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| DENVENTION DETAILSNews of the 1941 Science Fiction Convention at Denver, Colorado, USA, is just beginning to trickle in. An airmail letter from Forrest Ackerman brought the first comments and copies of the "Denvention" VOICE OF THE IMAGI-NATION, RYT'S DENVENTON SHEET and Forry's Denvention publication have been sent to British fandom. By the courtesy of FANTASY FICTION FIELD there follows a potted account of the convention : ...Los Angeles Science Fiction Society wins 42 convention bid over rivals... Frisco, Washington, and Philly... honor guest Heinlein beloved by all; author and charming wife feted at banquet ... sixty-eight register... 28 states represented ... but nearly one hundred turn up ... costumed fans include Morojo as Merritt's Frog Woman, Knight as John Star, E.E.Evans as Rhean Birdman, 4E as hunchback of Notre Dame, Widner as "Granny" from "SLAN", Korshak as spook, Rustebar as Hubbard's "Tramp", Daugherty as $500 worth of spacesuit, Chet Cohen as Nehemiah Scudder (Heinlein's Prophet), Kornbluth.as a mad scientist with blood on his hands, Heinlein as "Adam Stink the world's most life-like robot", Leslyn Heinlein as Niafer from "Figures of Earth", Mukeul as the Improbable Man, and Doc Lowndes as a Zombie with throat cut from ear to ear ... prizes went to Evans, Daugherty and Ackerman in that order ... auction terrific, Korshak auctioneer ... Daugherty recorded entire convention on 65 discs ... he also awarded five medals; Wiggins, for the best fanzine, Roy Hunt, for the best fan art; Julius Unger for the best news fanzine; 4E for best general activities; & Damon Knight for the best humour ... similar medals to be permanent feature of future conventions ... S.D. Gottesman takes chair at (joke) meeting while fans present vote to hold next years Con in Piccadilly Bomb-Shelter ... forty fans, attending banquet, wind-up convention ... Allen Class, Ohio fan, wins the Denvention award. ::: 0 : : : 0 : : 0 : : 0 : : 0 : : 0 : : 0 : : 0 : : 0 : : 0 : : 0 : : 0 : : 0 : : 0 :0 : : 0 : : 0 : : 0 : : 0 : : 0 : : 0 : : 0 : : 0 : : 0 : : 0 : : 0 : : 0 :Some little time ago Art Widner's FANFARE contained an article by Damon Knight dealing with the real need for a national (American) science fiction organisation which would do things and not be actuated by feuds and similar unhelpful activities. A worthwhile response followed from both new and old fans and the society is in a fair way towards a successful start. The name chosen is The National Fantasy Fan Federation and its Bulletin is entitled BONFIRE. Copies of the first issue of this have been distributed to those who have applied for membership of the NFFF (some 64 so far) and to the members of the FAPA and Frontier Society. Contents include a proposed constitution, the idea behind it, various helpful suggestions, a ballot form for the first election - these standing include; Tom White and L.R. Chauvenet for president; Robert Studley and Pogo for Vice-president; Elmer Perdue is the sole applicant for secretary-treasurer - and these peoples' platforms for Office. It is not yet known whether Britishers are eligible for membership but the address for enquiries is Art Widner Jr, Box 122, Bryantvllle, Massachusetts; U.S.A.;; X;; X;; X;; X;; X;; X;; X;; X;; X;; X;; X;; X;; X;; X;; X;; X;; X;; X;; X;; X;; X;; X;; X;; X;; X;; X;; X;;FUTURIAN WAR DIGEST is an amateur magazine devoted to the interests of science fantasy fans. Edited by J. Michael Rosenblum, 4 Grange Terrace, Chapeltown, Leeds 7, England. Price 3d per copy, 3/- per year (12 issues) or 75 cents to Americans. Reciprocal exchange with similar publications welcome. Comments and contributions gratefully received.::X::X::X::X::X::X::X::X::X:: X : : X : : X :: X : : X:: X : : X : : X :: X : : X ::X::X::X::X::X::X::X::X::X:: |
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| Ye Booke Column "ARKHAM HOUSE" PROJECT NEW SERIES OF WEIRD STORIES Two years ago "Arkham House", publishers, published the first of the Lovecraft memorial Trilogy entitled "The Outsider and Others", and they are at the moment preparing a second volume for the press. However, they now announce the impending publication of a series of compact full-length books of weird tales to sell at $2 each, depending on the success of the first, due on October 1st. This is actually "Someone in the Dark", a selection of sixteen stories by August Derleth, & considered by him to be amongst his best. Possible succeeding volumes and works by Clark Ashton Smith and Henry S Whitehead, and an anthology of the best stories from Weird Tales Magazine. Address is Arkham House, Sauk City, Wisconsin, USA, if you care to write, but what we in England can do about it is more than doubtful. Other ItemsAndre Maurois' "Thought-Reading Machine", scheduled for March publication in the "Guild 6d" series, has at long last appeared. A first class tale. Number 7 of the 1/- series of "Jolly Novels" is a reprint of "The Amazing Spectacles" by Noel Godber. It is supposed to be a "naughty" book. and deals with a pair of specs. which render all non-living organic material transparent; in particular, clothes. Plot, writing, humour(? ) - not recommended.A couple of current "remainder" books are "Bride of Frankenstein" by Michael Egremont (nuff said) and one by Hannen Swaffer, "When Men Talk Truth" a number of short fictionalised accounts of psychic studies. BOOK REVIEW from Bert Lewis.A recently published book which may be of interest to you is "The Twenty-fifth Hour" by Herbert Best (Cape 8/-). The tale is based on the supposition that the war continued indefinitely, that it extended to America, that no means of extermination shocked the leaders of the belligerents. America and Europe became wastelands, peopled by the few bands of marauders, who contrive to preserve their coherence. Erik S Needham Called UpWe now have fuller details of Erik Needham's position at the moment, following the bare announcement last month of the receipt of his call-up notice. Erik is now an RAF Flight Mechanic in embryo, stationed at a holiday camp near Filey on the Yorkshire coast only some 70 miles from Leeds. He expects to be there for about five weeks before being transferred for a further course.::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: A FEW WORDS FROM ERIC F. RUSSELLSam Youd has taken me by surprise with his comments on Gold's letter (in Fan Dance No.l , Aug. 1941). Sam's usually well-balanced and not one of those soon made tipsy by his own emotions. However he has slipped up this time, and I hope FIDO will give me space in which to answer him.To start with, Horace L. Gold made not the slightest suggestion that 90% of the Anerican public share his own views. What he did say was that 90% of those who do share his views are being muzzled. Neither did he advocate "Ghandi" (Gandhi ?) methods against Panzer divisions. America is not being attacked by Panzer divisions, and Gold has not chosen to reveal the strategy he favours should America ever be attacked by Panzer divisions.As for me, Sam tells the world that I've no intention of "practising the querulousness" I preach. Since Sam doesn't know what I preach, much less what I'm practising, and hasn't the faintest idea of my intentions now or at any time in the future, his comment is sheer twaddle. This is most unusual coming from such a source. Has the Home Guard introduced him to that strange stuff called beer?Very Sincerely(signed) E. F. Russell. |
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| NEWSLETTER **Hear Ye! Hear Ye!**No "Fan Dance" this month! Our Samuel so overwhelmed with the aftermath of his hectic holiday in Liverpool, together with a re-organisation of H.G. clerical duties (he says ) that he has had no time to put out his maglet. ... whilst on the subject of meetings, Arthur Williams reports seeing Dave McIlwain, Jack Gibson and Jack Banks within the the month, a grand "bag" Art, and I for one am jealous ... Another call-up; Eric Hopkins reports to the RAF on August 31st, best of luck to you Eric ... Paging Spaceways Annissue! "Renny" mentions that he sent his almost unique copy of Spaceways (the rest got drowned ) round fandom about six months ago, and its present whereabouts are unknown. If its you who have it please send it back to him or ring Whitehall 1212 -- joke for British readers ... the brains trust is at work, E.C.Williams & S.L.Birchby are already at work thinking out a programme for the reconstitution of active fandom, once . the present spot of bother is disposed of; its a good idea - we must have our Peace Aims ready, even the stf. ones ... Ralph Orme mentions that "Flight" began a series of articles on Aug. 7th, dealing with ."Rocket Propulsion" by Lanchester, but mainly about use under atmospheric conditions ... two latest supporters of the Futurian Society idea are those energetic Londoners Art Williams and Ken Bulmer ... it seems that, we have been had. Some time ago we printed a report of a convention at Sydney, Australia (and FMZ Digest has it too!) Latest ish of Tucker's Le Zombie mentions the account of the convention circulated through fandom and adds that before printing it Bob considered the almost miraculous success of the affair together with the fact that no regular Aussie fanzine since that date has mentioned it, and came to the apparently justifiable conclusion that it was all a hoax. No comments escape our firmly closed editorial lips but.......... last letter from Bert Lewis to us mentions that he has just had a new photograph taken, and will have a few spare copies available for those people who have asked him for one ... you have probably noticed that "Introducing", "Received Recently" and magazine reviews, to say nothing of "Gleaning" have been been missing from our pages of late. Its due to lack of space of course, but persistent requests, especially for the first, will make us try our hardest to get them squeezed in, in future. And incidentally, comments on last months issue welcomed the appearance of both "Bibliophan" and "Fan Dance", the former in particular seems to fill a real need .... the first issue of Harry Turner's ZENITH has just arrived. As we all expected the art work is its strong point, and indeed the whole format rather shows up FIDO's rough and ready and hastily put together appearance. An intriguing series "The Future of Civilisation" commences in this number and there are articles by John F. Burke, Maurice K. Hanson and Ted Camell. Not to mention a poem by C.S.Youd and a full-page illustration by Harry, of a concept of Edgar Allan Poe's. Well worth investigating if the fifty copy maximum is not yet reached. ... the August issue of "Tomorrow", a worthwhile magazine that we have mentioned before, contains the third consecutive article by Eric Frank Russell. Entitled "World Invasion" it deals with alien air or space craft which appears to be indicated by a considerable amount of Fortean data ... Harry Turner's article "Creed of an Atheist" published in the March 1940 FANTAST is to be translated into Esperanto and republished in "Satana Bulteno" - an old-established Esperanto magazine, now being put out by Morojo of Los Angeles. S'all for now, cheerio . ..... |
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| CLIPPINGS FROM CANADAby Leslie A. CroutchCanada has just get her second weird magazine! Rumoured printed by one of the country's largest publishers, EERIE will appear this month (July). Was supposed to be out about June 15th but no sign yet. New Canadian magazines are usually slow in appearing, though. I haven't any details at time of writing except that Leslie A. Croutch sold his fifth story "A Dictator Dies" to it for the first issue. You're right - that nasty man gets killed!Donald Wolheim and Oliver E. Saari had stories in Canada's UNCANNY TALES, the June issue. Leslie A. Croutch's third sale "Dancing Partner" was also in the same issue.Oliver Saari again - he has just sold a 5000 worder, "Ghost World", to Lowndes for either SF or SFQ. Also sold "Gold Mine" to Pohl of ASTONISHING. This is the story which Clifford D.Simak said would not succeed because the idea was too hard to put over successfully. Saari went ahead just the same. Saari has also had accepted "The Door" by ASF - a 1500 worder.Watch for Basil Wells. He's an up and coming writer soon to appear in fantasy. He sold his "Factory In The Sky" to ASTONISHING, "The Giant" to COSMIC, & is rewriting a 5000 worder for PLANET. His "The Skull" appeared in UNCANNY TALES under his wife' name, Margaret Wells. This Wells is a very prolific writer, having written and submitted "Robot Casanova","Pioneers of Space", "Slaves of Zutar" ; "Land of the WEE", "Masters of Smallness", "Other Men", "Gray World", "Nitha of the Blue World", "Crusader", "Within the Bowl" and "The Doubles" to various stf and fantasy mags of late.o :: 0 o :: 0 o :: 0 o :: 0 o :: 0 o :: 0 o :: 0 o :: 0 o :: 0 o :: 0 o :: 0 o :: 0o :: 0 o :: 0 o :: 0 o :: 0 o :: 0 o :: 0 o :: 0 o :: 0 o :: 0 And this month we have....... TRUE OR FALSE QUIZcompiled, conducted and arranged by T. HUGHESMark the following statements "True" or "False" and then turn overleaf and see how right you were, (no peeping tho'). For amusement only. No stories by Miles J.Breuer have appeared in "Astounding Stories".Verrill's story "The Inner World" which was in Amazing was reprinted in "Tales of Wonder"."ToW" was the first English SF story publication."Faster than Light" is a story title that has been used by at least 3 different SF authors. One well-known SF magazine published an annual."Famous Fantastic Mysteries" was the title of the first SF magazine to contain all reprints.At least one story by H.P. Lovecraft has appeared in Amazing Stories.No magazine has ever published two original stories by the same author in one number.Some adventures of Buck Rogers have been published in Amazing Stories."Fantasy" and "Wonder Stories"" have both published stories that were afterwards reprinted by "Amazing Stories". "Astounding Stories" was the only SF mag to feature stories by Victor Rousseau.After two issues "Air Wonder Quarterly" was merged with "Science Wonder Quarterly"."Miracle Stories" was one of five American SFmags to appear before '33."The Gostak Distims The Doshes" was the title of a story by Dr. Miles J. Breuer which aroused much comment. |
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| THE FUTURIAN SOCIETY OF GT. BRITAIN Last month, as you will no doubt remember, I vaguely mentioned the idea of a "Futurian Society of Great Britain". It was, in short, "flying a kite". To date, however, the response has hardly been sufficient to judge whether such an organisation would or would not be desirable. One person is definitely against, one is sitting on the fence, and six in all (R.G. Silburn, J.Gibson, D. Webster, J.Parr, J.E. Rennison & T. Overton) backing the idea. Now, before proceeding any further, I feel more response is essential, and many suggestions will be needed.So I am going to ask the active portion of the FIDO clientele to pass round a special chainletter and incorporate their ideas in it. Answer Yea or Nay as it were. And I particularly want to know the reactions of any ex-officers of the SFA. The skeleton suggestion is that of regularising the various activities in British fandom today, especially those circulating round FIDO. We have a library, for example, in S.F. Exchange. Note paper and member-cards are easily available if desired. It seems to me that no dues (except the sub to FIDO, perhaps) are really essential nor need more than a very minimum of officers be chosen. For the time being I can act as organiser, no funds need no treasurer, a titular President might be a good idea, and as ideas for activities arise (as I hope they will) capable persons to fill the vacancies can be discovered. A good exanple is S F Exchange once again with Jack Gibson. What are your ideas?And; are you or aren't you in favour? Remember, no demand, no society.----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PERSONAL COLUMNWANTED Any Rocket Society's mags or bulletins. List to D.W.Gardiner, 48 King Edward Ave, Worthing, Sx.A. Dewick, 25 Grove St., Ovenden, Halifax, would like a penfriend, over 21, in London, who will exchange letters on SF & general topics. R.G. Silburn, The Dingle, Rhydybelin, Aberystwyth, would like to swap some back nos of "Flying" for SF mags.URGENTLY REQUIRED ONE "STAN" no. 2., (Write stating Price to Edwin MacDonald, 25 Dochfour Drive, Inverness.FOR SALE in good condition, write first. Amazing, Feb 37 @ 9d ; Dynamic, Feb, Apr. 39 @ 6d; Marvel, Aug, Nov. 38, Feb.Apr .Aug. 39 @ 6d; Science Fiction, Mar. Jun. Aug. 39 @ 6d; Startling, Jan. Mar. May. Jun 39 @ 6d ; TWS all 37, all 38, Feb. Apr. Jun. 39 @ 6d. Prices are for single copies. D. Houston, 142 Ardington Rd, Northampton.WANTED Vol 1 of Pelican "Outline of the Universe" - J.G.Crowther. Will pay 1/- for quick delivery. J. Parr. WERE YOU RIGHT? ()()()()() QUIZ ANSWERS1.false; 2.false; 3.false; 4.true; 5.true; 6.false; 7.true; 8.false; 9.true ; 10.true; 11.false; 12. false; 13. true; 14. false. Well, how many did you know? and how many did you guess wrong? Another quiz soon, this time provided by Bob Silburn of Aberystwyth./o/o/o/o/o/o/o/o/o/o/o/o/o/o/o/o/o/o/o/o/o/o/o/o/o/o/ Personal Column (continued)26 Edward St, Shelton, Stoke-on-Trent . Larry B. Farsaci of 48 Lewis St, Rochester, NY, USA, wishes to complete his file of Novae Terrae. Can anybody over here help him?Letters so far this month from:- Julian Parr, Bert Lewis, Eric Frank Russell, Edwin Macdonald, D.Houston, C.R. Forester, Eric Hopkins, Terence Overton, and Erik Needham to which I may not have time to reply. Abject apologies to those missed out.We can still do with some more subscribers, so if you know of anybody who would like a specimen copy tell us. |
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| Received RecentlyVery funny, isn't it, that after I have mentioned in my monthly Newsletter how lack of space prevents the inclusion of sundry departments that Ken Bulmer should present me with this extra side. So, to start off with we will deal with some recent fanmaggery. The July 41 SHANGRI-LA is dedicated to Ted Carnell - with a bonny little picture of (presumably ) this gentleman in a rather Americanised version of the pre- this -war British cavalry uniform, not to mention a beautiful sabre . . and apparently a sergeant too; except that the chevrons are upside down. Never mind, its a friendly thought. Two of Ted's articles grace the following pages together with one by Bill Crawford, and one of Hoy Ping Pongs (Bob Tucker). For the first time another of HPPs is allowed to appear in the July LE ZOMBIE, wherein detective Pong deduces the adventures of some of those long-suffering envelopes & wrapping papers which pass from fan to fan. And the drafting of "Sully" Roberds, Tucker's bosom pal, reveals his first name to be "Clarence". He is with the AA Artillery at Camp Wallace, Texas. The long-awaited second issue of Damon Knight's SNIDE came out at last with a truly wonderful cover. It is fandom's only humour fanzine and is particularly good at furious satires, such as "Call for Captain Past" & "Via Sweepstakes", which are in this issue. Ron Holmes has an article in too. THE DAMN THING for May reveals that Bradbury, Joquel and Yerke of Los Angeles are Pacifists, by a cover on which they are seen in a concentration camp guarded by the ultra-patriotic John C. Miske, whilst Gillings and I sympathise from the wings. The issue attacks Miske and Daugherty, contains L.A. news, and, in general, debunks fandom. Other recent fanzine arrival are THE FANTASITE, AUSTRA FANTASY, CFS REVIEW, TELEFAN, SPACEWARD, POLARIS and ZEUS.A COMPLETE SURPRISE was the arrival, this morning (Aug 30th) of a record from Walt Daugherty and a certain Forry Ackerman of Los Angeles. It was actually a message to Ted Carnell, but Ted is circulating it around fandom as suggested by 4e. Best wishes are sent to quite a few Britishers, in particular, the Londoners, and Walt discourses on the then-forthcoming SHANGRI-LA and his FAPA pub. CYCLOPS. It is a distinct thrill to hear the voices of the elite of US fandom and it certainly gives one a sense of the elimination of distances. I hope as many British fans as possible will get a chance to hear this unique record. Both Walt and 4e have fine speaking voices and in spite of the inevitable scratches caused by the long journey it has had to come, practically every word is distinctly audible - indeed the various hesitations and indecision as to what to say make the whole thing very human. I, for, one, am glad that it is not a stilted and carefully written message; but a straight from the heart talk between. Thanks very much, Los Angeles!---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MAGAZINE REVIEWFamous Fantastic Mysteries - August 1941 Vol 3, No. 3. Contains the complete Merrittale "The Metal Monster" together with one rather poor short story not worthy of mention. Metal Monster is quite a good story in a slightly different vein to Merritt's usual, but is by no means up to the standard of most of his work. Deals with a hidden city in the bowels of the earth where a freak of evolution has produced intelligent metallic life of a high order, living together in a somewhat similar style to an anthill. And of course there is the beautiful human "queen", who introduces our heroes to this strange world. |
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