Transcribe
Translate
Western Star, issue 4, September 10, 1950
Page 1
More information
digital collection
archival collection guide
transcription tips
[[illustration text]] Norwescon[[?]] '50 [[end illustration text]] This issue of WeSTar will devote itself rather haphazardly to an account of the NORWESCON and the many interesting things that occured before and after. Unfortunately we went up there more to have a good time than to report the proceedings, also we missed portions of said proceedings. In the following account, our slogan will be. SEQUENCE BE DAMNED. [[?]] sequence, that is. We shall try to account for the doings and sayings of the last week and a half as they struck us, under several general headings. Again, we ate composing directly onto the plates..... The two Bay Area clubs were well represented at the NORWESCON, although, set with the two dozen local science fictionists who once planed to go. Anthony Boucher, who was a guest of honor, made the trip early in the week. Dr. Eton and George Finigan of the Little Men arrived Saturday morning, missing the Friday evening section of the program. The GGFS contingent arrived late Saturday afternoon, shortly after Boucher had finished his opening speech. The latter group included Hans Busch, auto pilot who also made a profit of around $100 from the convention; Stewart Metchette, who caught up on the doings of his erstwhile[[?]] associates, the Michigan fans; Gordon Kull and Claude Plum who stayed only for Saturday and Sunday; Mel Brown, who spent most of his time sightseeing; and your editor, of whom more later. Upon returning, Boucher stated, "We feel that the Little Men have badly misjudged fandom." The Little Men, who had previously had little contset[[?]] with organized fandom, came away from the convention convinced that they had underestimated the intelligence level of the rest of the fans. They had judged fans as a group by the irresponsibilities of some of its more outspoken representatives. "We have come back as loyal conventioneers." Your editor missed Boucher's Keynote Address, but the discussion that was in progress when we arrived indicated that AB had been making a plea for higher level work in the field. The immediate discussion was on BXM [[?]] vs DESTINATION MOON with Boucher stron in his denunciation of the former. On this subject, your editor becomes more convinced that it is merely a choice between two bad films, one of which was pretentious and dull, although technically accurate and beautifully filmed, and completely lacking in depth of plot or characterization; whereas the other was inept and cheap. We do feel that in the conversation of a sizable section of the general public to stf, the human qualities necessary to the novel as an art form are more important than the technical accuracy of the science (which may after all be pseudo-science) incidental to the story, or the uniqueness of the gadgetry which now provides the backbone of much stf. During one of the discussions before our arrival, Howard Browne[[?]], editor of AMAZING STORIES, made a statement referred to or reiterated frequently during the convention. He said in effect that AS is aiming at the newer, juvenile readers of stf, recent graduates of the comic book field. Therefore, AS cannot be expected to compete for literary quality with certain other publication sin --- 2 ---
Saving...
prev
next
[[illustration text]] Norwescon[[?]] '50 [[end illustration text]] This issue of WeSTar will devote itself rather haphazardly to an account of the NORWESCON and the many interesting things that occured before and after. Unfortunately we went up there more to have a good time than to report the proceedings, also we missed portions of said proceedings. In the following account, our slogan will be. SEQUENCE BE DAMNED. [[?]] sequence, that is. We shall try to account for the doings and sayings of the last week and a half as they struck us, under several general headings. Again, we ate composing directly onto the plates..... The two Bay Area clubs were well represented at the NORWESCON, although, set with the two dozen local science fictionists who once planed to go. Anthony Boucher, who was a guest of honor, made the trip early in the week. Dr. Eton and George Finigan of the Little Men arrived Saturday morning, missing the Friday evening section of the program. The GGFS contingent arrived late Saturday afternoon, shortly after Boucher had finished his opening speech. The latter group included Hans Busch, auto pilot who also made a profit of around $100 from the convention; Stewart Metchette, who caught up on the doings of his erstwhile[[?]] associates, the Michigan fans; Gordon Kull and Claude Plum who stayed only for Saturday and Sunday; Mel Brown, who spent most of his time sightseeing; and your editor, of whom more later. Upon returning, Boucher stated, "We feel that the Little Men have badly misjudged fandom." The Little Men, who had previously had little contset[[?]] with organized fandom, came away from the convention convinced that they had underestimated the intelligence level of the rest of the fans. They had judged fans as a group by the irresponsibilities of some of its more outspoken representatives. "We have come back as loyal conventioneers." Your editor missed Boucher's Keynote Address, but the discussion that was in progress when we arrived indicated that AB had been making a plea for higher level work in the field. The immediate discussion was on BXM [[?]] vs DESTINATION MOON with Boucher stron in his denunciation of the former. On this subject, your editor becomes more convinced that it is merely a choice between two bad films, one of which was pretentious and dull, although technically accurate and beautifully filmed, and completely lacking in depth of plot or characterization; whereas the other was inept and cheap. We do feel that in the conversation of a sizable section of the general public to stf, the human qualities necessary to the novel as an art form are more important than the technical accuracy of the science (which may after all be pseudo-science) incidental to the story, or the uniqueness of the gadgetry which now provides the backbone of much stf. During one of the discussions before our arrival, Howard Browne[[?]], editor of AMAZING STORIES, made a statement referred to or reiterated frequently during the convention. He said in effect that AS is aiming at the newer, juvenile readers of stf, recent graduates of the comic book field. Therefore, AS cannot be expected to compete for literary quality with certain other publication sin --- 2 ---
Hevelin Fanzines
sidebar
