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Fantasite, v. 2, issue 3, whole no. 9, August-September 1942
Page 29
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Among the HAMS and PROS BY OLIVER E. SAARI, MANSON BRACKNEY AND PHIL BRONSON PROS Planet Stories: Fall, The tang of Teck Amazing's in the heady aroma of Gernsback. Laser Wonders -- simple space stories with villains and heroines -- these are the things in Planet's favor, and the new issue is no exception. Bob Tucker's "Prison Planet" takes the cake with donuts and cookies to Hank Hasse's "City of Living Flame", Malc Jameson's "Stellar Showboat", and general good will toward the remainder of the stories. Even Kuttner's current stinkeroo is palatable, the first half is good. Hi-lite of the ish, however, is the readers' section opus entitled "Hi-yo Moskowitz, Away!" in which Moskowtiz replies to Damon Knight's able criticism of an asinine story. Astounding Science Fiction: August. A good ish, almost half of it being taken up by an exceptionally good story. I refer to "Waldo" by Anson MacHeinlein, a story, which gives a fresh scientific slant to a subject older than science itself. Aside from that, and an interesting plot, good writing, and the MacHeinlein polish, there isn't much to the story. There's another jewel also, in "Impediment" by Hal Clement, which with a little more satisfactory ending, would have rung the bell. My guess is that "Hal Clement" is a pseud for JWC, Jr. -- someone please corroborate or deny it if you have evidence. ((According to Fantasy Fiction Field, "Hal Clement" is Harry Stubbs Jr., a member of The Stranger Club of Boston. SDR)) "Jackdaw" shows that Campbell is desperate for material." No other outstanding stinkeroos aside from "Kilgallen's Lunar Legacy", which demonstrates the fact that not all first class writers are first class funny men. "The Link" deserves special mention. --- Oliver E. Saari Astounding Science Fiction: October. At last we have the long awaited astronomical cover depicting the earth as seen from the moon. A von Munchhausen has turned out a nice piece of work, though the spaceship in the scene is very nearly obscured by the thoughtlessly placed insert. Lester del Ray's "Lunar Landing" begins rather nicely, then becomes a trifle hackneyed. Very disappointing as a lead novelette. "Warrrior's Age", by Peter Risk, an unknown who should remain so, is: bad, dreadful, horrid, hacky, stinky, rank, pitiful, pathetic, piteous, abominable, repugnant, abhorrent, revolting, disgusting, deplorable, wretched, unfortunate, and in short an abortion suitable only for filler in Space Tales!! I actually read the story twice before coming to the realization that Astounding had printed it. If this is the type of material Campbell is going to continue to publish, things look black for "The Aristocrat of Science-Fiction". Van Vogt's "Second Solution" is another Vogt alien-viewpoint story. Nuff said. "Anachron Inc.", though rightfully belonding in Unknown Worlds is thoroughly enjoyable and rates as the best in a mediocre issue. Murray Leinster, back after almost six years, tells the tale of "The Wabbler". All about a robot submarine-mine. Hubbard's "The Beast" is an interesting tale, remarkably well-presented. It leads up to a surprise ending. --- Manson Brackney Weird Tales: November. I won't mention the cover, other than to say that when things get this bad, WT could do nicely without any cover. Robert Bloch's lead novelette is an amusing little tale, which I found quite enjoyable. "The Hound" by Fritz Leiber is far and away the most outstanding story in the number, and is well illustrated by Giunta. The consistently high quality of Leiber's work becomes more noticeable with each new story he turns out. "The Crooked House" by Thorne Lee, Schnirring's "The Possessed", and Ray Bradbury's short, "The Candle", are all good. All in all, this issue is quite good, with only two stinkeroos for a change, and some really outstanding short stories. -- Phil Bronson HAMS Musts -- LE ZOMBIE: July. Splendid lithographed cover like this time with pictures
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Among the HAMS and PROS BY OLIVER E. SAARI, MANSON BRACKNEY AND PHIL BRONSON PROS Planet Stories: Fall, The tang of Teck Amazing's in the heady aroma of Gernsback. Laser Wonders -- simple space stories with villains and heroines -- these are the things in Planet's favor, and the new issue is no exception. Bob Tucker's "Prison Planet" takes the cake with donuts and cookies to Hank Hasse's "City of Living Flame", Malc Jameson's "Stellar Showboat", and general good will toward the remainder of the stories. Even Kuttner's current stinkeroo is palatable, the first half is good. Hi-lite of the ish, however, is the readers' section opus entitled "Hi-yo Moskowitz, Away!" in which Moskowtiz replies to Damon Knight's able criticism of an asinine story. Astounding Science Fiction: August. A good ish, almost half of it being taken up by an exceptionally good story. I refer to "Waldo" by Anson MacHeinlein, a story, which gives a fresh scientific slant to a subject older than science itself. Aside from that, and an interesting plot, good writing, and the MacHeinlein polish, there isn't much to the story. There's another jewel also, in "Impediment" by Hal Clement, which with a little more satisfactory ending, would have rung the bell. My guess is that "Hal Clement" is a pseud for JWC, Jr. -- someone please corroborate or deny it if you have evidence. ((According to Fantasy Fiction Field, "Hal Clement" is Harry Stubbs Jr., a member of The Stranger Club of Boston. SDR)) "Jackdaw" shows that Campbell is desperate for material." No other outstanding stinkeroos aside from "Kilgallen's Lunar Legacy", which demonstrates the fact that not all first class writers are first class funny men. "The Link" deserves special mention. --- Oliver E. Saari Astounding Science Fiction: October. At last we have the long awaited astronomical cover depicting the earth as seen from the moon. A von Munchhausen has turned out a nice piece of work, though the spaceship in the scene is very nearly obscured by the thoughtlessly placed insert. Lester del Ray's "Lunar Landing" begins rather nicely, then becomes a trifle hackneyed. Very disappointing as a lead novelette. "Warrrior's Age", by Peter Risk, an unknown who should remain so, is: bad, dreadful, horrid, hacky, stinky, rank, pitiful, pathetic, piteous, abominable, repugnant, abhorrent, revolting, disgusting, deplorable, wretched, unfortunate, and in short an abortion suitable only for filler in Space Tales!! I actually read the story twice before coming to the realization that Astounding had printed it. If this is the type of material Campbell is going to continue to publish, things look black for "The Aristocrat of Science-Fiction". Van Vogt's "Second Solution" is another Vogt alien-viewpoint story. Nuff said. "Anachron Inc.", though rightfully belonding in Unknown Worlds is thoroughly enjoyable and rates as the best in a mediocre issue. Murray Leinster, back after almost six years, tells the tale of "The Wabbler". All about a robot submarine-mine. Hubbard's "The Beast" is an interesting tale, remarkably well-presented. It leads up to a surprise ending. --- Manson Brackney Weird Tales: November. I won't mention the cover, other than to say that when things get this bad, WT could do nicely without any cover. Robert Bloch's lead novelette is an amusing little tale, which I found quite enjoyable. "The Hound" by Fritz Leiber is far and away the most outstanding story in the number, and is well illustrated by Giunta. The consistently high quality of Leiber's work becomes more noticeable with each new story he turns out. "The Crooked House" by Thorne Lee, Schnirring's "The Possessed", and Ray Bradbury's short, "The Candle", are all good. All in all, this issue is quite good, with only two stinkeroos for a change, and some really outstanding short stories. -- Phil Bronson HAMS Musts -- LE ZOMBIE: July. Splendid lithographed cover like this time with pictures
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