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Spatium, issue 5, September 1949
Page 10
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SPATIUM LETTERS Dear Ron: I tossed a coin to see which of the "Co-editors and Publishers" of SPATIUM I would address this missive to, and you won out. Will you let me know a few facts and accept my criticisms, because I am interested in your publication. You see, the Picton S-F Society is trying to widen its circle of acquaintances in the fan club field, and for this reason we are interested in obtaining all kinds of fanzines. But suggestion #1 can be found in the fact that we are much more interested in your club activities and a straight-forward presentation of the ideas discussed at your bull-sessions than we are in the amateur short stories. (Let me hasten to add that these should not be cut out entirely from any fanzine). SPATIUM is called the Journal of the CNSFS, and to our way of thinking is what it should be -- a record of your activities, with details about the way you were organized, and your method of operation. As it is, all we get from SPATIUM are some practically anonymous stories. Do you see my point? We want to know the fans, as well as their ideas. Now to run down the contents of SPATIUM. "Beyond the Last Star" was the best story in my humble opinion. Fast moving and entertaining -- even though the dialouge smacked a little of "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty" eg, "But man, whoever you are, you're a fool!" one of the more courageous technicians barked. "27D is the fasted ship in the universe, and it's set for top speed!" "I know what I'm doing," Tate snarled. "Silence! Speed up the take-off settings!" All that lack's is the huge steel crane going "pocketa, pocketa, pocketa!" And of course the pay-off at the conclusion was ridiculous, but I liked it. Poet of Ishtar was fine, but too short. Biographies are sure-fires. However, I am not so sure about autobiogaphies, and although it is an awkward way of doing it I believe that a friend of Dik Hollister's could have pictured him a little more convinceingly than Dik was able. As for "Retrospect" -- ugh! ugh! and gasp!" "Muthoth" was cynical, and not entertaingly at all. "The Time Machine that Wouldn't Stop" -- yuk! yuk! On the whole the issue was good, and showed restraint lacking in most fanzines. So long for now -- President PSFS Yours sciencerely, Paul Walton Picton, Ont. What can we do? Some want more club materials, others want less. I really guess that it is up to you readers to decide. How about it? In the first several issues we did limit ourselves rather closely to club news; such as the Constiution, Treasury and Secretaries report, etc. We wont take issue with you on the autobiography issue, perhaps you are right. However it is a bit too late change this now. However, we fell that you can get a pretty good picture of the various members from their writings. Oh we Love that comment on Beyond The Last Star! We only wish JoKe had included it in his story, "pocketa, pocketa, queep!" Comment on Muthoth was varied, but many thought that it was quite off the usual trail. Not all stories need to be pretty. Few also saw The Time Machine for the satire it was. Editor PAGE -( 10 )-
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SPATIUM LETTERS Dear Ron: I tossed a coin to see which of the "Co-editors and Publishers" of SPATIUM I would address this missive to, and you won out. Will you let me know a few facts and accept my criticisms, because I am interested in your publication. You see, the Picton S-F Society is trying to widen its circle of acquaintances in the fan club field, and for this reason we are interested in obtaining all kinds of fanzines. But suggestion #1 can be found in the fact that we are much more interested in your club activities and a straight-forward presentation of the ideas discussed at your bull-sessions than we are in the amateur short stories. (Let me hasten to add that these should not be cut out entirely from any fanzine). SPATIUM is called the Journal of the CNSFS, and to our way of thinking is what it should be -- a record of your activities, with details about the way you were organized, and your method of operation. As it is, all we get from SPATIUM are some practically anonymous stories. Do you see my point? We want to know the fans, as well as their ideas. Now to run down the contents of SPATIUM. "Beyond the Last Star" was the best story in my humble opinion. Fast moving and entertaining -- even though the dialouge smacked a little of "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty" eg, "But man, whoever you are, you're a fool!" one of the more courageous technicians barked. "27D is the fasted ship in the universe, and it's set for top speed!" "I know what I'm doing," Tate snarled. "Silence! Speed up the take-off settings!" All that lack's is the huge steel crane going "pocketa, pocketa, pocketa!" And of course the pay-off at the conclusion was ridiculous, but I liked it. Poet of Ishtar was fine, but too short. Biographies are sure-fires. However, I am not so sure about autobiogaphies, and although it is an awkward way of doing it I believe that a friend of Dik Hollister's could have pictured him a little more convinceingly than Dik was able. As for "Retrospect" -- ugh! ugh! and gasp!" "Muthoth" was cynical, and not entertaingly at all. "The Time Machine that Wouldn't Stop" -- yuk! yuk! On the whole the issue was good, and showed restraint lacking in most fanzines. So long for now -- President PSFS Yours sciencerely, Paul Walton Picton, Ont. What can we do? Some want more club materials, others want less. I really guess that it is up to you readers to decide. How about it? In the first several issues we did limit ourselves rather closely to club news; such as the Constiution, Treasury and Secretaries report, etc. We wont take issue with you on the autobiography issue, perhaps you are right. However it is a bit too late change this now. However, we fell that you can get a pretty good picture of the various members from their writings. Oh we Love that comment on Beyond The Last Star! We only wish JoKe had included it in his story, "pocketa, pocketa, queep!" Comment on Muthoth was varied, but many thought that it was quite off the usual trail. Not all stories need to be pretty. Few also saw The Time Machine for the satire it was. Editor PAGE -( 10 )-
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