DIY History | Transcribe | Hevelin Fanzines | Jinx, v. 1, issue 2, whole no. 2, March 1942

Transcribe
Translate

Jinx, v. 1, issue 2, whole no. 2, March 1942

Page 12

Page 12
JINX
P R O S E   O N   T H E   P R O ' S.
by the editor.

We had this department completely dummied once, but upon the arrival of STIRRING, we tore it up and started this one that you're looking at.
Before we saw the new STIRRING, we visioned terrible hours of fruitless search among myriads of comic-books, looking for STIRRING.  But, when it did come in, they put it out with ARGOSY, ASTOUNDING, and others.  Quite conspicuous, too, with the Bok cover, and the unusual cover lay-out.  Then when we opened it and saw all of those boo'ful Book and Dolgov illustrations, we yelped with joy.  Oh joy!  The increased size of the illustrations isn't exactly a hindrance, either.  And then we read the stories.  We'll say that they were as good as those in the three other issues and let it go at that.  No!  We'll say that STIRRING is our favorite pro-mag.  'Tis, too.
As for the March issue, the bestory in the mag was Futurian director Raymond's "The Goblins Will Get You."  It's another of those delightful de Camp-Corwin whacky tales, combined with the distinct Raymond twists.  Those last sock-lines that Johnny manages are slightly terrific.
Second best is Millard Verne Gordon's "Blind Flight", which graced the s-f side of the mag.  A careful, methodical build-up to one word, which'll make something stir within you, if I don't miss my guess.  The story starts out slowly, because of the lack of either conversation or action, but then -- o joy!  I might mention that the great Gilbert, who solved the mystery of Corwin and E.Hunter Waldo, says that Gordon is none other than ye olde editore, Donald A. Wollheim.
As for the rest of the stories, Kenneth Falconer doesn't achieve the heights that he did with the "Words of Guru", but his "Masquerade" is still a better-than-average tale.  Kubilius' "The Day Has Come" is as good, or better, than anything that we have seen by him to date.  Basil Wells restores our faith in him with "The Giant".  Corwin comes across with an impressive serious fantasy; Gottesman remains his usual jocular self in "The Perfect Invasion"' Martin Pearson presents a better-than-average story, while Morley turns up with another "mysteryfier".  "The Long Wall" is comparable to "The Abyss" in one fashion. Perhaps Morley understands it; we don't.
There's one thing that we would like to see, though.  And that is -- the name of the mag on the left-hand page, and the name of the story on the right.  'Twould help a lot in skimming through the magazine.
Lowndes and Wollheim have succeeded where Freddy Pohl failed.  That's our opinion, of course.  Take a look at the February FUTURE FICTION.  From the unusual Bokover to the lastory in the February issue, there's the unusual.  Wollheim dared to be different in STIRRING.  Now Lowndes is seating himself out on the end of a creaking limb.  Doc is using mere well-written incidents for many of his short stories.  I like them, personally, but what about the reading public?  I sincerely hope they take to the type of stories that Doc is now featuring.
Hannes Bok, in his debut, abandons the light colors that usually mark his drawing, and paints vividly, impressively in "The Alien Vibration".  In fact, Hannes goes off the deep end a bit.  The remarkable use of adjectives is all right up to a certain point, but Hannes delves too many times into his adjective-paint-box.  On the whole, though, it reveals the fact that Hannes is a writer, as well as an artist.
And now, we'll be swaying between FUTURE and STIRRING day after day, saying, "STIRRING.  No!  FUTURE.  No!  STIRRING.  No!  FUTURE."  You see, we simply can't decide which has the better illustrations.  They're both using Dolgov and Bok, but Doc still has the edge when he uses Forte and Knight in preference to Hall.
As for the first two ASTOUNDINGs in 1942, the Williamson story is still the best to appear.  With sorrow we say that C. L. Moore was utterly disappointing.  "There Shall Be Darkness" would be all right for almost any other ASTOUNDING author, but -- after all, C. L. Moore is C. L. Moore -- the author of "Shambleau", "Greater Than Gods", etc. and etc.  We sorrow.
It's scarcely worth mentioning, may say many, but -- we glory in the fact that PLANET STORIES has changed their title head on the cover.  What?  You don't read PLANET?  Well, well . . .
We seem to have seen several places that a few well-known fans have turned to AMAZING again.  Well, frankly, you'll find a bit of Palmerish action in every story, but if you know how to sift out the best from the worst, then you'll find some good stories in AMAZING.  But we recommend FANTASTIC ADVENTURES.  It's a better hunting ground.

Saving...

Page 12 JINX P R O S E O N T H E P R O ' S. by the editor. We had this department completely dummied once, but upon the arrival of STIRRING, we tore it up and started this one that you're looking at. Before we saw the new STIRRING, we visioned terrible hours of fruitless search among myriads of comic-books, looking for STIRRING. But, when it did come in, they put it out with ARGOSY, ASTOUNDING, and others. Quite conspicuous, too, with the Bok cover, and the unusual cover lay-out. Then when we opened it and saw all of those boo'ful Book and Dolgov illustrations, we yelped with joy. Oh joy! The increased size of the illustrations isn't exactly a hindrance, either. And then we read the stories. We'll say that they were as good as those in the three other issues and let it go at that. No! We'll say that STIRRING is our favorite pro-mag. 'Tis, too. As for the March issue, the bestory in the mag was Futurian director Raymond's "The Goblins Will Get You." It's another of those delightful de Camp-Corwin whacky tales, combined with the distinct Raymond twists. Those last sock-lines that Johnny manages are slightly terrific. Second best is Millard Verne Gordon's "Blind Flight", which graced the s-f side of the mag. A careful, methodical build-up to one word, which'll make something stir within you, if I don't miss my guess. The story starts out slowly, because of the lack of either conversation or action, but then -- o joy! I might mention that the great Gilbert, who solved the mystery of Corwin and E.Hunter Waldo, says that Gordon is none other than ye olde editore, Donald A. Wollheim. As for the rest of the stories, Kenneth Falconer doesn't achieve the heights that he did with the "Words of Guru", but his "Masquerade" is still a better-than-average tale. Kubilius' "The Day Has Come" is as good, or better, than anything that we have seen by him to date. Basil Wells restores our faith in him with "The Giant". Corwin comes across with an impressive serious fantasy; Gottesman remains his usual jocular self in "The Perfect Invasion"' Martin Pearson presents a better-than-average story, while Morley turns up with another "mysteryfier". "The Long Wall" is comparable to "The Abyss" in one fashion. Perhaps Morley understands it; we don't. There's one thing that we would like to see, though. And that is -- the name of the mag on the left-hand page, and the name of the story on the right. 'Twould help a lot in skimming through the magazine. Lowndes and Wollheim have succeeded where Freddy Pohl failed. That's our opinion, of course. Take a look at the February FUTURE FICTION. From the unusual Bokover to the lastory in the February issue, there's the unusual. Wollheim dared to be different in STIRRING. Now Lowndes is seating himself out on the end of a creaking limb. Doc is using mere well-written incidents for many of his short stories. I like them, personally, but what about the reading public? I sincerely hope they take to the type of stories that Doc is now featuring. Hannes Bok, in his debut, abandons the light colors that usually mark his drawing, and paints vividly, impressively in "The Alien Vibration". In fact, Hannes goes off the deep end a bit. The remarkable use of adjectives is all right up to a certain point, but Hannes delves too many times into his adjective-paint-box. On the whole, though, it reveals the fact that Hannes is a writer, as well as an artist. And now, we'll be swaying between FUTURE and STIRRING day after day, saying, "STIRRING. No! FUTURE. No! STIRRING. No! FUTURE." You see, we simply can't decide which has the better illustrations. They're both using Dolgov and Bok, but Doc still has the edge when he uses Forte and Knight in preference to Hall. As for the first two ASTOUNDINGs in 1942, the Williamson story is still the best to appear. With sorrow we say that C. L. Moore was utterly disappointing. "There Shall Be Darkness" would be all right for almost any other ASTOUNDING author, but -- after all, C. L. Moore is C. L. Moore -- the author of "Shambleau", "Greater Than Gods", etc. and etc. We sorrow. It's scarcely worth mentioning, may say many, but -- we glory in the fact that PLANET STORIES has changed their title head on the cover. What? You don't read PLANET? Well, well . . . We seem to have seen several places that a few well-known fans have turned to AMAZING again. Well, frankly, you'll find a bit of Palmerish action in every story, but if you know how to sift out the best from the worst, then you'll find some good stories in AMAZING. But we recommend FANTASTIC ADVENTURES. It's a better hunting ground.