DIY History | Transcribe | Hevelin Fanzines | Scientifictionist, v. 1, issue 6, August-October 1946

Transcribe
Translate

Scientifictionist, v. 1, issue 6, August-October 1946

Page 19

I must confess that I don't quite get what Brazier is driving at. "A Preliminary Appraisal of The Great Fog" might be classed as a microscopic analysis of the story's science element, rather than a mere cursory examination of the tale (ostensibly, from a literary standpoint). "What in heck is Brazier trying to do?" I kept asking myself while wading through the piece. His aim would seem to be attempting to unearth flaws in Mr. Heard's scientific reasoning...but ho doesn't introduce any evidence to that effect. He just keeps digging up new pseudo-scientific references and asking the reader, "Can this be so?" Shades of Gernsback!
Greenleaf's article was an interesting attempt at a new angle in s-f, but Forteism (sic) doesn't seem to be a particularly scientific system of investigating the unknown, if its literatue is any indication. (That's putting it mildly!)
Seems to me 'twas Harry Warner who said that, if presented in an interesting manner, the likes or dislikes of a fan could be as entertaining as anything else he could write about. Perhaps that's one of the reasons Chanticleer's MYFFSAW column is so readable; at any rate EEEvans' discourse on fantasy artists proved throughly enjoyable.
Three cheers and a SFL button to Laney's campaign for pointing out the value of book stf.
NULL A LANGUAGES is another example of the increasing attention being paid by fandom to the study of semantics. I wish somebody would do a fairly comprehensive article on semantics, explaining in words of two syllables what in heck it is all about, what is seeks to accomplish, etc., for us uninitiates who lack the $6 and the inclination to wade through Science and Sanity. After reading WORLD OF A  and a half a dozen fan articles on the subject, I still have but the murkiest of ideas as to what the whole thing's about. (True fan Confession No. #169...)
Stf Idea Corner interesting as usual, editorial ditto, and Kent Bono's column of prozine reviews looks promising. FOR 'EM AND AGIN 'EM is one of the meatiest letter columns in fanzine-dom, for which loud huzzahs. Was your reference to "Dero Ray" Palmer an intentional pun? Joe Kennedy, 84 Baker Avenue, Dover, N.J.

More Comments on Laney
I have just finished reading my first fanmag -- yours, to be exact -- and I am overwhelmed. I didn't believe a fanzine could be so excellent. Indeed, Stfist has all the balance and swing of a professional mag. To all who participated in the June-July ish goes a large boquet and my sincere regards for the bright future which lies in store for Scientifictionist.
Here goes the comments. E.E.Evans article, MY FAVORITE FANTASY ARTISTS was one of the best I've ever read dealing with the subject. It coincides with my pet theories of s-f art. While on the subject of art, I believe there is one important aspect to look for: does the pic give the proper atmosphere for the story. In my mind the illustrations for great stories often become synonomous with those same classics; one has but to think of SLAN, for instance, and he thinks of Schneeman's light, but I profess that first appearances have a lot to do with lasting impressions. A good example of an excellent illustration is one which is of the same cognate as the story - both have the same setting and idea represented - the link.
SCIENTIFICTION IDEA CORNER is a nice idea. Keep up the good work, Coslet. 
About the article dealing with A languages -- I'm not well enough acquainted with semantics to do intelligent commenting. I will, however, try and read the book you suggested, Don. I must say your article was very interesting.
Mr. Laney, I comment you on your reading list, but perhaps you look for something different in Science Fiction that many of us do. Among the authors and stories you mentioned, Huxley and his BRAVE NEW WORLD stand out. But tell me, outside of this, which are comparable to men like Heinlein -- and Stories like UNIVERSE, IF THIS GOES ON, and METHUSELA'S CHILDREN? Bob Heinlein writes in an advanced style; like the scientist he is, he has build a whole chronological order of events,
page 19

Saving...

I must confess that I don't quite get what Brazier is driving at. "A Preliminary Appraisal of The Great Fog" might be classed as a microscopic analysis of the story's science element, rather than a mere cursory examination of the tale (ostensibly, from a literary standpoint). "What in heck is Brazier trying to do?" I kept asking myself while wading through the piece. His aim would seem to be attempting to unearth flaws in Mr. Heard's scientific reasoning...but ho doesn't introduce any evidence to that effect. He just keeps digging up new pseudo-scientific references and asking the reader, "Can this be so?" Shades of Gernsback! Greenleaf's article was an interesting attempt at a new angle in s-f, but Forteism (sic) doesn't seem to be a particularly scientific system of investigating the unknown, if its literatue is any indication. (That's putting it mildly!) Seems to me 'twas Harry Warner who said that, if presented in an interesting manner, the likes or dislikes of a fan could be as entertaining as anything else he could write about. Perhaps that's one of the reasons Chanticleer's MYFFSAW column is so readable; at any rate EEEvans' discourse on fantasy artists proved throughly enjoyable. Three cheers and a SFL button to Laney's campaign for pointing out the value of book stf. NULL A LANGUAGES is another example of the increasing attention being paid by fandom to the study of semantics. I wish somebody would do a fairly comprehensive article on semantics, explaining in words of two syllables what in heck it is all about, what is seeks to accomplish, etc., for us uninitiates who lack the $6 and the inclination to wade through Science and Sanity. After reading WORLD OF A and a half a dozen fan articles on the subject, I still have but the murkiest of ideas as to what the whole thing's about. (True fan Confession No. #169...) Stf Idea Corner interesting as usual, editorial ditto, and Kent Bono's column of prozine reviews looks promising. FOR 'EM AND AGIN 'EM is one of the meatiest letter columns in fanzine-dom, for which loud huzzahs. Was your reference to "Dero Ray" Palmer an intentional pun? Joe Kennedy, 84 Baker Avenue, Dover, N.J. More Comments on Laney I have just finished reading my first fanmag -- yours, to be exact -- and I am overwhelmed. I didn't believe a fanzine could be so excellent. Indeed, Stfist has all the balance and swing of a professional mag. To all who participated in the June-July ish goes a large boquet and my sincere regards for the bright future which lies in store for Scientifictionist. Here goes the comments. E.E.Evans article, MY FAVORITE FANTASY ARTISTS was one of the best I've ever read dealing with the subject. It coincides with my pet theories of s-f art. While on the subject of art, I believe there is one important aspect to look for: does the pic give the proper atmosphere for the story. In my mind the illustrations for great stories often become synonomous with those same classics; one has but to think of SLAN, for instance, and he thinks of Schneeman's light, but I profess that first appearances have a lot to do with lasting impressions. A good example of an excellent illustration is one which is of the same cognate as the story - both have the same setting and idea represented - the link. SCIENTIFICTION IDEA CORNER is a nice idea. Keep up the good work, Coslet. About the article dealing with A languages -- I'm not well enough acquainted with semantics to do intelligent commenting. I will, however, try and read the book you suggested, Don. I must say your article was very interesting. Mr. Laney, I comment you on your reading list, but perhaps you look for something different in Science Fiction that many of us do. Among the authors and stories you mentioned, Huxley and his BRAVE NEW WORLD stand out. But tell me, outside of this, which are comparable to men like Heinlein -- and Stories like UNIVERSE, IF THIS GOES ON, and METHUSELA'S CHILDREN? Bob Heinlein writes in an advanced style; like the scientist he is, he has build a whole chronological order of events, page 19