DIY History | Transcribe | Hevelin Fanzines | Voice of the Imagination, whole no. 20, January 1942

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Voice of the Imagination, whole no. 20, January 1942

Page 8

8   New Yr 42 

one of the fundamental errors a writer could commit, and which I have ever since shrank from in horror. 

I like the wild-and-wooly aliens portrayed by D. Elder.

I appreciated the publishing of a large proportion of letters from over here as a very pleasant and graceful gesture. The old paw is beginning to jump a bit, so I will only make two remarks. One is that the Anti-Acky description had me momentarily puzzled on the lines 'Ack-ack equals anti-aircraft fire, anti-acky equals anti-anti-aircraft...?' The other is that I advise you to steer clear of this Smith person for whom Webster apologizes. The man's a rogue and a black-hearted villain."

Harry Warner Jr. 303 Bryan Pl., Hagerstown, MD: "I prefer the legal size to the smaller size one you used on the previous issue--however, any size suits me. If you'll just settle on one and stick to it. You know how thoroughly I detest format-changing fanzines, don't you? 

As to the letters this time: isn't it time for you to indicate whether Alan P. Roberts does or doesn't exist? I believe you when you state so unqualifiedly that there is a Tigrina; if you remain silent about Alan, I'll have to believe it's Rothman as someone said. (Am I Roberts' only contact with Amerifandom? Has Australifandom no visible evidence of his existence? But I say this seriously & in all sincerity: I've no reason to doubt APR is APR, as represented. The Brain of Brisbane was writing me, as I recall, long before he ever even heard of VoM. Sufficently postive statement, Harry? If U fancy find any loophole, lemme know & I'll rectify. --Forry)  

By the way, Tigrina is the smokin' image (but Tig. doesn't smoke) of a cousin of mine in San Diego, if the pretty pictures don't lie. If this were 1935 or thereabouts when said cousin was still in college, I'd have dreams of a coincidence or something.

Darn you. I was thinking of asking Heinlein for his Denvention speech, for publication in Spaceways. Then I remembered that Widner had issued Smith's Chicon talk as his Denvention publication, and thought he might want to make a tradition out of it, so decided to ask him first whether he'd gotten priorities. I have a big notion to get revenge by contracting Joe Gilbert for his Boskone speech; it would be a case of the poor man's Heinlein, of course, but... 

Very happy to see Les A C in your pages. He must have a strong resistance to full participation in fan activities, judging from the way he's almost been fully active for so long and never gone the whole way. I fear I must disagree with you about the young ladies on your covers,
and side with Paul Spencer.    I don't object so much on the ground that they aren't fantastic,  (what would happen to FAPA mailings if that were necessary for
inclusion in fanzines) but that anyone knows where to look to buy just oodles of
females in all stages of undress at a much lower price and usually more fiendish
tempting to the eye.   However. I still prefer black ink to anything else, and shan't do any campaigning against your covers, other than to say that no nudes is good nudes. 

I can't seem to think of  a decent way to finish up this letter, Maybe I should be put on your cover for next issue--because just like Lady Godiva 
I haven't any close."

Rostler writes c/o RAM, 335 E. Belgrade, Philly: "I like your getting all explanations, ads, etc., out of the way on what might be called your editorial page. I do not care a good deal for the larger size, but can see it's advantages and will of course get used to it. 
The question of nudes seems to be arousing considerable comment. I still think you can get better cover subjects, but these are OK if not overdone.  Give the majority its choice. You seem to manage to use the letters which are most interesting and informative. Those from England I especially like because 1 get none of that information anywhere else."

John MILLARD, Chief Pilot- Galactic Roamers, 146 W Euclid St. Jackson, Mich: "Why in the name of H--- did you have to go, to use the vernacular, large size. Do I have to go and buy a legal size (regal size, please!) filing cabinet just to keep VoM in? (Free filing cases for all subscribers. Simply send in one second-hand Lens or a thought-strand from a tendrillesslan.)  Cover's are O.K. The articles on British Fans are great. Lets have some more. 

As for: Tigrina, Devil Doll, I am beginning to think there is no such person,  that it's alla circulation building gag. Maybe it's another of those plots. What else???"

Rich S. Needham [sp?] 1510440, AC2, 67th Entrv, 411 TTW, RAF Sta. Kirkham, Lanes, Eng: "I was very disappointed at first to discover that the most-boosted amateur publication in existence consisted solely of fan-letters 
I always regarded letters as the lowest form of fanmag fillery, mainly used to fill the mag up when ye ed runs short of material; But an entire mag devoted to nothing else made me feel slightly goosefleshly. However, I recovered from the initial horror, and now read 
enthralled, occasionally, that is. (Yoikes! That lil legend we must put on every pkg of VoMs to Eng--namely, "Printed Matter Only--NO MATERIAL VALUE"--takes on sinister significance in lite of your statement!)  Hah, did that Man Eating Plant horrify me? Not a bit. Long ago I remember seeing a cartoon depicting a merchant wielding a fork, and bearing it  in the dexter hand a tin of sardines, and said cartoon was labelled "Man Eating Fish" But...the signature of the artist...If 4sj is Weaver Wright. The plot provider, Damon Knight, Who in the hell is damon Wright? Oh, ah, obviously. 

Denver Convention were wordy but interesting. If
still in one piece after this shindig is over, I fully intend to see some of the U.S. and meet some of the blokes who are just names, in somewhat the same manner as I have infuriated considerable quantities of British fans by casually dropping in on them uninvited for Sunday dinner. But that, methinks, will be about 1945. 

I specifically object to the Weapon clasped in D. Elder's ferocious pic of a Martian, if intended as such... It seems to me nothing but a surrealist version of a t roosts to m
scotch thistle. The being holding it, too, did not arouse much acclamation from this Ac2, either.   What is that kwaint object the beaut on the cover is cuddling?

Saving...

8 New Yr 42 one of the fundamental errors a writer could commit, and which I have ever since shrank from in horror. I like the wild-and-wooly aliens portrayed by D. Elder. I appreciated the publishing of a large proportion of letters from over here as a very pleasant and graceful gesture. The old paw is beginning to jump a bit, so I will only make two remarks. One is that the Anti-Acky description had me momentarily puzzled on the lines 'Ack-ack equals anti-aircraft fire, anti-acky equals anti-anti-aircraft...?' The other is that I advise you to steer clear of this Smith person for whom Webster apologizes. The man's a rogue and a black-hearted villain." Harry Warner Jr. 303 Bryan Pl., Hagerstown, MD: "I prefer the legal size to the smaller size one you used on the previous issue--however, any size suits me. If you'll just settle on one and stick to it. You know how thoroughly I detest format-changing fanzines, don't you? As to the letters this time: isn't it time for you to indicate whether Alan P. Roberts does or doesn't exist? I believe you when you state so unqualifiedly that there is a Tigrina; if you remain silent about Alan, I'll have to believe it's Rothman as someone said. (Am I Roberts' only contact with Amerifandom? Has Australifandom no visible evidence of his existence? But I say this seriously & in all sincerity: I've no reason to doubt APR is APR, as represented. The Brain of Brisbane was writing me, as I recall, long before he ever even heard of VoM. Sufficently postive statement, Harry? If U fancy find any loophole, lemme know & I'll rectify. --Forry) By the way, Tigrina is the smokin' image (but Tig. doesn't smoke) of a cousin of mine in San Diego, if the pretty pictures don't lie. If this were 1935 or thereabouts when said cousin was still in college, I'd have dreams of a coincidence or something. Darn you. I was thinking of asking Heinlein for his Denvention speech, for publication in Spaceways. Then I remembered that Widner had issued Smith's Chicon talk as his Denvention publication, and thought he might want to make a tradition out of it, so decided to ask him first whether he'd gotten priorities. I have a big notion to get revenge by contracting Joe Gilbert for his Boskone speech; it would be a case of the poor man's Heinlein, of course, but... Very happy to see Les A C in your pages. He must have a strong resistance to full participation in fan activities, judging from the way he's almost been fully active for so long and never gone the whole way. I fear I must disagree with you about the young ladies on your covers, and side with Paul Spencer. I don't object so much on the ground that they aren't fantastic, (what would happen to FAPA mailings if that were necessary for inclusion in fanzines) but that anyone knows where to look to buy just oodles of females in all stages of undress at a much lower price and usually more fiendish tempting to the eye. However. I still prefer black ink to anything else, and shan't do any campaigning against your covers, other than to say that no nudes is good nudes. I can't seem to think of a decent way to finish up this letter, Maybe I should be put on your cover for next issue--because just like Lady Godiva I haven't any close." Rostler writes c/o RAM, 335 E. Belgrade, Philly: "I like your getting all explanations, ads, etc., out of the way on what might be called your editorial page. I do not care a good deal for the larger size, but can see it's advantages and will of course get used to it. The question of nudes seems to be arousing considerable comment. I still think you can get better cover subjects, but these are OK if not overdone. Give the majority its choice. You seem to manage to use the letters which are most interesting and informative. Those from England I especially like because 1 get none of that information anywhere else." John MILLARD, Chief Pilot- Galactic Roamers, 146 W Euclid St. Jackson, Mich: "Why in the name of H--- did you have to go, to use the vernacular, large size. Do I have to go and buy a legal size (regal size, please!) filing cabinet just to keep VoM in? (Free filing cases for all subscribers. Simply send in one second-hand Lens or a thought-strand from a tendrillesslan.) Cover's are O.K. The articles on British Fans are great. Lets have some more. As for: Tigrina, Devil Doll, I am beginning to think there is no such person, that it's alla circulation building gag. Maybe it's another of those plots. What else???" Rich S. Needham [sp?] 1510440, AC2, 67th Entrv, 411 TTW, RAF Sta. Kirkham, Lanes, Eng: "I was very disappointed at first to discover that the most-boosted amateur publication in existence consisted solely of fan-letters I always regarded letters as the lowest form of fanmag fillery, mainly used to fill the mag up when ye ed runs short of material; But an entire mag devoted to nothing else made me feel slightly goosefleshly. However, I recovered from the initial horror, and now read enthralled, occasionally, that is. (Yoikes! That lil legend we must put on every pkg of VoMs to Eng--namely, "Printed Matter Only--NO MATERIAL VALUE"--takes on sinister significance in lite of your statement!) Hah, did that Man Eating Plant horrify me? Not a bit. Long ago I remember seeing a cartoon depicting a merchant wielding a fork, and bearing it in the dexter hand a tin of sardines, and said cartoon was labelled "Man Eating Fish" But...the signature of the artist...If 4sj is Weaver Wright. The plot provider, Damon Knight, Who in the hell is damon Wright? Oh, ah, obviously. Denver Convention were wordy but interesting. If still in one piece after this shindig is over, I fully intend to see some of the U.S. and meet some of the blokes who are just names, in somewhat the same manner as I have infuriated considerable quantities of British fans by casually dropping in on them uninvited for Sunday dinner. But that, methinks, will be about 1945. I specifically object to the Weapon clasped in D. Elder's ferocious pic of a Martian, if intended as such... It seems to me nothing but a surrealist version of a t roosts to m scotch thistle. The being holding it, too, did not arouse much acclamation from this Ac2, either. What is that kwaint object the beaut on the cover is cuddling?