The Fantasy Fan, November 1933<br />The Fans' Own Magazine, Various [best books to read in your 20s txt] 📗
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Yet seemed I at the world's sheer end;
And fearfully and slowly I drew breath
From silent gulfs of all uncertainty and dread,
Precipitate to Nadir from around;
Nor trusted I on any side to tread
One pace, lest I should overstep the brink
And infinitely and forever sink
Past eye-shot of the Cyclopean sun,
When from the bulwark of the world adown oblivion,
He on the morrow should stare after me.
Swift from infinity,
The black, unformed, enormous Fear that lives between the stars,
Clutched with the cold, great darkness at my heart.
Then from the gulf arose a whispering,
And rustle as of Silence on the wing,
To stay and stand
Anear at my right hand:
What Powers abysmal, born o' the blind black air,
What nameless demons of the nether deep
That 'scape the sun and from the moonlight live apart,
Came and conspired against me there
I heard not, ere the whispering
Ceased, and a heavier darkness seemed to spring
Upon me, and I felt the silence leap
And clasp me closer, and the sweep
Of all the abyss reach up and drag
Body and feet from the crumbling uttermost crag
To the plumb and infinite emptiness unknown:
Nor knew I, in tumult of the rapid air,
If me did Azrael or Abaddon bear,
Or if I fell alone.
HOW TO COLLECT FANTASY FICTION
by Julius Schwartz
Part Three
Volume one number one of Mind Magic, a magazine dealing with the occult, was June, 1931. It lasted until the end of the year, December, 1931 issue. (The last two issues were published under the title of My Self Magazine.) Another science fiction magazine, Miracle, Science and Fantasy Stories, disappeared after issuing two numbers, the April-May and June-July, 1931. The same publisher of this magazine, Harry Hershey, printed some good fantasies in Ghost Stories. Exact dates of this magazine are unknown to the writer, but the magazine gave up its ghost sometime in 1932.
Hugo Gernsback, editor of Wonder Stories, put out two magazines that expired within a year. The first, Air Wonder Stories (July, 1929 to May, 1930) dealt with aviation of the future, mostly. It combined with Science and Wonder Stories in June, 1930 to form the present Wonder Stories. The other, Scientific Detective Monthly, appeared in January, 1930, and after changing its name to Amazing Detective Tales in June collapsed with the October, 1930 issue.
Oriental Stories, companion magazine to Weird Tales, burst forth on the stands September 15, 1930. Some excellent weird and oriental tales made their appearance in this magazine, which afterwards, in January, 1933, became Magic Carpet. Black Cat magazine (published around 1924) had some weird and scientifiction stories. These issues are particularly hard to obtain.
CLUB NEWS
The Fantasy Fan Fraternity, announced in our September issue, is now well under way, with members in nine different states. The purpose of the organization is to foster fellowship among science-fiction fans by means of correspondence, or where possible, by personal contact in local groups or chapters.
The first such chapter has been established in New York City, where the Scienceers, first fan club of its kind, is functioning as the local Fraternity branch. Meetings are held every week; and membership is open to all metropolitan fans. Further information about this group may be obtained from the secretary, Allen Glasser, 1610 University Avenue, Bronx, New York.
Any reader wishing to join the national F.F.F., or to found a branch in his community, should send six cents in stamps to Mr. Glasser, at the above address, for a membership card and a list of other members with whom to correspond. This small charge, to cover necessary expenses, is the only cost of enrollment into the Fraternity—a nation-wide association devoted solely to the interests of fantasy fans. Why not be one of us?
Next month Mr. Schwartz, in "How to Collect Fantasy Fiction," takes up the seven Munsey magazines and the English periodicals containing fantastic fiction. Don't miss part four.
'The Fantasy Fan' is the ONLY fan magazine for the readers of weird fiction. Tell your friends about it, and urge them to subscribe.
TRUE GHOST STORIES
(Part Two—Conclusion)
At one time there was a woman of rank living in London who was hated by everyone. When she died, she was not missed, but her spirit haunted her home every night. After a number of years someone saw her approach one side of a room and paw at a wall. Then she disappeared. The wall was removed and many valuable papers were discovered, including one that proved she had murdered her husband. Her ghost never appeared after that. It seemed that at last she had repented her evil existence, and was trying to redeem her soul.
The guard of the London prison tower was making one of his nightly rounds when he discovered a peculiar light emanating from the utmost tower. Upon climbing up he noticed that it was an unearthly blue-white light which permeated everything within, but seemed to have no point of origin. Within this baleful gleam he saw the spirits of those that had died in the London tower through the ages—warriors of the time of Henry the Eighth—and noblemen of all periods. They were marching in a solemn procession. Suddenly everything faded and the guard found himself in utter darkness.
There are many other ghost stories of London—such as phantom hands appearing above the water of the Thames, sworn to by witnesses to be gospel truth—but our reason forces us to reject them.
Recently, the noted Weird Tales author, Elliott O'Donnell, released his book, "Ghosts of London," which relates further tales of this nature.
THE END
SCIENCE FICTION IN ENGLISH MAGAZINES
by Bob Tucker
(Series Three)
An all-science-weird magazine started in England to last for just one issue. The title was "Argo Weekly." The number contained various stf stories concerning everything from prehistoric animals to the "End of the World."
A late September number of "The Wizard" carried a fair story of another Martian invasion entitled "Raiders from the Red World." The invaders landed among the native tribes of Africa, instead of New York City, the usual landing place. And, incidentally, they were not slugs, giants, or etc., but just ordinary human beings.
"The Skipper" published a humorous story named "Ginger Snapp." In this tale, an old professor invents a contrivance that emits a ray which disintegrates metal by the push of a button. More rays! The professor's son is surprised to see his dinner disappear while monkeying with the mechanism.
As a rule, English magazines have covers that would make Buffalo Bill or Nick Carter quit work. They are very "dime novelish" at times, and go to extremes to amaze the reader.
A request has come in for a female stf enthusiast, who would correspond with American readers, so here she is, to you who wish a foreign penpal: Miss Molly Upchurch, 139 Byron Rd., Small Heath, Birmingham, 10, England.
Join "The Fantasy Fan Fraternity." See the "Club News" in this issue for complete information.
MY SCIENCE FICTION COLLECTION
by Forrest J. Ackerman
Part Three
Reposing in a futuristic box are ninety-six autographs. Cummings, Flagg, Olsen, Repp, the three Smiths, Taine, Keller, Breuer, Hamilton, Merritt, Coblentz, Burks, Williamson, Farley, Meek, Paul, Morey, Wesso, Verrill, Leinster—and half a hundred more. Also, there is a special collection of scientifilm actors' autographs. These are more difficult to obtain, and some necessitate writing abroad, but to date I have "The Frankenstein Monster," the heroine of "Tarzan," J-21 and LN-18 of "Just Imagine," the director of "By Rocket to the Moon" and "Metropolis," "Dracula," Roxor of "Chandu," and many others too numerous to mention. Tho not a part of the collection, it may prove interesting to readers that I have seen in person "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde," "Dracula," "Dr. Moreau," and "Chandu" (Frederic March, Bela Lugosi, Charles Laughton and Edmund Lowe).
I have autographed photographs from Leslie F. Stone, "Doc" Smith, Ed Earl Repp, Capt. S. P. Meek, Miles J. Breuer, Victor Rousseau, Sewell Peaslee, Charles Willard Diffin, Edmond Hamilton and others. Mr. Wright presented me with a personal sketch of his "Retired Commander Hanson."
I also have photos from the heroine of "High Treason," Frankenstein—the creator, and Fritz Lang, director of German scientifilms.
(Next month Mr. Ackerman tells of his collection of original manuscripts.)
CONGLAMITORIAL
Second in the series…. And speaking of the April 1933 Amazing, "Martian and Troglodyte," by Neil R. Jones was printed on the cover, but the story did not appear in the issue. The printing of the editorial, which took two more pages than hitherto, and some of the Discussions were increased in size…. The May 1933 Amazing was the first one of 86 not to contain part of a serial. The August-September had none either…. Have you ever wondered what letter of the alphabet authors pick on most as the first one in the title of their stories (omitting articles 'a,' 'the,' and 'an,')? Of course you haven't. Well, I'll tell you, anyway. An average of one-tenth of all the stories written begin with the letter "M," and another tenth with "S." That is their rating in a collection of over 2000 stories…. So, Amazing is trying to get rid of the word "scientifiction" that Gernsback coined, eh?… By the looks of the contents page of the May 1933 Weird, you would think that every story was complete…. The May, 1926 Amazing contains two stories by Jules Verne…. And the March 1930 Science Wonder had two stories by Frank J. Brueckel…. And you can find other similar cases, such as the Amazing Annual containing two stories by A. Merritt, and the June, 1930 Astounding with two of Diffin's yarns (one under the pseudonym of C. D. Willard).
If you have any original fan material on hand, we would be pleased to have you submit it for our serious consideration.
HOW TO WRITE A STF STORY
by Hoy Ping Pong
The first thing to remember in writing a science story is originality. You must have that, so the first things to select for your brain-child is a hero, heroine, and villain. No plot is needed. Or, if you desire one, that can be thot up after the story is finished.
Have your hero a tall, slim, cold, grey-eyed chap, with an iron jaw, and a sturdy body. He also must know all there is to know about everything. Now for the heroine; she must be a small, slim blond, blue-eyed, and be a scientist's daughter. That's the big point in originality. Nobody has ever thought of her being a scientist's daughter before. Now next comes the villain. He must be tall, dark, with snapping black eyes, and a brush across his upper lip. He must have an impossible name that no one can pronounce, including yourself. I would suggest someone who desires to have world domination. That, also, is original.
The big surprise of your story is this: Your villain must desire the heroine for himself. That is something that is new to STF readers. And, of course, I would politely suggest that the hero also want the girl. That would make a triangle out of it. The hero must chase the villain all over the universe, because the villain has the heroine in his vile clutches. Don't forget the word vile. Nobody has ever used that.
Of course, the invaders from Mars arrive on the scene about this time, also desiring world conquest. It would be a nice point of originality here to have the villain throw in with the Martians. It wouldn't do to have the whole army overthrow the enemy. The hero must do it himself, singlehanded.
And, a few death rays can be used in the story. Select a fitting color, (some authors prefer pink). I would suggest lavender, which would just match the heroine's pocketbook, and have it wipe out millions by merely a few puffs. However, if you could do it all in a puff and a half, that would merit you another point. Then you must have the hero invent a ray that stops the lavender death rays. Yellow would be best for this. It makes such an excellent color scheme.
Throw in a few space ships, a couple fights, a shot in the dark, four or five corpses, a high official who turns traitor, a last flight for help, and end it up with a lone man battling hundreds. Mix thoroughly, and type out on paper, forgetting to double space your lines, as all editors request that you doublespace, thereby showing them that you are really original.
No plot is needed, as mentioned in paragraph one, but if you want one, read one of Grimm's Fairy Tales, and borrow a plot. It makes no difference what kind, as they are all fairy tales, anyway. As a final bit of advice, fold the manuscript several times, and send it to the editor with no enclosed postage for its return. By doing this the editor will not have to go to the trouble of returning it to you, and, so long as the Chief
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