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FMS Digest, v. 1, issues 1-5, February - July 1941
v.1:no.1: Page 10
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Page 10 F M Z DIGEST One Man's Viewpoint By The Professor Condensed from SPACEWAYS January, 1941 I've been asked for my viewpoint on this type of fiction called science fiction, fantasy, and weird, and of that group of people known to their fellow men as "fans." I know one who terms himself a fan... It was he who introduced me to this type of literature, and he who finally managed to ask me to write something in a "fan" way. Me, a fan! Even yet I haven't recovered fully from the utter disgust, the terrible implications of the word. Me -- Professor... well, never mind. I prefer to remain unknown--a "fan!" Horrible! He pleaded, threatened, waved sundry horribly mimeod and hectographed atrocities under my horrified nose and said they were publications! I looked at one. Heavens above, I thought, has the press stooped to such levels, that it is bastardized by such ungrammatical, sloppily composed, kindergarten - spelled orphans as these? I admit some seemed to be sincere, but all, all were apparently put out by infantile minds suffering from delusions of grandeur. They seem to be in the short pants and ribbons age! Like children they group together and play at putting out a magazine. Some think they are authors, and authoresses. Some think they can draw. A picture...I shudder when I think of some of the gruesome monstrosities that I have seen. Others form clubs, and these clubs think up feuds, and fight with one another. Others criticize professional writers who know enough about their art to sell their product. ...They write the editors and tell them how to run a magazine. Children who cannot put out a decent magazine themselves have the gall to tell editors what and how they must do their job! Do I want to be a fan? No! NO! What intelligent man wishes to be termed something that is part and parcel of a group of infants? All are not infants, but they are all too few. THE COST OF SCIENCE FICTION PART ONE: THE PRO MAGS Condensed from SUN TRAILS Winter Issue, 1941 Did you ever wonder just how much it costs to be a science fiction fan? For the enlightenment of fans and others of similar tastes, this information is now added to the other useless information cluttering up the universe. It was decided to take all of the pro mags that were on the newstands on February 1, 1941. A careful check reveals that twenty-two stf, weird or fantasy magazines were in circulation. And they cost exactly $24.60 a year or average of $2.05 per month. The average price of stf mags figures out to 16.132 [[cent symbol]]. The most it is possible to spend in any one month is $2.70, on 16 magazines. The least in one month is $1.60, on 10 mags. But if you buy all 22 at once, they will cost $3.55. By subscribing, you will save only $1.50 per year, a year's magazines costing $23.10. DEPTS OF THE INTERIOR By Bob Tucker Condensed from LE ZOMBIE January 1941 BREAKING INTO PRINT, DEPT: The N Y C 1939 Convention surpassed the 1940 Chicago convention in one respect, to wit: the Nycon rated a write-up in the Time magazine. The Chicon did not, this year. However, for a 'sprise, we refer you to the text on page 99, of the November 25, 1940 issue of Life magazine. Eagle-eye Korshak called it to our attention. SUGGESTION DEPT: In these hectic days of phrase-coining, we offer one. Westerns are called "horse operas," the morning housewife tear - jerkers are called "soap operas." For the hacky, grinding, stinking, outworn space-ship yarn, or world-saving for that matter, we offer "space opera."
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Page 10 F M Z DIGEST One Man's Viewpoint By The Professor Condensed from SPACEWAYS January, 1941 I've been asked for my viewpoint on this type of fiction called science fiction, fantasy, and weird, and of that group of people known to their fellow men as "fans." I know one who terms himself a fan... It was he who introduced me to this type of literature, and he who finally managed to ask me to write something in a "fan" way. Me, a fan! Even yet I haven't recovered fully from the utter disgust, the terrible implications of the word. Me -- Professor... well, never mind. I prefer to remain unknown--a "fan!" Horrible! He pleaded, threatened, waved sundry horribly mimeod and hectographed atrocities under my horrified nose and said they were publications! I looked at one. Heavens above, I thought, has the press stooped to such levels, that it is bastardized by such ungrammatical, sloppily composed, kindergarten - spelled orphans as these? I admit some seemed to be sincere, but all, all were apparently put out by infantile minds suffering from delusions of grandeur. They seem to be in the short pants and ribbons age! Like children they group together and play at putting out a magazine. Some think they are authors, and authoresses. Some think they can draw. A picture...I shudder when I think of some of the gruesome monstrosities that I have seen. Others form clubs, and these clubs think up feuds, and fight with one another. Others criticize professional writers who know enough about their art to sell their product. ...They write the editors and tell them how to run a magazine. Children who cannot put out a decent magazine themselves have the gall to tell editors what and how they must do their job! Do I want to be a fan? No! NO! What intelligent man wishes to be termed something that is part and parcel of a group of infants? All are not infants, but they are all too few. THE COST OF SCIENCE FICTION PART ONE: THE PRO MAGS Condensed from SUN TRAILS Winter Issue, 1941 Did you ever wonder just how much it costs to be a science fiction fan? For the enlightenment of fans and others of similar tastes, this information is now added to the other useless information cluttering up the universe. It was decided to take all of the pro mags that were on the newstands on February 1, 1941. A careful check reveals that twenty-two stf, weird or fantasy magazines were in circulation. And they cost exactly $24.60 a year or average of $2.05 per month. The average price of stf mags figures out to 16.132 [[cent symbol]]. The most it is possible to spend in any one month is $2.70, on 16 magazines. The least in one month is $1.60, on 10 mags. But if you buy all 22 at once, they will cost $3.55. By subscribing, you will save only $1.50 per year, a year's magazines costing $23.10. DEPTS OF THE INTERIOR By Bob Tucker Condensed from LE ZOMBIE January 1941 BREAKING INTO PRINT, DEPT: The N Y C 1939 Convention surpassed the 1940 Chicago convention in one respect, to wit: the Nycon rated a write-up in the Time magazine. The Chicon did not, this year. However, for a 'sprise, we refer you to the text on page 99, of the November 25, 1940 issue of Life magazine. Eagle-eye Korshak called it to our attention. SUGGESTION DEPT: In these hectic days of phrase-coining, we offer one. Westerns are called "horse operas," the morning housewife tear - jerkers are called "soap operas." For the hacky, grinding, stinking, outworn space-ship yarn, or world-saving for that matter, we offer "space opera."
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