DIY History | Transcribe | Hevelin Fanzines | Fantasy Fiction Field, v. 2, issue 17, whole no. 40, Denvention Issue

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Fantasy Fiction Field, v. 2, issue 17, whole no. 40, Denvention Issue

Page 5

Fantasty Fiction Field Illustrated News Weekly (Denvention Issue)  Page 5

STIRRING STORIES (Cont)

In Stirring Science Stories and Cosmic Science Fiction I have tried to bring out the magazines I dreamed of.  I had handicaps and very great ones.  In actual facts, greater handicaps than had ever been faced by a fantasy editor before.  Yet I think I have gradually gotten what I wanted out of my magazines.  I think I have finally placed them on the track of real fantasy pioneering.  I have been gratified to find by the reactions and opinions of fandom that my efforts have not failed; fans do place my publications in the position I had plotted for them.  In the future, I can promise that Stirring Science is going to go places and do things.  I have stories lines up and ideas on hand that will definitely carry my magazine, despite all obstacles, to the very top of leadership.  And my formula is merely that of my fan desires -- a magazine every story of which will be different from anything  that has gone before  and written for intelligent consumption.  For I hold that, even if the majority of fantasy readers are not mature physically, they are mature mentally, and it is an affront and subtle insult to hand them comic-strip stuff in fictionized form. 
I believe that fandom will agree with me, and I believe that if fandom speaks for the anonymous reader (and I do believe that), Stirring Science Stories is going to get closer and closer to that dream-ideal of a perfect fantasy magazine we all hold.  And Cosmic Science Fiction isn't going to be far behind.

ASTONISHING STUFF (cont) 

a story which, we aver, will be talked about for a long time wherever fans gather.
As the September Astonishing shows, we have mutated here to allow for the amplest presentation of the short story.  Our new policy is "10 stories for 10 cents", and we feel certain that reader will appreciate that they are getting more in AStonishing than in any other magazine on the market, including Street & Smith's unethical as it may seem for me to say so.  112 pages of the best writers in the field for a dime certainly is giving people more for their money than most high-priced magazines do.  We want your comments on the new policy in Astonishing.  We know you will approve.

TALES OF TOMORROW (cont)
then it will click with the majority of the unheard -- from readers as well.  If you turn thumbs down in no uncertain terms on a story (or type of story) then we'll know that the Silent Ones, as we affectionately term the greater percent of our circulation, don't care for it either.
We have plans for the little things, too.  Things which always meant a great deal to us years back when nothing was farther from our minds than the thought that someday we would be an editor.  We refer to the readers' department.  Since the expiration of the Horning Wonder Stories and Dr. Sloane's Amazing fans have been missing one of the most vital features of the old stf mags -- the two-way readers department wherein editor and reader had heart-to-heart talks on all manner of subjects.  There were letters commenting on the issues, of course, but just as many of the letters were just a general discussion centering around the idea of science-fiction.  And lots of light humor as well.  We're trying to get that spirit back again in Station X.
Then there's the covers.  We're defintely trying to keep away from the 'orrible monster grabbin' the 'eroine and making off with 'er type of cover.  We do like a pretty girl on the cover, we must admit -- but she must belong there, as on the one illustrating "The Barbarians".  Or the one on Hannes Bok's cover -- which is about the limit, because she is a bit more decorative than necessary.  And, on covers as well as stories and interior artwork the keynote is -- high class variety.

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Fantasty Fiction Field Illustrated News Weekly (Denvention Issue) Page 5 STIRRING STORIES (Cont) In Stirring Science Stories and Cosmic Science Fiction I have tried to bring out the magazines I dreamed of. I had handicaps and very great ones. In actual facts, greater handicaps than had ever been faced by a fantasy editor before. Yet I think I have gradually gotten what I wanted out of my magazines. I think I have finally placed them on the track of real fantasy pioneering. I have been gratified to find by the reactions and opinions of fandom that my efforts have not failed; fans do place my publications in the position I had plotted for them. In the future, I can promise that Stirring Science is going to go places and do things. I have stories lines up and ideas on hand that will definitely carry my magazine, despite all obstacles, to the very top of leadership. And my formula is merely that of my fan desires -- a magazine every story of which will be different from anything that has gone before and written for intelligent consumption. For I hold that, even if the majority of fantasy readers are not mature physically, they are mature mentally, and it is an affront and subtle insult to hand them comic-strip stuff in fictionized form. I believe that fandom will agree with me, and I believe that if fandom speaks for the anonymous reader (and I do believe that), Stirring Science Stories is going to get closer and closer to that dream-ideal of a perfect fantasy magazine we all hold. And Cosmic Science Fiction isn't going to be far behind. ASTONISHING STUFF (cont) a story which, we aver, will be talked about for a long time wherever fans gather. As the September Astonishing shows, we have mutated here to allow for the amplest presentation of the short story. Our new policy is "10 stories for 10 cents", and we feel certain that reader will appreciate that they are getting more in AStonishing than in any other magazine on the market, including Street & Smith's unethical as it may seem for me to say so. 112 pages of the best writers in the field for a dime certainly is giving people more for their money than most high-priced magazines do. We want your comments on the new policy in Astonishing. We know you will approve. TALES OF TOMORROW (cont) then it will click with the majority of the unheard -- from readers as well. If you turn thumbs down in no uncertain terms on a story (or type of story) then we'll know that the Silent Ones, as we affectionately term the greater percent of our circulation, don't care for it either. We have plans for the little things, too. Things which always meant a great deal to us years back when nothing was farther from our minds than the thought that someday we would be an editor. We refer to the readers' department. Since the expiration of the Horning Wonder Stories and Dr. Sloane's Amazing fans have been missing one of the most vital features of the old stf mags -- the two-way readers department wherein editor and reader had heart-to-heart talks on all manner of subjects. There were letters commenting on the issues, of course, but just as many of the letters were just a general discussion centering around the idea of science-fiction. And lots of light humor as well. We're trying to get that spirit back again in Station X. Then there's the covers. We're defintely trying to keep away from the 'orrible monster grabbin' the 'eroine and making off with 'er type of cover. We do like a pretty girl on the cover, we must admit -- but she must belong there, as on the one illustrating "The Barbarians". Or the one on Hannes Bok's cover -- which is about the limit, because she is a bit more decorative than necessary. And, on covers as well as stories and interior artwork the keynote is -- high class variety.