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SCIENCE FANTASY NEWS No. 2 March '49 CONTENTS The Advantage of the Mother of Blades Critical Quote An Astounding Revelation Purely Personal Members List...........................................Page 11 The National Fantasy Fan Federation War of Nerves Time Travelling Television Quotes, Notes, News and Reviews........... .Page 16 Advertisements..........................................Page 22 Contact Bureau..........................................Page 24
THE ADVANTAGE OF THE MOTHER OF BLADES Do you remember Heinlein's 'Common Sense'? A sequel to 'Universe', it continued the story of the race which grew up in the interstellar ship 'Vanguard'; a race that was split by internal warfare, true humans versus mutations. Numbered amongst the more important of the 'muties' was the 'Mother of Blades'. In her home, the Thermodynamics Laboratory, she made knives for the mutants. She was well adapted to both the forging and the throwing of her blades. The Mother of Blades had four arms..... The SFS Committee, particularly those engaged in producing SFNews, have been feeling rather envious of this lady recently. Along with the natural difficulties associated with a new born society and its magazine, we have the LONCON requiring some attention. We don't think we can grow any extra hands, but you folk with typewriters can solve some of our problems by helping to cut the stencils for the 'Lonconzine' in the last couple of weeks in April. And maybe an odd sheet or two for SFN might cut publication delays..... John Newman has an article coming up in 'Operation Fantast' on duplicating and stencil-cutting. The latter term sounds technical, but only involves careful typing without a ribbon. Any offers? We have had to hold over the article on fan-meetings promised in SFN 1, but are printing a members list with an indication of those who want local contacts. Any member who comes across a letter in any of the fairly recent pro-mags from some obviously 'outside' fan in these areas would help a lot by bringing it to the notice of the member or Area Secretary concerned. This Society and this fanzine are for YOUR benefit. Constructive criticism and suggestions are always welcome. ____________________________________
THE CRITICAL QUOTA Readers Letters On the whole, letters were complimentary concerning our first issue. Odd spots of poor duplicating were kindly excused on the grounds of 'first offence', and the general aims of the SFS, as expounded in Ken Slater's article, apparently met with the readers' approval. One fan who disagrees with the policy of SFN is Cedric Walker. Quoting the Editorial, he says: "You say first that the 'zine is for all 'to air their views, opinions, likes and dislikes...'. Later, perhaps in a wiser mood, you rely on us 'not to submit very opinionated material likely to touch on the more controversial aspects of religion and politics. "You may be displaying good sense in adding the precautionary paragraph. Certainly we (sorry, I, and, I hope, we), do not want to see the 'zine invaded by people giving re-hashes of bits of Marrxist or Churchillian doctrine. But ... even though most people are affected by the political, sociological or religious beliefs of those outstanding thinkers whose ideas happen to appeal the most to them, a disciple need not accept all the teachings of his master down to the last detail. Blind faith has always seemed rather silly to me, and evidence of an unstable mind. "To boil all this down, let me say that I should like to see members airing their views on any and every subject they've ever heard of, including politics and religion, subject only to the censorship of their own reason, and the condition that it is their view, their opinion.....uncoloured by any passion other than a desire for the truth." "Let SFN be an organ concerned with fantasy literature, -and, please , thought." The Ed. agress that fan discussions on general subjects are sometimes very interesting. But - - there are some snags! It is possible to convince someone that his theories are not valid -- but it takes lot of doing, even in quick-fire conversational give-and-take! On paper it takes space -- and time. You have only to look at some of the U.S. fanzines, past and presnt, to discover pages of references to what was, perhaps, a quite interesting controversy that arose many issues before; perhaps branched off into other tracks, and is now unintelligible to the newcomer, though taking up four-fifths of the magazine. We haven't the production help at present to increase to the size necessary for really full scale non-fantasy discusions. Also, the newcomers to fandom will naturally expect discussion on their common denominator - fantasy literature - in SFN itself, whatever the other 'zines we distribute print. There's a thought! Who's willing and able to produce a non-fantasy discussion fanzine? We can even give a name for it - 'Arena'! Letter from a satisfied customer! Pete Medcalf, our Midland Area Secretary writes :- "I ws extremely pleased to see the first number of SFN. This should be a great help in getting the Fen scattered all over the country to feel that they now have some outlet in which to voice their opinions, and read what other Fen are doing. I was most pleasantly surprised at the neat format and excellent duplication. Here's hoping that the News will maintain its fine start." "....The question of the News publishing fiction should not be a very hard one, for the very name seems to rule out the idea, As I see it, the main function should be the publishing of news of interest to the members of the SFS, and their views, opinions, etc." ".... I am glad that advertising will be a feature, for it is a great need in this country to have the means to advertise in a fan journal which will appear at pretty frequent intervals" Thanks for the compliments on the duplicating, Pete. We wonder who got the other readable copy.... Seriously though, its quite a job turning the 'zine out on a flat-bed duplicator on which the latest patent is dated 1901. After the LONCON, when we have some time to spare, we're going to look into this business of rotary duplicating as used by Norman A., Ken S., and others. The need for advertising doesn't appear too great at present, but the department is there when needed. We have on hand some 11 pages of mss from Ken Johnson, our Northern Area Secretary, concerned with the SFN, SFS, fandom, former 'zines, etc. Space being limited, we can only print a synopsis of some of his comments! After wading through a recent catalogue of second-hand fantasy books, most of them pre-war, Ken says he might get some --- if he knew what they were about. He goes on:- ".....I think it is about time an attempt was made to review some of the good stuff of the last quarter of a century. Results would be - or, anyway, should be - that in the fullness of time the second-hand book people would be offering only the best in Fantasy, etc, to a discerning field, and in doing so would be improving their own market and increasing their turnover." In a further letter Ken remarks:- ".....My original idea was for the unknown tomes to be reviewed only if they were being currently offered for sale. T'aint much use wasting time and space in re-reviewing so-and-so if so-and-so is not available....." "I make no excuse for saying that 90% of the art-work in British fanzines, both past and present, is simply too much for words...I can only pray that the powers that be will protect us from such things in any SFS sponsored magazines!" This subject of re-reviewing is one on which we would like the opinions of other members of the SFS. It's been tried before, both in the U.S. and over here --- Mike Rosenblum made a speciality of it in his war-time fanzines. By a process of natural selection, the 'best' have usually survived, in the memory and in frequent mentions in fanzines and dealers lists; e.g. Stapledon's 'Last and First Men', Balmer & Wylie's 'Worlds Collide' books, etc. We may publish a list of the accepted 'classics' in one SFN for the benefit of new fans. But as for the others, what constitutes the 'best stuff ' is a matter of personal opinion. Shall we print members r-r's of personal favourites, to be collected in a booklet some day? The 'currently available' idea is impossible - twenty fans might want one book after a highly favourable r-r. Art work helps to break up solidly monotonous blocks of print --- like the one above! ---------------------------- Many thanks to those members who wrote in to say that SFN started off well, but that they would reserve comments till future issues. We hope we've given you enough to comment upon in this issue, so that No 3 can start our plan of having alternate issues as discussion 'letterzines'. Your letters will be personally answered when necessary, but please don't expect a quick reply. Letters concrning the 'zines distributed by the SFS , should of course be sent to the editorial address. ______________________________ AN 'ASTOUNDING' REVELATION Norman Ashfield On the Sept-Dec '48 'journal of the 'American Rocket Society', R.L. Farnsworth, in a letter to the editor, states:- ".....the main thing wrong with s-f today is the fact that the editors write most of the stories. When you realise that the leading monthly s-f magazine comes out twelve times a year, and averages four and half stories per issue, with perhaps one half of them written by the editor, and the rest by leading 'names', it becomes apparent why they fall into ruts, or shall we say, 'vortexes in hyper-space bunk'? This seems to be sweeping statement, especially as the only monthly magazine I know that can be called Science Fiction is ASTOUNDING. The only other surviving monthlies are AMAZING and FANTASTIC, which are both more fantasy than s-f. If the statement is true, it means that half of A.S-F's contents are by Campbell! Frankly I didn't know Campbell had a pen-name other then Don A. Stuart ((Editors Note; Arthur McCann and Karl van Kampen have been admitted)) but it looks as though I'm seriously in error. If Farnsworth is right, it is the answer to what has been worrying fen for some time. A.S-F has a very definite and somewhat limited policy, and the stories have appeared to be rather stereotyped, albeit well written. It is also the answer to the sudden growth in fen affection for THRILLING WONDER and STARTLING. These mags vary considerably in story type, (and quality), from the light fantastic to the heavier s-f (although not so heavy as to lose those horrible covers!) and there is little of a stereotyped nature about them. A.S-F. has one very great advantage; the quality of its stories are well above those of its competitors, and for this reason it isn't likely to lose its present position in the field but Farnsworth's disclosure (?) does indicate a rather disturbing aspect, and I hope the position will change in the future. Surely there must be enough decent writers to fill each issue of A.S-F., - or perhaps that is where the SFS manuscript bureau will come in handy ! oooooooo000oooooooo
PURELY PERSONAL John Dee Acting on a suggestion from the overworked editor of SFN, I am rushing into this column of nothing in particular in an effort to provide you with a sample of something you may see in each forthcoming issue - if I can arouse your interest sufficiently, and if, in the first place, I satisfy the aforementioned editor that my intentions are strictly honorable. Remember, your reaction is his barometer ! ---------------------------- Browsing through the few copies of recent pro-mags that happen to come my way. it seems that there is a vague cycle of stories concentrated on children weaving its way in and out of the mags - December WONDER has three; "Schizophrenic", "A Child is Crying" and "Fuzzy Head"; it also had "Referent" recently, and in ASF was that near classic, "In Hiding", with a sequel coming up in March. I don't see enough stf these days, but I assume from these that the 'kid story' is in fashion over the whole field of Stf. Just another step in its evolution, I guess. PLANET has been in on it too, with some of Bradbury's shorts. Ten years or so ago I think we would have been at a loss to find anything like these plots in any of the mags; I calculate that this golden age of the younger age group was ushered in by Kuttner, but whether the first was "Mimsy were the Borogroves" or "Call Him Demon" I wouldn't like to say. However, it is a welcome digression from space-opera, time-travel twisters, and so on, and I suppose it is inevitable that it should catch on with other authors after Kuttner proved its popularity. How many 'multiple probability' future stories have we had since William Sell's original "Other Tracks" in the Oct. '38 ASF? The line he opened up with that story has produced many tales, good, bad, and so-so; the 'kid' story will do the same - we can only hope for more of the "In Hiding" calibre, and less on the lines of ------------ well, I'll leave you to fill in your pet hate! Wonder what kind of impression "Mimsy..." would have made in '35 ? ----------------- I don't expect that anyone will argue if I take a couple of lines to state that WONDER has increased in quality, as well as in quantity, in the last year or so. They slip in a nice semi-fantasy every so often; the return of Leigh Brackett with "The Moon that Vanished" proves that to my own satisfaction. Of Sam Merwin's pathetic attempts to inject some humor into the mag through 'Orig Prem' and 'Oona' I will say no more - you could probably say it much more effectively yourself! ---------------- Odd idea I'll toss to the rejection slip collectors - no charge! It has often struck me that our custom of eating en masse, and in public, might seem nothing short of disgusting to an extra-tereestrial race, and the things we prefer to do in private they might consider the thing to do in public. Right? Proceeding from there, we could postulate, for instance a race whose members eat in strict privacy, but make excretion a public and highly social function! Now you can see why it's a throwaway! -------------------- Remember a Wally Gillings editorial in those far-off halcyon days of a quarterly "Tales of Wonder"; about no 7 or 8, I think it was - entitled 'Help from America' or something in that style? I'd like to suggest that Campbell runs one entitled 'Help from the U.K.' in the near future, judging from the February line-up of British authors - Russell, Youd, and Phillips. I'm not denying that it has happened before - I can recall three Fearn epics in Jan '38; check? - but its good to see the British boys staking their claims again. I am also pleased to see that Campbell at last acknowledges that we know a little about nuclear physics too - Editorial 'Gleep and Bepo' in January. While on the subject of ASF, may I earnestly suggest that Van Vogt forgets null-A, or, better still, sticks to shorts and novelettes; I consider that 'Slan' shamefully belittles any of his recent novel length efforts. (May I say that I do not expect many people to agree with this !) Interstellar warfare may be left in the very capable hands of Dr Smith, I feel. (Dissenters please form a queue outside!) ---------------------- To finish off these notes and personal opinions, I would like to recall, with a slight breath of nostalgia, a favorite tale of mine from my files of ASF. And so, I present:- This Months Recap 'Greater Than Gods' (C.L. Moore) One of the really outstanding stories on the divergent future thesis mentioned above, written with a touch that only C.L. Moore could impart, with illustrations by Schneeman that capture the mood of the story perfectly. A simple plot - scientist of the present is contacted by his descendants from two vastly different futures, one of horribly complete militarism, the other of lovely, peaceful decadence. The choice of which future will actually exist depends directly on his choice between two women for his wife. The answer to his dilemma is well concealed, but delightfully simple in retrospect. I, for one, would welcome the return of the C. L. Moore of that period, ('Greater than Gods' appeared in July '39) at the expense perhaps, of a little less Lewis Padgett. I think it would be well worth that slight loss. ------------------- Sufficient unto the day...says the old saw. Mayhap you agree with the rest of it, for after all, this has all been ..... purely personal................... ___________________________
S.F.S. MEMBERS LIST The following list gives the names and districts of SFS members as of Feb. 1st. Full addresses can be obtained from Area Secretaries (SFN 1). The number and letter preceding each name indicates the area and Society number of each member. ---------- M/1 Lt Ken Slater (B.A.O.R.) * (* Wishes to form local group if or when possible) -------------------------------------- THE NATIONAL FANTASY FAN FEDERATION Norman Ashfield. (Editors Note. Norman's note on the 'N3F' in Alembic Minor, distributed with our last issue, brought some queries concerning this organisation, so by special request Norman gives here a more detailed account. ) The N3F, to give it it's usual abbreviation, is the American equivalent of our SFS. Its aims are less defined than ours, the preamble to its constution reading:- "The Activity that centres around s-f and fantasy has grown to require organisation in order desirable objectives, beyond the achievement of single individuals may be obtained through united effort. "Under this constitution the National Fantasy Fan Federation is established as an Association of persons interested in promoting the progress of s-f and fantasy, and in furthering its enjoyment by themselves and others." Its officers are elected by the membership; the October issue of "The National Fantasy Fan" (TNFF) carried election addresses of the candidates for office. This fanzine is the official organ of the N3F, and carries reports of official business etc. It is a well-produced mimeo job, with covers by various artists attached to the N3F. Appearing bi-monthly it is sometimes accompanied by other items; the TORCON issue contained comic and art sections, for instance. The issue of a fanzine, is, of course, the first outward sign of life in any fan organisation, but the N3F has gone beyond this; perhaps its most useful productions are the Darrell C. Richardson indices, listing the contents of all issues of certain magazines, and listing all the known stories by certain authors. These are issued to members at intervals. The N3F has also gone into the publishing business in a small way. It is now producing Dr Keller's "Sign of the Burning Hart", which has only previously appeared in a French version. It is also reprinting the first Finley portfolio. Then there is the Welcome section, which will help new numbers in getting contacts, and a Mss. Bureau helps to place stories and items in fanzines. Through one of the N3F officers fantasy books can be obtained at a discount, which is another valuable service to fen, but one which British members can only take advantage of in swaps. The whole set-up is one of a maturing society, and I do feel that British fans might well consider joining it. It seems possible that the N3F and the SFS might be able to arrange some sort of liason. but that rests with the Committee. To join, the British fen should send three B.R.E. 'Unknown's, any issue, to:- The Secretary Treasurer, K. Martin Carlson, 1028 Third Avenue South, Moorhead, Minnesota, USA. Send them by printed paper post, and send a separate letter of advice to Martin. ________________________________________________________ WAR OF NERVES 1938 in the U.S.; 1944 in Chile: now, for the third time, a radio version of Wells' 'War of the Worlds' has panicked thousands ---- this time in Ecuador, a (comparatively) peaceful South American state. Six died and many were injured in the riots that followed realisation that the broadcast was a hoax. The broadcast, from the Quito radio, started in the usual Orson Welles manner with a fake 'break-in' announcement: - "I have a grave announcement to make. Strange beings who landed at Cotocelleo are vanguard of an invading army from Mars ... Martial law has been ordered ... Now stand by for an emergency broadcast by the Minister of the Interior ..." etc. Later on, it was realised that there was public panic, and the programme stopped. Finding that they had been hoaxed, angry mobs fired and wrecked the office of the newspaper 'El Comercio', where the radio station was housed. The police arrived too late. Most of them been sent to Cotecalleo......... -------------------------- This news item appears to show that some of our s-f authors are slightly out of date. The typical scene, as envisaged by George O. Smith in particular, has the hero dashing into the Chief of Police's office, and panting out that tentacled BEMs from the fourth dimension are appearing in his back garden, or, in the technical type of yarn, laboratory. Whereupon the C.o.P. makes soothing noises and tells him to lie down for half an hour, while he calls for a nice kind man with a white coat... In the modern, realistic version, the Chief will hand the hero a medal, do some quick telephoning, and in half an hour the U.S. Marines, Army, Air Force, and if possible the Navy, will descend like an avalanche upon the said back garden or laboratory ..... and won't they be peeved when they find the hero was only kidding... AVC ----------------------------------------------------------------- TIME TRAVELLING TELEVISION James Burch The job of adapting the 'Time Machine' as a visual play has been given up as impossible by at least one film company, so the B.B.C. Tele. Service and producer Robert Barr are to be doubly congratulated on their recent television adaptation of Wells' famous novel. Skilful blending of film shots and live acting (especially by Russell Napier as the Time Traveller) added up to a well enjoyed hour by a hardened fantasy fan. The play was impressionistic in parts, as the only way of surmounting the difficulty of transfering masses of descriptive narrative to the (tele) screen, but the actual time-travelling scene was beautifully done by a superimposition and camera mixing process. We hope to see more fantasy on the television screen after this highly successful, and, we hope, popular play. ooooooooooooooooooooooooooo NOTES, QUOTES, NEWS AND REVIEWS The first issue of SFN was closely followed by a surprise issue of Ken Slater's 'Operation Fantast', containing one of John Newman's ASF style short shorts, plus some general news and much personal information, which Ken later supplmented with a printed postcard. Ken bemoaned his troubles in being shifted around by BAOR, and asked fans not to write until he had settled down. The only change in his address is from BAOR 5 to BAOR 23. He then came home on an entirely unheralded leave and put in an appearance at the 'White Horse' on March 3rd and 4th, before going back. Latest plans are for another O.F. within the next month, and after that to have it printed. A sub. will be charged for this. 'Slant', a printed fanzine, was issued about Christmas by Walter Willis of Belfast, and distributed by the BFL. Produced by Walt, Dick Merritt and James White (who did some wood cuts), it's an interesting little (3 foolscap pages) affair, with some provoctive short comments on s-f and a story by Walt. No 2 may be distributed by the SFS. SFN Minor was issued to non-London Circle SFS members when it became apparent that leaflet printing and other difficulties would put us well behind schedule with this issue. Said form, showing signs of its stencil's overuse was included, plus Mike Tealby's new 'Wonder'. Mike has a definate policy - fiction and strange happenings - which should give some of you amateur authors another outlet for your work. 'W 1' showed some 'beginners faults' in duplicating, but who are we to cast stones? Some members will have received specimen copies of British and U.S. fanzines with SFNMinor - blame or praise John Newman, from whose collection they came, for them. John handed in his resignation from the Committee of SFS, owing to his continued poor state of health, and Ted Tubb (who did a good deal of work on SFN 1) was elected to it. Ted was posted away to Ipswich almost immediately by his employer (the M.O.W !) and John is continuing his activities for the present. These also include organising work on the LONCON. We are sure all members wil join with John's personal friends in wishing him a speeedy return to good health.. 'Fantasy Review' No. 13, the super fanzine, gives the inside story (or some of it) of 'New Worlds', including an account of the 'London Circle', starts the 'Story of Wonder', and gives an enthusiastic review of Turner's 'Boys Will be Boys'. 'F.R.' mentions 'New Worlds' some 20 times, but the latest news is that of a further posponement for a month, owing to printing difficulties. Wally Gillings very kindly distributed our LONCON leaflet with 'Fantasy Review'. Author Bill Temple was proudly displaying a copy of 'Los Cuentos Fantasticos' No 8 recently. A Mexican fantasy mag., it apparently pirates all its material from the U.S. 'zines. Smaller than the B.R.E. zines, No 8 had four stories, by Lawlor, Howard, Chambers and .... Bill Temple; his 'Way of Escape' from TWS, nicely translated to 'Via de Escape'. Only English-language piece - a full page advert of 4e Ackerman's...... Bill has a story coming up in the resurrected 'Super Science Stories'. The policy of this mag. appears to be exactly the same as when it went into suspended animation in '43 - a heavy slant towards organised fandom, and a type of story that varies widely but has an average somewhere between TWS and 'Planet'. Vol 5 no 1 has illustrations by five artists including Bok, Finley, and Paul, stories by Kuttner, Bradbury, U.S. fan Stan Mullen, Cartmill, Wellman, Kubilius and Blish. Bill Temple has also received the proofs of his forthcoming novel from Hutchinsons. Peter Phillips, newcomer to British s-f field, received top rating in ASF's Analytical Lab for his first s-f story, 'Dreams are Sacred'. reprinted from 'New Worlds' by special request, Arthur C. Clarke's 'Inheritance' got low marks in the same 'Lab', but A. has got some consolation in the praise accorded to his recent SS novel 'Against the Fall of Night'. Arthur also has a 1500 word short in the March 'Lilliput', 'Critical Mass', which is non-fantasy. Definately fantasy is 'The Day we Played Mars' by Maurice Richardson, in the same issue, and some exotic colour plates of the 'Lost Land of Torresedo' also deserve mention. Huxley's 'Ape and Essence' has appeared at last (Chatto & Windus, 7/6d), and has (allegedly) horrified the literary critics. It tells of the re-discovery of California in 2108, after the third (Atomic) World War, and is rather more lurid than 'Brave New World' (which, incidentally, has only just been allowed into Eire); the film-script treatment, far less clear than Wells' treatment of 'Things To Come', is distracting. SFN may present some fan-opinions of it in the next issue. 'Tomorrow and Tomorrow' by M. Bernard Eldershaw (Phoenix House, 12/6d) also dips into the future; one part tells of Australian life from 1920 to 1950, and then the story jumps four hundred years into the future. Going back in time, we have 'Atalanta' a fantasy of Atlantis, by Sir Gerald Hargreaves (Hutchinson, 30/-)' With music and colour plates by the author. Probably unconnected with the above is 'Siren of Atlantis', starring Maria Montez, now showing at the London Pavilion. Miss Montez, looking extraordinarily like a Bergey cover-girl, plays the Queen of a lost city in the Sahara. Light relief for fans. Another Hollywood offering, 'Luck of the Irish', is a whimsical, 'Unknown-ish' affair, concerning a journalist that is befriended by an Irish leprechaun. Tyrone Power, Anne Baxter and Cecil Kkellaway star. Incidentally, 'News Review' has a report from Aldous Huxley in the 'Celluloid City', that his dramatisation of 'Ape & Essence' is "almost finished". We imagine that any resemblance between the film-script and the book will be purely co-incidental... And we musn't forget Bing Crosby's latest; 'A Yankee in King Arthur's Court', showing in London from March 18th. Mark Twain wrote a fantasy with a similar title... 'Astounding' and 'Unknown' fans are still finding many of the new U.S. books duplicating their magazine collections. Latest De Camp collection, 'Wheels of If', features his 'probability worlds' novel from 'Unknown', and also includes 'Gnarly Man', 'Warrior Race', 'Hyperpilosity' and other shorts. A Sturgeon collection from ASF and Unk., 'Without Sorcery', contains a good deal of his really first class fantasy - 'The Ultimate Egoist', 'Shottle Bop', 'Cargo', the outstanding 'It', the s-f 'Microcosmic God', 'Memorial', 'Maturity', etc. The latter has been partially re-written from its ASF form. Sprague De Camp also has two other books on the 'current shelf'; 'Divide and Rule' and 'The Stolen Dormouse', serials from 'U' and 'ASF' in one volume, and in collaboration with Fletcher Pratt, 'The Carnelian Cube', a previously unpublished fantasy, an 'Unknown-ish' probability world type. Probably the most eagerly awaited U.S. book is the forthcoming 'Incredible Planet' containing three unpublished stories by J.W. Campbell. We have no data as to whether these stories are newly written. The second Bradbury collection is in preparation, reported to be called 'The Illustrated Man'. Review of his 'Dark Carnival' was broadcast on March 6th - comment :- " If you like US humourist Addams' macabre cartoons, you'll like Bradbury." BBC also desreves credit for an intelligent survey of rocket developments (given by Mr Washington Gibbs, now member of the BIS, which vetted his script first), amongst a welter of mostly inaccurate press comment which followed the announcement of U.S. plans for 'artificial satellites'. The more recent report of a two-stage rocket reaching an altitude of over 200 miles has gone practically un-noticed. The improving supply of paper has brought no change in the ban on current subscriptions to US mags., but according to recent reports it is slightly easier to obtain permission to send a sub. to the States. An application form, P 2229H, for a Foreign Money Order can be obtained at your local Post Office. On the form must be stated the purpose for which one requires the M.O., and we have heard of several answers; amateur authors have wished to study the market for which they hope to write; the study of articles for educational purposes etc. In these cases, the inclusion of the panel on the contents page of the mag.( where the 'overseas sub' costs are printed) is a helpful proof of the amount that you require. In the case where a subscription is to be renewed, the publishers 'subscription blank' should be included. These are enclosed in the last mag, of a sub., but can be obtained by writing directly to the U.S. publishers. P 2 etc must then be sent in an envelope supplied with it to the appropriate GPO branch, and if returned 'approved', the rest consists of handing over the cash, and more form-filling. For newcomers to fandom, we would like to point out that a chain-library of current issues is operated by Nigel Lindsay, 311, Babbacombe Rd, Torquay. Single copies can usually be bought from fan-dealers Norman Ashfield and Ken Slater, and it is also possible to barter British books with U.S. fans for subs. London fan Charlie Duncombe also has a Method. Wanting to complete his collection, he asked a friend who was going abroad to send the dollars to a New York dealer, if the friend happened to go to a 'hard currency' country. The friend went to Iran, met an American there who promised to arrange it ... and Charlie's collection is now complete! U.S. newsmagazine 'Time' devoted three-quarters of a page in its Feb.14th issue to Count Alfred Korzybski, formulator of the principles of General Semantics, upon whose work Van Vogt drew for the basic 'Null-A' systems expounded in his 'Null-A' serials. 'Science and Sanity', Korzybski's book on the subject, is now available in its third edition. B.R.E 'Unkown' Spring '49 has 'Jane Rice''s novel, 'The Golden Bridle', Kuttner's 'No Greater Love', Bloch's 'Good Knights Work', shorts by de Camp, Del Rey, Sturgeon, and Phillips. LONCON. Arrangements are now being completed for the hiring of a room for the 1949 London S-F Convention; probable venue will be in the City; times as on leaflet. We can take bookings up to Apl. 9th now that a minimum figure has been fixed. Several guests will be from too far away to be able to return at night, and we would be very grateful to any London fan willing to accomodate an out-of-town visitor for the Saturday night. Can anybody help? CHANGE OF ADDRESS. Ted Tubb has notififed us of a change of address; Terry Trollope is moving on the 19th of March, which is when he is also getting married. Congraulations, Terry. Fanzine editors will be informed. oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo SCIENCE - FANTASY - WEIRD 'ZINES FOR SALE AMAZING STORIES ASTONISHING STOR1ES February '40 2/6d COSMIC STORIES May '41 2/6d DYNAMIC SCIENCE April-May '39 2/- FANTASTIC ADVENTURES Jan, March '42 @ 3/- FURUE FICTION August '41 2/6d F.F.M. Oct, Dec. '41 @ 2/6d F. NOVELS May '48 3/- MARVEL SCIENCE S. Apl-May '39 2/9d August '39 2/- SCIENCE FICTION March '39 2/3d STARTLING STORIES May, Nov '39 @ 2/6d STRANGE STORIES February '39 2/6d Apl, Jne '39 @ 3/- WONDER STORIES July '30 4/3d THRILLING WONDER S. WEIRD TALES UNKNOWN (B.R.E.) Summer '47 Spring '48 @ 1/- DIME MYSTERY Sept '47 1/6d THE SPIDER No 1 1/6d Prices include postage If you are interested in corresponding with U.S.A. members of the Shaver Mystery Club, with a view to exchanging British Science-Fantasy 'zines and books for Shaverian items, including Shaver's own 'zine, please contact A.T.R. DEACON, 5, NORRIS HOUSE, BRAMHOPE LANE, CHARLTON, LONDON S.E.7 W-A-N-T-E-D ASTOUNDING STORIES/S-F U.S. EDITIONS 1930 January, September AMAZING STORIES AMAZING QUARTERLY WONDER STORIES SCOOPS A. VINCENT CLARKE, 16, WENDOVER WAY, WELLING, KENT ----------------------------------- LARGE SCALE WANT LIST !! AMAZING 1926 - 1934 ASTOUNDING 1930 - 1937 WONDER 1929 - 1933 AIR WONDER - ALL BUT # 1 AMAZING & WONDER QUARTERLIES Offers to:- C.F. Allen, 121, Mornington Crescent, Bath Rd., Greenford. --------------------------------------------------------- S.F.S. CONTACT BUREAU In response to our request in SFN 1 for a member to run a 'Contact Bureau', we received and accepted an offer from Dick Bartle. Thank you, Dick, and also Peter Medcalf, who also answered some time afterwards. For the present, the 'C.B.' will be available for SFS and BFL members only, and will be used to introduce them to U.S. and Dominion fans (and we hope, those in other countries) for the purpose of correspondence and trading. Dick is already in touch with the (U.S.) International Science Fantasy Correspondence Trading Club, has several other contacts, and would like other members to send him addresses that might be useful. Advertisments will be placed in U.S. fanzines, and there should be little delay in the Contact Bureau going into operation. Fans who would like to take advantage of this service should write to the address given below, enclosing a stamped and addressed envelope. If some particular subject for correspondence is wanted, please give details, and an effort will be made to put you into touch with someone of similar tastes. S.F.S. Contact Bureau, ALL FANZINES PLEASE COPY ! oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo |
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