BEST LETTER 'AWARD IS ON! to withstand the competition of the new story magazines, but I wish them all good . Dear Mr. Hamling: luck. Donald Allgeier forgets that FPM is Everybody's imitating Thorne Smith! the only reprint magazine which has been The issue before last it was Charles going steadily for any length of time, and , Myers with THE SHADES OF TOFFEE, it and FN have'the rights to the material ' and now Bob Bloch has come up with printed in Argosy, All-Story, etc., and , THE DEVIL WITH YOU! The Bloch these are not examples of the s-f and fan­ story was very funny in spots, and in­ tasy prevalent in the field. The standard ' teresting throughout. The style was Smith- reprint mags have a combined output. of ish almost all throuRh, and the setting five issues per year, and only have seen very similar to that writer's- uproarious three, so no conclusion may be drawn, from RAIN IN THE DOORWAY. This story, them. All in all, science-fantasy is better you may remember, is about a perfectly now then ever before, and there's no rea­ normal fellow who is impulsively taken in son to flood the market with inferior re­ as a partner by three rather off-center print magazines. ' individuals who have won a department I never thought you would seriously con-, store in a- poker game. The guy falls in sider my suggestion for awarding originals love with the head of. the pornographic to the best letter-writers. - The winners .book department, who shows him the ropes could. be picked by, reader's votes, so that (and not only in the matter of porno­ you wouldn't receive a flood, of sugared graphic books). ' This story, too, cul­ letters every month (which would happen minates in a fire,- but instead of striking if the editor- did the choosing), thereby oil, the partners cash in on the insurance eliminating your chances of getting a (which is about- the same thing in the cross-section of the readers' viewpoints. I eyes of many people). hope more fans have written you on this But please don't feel that I'm condemn­ subject since my last letter. ing Bloch, Myers, or anyone else for imi­ tating Smith's style o£ writing. Smith is Scientifantastically, gone and it would be a shameful thing if no one continued the marvellous way of Morton D. Paley , ' writing he originated. 1455 Townsend Ave. If I was a mean kind of person, I could New York 52, N.Y. ask how Bill could have made -money out June 23, 1950 of an oil well on land he held no interest in, but I'm not, so I won't. We're glad to know that you enjoyed the The novel was very good. 'Nuff said. Bloch story so much, Mort. As to Geier, I-note an'^improvement in the shorter he's working on a terrific cover 'story 'right - stories with this issue. Before the Great noiv. You'll he seeing it in a few issues. Metamorphosis, your short stories were Incidentally, as we write this, Chet is anx­ somewhat better than the novels. The im­ iously pacing the hospital • corridors.. He's provement in • F.A.'s quality, however, going to be a father again—number three. seems to have influenced . mainly your .. .As to the letter voting award, we're novels. The novels have greatly improved in favor of it. So let's see some votes in quality, while the shorts have, remained starting with this issue. The letter getting more or less stationary. But Peter Phil­ the most votes for this month will receive lips' WELL, I'LL BE HEXED! was an. original interior illo. How's that? slightly terrific, and WINDOW TO THE •• Ed. PAST by Chester Geier not far behind. I am glad to see that Geier has returned to KIDS, HE SAYS! his former high standard of material. ^ . - - The artwork picked up, too. Thank you, Dear Sirs: thank you, thank you for getting Finlay As long as/kids are- joining the letter back. Sharp, as always, is excellent, and writers, I wonder if I will do? I am 14. Mac did a good cover. But this sort of Science Fiction is my favorite type of cover is good only ~for variety. Don't make reading material. F.A. is an excellent fan­ it a practice. Mac's inside illos were also tasy magazine (fantasy, being second in very good. (Is that a fannish. rumble of my estimation), and I enjoy it very much. "Bok! Cartier!" I hear?) But, once in a while, couldn't you slip in Rog Phillips recently remarked in THE a real science fiction story? CLUB HOUSE that the reprint mags will Werewolves and vampires ate fine for be weeded out by a process of selection. I, short stories, but please, no novels of personally, feel that they will not be able them! 120

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Bobby Pope has the right idea about Morton .D. Paley's suggestion about ori­ FLIRGLEFLIP. Wow, what they won't ginals is a stroke of genius. It would make think of next! an excellent- policy, providing you keep Now to the August issue. THE DEVIL Finlay and McCauley around. ^ WITH YOU is an excellent novel and the As usual, I have a- complaint: if an writing style reminds me of Thorne Smith. author wishes to write an amusing story, Is there a new TOFFEE, story coming up? must he rely on puns like, "Al Gonquin," I hope so. (Just thought I'd slip that in). "Mol Hare," and "L. Dritch?" And, must The other two were poorly done and he use sequences like the events in the wax rather dull anyway. museum, which have the atmosphere of Grade B motion picture comedies? Bloch David Travis can write a fairly readable story in a se­ Box 1011 rious vein, but I could not manage to get Clovis, New Mexico even half-way through his latest mon­ strosity, THE DEVIL V/ITH YOU! We may have some interesting news on a McCauley "wins the grand prize (a pair > new "Toffee" story pretty soon, Dave. of fur-lined cufflinks and a set of rub­ ' Watch for it , Ed: ber-soled skis) for his masterpiece on this . month's cover, and isn't it about time for THE DEVIL WITH IT! " a James B. Settles? And what happened to St. John (J. Allen, that is)? Why .not Dear Mr. Hamling: get Leigh Brackett to do a yarn for FA? I noted with interest that in the August . "Readers Page", a reprint war is raging. Yours truly,. Mind if I give- a few of my undoubtedly worthless opinions on the subject?, 1. Mr. Brian McNaughton Allgeier remarks that modern stf is no 198 Bergen Place more than juvenile adventure. I admit that Red Bank, N.J. quite a bit of it is, but on the whole, I believe the opposite to be true. I have had J. Allen St. John will have some illos com­ at least half a dozen yarns shoved on ,me ing up shortly. As to letting a writer do ' in book and magazine form of publishers a yarn for us, we have an open market— and editors whose deluge of superlatives - we buy from all comers, if the story is and wild statements about "old classics" good Ed. is Niagra-like. Yet, every one of these sto­ ries has proven to be a lot of saccharine FINALLY MADE THE GRADE! nonsense. Their style of writing seems to be aimed at the "Alice in Wonderland" Dear Mr. Hamling: crowd. Could it be possible for a lady to squeeze I do hot claim that all the old "classics" in a few paragraphs on. your Reader's are as bad as that, but it seems to be page? Maybe Mr. McNaughton, Beck, Gan- true of the vast majority of them. On the ley, or Silverberg would forgive you if contrary, a scant few of those old science- you printed my letter and omitted one of fiction yarns are far better than anything theirs this month. I can't .understand why contemporary magazines have to offer. some readers have their letters printed Notable examples of this are the "Adam almost monthly, while others can write in Link" yarns of E. & O. Binder, and I over and over and never see them in print. doubt if anyone alive today can write bet­ " Don't you receive enough letters, from ter than H. G. Wells! other readers? One would almost think the Mr. Allgeier cites the case of "Fantastic above mentioned were on your payroll Mysteries" to prove his claim that reprint they appear with such regularity. I have magazines can survive. I agree with him,- written 10 letters in the last 12 years but he neglects to point out that the back­ and the only one printed was when I bone of these magazines is straight fan­ omitted the Mrs. signing only my initials tasy, even though they occasionally print and last name. Do you think women are science-fiction. Back around the twenties illiterate, or can't you read my writing? and thirties stf was just. a squalling in­ (That's possible! admit.) Anyway here's fant, as far as magazine writing was con­ hoping this letter will change my luck. cerned. But straight fantasy was in its Your July issue had some very good prime, with such unbeatable authors as short stories in it, and I,-> enjoyed very Howard, England, Lovecraft and Merritt. much, YOU'RE ALL ALONE. Hope I Nev­ Thus the fantasy reprint magazines have er Wake Up; it made me stop and think; a .tremendous amount of ge^iuine classics Here are some of my favorite current to draw on. But science-fiction reprinters authors and some of their best stories. As would have nothing to offer but the pa­ you will see, I like a fast moving, inter­ thetically hackneyed adventures of a. host esting story. of Buck Rogerish heroes, scourges of the , With two small boys interrupting 12 spaceways, and , world-saving scientists . times every half hour, it taxes my tired after the incredibly few real stf classics brain too much to concentrate on some were exhausted. of the heavy stuff usually printed in A, S. The old yarns of stf are dead and bur­ Howard Browne comes' frist I believe with ied. Let's allow them to rest in peace— stories that end before I know they're for Ghu's sake, no reprints! half-way through. Yes', they are that in-

PRODUCED BY UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED 122 FANTASTIC ADVENTURES teresting and exciting.^ Next I think Don We'll make room for a lady anyday, Betty. - Wilcox comes close to making every story And seriously, the only reason a lot of a. g-ood one. Favorites are: WHISPERING letters never see 'pririt is that we just GORILLA, ROBOT PERIL, DWELLERS aren't able to publish them alt. There's no , OF THE DEEP, CRAIG'S BOOK, and •monopoly on the Reader's Page by any one PRINCESS OF THE SEA. Others • are fan. Some appear, more frequently than Livingston, DIMENSIONS UNLIMITED, others, true, but we i don't try and play Pelkie, TOKA SERIES, -Sherman, THIS favorites. The Magarians aren't illustrat­ WAY TO HEAVEN. Chandlers, FORGOT­ ing any longer^ And you'll see more of TEN WORLDS, Hamilton, DAUGHTER McCauley's work in coming - issues. And • OF THOR, Geier, FOREVER IS TOO oh yes, welcome into the fold! Ed. LONG, Hamling, SHADOW OF THE SPHINX, and Phillips, HIGH EARS. OUCH, MR. BLYLER! The old stand bys and favorite?, some who are gone now, are first of all, E. R. Sirs: Burroughs who had a style often copied, r.used to consider those fans who began but never equalled. Also, Frank Patton, their letters, "I have been reading stf for DOORWAYS TO HELL, Williams, JON- millions of years, and have never written C GER, O'Brien, FLOATING ROBOT -AND a letter, but such and such moved, me...." ' FURLOUGH FROM ETERNITY," Bond, a little trite, if not actually stupid. I have, WHEN FREEMEN SHALL STAND, Pol- however, seen the light, and I hereby - lard, STRANGE MISSION OF ARTHUR place myself in the same category. PENDRAN, Gifford, THE LIQUID MAN, I refer to a letter appearing in your McGiveirn and Leroy Yerxa. I think Rich­ June issue signed, "J. Blyler Esq." Well, ard Casey writes about the best spellbind­ we must give the man credit foi: signing ing short stories. I haven't- included any his name to the thing. I have always read 1950 stories as I haven't read them all your magazines vrith considerable interest, , yet. although my interest in the letter columns R. G. Jones is a wonderful cover artist has always been somewhat passive. But but, no one could paint women like McCau- never in the "quite a few" years that I ley. Jones girls are all so, shall we say have, been reading stf (I always think of buxom? One center of attraction I mean. that as .an abbreviation of "stuff" for And that usually, stringy hair-do, is some reason), have I come across an ex­ strictly from hunger. If they don't _ have ample of such colossal conceit backed by perma'nents, can't they at least have wavy so little apparent foundation as Mr.' Bly-j hair once in a while?. He does use beauti­ leresque's letter. ful coloring though. The Mac girls were Surely he could be nice enough to ven-. so beautiful you didn't notice one thing at ture his opinions in a somewhat more a time about her, but saw her as a com­ tentative manner. After all, though he plete woman. Not just a large mouth, apparently thinks it impossible, some, of oversized bust, or scantily clad body, but us may not see things the way he does. " a complete woman. He dares to comment upon the youth of Jones' best covers, in my estimation; fans whose letters, incidentally, I enjoyed . were for WITCH OF THE ANDES and more than his, in a superior manner. He . SEA PEOPLE. McCauley's were, GOD­ seemingly considers himself far enough DESS OF THE GOLDEN FLAME, and' above them mentally to "excuse or over­ THE ,SWORD AND THE POOL. Mr. look" their views on the basis of age. How Naylor had a beautiful cover for QUEEN can a mind this narrow grasp the wider OF THE PANTHER WORLD, and Mr. concepts of fiction basied to a degree upon Kohn for MERMAID OF MARACOT the unproven? - DEEP. And you. Sirs, did'not even rally to the Whatever happened to the Magarians? defense of your young fans. Rather you I used to enjoy looking at their beautiful chose to overlook this gross insult; It illustrations and fairy-like scenes. Sure would perhaps interest Mr. Blyleresque to would like to see tliem back again. One know that I, too, am only a • teen-ager, al­ of the first things that got me .interested- though I may claim the distinction .of ap­ in FA when I was 16 was the illustrations proaching 20 as of November of this year. • by Fuqua in the large old sized mags. I How old, may I ask, is this'peculiarly in­ liked to color them until'I started .reading tolerant male? His views are at once in­ ~ them and gave up the colors.' fantile and senile, I wonder can he be Last but not least,- I v/ould like to get real? Or is he a man from Mars? in touch with fans in Southern California, Surely if these kids are interested in stf especially Long or Cornpton. Object? Trad­ and-can discuss it intelligently, their fresh ing, buying and selling old issues of stf viewpoint should be welcomed along v/ith and fantasy. Anyone interested? ' the more mature outlook of those (this Well, Mr. Hamling, if you print this' includes me tee-hee) who are over thir­ letter and answer_ half of my questions teen, the age at which he apparently draws you will be doing a good job. Apologies his line of...shall we call it prejudice? to Messrs. Ganley, Beck, McNaughton and But enough of him. I have already given Silverberg. him more comment than he deserves. He was right in saying that many more tal- . Mrs. Betty Faulkner en ted opinions of your various stories will 2205 West 19th St. appear in other letters, and here I will fol­ Long Beach 10, Calif. low his example and keep my comments.

PRODUCED BY UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED READER'S PAGE 123 •with . the exception of one, to myself in lieu of the better apprAisals your other Immediatft Cdmforf readers, will make. The exception? I don't And Relief for You with approve of Toffee in novel length. She seemed to me to lose a great deal of her sparkle with all those other "characters" RUPTURE-EASER surrounding her. I really believe I like her (A fim tXACt MOOUCI) better in shortsr (Need I call that a pun?) for MIN< WOMEN and CHILDMN And now I leave you, probably to your relief, and certainly to mine. This has been quite a long time in the writing. I only hope that if this, sees print, your typeset­ ter knows more about spelling, etc., than fot. i do. Oh yes. I'm supposed to say I like Pend. your magazine, I guess. But that's silly. I wouldn't be reading it after all these years Right or Left if I didn't. Side $^95 Phyllis Poore General Delivery Ooubl9 *4«» • McFai-land, Calif. A throng, form fitiing washable support dd<> We don't have to take a stand on these signed to give you relief and comfort. Ad« matters, Phyllis. That's what the Reader's justabje back-lacing and adjustable leg straps. Page is for—and you handle your case Snaps up in front. Soft flat groin pad—NO well enough. ' .Ed. STEiL OR LiATHIR BANDS. Unexcelled fo; comfort, INVISiiLE UNDiR LIGHT €L@7Ho 9NG. Washable. Also used as after operso WEIRD, PIRATES, ""AND BEMSl tion support. Dear Ed: ' ® THE MOST EmCVIVB HERNIA 3UPPOR7.. Thousands of people who have tried old-fajhion»dl, "You're All Alone" was the best story axpenjiva devicet turn to Ruptgre-Eaier for ft»w in the July issue. They were all good; comfort. "Author Unknown" would have been bet­ ® RUPTURE-EASER IS SANITARY. ter if it had been longer. How many Can be washed without harm to fabric «=»vei9 times has "Survival"8 been used as a title never offend when you wear Rupture-Eatftr. for a stf story? ® NO FITTINO REQUIRED. The only gripe I have with FA is the Just measure around the lowest part of the illustrations. You need Finlay or Bok. ,1 abdomen and specify right or left tigs or double. think Finlay did some of his best work Wheif Sailsfiod Users Say ««> for FA and AS—for stories like "The S. C; of Cervallio, Orogen, Air Mellii "Sent mo anothtr Devil'sPigs" and "The Star Shepherd". Ruture-Ettser se I will bav« one to ch«ng« off with. U Robert Gibson Jones can do covers but U enabling mt to work at top Sftti at my fm$ maehine 8 houra a day." not inteiors. Next to Lawrence, I think M. 8. of AnderMD, Ind., thanks w* and Miyti "Is i$ on» Bob Jones is the best cover artist in the of tht finest tMngi I have ever vrotn ani hat mtiit mf business. I'll never forget the covers for life worth. living. It hai g'^en me vntoli tan ani comfort." "Prinches of the Sea" and Lair of the O, B. R, of 9o>toni "Seni me another ... I with to My Grimalkin". to everyone who suffers oj I dUt, 'Oh what relief I have Mrs. Mary Bitters has a good idea— ifound from its helpl' " why not a mag with just supernatural BloMod Relief Pay and Ni^ht atories? WEIRD TALES is the only mag You can sleep in it—you can w6rk in it'~you es9 of this type on the stands today, and even bathe in it. WT lets an occasional stf yard creep in. 10-DAY TRIAL OFFER It's my opinion that another magazine Money Back guarantee H you don't get blessed r»ll&ft devoted entirely to supernatural stories would sell. Piper Brace Company, Oept. ZD-115 308 E. 12th St., Kaneos City 6, Me. Let's have more Hasse and McDowell. I>l«a» Mnd my RUI>TURE.EASEIt by return moll. Get them to work on some honest-to-good- Right Side Q $3.90 Measure oround lowest port ol ness thud and blunder space opera—some Ufl Sid*. d S3.95 my abdomen thing about the good 'ole days when the Oeubit D S4.9S Is INCHES. space lanes abounded with pirates and the We Prepay Postaoa Except on C.O.D.'t. planets abounded with bems. Enclosed iit Q Money Order D Check for »______I'd like to hear from other fans— D Send C.O.D. especially teen-agers. I promise that all Nome • letters will be answered. Address _ Nancy Moore City end State .. R.R. 2, Box 153 :R^SHi3^HISlCOTPOW":l90M^! Sharonville, Ohio

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O.k:, one more vote for the weird type My real reason for this communication, fantasy. As to Hasse and McDowell, we're is to do a little raving in public about sitting here ready to read anything they the lead story in this month's issue; name­ send in • ^"" ly, "You're All Alone" by Fritz Leiber. It's - wonderful! MAGNIFICENT! DI­ WHAT IS THIS GUY? VINE! In fact, there are not enough de­ scriptive words in the language to describe Dear Ed: my opinion of it. - First, it deals with personal lives arid You've got. some pretty good ^stories in feelings, which make a story for me. Sec­ your last issue '(July '50). I've decided ond, it is a stride in the right direction' "You're All Alone" takes first place, with in getting away from the ' old style that "End of Your Rope" coming in" for a close so closely resembled the theme of most second. Third is "Survival" because of its- "westerns" where the boy finally kisses queer ending; fourth," "The Reluctant the girl, when all is finished. Keep up • Genii", fifth, "The Ice Cream Tree;', sixth, the' trend. Thirdly, although it is pure "The Broken Doll", and seventh "Author fantasy, it had a certain ring of truth Unknown". that made me' stop and consider things s I've read FA for exactly one year and I've seen happen. • I believe I can safely say that the best All I can say for Leiber is let's see story I've read in FA yet is "The Invol­ more and more of his writings. There are untary Immortals" by Rog Phillips, my many titles from late issues that I could favorite author. Let's have more of his remark on, but I want to leave some space stories. • ' for others on these pages. So, I will just I like the novels best, so.keep putting- mention one that especially struck my one in each issue and I'll be^ satisfied. fancy. ' That was Sturgeon's "Dreaming "" "Shades of Toffee" in the June issue, Jewels". EXCELLENT, but not to be com­ though it -was sinister enough, was really pared .with "You're All Alone". So just more of a comedy than fantasy. I'd like keep up the good work, Ed, and I will to sit in the Shades of Toffee and there's be going all out and renewing a sub­ no shadow of a doubt as to what I'd do. scription that I had way back in '39. Cov,- • In conclusion, I want to ask Brian Mc-' ers have been good,, too, and keep up the Naughton what's so horrible-about crackr' idea of putting a few pics- in the lead ing your knuckles. I do it all the time, novel. I like that. . . ~ and it never'bothers me in the least. Only thing I'm wondering about is if (Wish I could say the same for my vic­ I'm alive and you are just one of the tims.) machine robots; because if that be the That isn'fall^I crack though. I cirack case, this letter is out of the "Pattern" and pop my wrists, the i upper joints of and will never see the "Reader's Page." my fingers, my thumbs, and my left el­ bow (crack, crack). . , Ed Robinson And Ed, if you want help (in cracking Box 527 yours^ maybe), just call on me. ' Lexington, Nebraska Donald Smith We're glad you liked the Leiber novel so well, ,Ed. As far as we've been able to de­ Box 71 termine it will prove to be one of the top Hot Springs, South Dakota stories of this or any o.ther year. And you better renew that subscription if you want , Thanks for the offer, but no thanks.: .Ed. to be sure to get every issue of PA—and believe us, with the yams "we have com­ AN OUT. OP THIS WORLD STORY! ing up,' you can't afford to miss one! ...Your- letter saw print, so guess we're' Dear Ed: one of-the "live" ones...we hope!.... .Ed. First off, let me say 'tis, a long time since I've written-to FA or AS. I can-say A- MODERN' CLASSIC that I was one of those privileged to read the first issue of FA. Boy! That sure Dear-Bill: seems a long time ago. I was just a kid out of high school at that time. Even then (Should've warned- you there'd be let­ I knew that FA and AS-v/ere the best in ters like these!) their lines. I' think that there were a' few Guess maybe that last letter to FA luas years that for some reason the mags went a bit late, but this is • being dispatched down in reading value, but I am glad to right on the day I bought and read the say that of late they are back iip on top mag. And editor, reading the thing on once more. Although I cannot call my^ the very day I buy it is something that I self an expert on science fiction, I have just don't do any more, not even START­ been an avid reader of same for these LING or ASTOUNDING, many years. ^ As iPor writing a letter to tlie editor,

PRODUCED BY UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED READER'S PAGE 125 well, you must know yourself now that I just haven't been able to get up am­ bition to do it. U But when I read Fritz Leiber-'s magni­ ficent lead novel, "You're All Alone", I just couldn't stay away from the type­ writer. Sir, that is without doubt the best novel that has graced FA's pages J for, alas too long a period. I congratulate you heartily! More of this, please, more; maybe even a sequel! Everything was Something That Wi|l Command right. Maybe it was only my mcwsd, the fact that I^ was waiting for this kind of story, the fact that my favorite feminine name is "Jane'', and various and sundry other minor things that aided it...but the story hit me harder than any scienti­ fic twaddle or cheap fantasy that I've read At completion of your studies you are for many many months. In fact; I am just awarded a certificate. No one can use unable to express fully the emotion with­ in me right now. Leiber is truly a mas­ this system of NUMEROLOGY with­ ter, as I knew when I first read a story out the certificate. of his, "The Man Who Never Grew Young", and this is his greatest triumph. Who is Brackett, who is Bradbury, who is Kuttner? I predict that this issue of FA will make the greatest splash on the muddy sea of fantasy in years; further, Enroll and become one of oui: success­ I predict that the story will make hard covers within four years. - ful graduates. i This story has something I can't put Write for full particulars. About the into words. I think I can tell what part of it is. It's what every story should have. "Hequaz System of Numerology." It has one hero, one heroine. I put my­ self into the body of the hero, I thought HEQUAZ his thoughts, I lived his frustrations, I felt like tearing the room apart when he came up against the stone wall of Jane's silence and the inexplicable puzzle of the four men with the black hats. I waited with him in the little alcove while the three villains played cat and mouse, I 268 North State St., Dept. H, Marlon, Ohio | hoped the hope of the knowing doomed as he clutched the ancient firearm. The joy that was his coursed through my veins WANT TO BE A MERCHANT SEAMAN? like fire as it must have enveloped him. STARTSNG PAY Do you know what I mean? I hope so; TRAVEL-ADVENTURB I think so. Certainly I feel myself lucky CAREER AT SEA ON to have ever- read such a story as this. AMERICAN SHIPS I know, as I said, that several minor NO EXPERIENCE REQUIRED. EX-SERVICEMEN MAY things combined at the moment to give QUALIFY FOR SHIP'S OFFICERS it this mighty stature in my mind; prob­ For Information WRITE TODAY to: ably a majority of your readers won't MERCANirtE INFORMATION BUREAU agree with me. Biit what do I care for the Bex i954-P Baltlmers 16, Md. other readers? For once I was the au­ thor's perfect subject; I felt what the au­ thor wanted me to feel. And I'm glad, sir, iliiiEi^oiis mighty glad. If you believe that you hdve an Invention/you should find ouf how to protect it. We are registered Patent Attorneys. Send for If Leiber ever writes a sequel to it, copy of our Patent Booklet "How to Protect Your Invention," and an "Invention Record" form. No obUffation. They are jomtt and the sequel doesn't equal this story, for the asking' please Mr. Hamling, please, please tear McMORROW, BERMAN & DAVIDSON Registered Patent Attorneys it up into little pieces and toss it into the 186- F Victor Building, Waahlngton 1, D. C infinite wastebasket! This is the kind of story for which I search the promags and the fanmags and the non-fantasy library S FreeB0®k books and all kinds 'of literature. It's the MOUNT BIRDS, ANIMALS, PISH © Tu.FRES. Explains Turidermr. Tdis how to loani al kind of story I hope to write someday • bom* by ni&Il to mount bIrda_LBiiiinals, h«wls ... to TAN •klni and fan. Qrsat for MEM nnd BOYS. Fan I AUo myself, that shadowy will-o'-the-wisp per­ ^ MTU moaar la apart tlma. WRITS TODAT —MOW — ^A far free book conuiolns lOOtraina pictnrM. st«t« AOB. fect Btory that every author dreams of ^ N.W.fchoololTaxid«rmy.D*pt. 4)11, -OmatHi,N»l>t

PRODUCED BY UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED 126 FANTASTIC ADVENTURES attaining someday. With the reading of himself either a neophyte or else sadly "You're All Alone" I have justified all misinformed about current fans. Gad, even the time and money I have ever devoted I knew about you in spite of no letters to buying s-f; and in the faint hope of in the columns through your fanzine re­ someday, sometime, somewhere reading views; and I hope Merwin gives you an another such' story, I shall continue my. • A-rating soon. But^ I. didn't like the moon- SPJlT'Ch bouncing story, sorry to say, eitlier one AH the short stories a^re magnificent. of them. Just opinion I guess. Hey! Don't "The Reluctant Genii", "Survival", and the people around where you live knovir "End of Your Rope" were the' type which anything about SPACESHIP? I addressed always appears in the Ziff-Davis s-f pub­ •a letter to you, c/o SPACESHIP, with the lications, although . egregious examples ' of address but no name, but it came back. that type I shall admit. The others?...: Had a dime in it, too, but never got up well, I read the shorts first,-and had in­ the ambition to send it to you again. That tended to praise'them to high heaven, but was in the days before I was publishing now I've read the lead story, and have my own fanzine, a nice little number 15c, already spent almost- two pages doing 6/65c, bi-monthly, about 20 pages, mimeo­ that...so I'll merely say they were short- graphed, fiction from fans, and the best short versions -of the lead story. "The fiction at that. Broken Doll" was a wonderous little gem, Henrietta McGee—The line of demarca­ which some people probably won't agree tion between fantasy' and s-f is so slender with, poor devils. "The Ice Cream Tree" and vague that nobody can say for sure was practically nothing—and another that any story is s-f or fantasy, because classic. "Author Unknown", however, was while to him it may~"be one, to someone the type_of short I've been trying to else with different standards it- will be write for years. And so true! And, shame t'other. I' guess we get no sequel to "The on me, I didn't even; guess the ending.' Man From Yesterday", though. Wonderful! Supreme! Gad, this whole issue is good. It just goes to prove that Mrs. Mary Bitters—Not weird stories, I was right in my faith in Ziff-Davis. I please! Well! Maybe a few In and around, said I'd buy AS and PA • till doomsday, and—say, I've got an idea. Hey, there, and in doing so I have to grive up others editor, how about- a Ziff-Davis version of such as OTHER WORLDS and AMFM, UNKNOWN- WORLDS? Why not give it but with such issues as this I shall be a thought? • repaid! Paul Glen Wright—Don't you know that Paul Lohrman is Shaver? I was sure READER'S PAGE: about it when I saw the similarity in Allen May^-When an object's speed ap­ style, and my suspicions have since been proaches 1-speed, the mass approaches in­ confirmed. 'Wonder if " ye edde will cut finity, not zero. But observation proves that out? Really, I like Lohrman much that internal stresses would cause the better than Shaver, especially his short moon to break up into little pieces, as stories. must have occurred in aeons past with Saturn to form Satty's rings. Frank Smith—Yeah. C.T. Beck—Don't you know that Frank Dave Hammond—Yeah. No. *I' don't Bahl is Rog Phillips? think so. No. Right. Ed Cox—Nobody said anything , about Editor—You discovered Roger Phillips? plagiarism, just plot similarity and the plain impossibility . of the plot. Hey, let's hear more of this. How old is Brain, whoops, Brian McNaughton—As Rog, where'd you discover him, etcetera, I said in my personal missive; you win, etcetera? ""v FA is FA. But that was a Shaver story, Enough! whether it emanated from Shaver direct­ ly or not (somebody dare • me to explain W. Paul Ganley that), and it. was handled' as if to give 119 Ward Road the impression that the aiithor "believed" . - North Tonawanda it to be true. New York A. Roberts^Right, more novels. Bob Silverberg— Hey, if any fan calls There isn't much we can add to the terri­ you a neophyte, that only goes to prove fic praise Leiber'n novel lias already re­ one thing; namely that that very fan is ceived. But when you mention a new ver­ sion of the old "Unknown", what_ else is the Leiber story? And we'll give you more GOLDEN BOOK stories in this category as time goes' on. Read the unusual story - ' Rog Phillips? He sold his first, yarn to Ziff-Davis some four years ago. May­ LEGION OF TERROR be five. He's been a top favorite ever 8 Pages—send lOc in coin 'fo Dept. C. since. He may sell other markets—and ZIFF-DAVIS Publishing Company brother is that boy busy—but he always 185 N. Wabash Ave., Chicago I, Illinois keeps his besti stories for you knoio who! —! us ,Ed.

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