire life.

The second issue of this publication presented a constitution, as drawn up by a committee composed of Edward Gervais, Day Gee and Michel. (Gervais will be remembered as an outstanding member of the Terrestrial Fantascience Guild and Gee had been on the roster of Palmer's International Scientific Association.) This constitution was unique in that it represented the first effort of a science-fiction fan club to establish anything resembling the mechanics of democracy. And although democracy often limped badly during the ICSC's history, there was evident at all times some semblance of its presence.

In theory, the club was designed to embrace both science hobbyists and science-fiction fans; this was borne out, furthermore, by the International Observer's byline, "of science and science-fiction." As long as the first president, Edward Gervais, was in office, however, the emphasis was on science, and fiction was almost completely crowded out of the club's periodical. The latter was divided into such sectional headings as "Chemistry," "Physics," "Astronomy" and "Biology," and its articles bore such staid titles as "Neutronium," "Color-Waves," "Diamonds," "A Visit to the Adlar Planetarium," etc. Nevertheless, some topics of fictional interest were introduced from the very first. Michel wrote an interesting column titled "The Science Fiction Critic." A contest for the best original story was announced in the second number of The International Observer, this being open to all members who had paid their dues in full. (This contest was won by Florence Reider, an active member of the Chicago SFL chapter.) A second contest of a different nature was announced later.

Sykora's influence was also evident in the inception of a club library, composed of both scientific and fictional volumes, which was kept at his home. It was due in no small measure to him as well that the club's publication maintained a regular, monthly schedule of appearance, and that its membership grew steadily larger.

The International Cosmos Science Club was, of course, no local group. Nevertheless many of its adherents lived in the greater New York area, and so it was hardly surprising that they should affirm their presence by designating themselves a local chapter. This was done on February 3, 1935, at a meeting attended by Sykora, Wollheim, Michel and Herbert Goudkey. Thereafter the group met regularly at Sykora's home, and these gatherings often reached peaks of interest that surpassed many of the best SFL chapter meetings.

Aside from the social benefits involved, the chapter undertook many worthwhile activities. The first of these was a series of experiments in amateur rocketry. Four rockets constructed by Sykora were launched on March 10, 1935 in the presence of the New York chapter of the ICSC and representatives of several SFL chapters. While none of these rockets achieved startling success, the subsequent account of the experiments written by Sykora were extremely well done, and drew forth profound respect from all quarters. Motion pictures of these experiments were taken, and were later shown at Queens SFL meetings among other places. It is obvious that despite the club's comparatively small roster it was very active and possessed of great potentialities because of alert leadership.

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262 FANTASY COMMENTATOR forming to these ideals might be found. In so doing he contacted the International Cosmos Science Club through Michel, his friend. Realizing immediately in the ICSC's potentialities, Sykora lost no time in utilizing his newly-won powers in that organization. On the strength of Michel's association with The Radiogram, he was entrusted with the editorship of The International Observer, the revitalized club's official organ. Perhaps unexpectedly, Michel seemed to have a flare for this type of work. He created for The International Observer the first silk-screened cover ever seen in the fan world. From the first issue these covers, astoundingly well done for an amateur, lent to the magazine a distinctive, pleasing appearance unlike that found in the majority of its fan competitors. This enviable standard was maintained throughout its entire life. The second issue of this publication presented a constitution, as drawn up by a committee composed of Edward Gervais, Day Gee and Michel. (Gervais will be remembered as an outstanding member of the Terrestrial Fantascience Guild and Gee had been on the roster of Palmer's International Scientific Association.) This constitution was unique in that it represented the first effort of a science-fiction fan club to establish anything resembling the mechanics of democracy. And although democracy often limped badly during the ICSC's history, there was evident at all times some semblance of its presence. In theory, the club was designed to embrace both science hobbyists and science-fiction fans; this was borne out, furthermore, by the International Observer's byline, "of science and science-fiction." As long as the first president, Edward Gervais, was in office, however, the emphasis was on science, and fiction was almost completely crowded out of the club's periodical. The latter was divided into such sectional headings as "Chemistry," "Physics," "Astronomy" and "Biology," and its articles bore such staid titles as "Neutronium," "Color-Waves," "Diamonds," "A Visit to the Adlar Planetarium," etc. Nevertheless, some topics of fictional interest were introduced from the very first. Michel wrote an interesting column titled "The Science Fiction Critic." A contest for the best original story was announced in the second number of The International Observer, this being open to all members who had paid their dues in full. (This contest was won by Florence Reider, an active member of the Chicago SFL chapter.) A second contest of a different nature was announced later. Sykora's influence was also evident in the inception of a club library, composed of both scientific and fictional volumes, which was kept at his home. It was due in no small measure to him as well that the club's publication maintained a regular, monthly schedule of appearance, and that its membership grew steadily larger. The International Cosmos Science Club was, of course, no local group. Nevertheless many of its adherents lived in the greater New York area, and so it was hardly surprising that they should affirm their presence by designating themselves a local chapter. This was done on February 3, 1935, at a meeting attended by Sykora, Wollheim, Michel and Herbert Goudkey. Thereafter the group met regularly at Sykora's home, and these gatherings often reached peaks of interest that surpassed many of the best SFL chapter meetings. Aside from the social benefits involved, the chapter undertook many worthwhile activities. The first of these was a series of experiments in amateur rocketry. Four rockets constructed by Sykora were launched on March 10, 1935 in the presence of the New York chapter of the ICSC and representatives of several SFL chapters. While none of these rockets achieved startling success, the subsequent account of the experiments written by Sykora were extremely well done, and drew forth profound respect from all quarters. Motion pictures of these experiments were taken, and were later shown at Queens SFL meetings among other places. It is obvious that despite the club's comparatively small roster it was very active and possessed of great potentialities because of alert leadership.