FANI TASY F Itevi F VV -, Vol
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FANI TASY F iTEVI F VV -, Vol. If. No. 9 SIXPENCE JUN.-JUL. '48 . NEW WORLDS' CRISIS Reoders to Share in New Publishing Project To save .New Wo,rlds' from the fate of .Fantasy'follocF ing the close.down of Pendulum publications. British science fiction readers will be invited to pa.rticipate in a. plan to establish a. publishing company of their owrr. , ,. The scheme. whose prime movers include the edirors of oo[n magazrnes, was broactred at the first get_together of fantasy writers and readers for four I'ears, lield in London at Whitsun. Editor John Carnelt revealed ihat N"ro was Worlds held up indeflnitely.!.et because the publishels had suspended operations. the last (October '47) issue had been oversold by 9,000 copies and the fourth, which was ready for press, tvould have met an even greater demand. The paper situation was such that no other puillisher would be likely to take over the magazine. But a felv who were concerned with its further advancement had agreed to join in launching a new company which, at the flrst opportunity, would use existing facilities for producing and distributing, and would also provide an opportunity for readers to give the enterprise further financial backing. These plans, and other ventures ilrat woutd develop if they were successful, were being prepared in detail and would be announced later. Mr. Carnell said that although every attempt at a regular British science flction publication had failed sooner or later, the reaction to Fa^ntasy and New Worlds had clearlv demonstrated the scope for such a magazine if it rvere doni by people who really kne',rr the fleld. Walter Gillings, editor Fantasy Review, who presided, said that after tB years he had decided it rvas a waste of time ftying to interest existing publishers in the potentiati- ties of British fantasy-flction, of which he was more convinced than ever. Fantasy had folded only because paper shortage made it an uncertain flnancial proposition; pub- lishers had to make profits. But if other groups interested in propagating an idea could establish their own journais antl make progress, why not fantasy fans? He had started Fantasy Review to keep isolated readers informed .,of developments partly in anticipation of the situation now confronting them. Of the informal meetings of writerc and readers which had been held in London since the war, he said it was felt [Continued Overleat 2 FA NTASY these had accomplished more than pre. secretary G. I(en Chapman, whose name war organisations like the Science Fiction was also mentioned in connection with Assoclation which held yearly conven- the proposed new pubiishing cqmpany. It tions. But if the new generation of fans was suggested that this might be incor- Ieit the need of a society to link them porated in time for New Worltls to resume together, it was for them to form one. publication in the autumn. With their new approach to the medium, they would probably be more successful than if it were run by the older BRIIISH SCIENIISIs enthusiasts with their conservative ideasx. NOW READ 'WONDER' The meeting expressed itself in favour new organisation, In a talk on "Science Fiction and of a but no deflnite Astronautics," Arthur C. Clarke, Council proposals were forthcoming, though it was member of British decided to hold a bigger convention next the fnbrplanetary year Society, considered whether s-f had been at which a national association good or bad might be launched. a thing for the space-travel movement. He recalled that the Society Mr. Carnell also reported progress on was started '33, people the Big Pond in by who were Fund, started by American interested in the philosophical aspects of fans with the object of enabling a Britirsh the subject; the flrst secretary, Leslie J. representative to attend the next Worid Johnson, rvas an active s-f fan. To-day Science Fiction Convention to be held in the membership comprised only 20 per New York. An auction of books and cent. of such people. magazines raised a substantial sum for "There are a small minority of members the Fund. who will not Iook at science flction. a Thanks to "Whitcon" organiser J. O. large number who read it surreptitiously Newman, auctioneer Ted Tubb and the and dodt talk about it, and many who speakers were expressed by forrner S.F.A. read and discuss it openly and don't give ';The overwhelming majority of fans a damn what the rest think. These s-f present were new to such gatherings; fans are to be found among both techni- many were meeting fellow enthusiasts for cal and non-technical members." the flrst time. Youngest attendee was He had evidence that many professional 13-1'ss1-.16 Ronald Walter Gillings, scientisk in this country as well as taking an active interest in the proceed- America were regular readers of science ings, discussing the merits of "Skylark" flction. In fact, he had just started Smith rvith his elders- Thrilling Wonder Stories circulating in the Cavendish Laboratory, which had hitherto been sacrosanct to Astounding. Verne and Wells had served to spread FANTASY REVIEW the early ideas of interplanetary travei, A Journal for Readers, Writers and aird the theories of Oberth and other Collectors of Imaginative Fiction pioneers of astronautics were given great play popular prac- SIXPENCE by magazines. It was BI.MONTHLY: tlcally a law that people were introduced Editorial, Advertising and Pub- to the science through science fiction, lishing Omce: 115 Wanstead Park which had thus been of great service to Road. Ilford, Essex. the movement. Subscription rates: In Great Britain ancl Dominions (except He had been more inclined to condemn Canada) 3/6 per year. Single cop- the medium for some of its poorer speci- ies, 7d., post free. In Canada and mens, but the fact remained that people U.S.A., 75c. per year. Single copies, had been persuaded to take even Buck 15c., post free. Rogers and Flash Gordon seriously by developments past years. YoI. 2. No. I Jun.-Jul. '48 the of the fev/ "So, though we cannot dismiss s-f Editor: Walter Gillings. without a stain on its character, I think Associate Edltors: John Carnell, astronautics would never have reached J. Micha.el Rosenblum, D. R. Smith, the stage it now has it hadn't been Arthur F. Hillman, Fted C. Brown, if for Nigel Lindsay, Frank Edward Ar- science flcbion, which has done much to nold. J. O. Newman. A. Vincent break down the psychological barriers Clarke. which still retard our progress. If it is to A m e r i c a n Correspondents: assist us further in the future, it will David I(ishi (Ne"i York). Forrest have to be more factual and deal with J. Ackerman (Hollywood), Sam the sociologicai problems space-flight will Moskowitz (Newark, N.J.), Joseph bring, as in Ray Bradbury's latest story, B. Baker (Chicago). 'And the Moon Be Still as Bright."' REVIEW Wa,Iter Gilling:so FANTASIA Follo$'ing "vociierous complaint" at jibes at science-fantasl' and its fans in Arkham Sampler. August Derleth invited "one of mo.st vocal of s-f adhei'ents" to argue "The Case for Science Fiction" in early issue, plans to devote Winter '49 number entirely to s-f Sa-vs Derleth in nis Introduction to "Strange Ports of Call," collection of s-f master- pieces: "Overwhelming majority of s-f stories are rvritten on an adolescent level . Far too much of s-f today suffers from coterie writlng " Fan letters in magazines he describes as "submoronic," even accuses Astounding: Editor Campbell of "writing absurdities" Stephen Grendon, reputed protege of Derleth, author of weird tales, now believed to be pseudonym of Derleth himself Arthur C. Ciarke's stories for suspended British * **,. .. Fantasy, still unpublished, may appear instead in U.S. iff; magazines . 1: s& :r - Unknown annual, due for publication mid-July, titled "Ftom l*!- u"il;; .i1'9;ie;J; i" nave_ rzg pace: yith.,!;;+ bf o"!_tleii contents will be reprints, . Coming up in Startling Stories: 'What A. Beltram Mad Universe?" by Ftedric Brown, Henry Kuttner's "The Time Chandler Axis." October Thrilling Wonder will feature "Moonfir'e," by Leigh Brackett, William F. Temple's "Mirac]e Town" Lester del li,ey told New Jersey fans why he no longer writes fantas]': "I flnd Western and sports stolies more profitable" . Dr. David H. Keller, writing in Fanscient, bemoaned editors' :ieiection of many of his tales because they were "too beautiful." His detective Taine will reappear in Fantasy Book . , "A Ship from No$'her€," by Master Mariner A, Bel'tram Chandler, in American Argosy . New horror fllm, "The Beast with Five Fingers," with Peter Lorre, reminiscent of William Ftyer Harve)"s s,eird tale of dismembered hand . "Miranda," with Glynirs Johns as seductive melmaid. dittc Wells' "The Sea Lad1"' Londou Film Society revived silent ctassic'Iv{etropolis" . Next Tarza cinemadventure: "Tarzan rnd the Founr"ain of Youth" . "Atoms, Rockets and the Moon," booklet by Grimtll -.bserva- tory, Los Angeles, has reference to s.f magazines U.S. Rocket Socieii' ; Fl.L, ("Golden Moon") Farnsworth authors "Rockets-New Trail to Empire" (Rocket Associates: {i2) . "Into the Atomic Age" (Hutchinson: 9/6) is popular atomics iext- book by B.I.S. member Chapman Pincher Francis L. Ashton's second. .{Llantean novel, "Alas This Great City," forthcoming from Dakers; Wiuiam F. Tenlplc; "The Four-Sided Triangle" from John Inng , Ray Bradbury interviewed by Writers' Markets & Methods: "My stolies are imaginative because that's my fleld. Sincerity is important I never write down, and I'm not ashamed of anything I turn out .