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Tellus, issue 2, November 1941

Page 9

TELLUS                    PAGE NINE
   I see the light. It is a fanmag. Note that I don't say stf fanmag. The above is really my impression of what the editors call a science fiction magazine. Without checking closely the recent mags, I can recall but one article of a scientific nature, and one by Chauvenet concerning his hectic searchings for promags and stuff.
   Query: do the collectors ever read the mags for which they search so avidly?
   I can anticipate grumbles from all parts of the nation. "Whoinell is she? Never heard of her. Lotta nerve, telling us about fanmags."
   All I can answer is that I'm a science fiction fan, and my statements are based on my preferences of what I've read in all the mags, old and new, pro and amateur. Being inconsistent, I do enjoy the present day fanmags. They're often humorous. The gossip columns are good, when they aren't too acidulous. But as far as actual science-fiction goes, I think the boys got side-tracked somewhere along the line. Humor is a necessary element in times like these, but not to the exclusion of all seriousness. There was a good deal of humor in the older mags, but it was well-balanced with serious material of interest to the fans. Have you seen any series lately of the type of article such as Lovecraft's "Supernatural Horror in Literature," or RAP's "Spilling the Atoms"?
   Humor. . . was humor in them days. Some by Bloch. Heh. I laugh. I laugh every time I read it. There were a few fanmags exclusively humorous; it is to be noted that they lasted but a very short while. At present, every fanmag seems to be an attempt at sly humor, intermingled with articles donated to sarcastic rejoinder.
   I recall an article in the first issue of New Fandom, in 1938, by Eando Binder. Binder remarked that in ten years science-fiction would be merely pseudo-science-fiction. It seems that he gave it the benefit of the doubt by about five years.
   Something else I would like to see again: remember the little Phantagraph supplement? Poetry, prose, and one or two articles. Veritable jewels, those little publications. Ah, to see something like that again! I'd even put one out myself. Say. . . there is a thought!
   A lot of the present-day fans were active in those days. Do they really think that the fanmags have matured, or do they admit that they are in their second-childhood?
   I admit that the fan field has been going places. There are a good many fouds, but even so the fans seem to be better organized nationally than ever before. Yearly conventions, interstate visits. . . .Why, the fans even visit people they aren't supposed to like! I hope to see fandom keep progressing. There'snot a thing we can't do, if we all pull together.
   I'll close now, with a plea to all fan-editors. Bring out a mag balanced with some interesting and serious material. Try it...see if it doesn't go over.
   And you can give me H---for this at the PACIFICON.

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TELLUS PAGE NINE I see the light. It is a fanmag. Note that I don't say stf fanmag. The above is really my impression of what the editors call a science fiction magazine. Without checking closely the recent mags, I can recall but one article of a scientific nature, and one by Chauvenet concerning his hectic searchings for promags and stuff. Query: do the collectors ever read the mags for which they search so avidly? I can anticipate grumbles from all parts of the nation. "Whoinell is she? Never heard of her. Lotta nerve, telling us about fanmags." All I can answer is that I'm a science fiction fan, and my statements are based on my preferences of what I've read in all the mags, old and new, pro and amateur. Being inconsistent, I do enjoy the present day fanmags. They're often humorous. The gossip columns are good, when they aren't too acidulous. But as far as actual science-fiction goes, I think the boys got side-tracked somewhere along the line. Humor is a necessary element in times like these, but not to the exclusion of all seriousness. There was a good deal of humor in the older mags, but it was well-balanced with serious material of interest to the fans. Have you seen any series lately of the type of article such as Lovecraft's "Supernatural Horror in Literature," or RAP's "Spilling the Atoms"? Humor. . . was humor in them days. Some by Bloch. Heh. I laugh. I laugh every time I read it. There were a few fanmags exclusively humorous; it is to be noted that they lasted but a very short while. At present, every fanmag seems to be an attempt at sly humor, intermingled with articles donated to sarcastic rejoinder. I recall an article in the first issue of New Fandom, in 1938, by Eando Binder. Binder remarked that in ten years science-fiction would be merely pseudo-science-fiction. It seems that he gave it the benefit of the doubt by about five years. Something else I would like to see again: remember the little Phantagraph supplement? Poetry, prose, and one or two articles. Veritable jewels, those little publications. Ah, to see something like that again! I'd even put one out myself. Say. . . there is a thought! A lot of the present-day fans were active in those days. Do they really think that the fanmags have matured, or do they admit that they are in their second-childhood? I admit that the fan field has been going places. There are a good many fouds, but even so the fans seem to be better organized nationally than ever before. Yearly conventions, interstate visits. . . .Why, the fans even visit people they aren't supposed to like! I hope to see fandom keep progressing. There'snot a thing we can't do, if we all pull together. I'll close now, with a plea to all fan-editors. Bring out a mag balanced with some interesting and serious material. Try it...see if it doesn't go over. And you can give me H---for this at the PACIFICON.