THE FANTASY FAN THE FANS’ OWN MAGAZINE
Published Editor: Charles D. Hornig io cents a copy Monthly (Managing Editor: Wonder Stories) $1.00 par year
13.7 West Grand Strict, Elizabeth, New Jersey
Volume 1 February 1934 Number 6
OUR READERS SAY that our efforts are not being entirely waited. It is onr purpose to live up to "I mined Bsb Tucker’s column in slogan, "the ana’ own magazine” and the December issue. Better luck next make it as perioral and interesting as month. By the way, who wrote the possible. last piece of poetry in that issue?” ‘•Lovecraft’s tales certainly hit the — Kenneth B. Pritchard spot. R. H. Barlow’s 'Annals of the The editor wishes to confess that he Jinns’ are great and show a seriousness is guilty for everything that appears in and depth of that whleh is not express TFF unsigned. We are forced to tell ed easily in writing. When his aeries is you this, so that you won’t blame it completed, try to get more of his tales. on someone else. I am glad to see Derleth in our pages, "After reading the fourth issue of and this Wooley person certainly did a TFF, I feel compelled to take time-out very nice job with her story.” to let you knew ray reactions. It seems "1 don’t believe the January issue of to me that in this little magazine, you the magazine was up to standard. Too have succeeded, by yonr choice and ar much spaee was devoted to the Boiling rangement of materia], in creating the Point and the readers’ columns. I still illusion of an intensely human, keenly insist that the installments of Lovecraft’s interested gathering of real people. I article are too short.” — H. Koenig actually get something of this1 impression We are cutting out the Boiling Point from perusing its pages — the imaginary entirely and intend to cut down on the sensation of sitting in on such a group— readers’ column. and it is this which prompts me co a "Smith’s 'The Ghoul’ is better than note of appreciation. You have been •The Kingdom of the Worm’ and should able to offer a welcome medium of ex devour the latter in replete satisfaction. pression and interchange of ideas to ui 1 hope to see another fantasy by Love devotees of the fantastic in fiction and craft soon.” - Robeit Nelson the success of TFF should be assured if You will notice one of Lovecraft’s stories yon can maintain this standard o» in this issue. We have several more of interest.” — Richard F. Searighi his ou hand for*.future publication. This letter is satisfactory proof to us "The various articles* in the January 8 z THE FANTASY FAN February, 193 +
i»»ae were very interesting with the e«- MY FAVORITE FANTASY STORY eeptioa of ‘The Boiling P.|M’ which becoming monetoaons. Ob the whole, by Julius Shhwartz however, yon an doing a Ine jab, and It’s really impossible to name one’s 1 hope it will set be necessary for yea favorite fantasy story without taking into to ent dews the sine of the magazige er account not only the merit of the story publish less often.” .. Philip Bridger but also the mood of the reader at the “IJiked Derleth’s little tale ia the time he read it. I, therefore, have no December numuer, and I second H. tnt favosite story, but rather a list of Koeaig’i criticism that the installments of stories that 1 liked immensely at the time ‘Supernatural Horror ia Literature' are I read them; they gripped, fascinated, too short.” .. Clark Ashton Smith and held me. They are those stories Forrest J. Ackerman reminds ua of two that can be read and reread dozens of typographical errors ia TFF that changed times without finding a lack of interest the entire meaning of a couple of ktate- in them. Four of these stories are, meata. In the December “Boiling Point” “The Blind Spot,” by Hall and Flint; it waa stated that hc|solieita people to like “The Man Who Evolved,” by Ham him, when it should have atated that ho ilton; “The Second Deluge” by Ser- doea not solicit people to like him. In vies; and “Short Wave Castle” by his collection article, it waa claimed that Calvin Percgey. These four talcs may 1-e had the original manuscript of Flagg’s net be the best I’ve read, but they’re “Lancer in the Crystal” instead e! certainly way up near the top of the list. “Dancer,” which made quite a pun out [Lei us know what you consider your of it. favorite fantasy story. J “ ‘Birkett's Twelfth Corpse' waa in deed a gem in spite of its shortness. have improved greatly since the first one Perhaps August W. Derlcth would write was published, quite some time ago, too. •ome poetry for you. I saw one of hie Mr. Smith is one of your finest, if net in the ‘Driftwood.’ R. H. Barlow seems your finest, author. Mr. Ackerman’s to get better all the time. Let’s have articles 1 find very intciesting. ‘Super more of the ‘Anhals of the Jinns’.” natural Horror in Literature’ by H. P. - Duane W, Rime! Loveeraft is an excellent article. Mr. “I think the FF is fine. It only needs Lovecraft has succeeded in condensing time to grow iareer, which it will de at the ancient horror and weirdness into a •eon at more people fiud out about it. great article. 1 admire Very much the Don’t have a contents page - save that fine writing of Mr. Lovecraft.” extra room for the fans. Thank yon -- Fred John Waken for the privilege of being one your Write your opinions and suggestions contributors.” - Natalie H. Wooley Into “Our Readers Say,” faas--we want Thank you for contributing to THE to rungtha magazine the way yon like FANTASY FAN. it best. As a special feature in next “The January issued TFF was very month’s issue, we are presenting a full- good indeed! I believe that the issues page original illustration by Morey. Polaris by H. P. Lovecraft
Inta the north window of my cham streets were marble piliars, the upper parts ber glow* the Pole Star with uncanny of which were carven into the images of light. All throagh the long hellish hours grave bearded men. The air was warm ®f blackness it shines there. And in the and stirred not. And overhead, scarce autumn of the year, when the winds from ten degrees from the zenith, glowed that the north eurse and whine, and rhe red watching Pole Star. Long did I gaze on leaved trees of the swamp matter things tUe city, but the day eame not. When to one another in the small hours of the the red Aldebaraa, which blinked low in morning under the horned waning moon, the sky but never set, had crawled a quar I sit uy the casement and watch that star. ter of the way around the horizon, 1 Down from the heights reels the glitter saw light and motion in the houses and ing Cassiopda as the hoars wear on, the streets. Ferms strangely robed, but while Charles’ Wain lumbers up from be at once neble and familiar, walked abroad hind the vapour-soaked swamp trees that and under the horned waning moon men sway in the night wind. ]ust before dawn talked wisdom in a tongue which I un Arcturus winks ruddily from above the derstood, though it was unlike any lan cemete’y on the low hilloek, and Coma guage I had e«er known. And when Berenices shimmers weirdly afar off in the the red Aldebaran had crawled mote than mysterious east; but still the Pole Star halfway around the horizon, there were leers down from the same place in the again darkness and sileace. black vault, winking hideously like an in When I awaked, I was not as I had sane watching eye which strives to con been. Upon my memory was graven ta« vey some strange message, yet recalls vision of the city, and within my soul nothing save that it once had a message had arisen another and vaguer recollection, to convey. Sometimes, when it is of whoso nature I was not then certain. cloudy, I can sleep. Thereafter, en the cloudy nights when 1 Well do I remember the night ef the could sleep, I saw the city often; some- great Aurora, when over the swamp play times under that horned waning moon, ed the shocking eorruseations of the daemon and sometimes under the hot yellow rays light. After the beam earns clouds, and of a sun which did not set, but which then 1 slept. wheeled low around the horizon. And And it was under a horned waning on the clear nights ths Pole Star leered moon that I saw the city for the first as never before. time. Still and somnolent did it lie, on Gradually I came to wonder wtiat a strange plateau in a hollow betwixt might be my place in that city on the strange peaks. Of ghastly marble were strange plateau betwixt strange peaks. At its walla and its towers, its columns, first content to view -the scene as an all domes, and pavements. In the marble observant (incorporeal presence, I now 84 THE FANTASY FJN February, desired to define my relation to it, and our descendants must some day flee from to speak my mind amongst the grave men the land of Lin.ar) valiantly and victor - who conversed each, day in the public iously swept aside the hairy, long-armed, squares. I said to myself, “This is no cannibal Gnophkehs that stood in their dream, for by what means can I prove way. To me Alos denied a warrior’s the greater reality of that other life in the part, for I was feeble and given to strange bouse of stone and brick south of the sin fainting® when subjected to stress and ister swamp and the cemetery on the low hardships. But my eyes were the keenest hillock, where the Pole Star peeps into in the city, despite the long hours 1 gave my north window each night?” each day to the study of the Dnakotie One night as I listened to thj discourse manuscripts and the wisdom of the Zob- inlthe large square containing many statues, narian Fathers; so my friend, desiring not I felt a change; and perceived that I had to doo® me to inaction, rewarded me at last a uodily form. Nor was a stran with that duty which was second to ger in the streets of Olathoe, which lies nothing in importancei To the watch on the plateau of Sarkis, betwixt the peaks tower of Thapnen he sent me, there to Noton and Kadiphonek. It was my friend serve as the eyes of our army. Should Alos who spoke, and his speech was one the Inutos attempt to gain the, citadel by that pleased my oul, for it was the speech the narrow pass behind the peak Noton a true man and patriot. That night and thereby surprise the garrison, I was had the news tome of Daikos’ fall, and to give the signal of fire iwhich would of the advance of the Inutos; squat, hel warn the waiting soldiers and save the lish yellow fiends who five years ago had town from immediate disaster. appeared out of the unknown west to ra Alone 1 mounted the tower, for every vage the confines ot our kingdom and man of stout body was needed in the finally o beseige our towns. Having ta passes below. My brain was sore dazed ken the fortified places at the foot of the with excitement and fatigue, for I had mountains, their way now lay open to the not slept in many days; yet was my pur plateau, unless every citizen could resist pose firm, for I loved my native land of with the strength of ten men. For the Lomar, and the marble city Olathoe that squat creatures were mighty in the arts lies betwixt the peaks of Noton and of war, and knew not the scruples of Kadiphonek. honour which held back our tall, grey- But as I stood in the tower’s topmost eyed men of Lomar from ruthless conquest. chamber, I beheld the horned waning Alos, my friend, was commander of all moon, red and sinister, quivering through the forces on the plaseau, and in him lay the vapours that hovered over the distant the last hope of our country. On this valley of Banof. And through an open occasion he spoke of the perils to be faced ing m the roof glittered the pale Pole, and exhorted the men of Olathoe, bravest Star, fluttering as if alive, and lee’big of the Lomarians, to sustain the traditions likegg fiend and tempter. Methought its of their ancestors, who when forced to spirit whispered evil counsel, soothing me move southward from Zobna before the to traitorous somnolence with,a damnable advance of the great ice-sheet, (even as rhythmical promise which it repeated over February, 1934. THE FANTASY tAh 85 and ever; FACTS AND PROPHECY “Slumber, watcher, till the spheres, Six aid twenty thousand yean W. A. Conrad, assistant professor in Have revolv'd, and I return mathematies at the United States Naval To the ipot where new I burn. Academy, says that a trip to the moon Other etan anon ehall rise in a rocket is possible. According to To the axis of the skies; him, it would cost as much as two bat Stars that soothe and stars that bless tleships—$100,000,000, but it would be With a sweet forgetfulness: worth it. The biggest obstacle to over Only when my round is o’er come would be the fuel problem, he de Shall the past disturb thy dear." clares. It would take a huge amount Vainly did 1 struggle with my drewsi- of oxygen to make the trip. Other prob ness, seeking to connect these strange lems would be dodging meteors and ov words with some lore of the skies which ercoming thetfalling-in-an-elevator feeling. I had learnt from the Pnakotic manu He likens the benefits derived from such scripts. My head, heavy and reeling, a voyage, to those derived from Colum drooped to my breast, and when next I bus’ trip across the Atlantic. looked up it was in a dream; with the During the National Inventor’s; Con Pole Star grinning at me through a win gress in Cleveland, September 5 to 9, dow from ever the horrible swaying trees Arthu’ Shenderlein, of Oakland, Califor of a dream swamp. And I am still nia, exhibited a motor which he claims dreaming. will early passengers to Mars, or any In my shame and despair I sometimes other planet in record time. He de scream frantically, oegging the dream-crea clared his motor will go 100,000 miles tures around me to waken me ere the without gasoline. Inntes steal up the pass behind the peak Noton and take the citadel by surprise; ed by the cold, whom they call but these creatures are daemons, for they “Esquimaux.” laugh at me and tell me I am not dream And as 1 writhe in my guilty agony, ing. They moek me whilst I sleep, and frantic to save the city whoso peni every whilst the squat yellow foe may be creep moment grows, and vainly striving to shake ing silently upon us. I have failed in my oft this unnatural dream of a house of duty and betraved the marble elty of Ol- stone and brick south of a sinister swamp athoe; 1 have proven false to Alos, my and a cemetery on a low hillock; the friend and commander. But still these Pole Star, evil and monstrous, leers down shadows of my dreams deride roe. They from the black vanlt, winking hideously ay there is no land of Lomar, save in like an insane watching eye which strives my nocturnal imagings; that in those to convey some message, yet recalls realms where the Pole Star shines high, nothing save that it once had a message •nd red Aldebaran crawls low around the to convey. horizon, there has been naught save ice and snow for thousands of years, and never Watch for anoter story by H. P. a man save squat, yellow c.eatures, blight- Lovecraft in an early issue 86 THE FANTASY F iN February, 1934
HOWLS FROM THE ETHER tasies. Recent issues have had “The Land of Terror,” and a tale of adven by The Spacehound ture at the North Pole among several Some copies of the August, >929, others, including one about super-gangs Amazing Stories contained “Out of the attempting to conquer a nation ... And Void” printed twice end “The Grim keep an eye on Thrilling Adventure and Inheritanat” emitted. This happens ev the new companion n.ag to Nickle De ery se often in ths binding o* magazines, tective ... Austin Hall had a humorous when one of the several sections is left western in a recent Argosy... You cover out and two of another inserted. In the fans keep an eye on the fine work Paul above ease, this means that several issues is doing for Science and Mechanics, the ef the magazine contained no “Out of sjster magazine cf Wonder Stories...One the Void,” and twqi( |,opiesltof “The of H. G. ,5frelis’ latest contributions is Grim inheritance”...Voltaire’s “Micro- “J.ove on Mars” in a romance maga magas” is an excellent interplanetary story zine... “Conflict,” a new magazine issued concerning a Sifian’s visit to Saturn and by the Central Pub. Co. at the old Earth...In the days of “Science Fiction” Miracle Stories address, will use “weird (the pamphlet mimeographed in Cleve adventure stones”...R. F. Starxl had a land), Hugh Langley was the pseudonym review of the science fiction market* in f r the joint efforts of Jerome Siegel and the Aether and Journalist over two years Bernard Kenton...P. S. Miller mentions ago...The staff of the Dallis Journal working on his “Arrhenius Horror” in etherized the first chapter of Burroughs’ an early 1930 mag...“Desolation’s War” “A Fighting Man of Mars” over WFAA an excellent science fiction tale wijs , in last June...Edison’s last work is s»id to Top-Notch a short while ago. They have been on a machine to communicate present stories of this type at odd inter with the dead...Your scribe is No. 1 in vals... Roy Rockwood’s “Great Miracle” the Jules Verne Prixe Club...Two recent series have been reissued... An English radio fantasies are “The Man with the newspaper '.uns science fiction regularly. Golden Head” and Stevenson’s “Dr. Roy’s “Prince of Atlantis,” while a stf ]ekyl and Mr. Hyde” ... Aa excellent classic is also a suotle treatise on sociol satire on interplanetary stories rar through ogy... Radio Guild carried an illustrated the comic sheets of the AP newspapers, feeture on Baek Rogers...The December which showed Sappo and Professor 1932 Happy Hours Magazine carried an Whattasnozzle going through adventures editorial on “Sciei.ee Fiction in the Dime on Mars and Venus ... A vote taken in Novels,” by Ralph P. Smith...O. O. the early days of Amazing Storie. shew McIntyre and Philip Wylie are good ed 32,644 in favor of a bi-weekly pub friends...In regards to the question in the lication, and 498 who thought other August 1932 Time Traveller, “The Nth wise...Edgar Wallace’s “The Feuith Man,” by Homer Eon Flint, was writ Plague” is a good scientific mystery ten especially for the Amazing Quarter novel. ly...The Doc Savage magazine is run ••■o.x.o-- •■•o.x.o-" ning a number of good adventure fan Come over to “Our Readers Say” February, 1934 THE FANTASY F-iN 87
A VISIT TO ner, I asked, “is that the famous walk JULES DE GRANDIN ing stick which vanquished th* were wolf in ‘The Thing in th* Fog’?” by Marianne Ferguson “Eh, bleu, of a truth, my young I got oft the train at the Harrison friend,” he admitted, “if it were not ville Railroad Station, filled with mixed for the concealed sword in the center, feeling*, for I wa* to visit the world re I would have been in too many tight nowned detective, Jules do Grandin, and place* for comfort.” Dr. Trowbridge. A* 1 walked uncer- “Mr. de Grandin, will you please tainly up the street, I inquired of a tell how many year* yon have been in policeman, who directed me to Jules terested in this line of investigation?” I de Grandin’* house. asked. I am afraid that I knocked at the deaf “O, dens, my young lady, 1 have •omewhat timidly, and 1 *oon heard foot been actively engaged for the past eight step* coming down th* hall. The door year* in this thrilling occupation.” opened, and there »tood a tall, dark “I am sorry that 1 weren’t acquaint ed with your adventure* right from th* “I* this where Mr. do Grandin live*?” •tart,” I confessed. “Weren’t you a- I asked rather shakily, for 1 had been frald in some of the gruesome cases such anticipating this eventful visit for several as ‘Th* Bleeding Mummy’ and the months, during which time I had react ‘Band of Glory’?” ed thia scene many times. “Eh, bien,” he ariwered, “my “Yes,” the man replied. “I am Dr. friend, if one allow* himself to let fear Trowbridge. Will you pleas* com* in?” - enter his heart, he is already defeated, I entered, just as a voice from within and I knew that I have the Good One called out, “Who wa* it. Friend Trow in my favor.” bridge?” “Well. Mr. de Grandin and Dr. We entered a largo, «he*ry room, and Trowbridge, thank you for thi* delight seated in a deep study ehair, I saw Jules ful talk,” I began, when a blood-curd sk Grandin, hi* blond hair sleek and ling moan echoed through th* house. ihining. H* looked up from the maga De Grandin, Dr. Trowbridge, and I sine had be«n reading, and teeing ■ »*, ran to where th* moan seemed to come arose, and itroking hi* blond mustache, from, bet nothing wa* there. I imagine said, “What can we do for yon.^my that 1 must have turned pale, for Dr. dear young lady?” Trowbridge caught hold of my arm and Suddenly, my knees seemed to turn to gave me a gist* of water containing some water. “Mr. de Grandin,” I managed sort of restorative. A* I began to feel to whisper, “I have always wanted to better, my eelor back and de Nran- see yon in parson; I bop* ven will for dis *aid, “My friend, your train leave* give my Intrusion.” in twenty minute*, so. Friend Trow Jules de Grandin waved me to a seal bridge, gel ent your ear and take the with hit long, artistic hand, and seeing young lady to the station." a silver-topped walking stick in the cor [continued on page 96] 88 THE FANTASY FAN February,. 1934
WINDS
Richard F. Searight .,,
Tae \ Vmd .blares, - a gelid, ice worn roar, Down from the artic wastes where sitiith* ghost* Of one > ed Odin, bloody handed Thor, la fros >ouhd silence with their warrior host*.
The Eas Wind n.urmers softly through th* night Of dank and noisome things, and evil lor* Old in rhe days when Adar rose to might, ’ And Chaldic magic ruled a world of gore. • '•> ■ 1 ■ ...’J, The West Wind keen* a warning cry of hate, As, from the boundless void* of sea and sky. It sweeps upon a race bowed low by fate, Yet striving still to gain the height* or die. THE DWELLER by William Lumley Dread and potent broods a Dweller In an evil twilight space. Formless as a daemon’s ifcadofv, Void of members and of face. Heeding not the shaped or human, Past the reach of time or law— Nevyr may cur mind* conceive It Save a* cloud* of fright and awe- ■’ ‘ When It crawl* malignly drirtiM; Lethal mist* of leaden grey, M*a» Rising vaguefy in th* diitanhe, ' r-A'. V«il it* hideous balk away. And Its muttering* of horror, v i or* of charnel ground. Lose themselves in troubled thunders That from f»r horizon* sound. February, 1934 THE FANTASY F:.%N 89 THE WEIRD WORKS OF there is a mere er ies* homely setting, M. R. JAMES often with a background of folklore add long-past happenings whose dim archaism by Clark Ashton Smith provide* a depth of shadow from which, The four uook* of *hort stories written as from a receised cavern, the central by Montague Rhodes James, Provost of horror emerge* into the noontide of the Eton College, hare been collected in a present. Thing* and occurences, some single but not overly bulky volume under time* without obvious off-hand relation the imprint of Longman*, Green & Co. ship, are grouped cunningly, forcing the One can heartily recommend the acquis reader unaware to some frightful deduc ition of thia volume to all lovers of the tion; or there i* an artful linkage of events weird and supernatural who are not al seemingly harmless in themselves, that readytaaniliar with it* contents. leave him confronted^ at « sudden turn 'James is -perhaps unsurpassed in origi with some ghoulish specter or night - nality, by any living writer; and he has demon. made a salient contribution to the tech The minutiae of modern life, humor, nique of his genre as well as to the ea character-drawing,. scenic andsarchaelogi- rtching of its treasury of permanent mas oal description, are used as a foil to terpieces. His work is marked by rare heighten the abnormal, but are never al intellectual skill and ingenuity, by power lowed to usurp a,(disproportionate inter rising at times above the reaches of mere •st. Always ahere h an element of intellection, and bv a sheer finesse cl supernatural menace, whose value is neve r writing that will bear almost endless study. Impaired by seieatifie or spiritualistic ex It has a peculiar savonr, wholly different planation. Sometimes it Is brought forth from tne diabolic grimness of Bierce, or at the climax into-.full light; and some the accumulative atmospheric terror and times, even then, it is merely half-re rounded classicism of Machen. Here vealed, is left undefined but perhaps all there is nothing a* the fverish bnt logical the more alarming. In any case, the hallucinations, the macabre and exetie presence of, some .unnatural , but objective beauty aeheived by Poe; nor is there any reality is assumed and established. kinship to the fine poetic weavings and The goblin* and phantoms devised by character nuances of Walter de la^M.are, Jam** are truly creative and are presented or the far searching. penetrativ* psychism through image* often so keen and vivid of Blackwood, or the frightful antiquities as tq, evoka an. ;actual physical *hock. and ultra-terrene menace* of Lovecraft. Sight, smell, hearing, taction, all are The style of these stories is rather played open with well nigh surgical •final, fpd, sneeinci,. The rythm* of the auroness, by Impressions.., calculated to prete gre brisk,and .pedestrian, and the touch the shuddering quick of horror. phrasing is notable tor dearness and in- Some of the images or simile* employ elsiveness rather than for those vague, ed are most extraordinary, end spring reverberatlve overtone* which beguile surely from the demonic inspiration of one** inner ear in the prose of fiction the highest genii*. For instance, take writers who are also poets. Usually the nnnamnble thing I. Th, Uncommon go THE FANTASY FAN February, 1934 Trayer Book, which resembles “• greet drawing of King Solomon and the night roll of eld, shabby, white flannel,” with demon in Canon Albtric’s Scrap Book; a kind ef face in the upper end, and the silver Anglo-Saxon crown from an which falls forward on a man’s shoulder immemorial barrow in A Warning to and bidet thia face in hla neek like a fer the Curious-, and the strange enrtain-pat- ret attacking a rabbitt. Then, in Mr, ern in The Diary of Mr. Poynter which Humphreys and his Inhiritance (one of had “a subtlety in its drawing.” subtler and more inferential tales) there In several stories there are hints of by is the form “with a burnt human face” gone Satanism and wizardry whose ma and “blaek arms”, that emerges front an lign wraiths or eonjured spirits linger eb- inexplicable hole ib the paper plan of a •carely in modern time; and in at least garden maze “with the odious writhings One tale, Casting the Runes, the warlock of a wasp creeping nt of i rotten is a living figure. In other tales, the apple.” In The Tractate Middothwn forgetful and vanishing phantasms of old meets an apparition with thick cobwebs crimes cry out their mindless pain, or over its eyes- the lich or specter ot a peer.for an instant from familiar pools man who, obedient to his own rather and shrubberies. The personal of James’ eccentric instructions, had been buried Pandemonium is far from monotonous; sitting at a table in an underground room. one finds * Satyr dwelling in a cathedral And whe;* For four days, the band of explorers departed from his company. And the from Phoor had been excavating the an years and the decades and the centuries eient and immemorial tomb of Krang on and the aeons unthinkable came and the edge of the desert. The sands hast went, and the sands swirled over the been blowing ceaselessly, even as they mouth of the tomb, and the door was had done since before the coming o* man obliterated, and none knew where Krang to chat far land. The tomb was builo the Elder God lay in stupendous slum long before any human walked tke face ber. of the world, built by evil powers that Then audacious mortals had unwitting had reigned unchecked in that unthink ly found traces of this mausoleum that ably ancient day, when all the desert even legend had discredited,’ and they had been a verdant garden through which had resolved to open it and seek the stalked great yellow giants of small in great body of the old thing that had laid telligence, but of prodigious strength, utimoving since the world was young that had built the tower and the city of and green, lain while the prolife vegeta •he ancient and most powerful Lord tion died and the sand crept upnn tbc Krang. And even before that Krang land and laid it into barrenness. had been; he had been for aeons,JJ.and It was said that there had been sealed in turn had come from a strangesplanet, up in Krang’s tomb treasurei that made it was told in tradition and runes inscrib avarice pale and gems the like of which ed in a dead language, the language o* no longer existed, jewels from far worlds Old Gods," and- in the time when dark of the dawn of time, worlds that had magical powers had battled for possession died and an urned again--and the of the universe. And Krang had wen, strange manuscripts with the Hsothian Krang the old one, the monstrons brown ehants upon them, and othet equally de leathern thing that planned and ruled and sirable objects. Therefore, many had malefically twisted the futures of worlds. set out to reach the far site of the old But the time cum that none had forseen tomb, but few had reached it. Some and Krang the aneient fell into a sem had perished, slain by the hateful green blance of death, though his flesh rotted devil-things that lay beneath the surface not, nor did his aspect change. So the of the sand in wait for unwary persons, people of the earth gathered together and and that sprang up to drag their ywtiais conveyed him in a giant funeral proces to a horrible death. Some reached their sion to the enormous tomb earven from goal and icrathed the and chipped the living blue stone in the side of the moun tight sealed entrance, but it was as. the tain, and they sealed him in and forever gnawing of rats, and before they could 92 THE FANTASY FAN February, 1934 do more, they had mysteriously vaaished ehalccdovy. He was terrible gaue upon, from human keu, nor had they ever been for even after the immense period, he of afterward). Yet this did not discour still held semblance ef the horrifying as age others from amulting, for the desire pect that was traditionally assigned unto for power will lead men far, and power him. there was in the tomb. And the explorers that had entered So again men were engaged in labor-' gathered around him for a moment in iously chipping away the obstruction and awe, but they were distracted by the making slight headway, when one of their infinite wealth that lay carelessly about. members chanced upon an orifice tn the They became slightly affected by it, in reek into which he thrust his arm curie to a type of madness, and with repul ously. Beyond he touched tomething, sive amour and fetishism, they stroked and lo! The great doer grated outwards, the jewels and clung unto them. inexorably, ruthlessly, and ground him But what happened then none can tell, horribly into the stone . ill, leaving naught for their two fellows standing guard be save an unpleasant smear of brown and a yond the entrance heard a peculiar sound dank smell came forth, and the door was that seemed as a slither then a scream, opened. Paralyzed, the survivors did not then the door shut again, and although act until* it had swung firmly back into the obstructing block was not ftouched place and was immovable save by a re by them, it had ,moved. petition of the catastrophe. So, though they could spare him ill, the others for jJjAndj*Krang’s tomb was again covered ced one of their brown slave-men from by the ’drifts; nor^even after jthat ;brle* distant Leek to do this suicidal act; and glimpse of infinite wealth did any |raan he whimpered, and would have not,jbut of Phoor venture near. they discouraged this by subtlejaud hast For the Lord Krang had roused from ily improvised tortures, and he eventually his long sleep, and feasted. complied. They stepped delicately overjthe smear STORIES TO COME and caught the door; placing anjobstrue- tion in the way, so^thatjit mightKatay In response to requests, we arc publish open. And then they entered, gjthe first ing this list ef stories which we have on living things in that place sincej theirJrace hand: had appeared. The Legacy oy Kenneth B. Pritchard The air was foul with the odor ef“a The Flower God by R. H. Barlew newly dried sea bed, and the stench was Gods of the North unlike that of anything within”'theirtken. by Robert E. Howard All about the giant vault were ’great The Ancient Toice by Eando Binder chunks of richly coloured gems cut in The Nameless City by H. P. Loveeraft curious facets, with cryptic ^inscriptions From Beyond by H. P. Lovecraft upon each. But the central object was Beyond the Wall of Sleep tomb of Lord Krang, where his great i by H. P. Lovecraft body reposed upon a slab of figured [continued oa page 96] February, 1934- THE FANTASY FAN 9 3 THE BOILING POINT ridiculous. If Clark Ashton Smith has a deseased mind, as Mr. Alexander states, “Donald Alexander’* letter caused me I would for one like to be exposed to to reread carefully my answer to the germ.” — Duane W. Rime! Forrest Ackerman’s epistolatory critique. “I have been following with interest Since my one concern was to meet Mr. the Ackerman adventure* in your pages. Ackerman’s arguments on their own I am wondering if he ever wrote any ground, I am puxxled by the assertion stories, besides cri Lizing them?” of Mr. Alexander that I had made a — Natalie H. Wooley fool of myself by descending to person “The Ackerman-Smith debate amuses alities. Offhand, I should have said that me. O» course, I am squarely on Smith’s my letter was about as free of that sort side, and don’t understand why you pub of thing as it could conceivably have lish the more puerile, of the letters on been. Perhaps there were a few mildly on the matter, such as the one by Lloyd ironic touches; but certainly nothing of Fowler.” - Aagust W. Derleth an indidinus nature was implied or even “The whole argument wa» caused by intended. I do not think that any good Ackerman claiming that Smith’s ‘Dwel purpose is ever served by abusive per ler in Martain Depths’ should not have sonalities. If my letter was derogatively appeared in Wonder Stories. Smith should personal, I really wonder how Mr. Alex have sent the story to Weird Tales, thus ander’s should be classified.” avoiding a clash with Ackerman, who, I -- Clark Ashton Smith take it, has no use for weird literature. H. Koenig suggests that we mused a Or the editor of Wondtr Stories should golden opportunity by net supplying the have foreseen seme catastrophe and promp debaters with gloves and entering them tly returned it to C. A. Smith, who 1 in the Golden Glove Contests in Madison esteem very highly, by the way.” — F, Lee Baldwin Square Garden! “When you shoot, pertaining to Smith We stated last month that the Smith - Ackerman debate would end in this issue stories, ‘May the ink dry up m the pen from which they flow!’ you affect the --and so it has. Many of our reader* refined and sensitive minds of the admi have started to get bored with it - and rers of beautiful things, and eau e them more than that, some ill-feeling has been to exclaim, ‘Here, indeed, is one who aroused. We go further to state that endeavors no do ifometlrihfTB’ words as there will be no more department known terrible as in actuality: eleave the head as “The Boiling Point.” The name of a genius in twain!’ Hence our fitting implies that everything contained therein denunciation of you, Mr. Ackerman, for should be boiling hot-- and these boiling attempting to backbite one of the great hot’arguments, as we have found out, est writers America has ever produced.” create an unpleasant atmosphere for many -- Robert Nelson concerned. THE FANTASY^FAN is attempting la bind the lovers of science “When’some well-meaning person says that Ackerman has more sense than Smith and weird fiction tighter together with and Lovecraft oombined, he is just being [continued on page 95] 94 THE FANTASY VAN February, 1934 SUPERNATURAL HORROR MY SCIENCE FICTION IN LITERATURE COLLECTION Pari Five by Forrest J. Ackerman by H. P. Lovecraft Part Six -- Conclusion (Copyright 1927, by W. Paul Cook) Lastly there is the third--and an ex Just as all fiction first found extensive tremely Interesting part of the scitntifilm embodiment in poetry, so is it in poetry division of my collection: the sound discs that we first encounter the permanent from “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.” Of entry of the weird into standard litera an evening, it is a great enjoyment to ture. Most of the aneient instances, listen to the Doctor with coughs and curiously enough, are in prose; as the groans and »n accompaniment of whirring werewolf incident in Petronius, the grue thoughts change into tlie savage(Mr, Hyde’ some passages in Apuleius, the brief but or before that, to hear him expound his celebrated letter of Pliny the younger to theory of man being “not one. but t,ruly Sura, and the odd compilation ‘‘On two;” and later to listen tc the finai bat Wonderful Events” by the Emperor tle in which he is killed. As she records Hadrian’s Greek freedman, Phlegon. It are recorded at two or three times nor is in Phlegon that we first find that hid mal speed, it proves most interesting (or eous tale of the corpse-bride, ‘-Philinnion dinarily, they must be slowed down by and Machates,” later related by Procius a weight or the hand). Run at record and ia modern times forming the inspir ed tempo, one hears characters speaking ation of Goethe’s “Bride of Corinth” as they would if they were speeded up and Washington Irving’s “German Stu as in such stories as “A Year in a Day,” dent.” But by the time the old North “The Super-Man of Dr. Jukes,” “The ern myths take literary form, andgin that Super-Velociter,” and “A New Accel later time- when^thegweirds appears/as a erator.” The result is startling. steady elemenitmsthe|literature*oftthe5day, In conclusion—I have complete files of we find it mostly in;.|metrical tjdress ;"°tas The Time Traveller (with issues of The indeed we’'find the jgreaterj; parrot Jthe which preceded it), Science Fiction Digest itrieti/'jaTagiBativr writing of the^Middle and Science Fiction. And I’m looking Agesj and Renaissance. ‘The'Scandinavian forward to every number of The Fantasy Eddas and Sagas Jthunder with ’cosmic Fan. Good lack! horroc^and shake with 'rhe stark fear of Ymii and*ihis shapeless spawn; whilst our lory’s “Morte d’Arthur,” in which are own Anglo-Saxon “Beowulf” and rhe presented many ghastly situations taken later 'Continental-^‘Nibelung rale- (r- Mill from early ballad sources—the theft of the •f eldritch weirdness. Dan'- s ■ eer swprd and silk from the corpse in Cha in the classic capture of m- ■ «•> nel Perilous by Sir Launcelot, the ghost sphere, and in Spencer’s - as >f Sir Gawaine, and the tomb-fiend seen will be seen more than ■ Sir-Galahad—whilst oteer and cruder fantastic terror in landscso ’•cimens were doubtless set forth in the character. prose literati [continued on page 96] February, 1934 THE FANTASY VAN 95 FAMOUS FANTASY FICTION FANS I’VE MET by Emil Petaja by Mortimer Weisinger Perhaps the meat in.eretting collection Julius Schwarts-who is probably the ef.,iRy»t«ry atone* ever brought together greatest living authority on all exiting under one cover ia Dorothy L. Say era* retene* fiction, and who worships Dr. “Omnibua of Crime.” Thia ia of apeeial Kollor—don’t we all? intereat to weird story fans, aa of it* 1177 | Michael Fogaria- who holds one of the pages, over 400 are devoted exclusively most brilliant scholastic records held by to thia^type. It’a^j author* include A. any *-f f*«, and who idolize* the "writ. Conan Doyle, Bram Stoker, Arthur ing*|;*f A. Merritt-again, don’t we all? Machen,riAmbrose;Bierc«, and many other* Milton Kaletsky-who is the wblrTd’a whom^Fantasy Fani^are familiar^ with. greatest torture fiend. He coerced his Don’t miss reading it. sister into|typing up® hi* first »-f *tory, Among^other weird story collections the 16,000 word' “Visit to Alpha ar* “Famous Modern Ghost Stories”^and Centauri.” “Famous Humorous Ghest Stories,” both Nathan Greenfeld, who, besides being edited by Dorethy Scarborough. These a devout *-f fan, is qui’te *dept at books ar*^ filled 4with fascinating sghost painting. stories, all {by* famous' authors of all times. The Bolling Point Elliot O’Donnell, famous English [continued from page 93] author, hat writtenttmany^ collections of friendship, and not to separate them thru true, ghost^stories. |j Hilgj. two latcstpu-* dislike of each others ideas. However, “Haunted Houses of tLonden” and to tskejthe place of!“The Boiling Point” “Morel Haunted Hou*esseof BLenden.” we are starting a new department next You will find, tnany^ef his^ stories land month’’entitled “Your Views.” Thi*^ articles^reprinted in (various^ collections. will not^cobtain any debates, but the He has alao written for Weird Tales. opinion* of you, the readers, on various Some years ago, The Macauley *ubject* which we will nominate. So, Company published a collection under write in t» u* immediately answering th* the title, “Beware After Dark.” It in following questions: “What is there in clude* H. P." Lovecraft’* “Call of the ‘horror’ story at associated with weird Cthuihu” and Machen’s “Novel of the and^fantastic fiction? 1* there any vir White Pewder,” and ether* of note. tu* to them? Hew can they be defen A splendid addition to your book-ahe!f.| ded when people will read them and *ay The Modern Library’s collection “Best that they are distasteful to the w«ll and Ghost Storie*” is no tdoubt familiar to normal mind? Why do** a person with most of you, but it i* certainly worth to read, a »ini*t«r tai* of evil cr mon*to- mentioning.. It contains an inrtodnetien siti**? I* it healthy reading? I* it not by Arthur B. Reeve, and stories by(Al- merbid?” Forre»t J. Ackerman has'sug gernon Blackwood, Dr. M. R. James, gested thi* subject. Let’* tee what yea and Rudyard Kipling. think about it. 96 THE FANTASY FAN February, 1934 A Visit te Jules da Grandin echo loudly in English ears as the witch [continued from page 87] hunting crusades of James the First gain “But het* about that moan?” 1 a*ked. headway. To the lurking mystical prose “Mon dieu!” ho exclaimed, though of the ages is added a long line of trea less excited than would be expected un tises on witchcraft and daemonology der the cireum«tance», “but I, Julei de which aid in exciting the imagination of Grandin, shall toon fina out!” the reading world. Gathering up my purse, I arote and (Continued Next Month) gave my hand to de Grandin, then Dr. ADVERTISEMENTS Trowbridge took me to the station. Safely in my compartment, I tuddemy Old Amazing*, Wonders, Astounding*, realised how tired I was. So, leaning Argosy science fiction such at: back in my teat and closing my eyes, I The Snake Mother, A Brand New drifted into the land of dreams—intof-the World, The Planet of Peril. Scienej; realm of deathless visions, where hazy fiction from the present to 1900 in ALL phantasms of thej imagination take one magazines. Please list stories wanted through glorious adventures in which most when writing for list. Weird Tales, earthly realities become as nothing. Black Cat, Munsey, Blue Book, etc. Isidore Manzon Stories to_eome [cont. from page 92] 684 Flushing Avenue The Epiphany of Death Brooklyn, New York by Clark Ashton Smith CLARK ASHTON SMITH presents The Embalmere of Rainsville THE DOUBLE SHADOW AND by Michael Weir OTHER FANTASIES -a booklet con Phamtom Lights by August W. Derleth taining a halt-dozen imaginative and atmo Madness, of..Space spheric tales.—Stories of exotio jbeauty, bv Conrad H. Ruppert glamor, terror, strangeness, irony, and Life and Death by Derwinl Lesser satire. Price: 25 tents each, (coin or The Temple of Nemwah stamps). Also a small remainder of by Natalie H. Wooley EBONY AND CRYSTAL- a book of prose poems published at gz.oo, reduc-, Supernatural Horroi in Literature ed to $1.00 per copy. Everything sentJ [continued^from page 94J cheap and sensational “chapbooks” vul postpaid. Clark Ashtoa Smith, Auburn,' garly, hawked about and devoured by the California. ignorant.jj In Elizabethan drama, with its Back Numbers of The Fantasy Fant “Dr.§Fau*tu*,”’gtkje|witehe» in* “Mao. September, 20 cent* (only a few left); beth,’land“theghorrlble gruesomeness of October, November, December, January, Webster, we|may,easily discern thelstrong to cent* each. hold^of^the|!daemoniaeT on tha“*publie mind ^a” held intensified by theory real Weird Tales, dated 1923 to 1924, are feargof living^ witchcraft, 'whose terrors, wanted, please communicate with the first wildest^OB tbe Continent, begin to Editor if you care to part with any.