DIY History | Transcribe | Hevelin Fanzines | Vampire, whole no. 8, December 1946

Transcribe
Translate

Vampire, whole no. 8, December 1946

Page 27

number of things which I'd like to find out before I state definitely that he's a crackpot. For instance-- does a diminished seventh have a definite significance to him?-- does he class "Scheherazade" as fantasy? Or "The Sorceror's Apprentice"? What position does Wagnerian music occupy in his scheme? About the most significant question I could ask, though, would be, What do you think of when you hear the Overture from "William Tell"? ((Ha, that's easy-- the Lone Ranger.))

As a follow-up article, may I suggest a segregation of fantasy from non-fantasy odors? For instance, the odor of burning flesh, or of monstrous sea-things...

DONALD A. WOLLHEIM
Forest Hills, N.Y.

Thanks for sending me Vampire. It still manages to remain a shade or two above the general level, and thus reflects well to your credit. However it might be to your advantage as an editor to observe the practise of checking the statements of your writers and correspondents, where such checks can be easily made. I refer to the letter of Don Wilson, whom you describe as a "new-fan" and who, very naturally, reflects the brashness of the opinionated new-comer (a brashness, I might add, that I consider quite healthy). Don W. (ilson, not ollheim) states: "He (Don W./ollheim, not ilson/) has the gall to say that Odd John is the greatest stf story every written."

Sorry, but I did *not* say any such thing. If you will bother to check from the Portable Novels of Science, page 482, you will observe that what I did say about Odd John was: "It is that attitude which makes Odd John the best of the superman novels." And I must insist that superman novels do not constitute the whole range of stf. Of course, it is true that on the preceding page I present my opinion that Professor Stapledon is the greatest present-day writer of science-fictional fantasies. I still think so. But this opinion is derived from a consideration of his writing as a whole and not of his triumph in the superman field.

Our brash friend is entitled to his own opinions, naturally, and if he does not share mine in regards to Odd John, we are just as fortunately not obliged to share his in regards to such things as "TWS has been the only bright spot in a world of gloomy stf." -- and "Astonishing, the best mag ever." And so on. For which democracy of diversity, let us all thank Ghu.

ROBERT STEWART
Brooklyn, N.Y.

I may be a little crazy--
I might be a trifle queer;
I may be the most insane fan
Of this or any year.

I may be a trifle nutty,
And I may be a trifle mad,
But they tell me Blue Bem Kennedy
Is the best that can be had.

So enclosed you'll find a quarter
For Vampire, issues three,
Then blast deah Sahjint Saturn 
And his xeno lunacy.

HARRY WARNER, JR.
Hagerstown, Md.

Lionel Inman doesn't seem to be quite sure what he is proposing in his article about a "professional fanzine." You sure as

[page number:] -27-

Saving...

number of things which I'd like to find out before I state definitely that he's a crackpot. For instance-- does a diminished seventh have a definite significance to him?-- does he class "Scheherazade" as fantasy? Or "The Sorceror's Apprentice"? What position does Wagnerian music occupy in his scheme? About the most significant question I could ask, though, would be, What do you think of when you hear the Overture from "William Tell"? ((Ha, that's easy-- the Lone Ranger.)) As a follow-up article, may I suggest a segregation of fantasy from non-fantasy odors? For instance, the odor of burning flesh, or of monstrous sea-things... DONALD A. WOLLHEIM Forest Hills, N.Y. Thanks for sending me Vampire. It still manages to remain a shade or two above the general level, and thus reflects well to your credit. However it might be to your advantage as an editor to observe the practise of checking the statements of your writers and correspondents, where such checks can be easily made. I refer to the letter of Don Wilson, whom you describe as a "new-fan" and who, very naturally, reflects the brashness of the opinionated new-comer (a brashness, I might add, that I consider quite healthy). Don W. (ilson, not ollheim) states: "He (Don W./ollheim, not ilson/) has the gall to say that Odd John is the greatest stf story every written." Sorry, but I did *not* say any such thing. If you will bother to check from the Portable Novels of Science, page 482, you will observe that what I did say about Odd John was: "It is that attitude which makes Odd John the best of the superman novels." And I must insist that superman novels do not constitute the whole range of stf. Of course, it is true that on the preceding page I present my opinion that Professor Stapledon is the greatest present-day writer of science-fictional fantasies. I still think so. But this opinion is derived from a consideration of his writing as a whole and not of his triumph in the superman field. Our brash friend is entitled to his own opinions, naturally, and if he does not share mine in regards to Odd John, we are just as fortunately not obliged to share his in regards to such things as "TWS has been the only bright spot in a world of gloomy stf." -- and "Astonishing, the best mag ever." And so on. For which democracy of diversity, let us all thank Ghu. ROBERT STEWART Brooklyn, N.Y. I may be a little crazy-- I might be a trifle queer; I may be the most insane fan Of this or any year. I may be a trifle nutty, And I may be a trifle mad, But they tell me Blue Bem Kennedy Is the best that can be had. So enclosed you'll find a quarter For Vampire, issues three, Then blast deah Sahjint Saturn And his xeno lunacy. HARRY WARNER, JR. Hagerstown, Md. Lionel Inman doesn't seem to be quite sure what he is proposing in his article about a "professional fanzine." You sure as [page number:] -27-