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Acolyte, v. 4, issue 1, whole no. 13, Winter 1946
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STANLEY G. WEINBAUM A CRITICAL APPRAISAL by Sam Moskowitz -o0o- (Editorial note: The editors of The Acolyte wish to emphasize that the opinions expressed by Mr. Moskowitz do not necessarily reflect their views, particularly in the instance of his distaste for The New Adam which of all Weinbaum's work shows the nearest approach to literate writing and the smallest amount of cheap pulp hackwork. In the next issue of The Acolyte we intend to publish a critical review of what this fine story written by John Hollis Mason. We respect Mr. Moskowitz' opinions, and, though different with our certain of them, are very happy to give him the space to present them. FTL/SDR) ---oo0oo--- DECEMBER 14, 1945, marked the tenth anniversary of Stanley G. Weinbaum's death. The posthumous printings, reprintings, and accolades are at an end. It is time to evaluate the man's works. When the editor of Wonder Stories set up the blurb for Weinbaum's first story, "A Martian Odyssey", in July 1934, he knew that he had obtained something entirely new in interplanetary fiction. But realising that more stories are marred than made by blurbs he simply said: "Our present author...has written a science-fiction tale so new, so breezy, that it stands head and shoulders over similar interplanetary yarns." "A Martian Odyssey" was intended to be a burlesque of existing science-fiction, but in some way Weinbaum added a note of convincingness to the bizarre dramatis personae: an intelligent ostrich armed with a manufactured pop-gun; an immortal silicon monster with no apparent senses who spends his life burping bricks out of his mouth and laying them neatly on the ground; a tentacled plant, capable of luring its food by a process of hypnosis; headless creatures mindlessly booming out the refrain. "We are V-r-r-riends, Ouch!", while trundling barrows full of rubbish to a huge wheel to be crushed to powder; and a German named Putz. The feat of carrying this remarkable combination through a straight-faced, tongue-in-cheek yarn of grand entertainment has seldom if ever been surpassed. Charles D. Hornig, editor of Wonder at the time "Martian Odyssey" was published, has stated that this story received more praise than any other in the history of the magazine. In evaluating Weinbaum, it must be remembered that he had previously been a writer of newspaper serials and complete novels. For more than anything else, more than for love, more than from inspiration, Weinbaum wrote for money. Semi-invalidated by cancer, his sole hope of support lay int he writing of fiction. His success in the science-fiction field was entirely unexpected by him. He received scant recognition from his previous writing, and, despite the predictions of many that he would eventually graduate to the slicks, Weinbaum actually abandoned the sophisticated, slick type of story for science-fiction. The praise which followed in the wake of "Martian Odyssey" surprised Weinbaum more than anyone else. And to the day he died, he had no confidence in his selling power. He lived in awe of the editors, cudgeling his brain for more unique ideas, constantly fearful of rejection. So afraid was he that his success in selling to Astounding month after month was temporary that he had his agent, Julius Schwartz, sell -- 24 --
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STANLEY G. WEINBAUM A CRITICAL APPRAISAL by Sam Moskowitz -o0o- (Editorial note: The editors of The Acolyte wish to emphasize that the opinions expressed by Mr. Moskowitz do not necessarily reflect their views, particularly in the instance of his distaste for The New Adam which of all Weinbaum's work shows the nearest approach to literate writing and the smallest amount of cheap pulp hackwork. In the next issue of The Acolyte we intend to publish a critical review of what this fine story written by John Hollis Mason. We respect Mr. Moskowitz' opinions, and, though different with our certain of them, are very happy to give him the space to present them. FTL/SDR) ---oo0oo--- DECEMBER 14, 1945, marked the tenth anniversary of Stanley G. Weinbaum's death. The posthumous printings, reprintings, and accolades are at an end. It is time to evaluate the man's works. When the editor of Wonder Stories set up the blurb for Weinbaum's first story, "A Martian Odyssey", in July 1934, he knew that he had obtained something entirely new in interplanetary fiction. But realising that more stories are marred than made by blurbs he simply said: "Our present author...has written a science-fiction tale so new, so breezy, that it stands head and shoulders over similar interplanetary yarns." "A Martian Odyssey" was intended to be a burlesque of existing science-fiction, but in some way Weinbaum added a note of convincingness to the bizarre dramatis personae: an intelligent ostrich armed with a manufactured pop-gun; an immortal silicon monster with no apparent senses who spends his life burping bricks out of his mouth and laying them neatly on the ground; a tentacled plant, capable of luring its food by a process of hypnosis; headless creatures mindlessly booming out the refrain. "We are V-r-r-riends, Ouch!", while trundling barrows full of rubbish to a huge wheel to be crushed to powder; and a German named Putz. The feat of carrying this remarkable combination through a straight-faced, tongue-in-cheek yarn of grand entertainment has seldom if ever been surpassed. Charles D. Hornig, editor of Wonder at the time "Martian Odyssey" was published, has stated that this story received more praise than any other in the history of the magazine. In evaluating Weinbaum, it must be remembered that he had previously been a writer of newspaper serials and complete novels. For more than anything else, more than for love, more than from inspiration, Weinbaum wrote for money. Semi-invalidated by cancer, his sole hope of support lay int he writing of fiction. His success in the science-fiction field was entirely unexpected by him. He received scant recognition from his previous writing, and, despite the predictions of many that he would eventually graduate to the slicks, Weinbaum actually abandoned the sophisticated, slick type of story for science-fiction. The praise which followed in the wake of "Martian Odyssey" surprised Weinbaum more than anyone else. And to the day he died, he had no confidence in his selling power. He lived in awe of the editors, cudgeling his brain for more unique ideas, constantly fearful of rejection. So afraid was he that his success in selling to Astounding month after month was temporary that he had his agent, Julius Schwartz, sell -- 24 --
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