DIY History | Transcribe | Hevelin Fanzines | Fantascience Digest, v. 2, issue 5, July-September, 1939

Transcribe
Translate

Fantascience Digest, v. 2, issue 5, July-September, 1939

Page 12

FANTASCIENCE DIGEST            Page 12

WHAT FUTURE FOR THE FAN MAGAZINE?
By DONALD A. WOLHEIM

Editor's note: This article was written August 31st, 1939.

These are dynamic days. Things are changing rapidly in the world at large and these changes effect directly or indirectly, sooner or later, everything. Science fiction is not in the least bit immune from such changes.

As the present instant science fiction seems to have reached a peak of professional production unsurpassed in all its career. Nine American science fiction magazines, two British, one or two more American magazines projected and a possible new French publication. Yet we can already perceive a falling away. MARVEL and DYNAMIC appear to be already on their way out. Whether the others will continue, or some fall by the waysidewill depend on other factors. And the principle factor at the moment is the question of war.

It is becoming increasingly obvious that war will have a very definite and unpropitious effect for science fiction magazines. There is little doubt that the two British magazines would fold up at once. England's sources of pulp paper are Scandinavian, and war would kill that traffic at once. Likewise the projected French publication would be felled, if even it ever gets started. Further, the bad effects of the outbreak of a general war in Europe on the American stock market, and consequently on American business risks, will raise havoc with the narrow margins on which pulp magazines are published. We could expect in such a case that all magazines that are lagging behind or just making out would disappear first. Mention might be made of the special instance of Street & Smith, which corporation is in the hands of receivers and up for sale. Under stress, it is not impossible that S & S magazines might fold up or be severely curtailed.

Now despite dark war clouds it is just possible that war might not break out this year. But that it will break out inevitably is certain and would be a matter of not too long a period. So that in speculating about the future of fan magazines we must take into account firstly that the present "golden age" of pre publications is facing inevitable end, and possibly very soon.

Thus under these new circumstances -- those of the rapid decline of professional stf. -- what becomes of the fan publications? I believe that if worst comes to worst it is not inconceivable that all pro stf may vanish. So far the fan mags have no had any definite function to fill. They have served to keep track of all the miscellaneous stf bits published, they have served to aid collectors, they have functioned to help fans keep in contact with each other.

Naturally with a world financial crises, the number of fans who can afford to put out fan magazines will decrease. Thus only the hardiest and firmest will survive. Those magazines will survive that

Saving...

FANTASCIENCE DIGEST Page 12 WHAT FUTURE FOR THE FAN MAGAZINE? By DONALD A. WOLHEIM Editor's note: This article was written August 31st, 1939. These are dynamic days. Things are changing rapidly in the world at large and these changes effect directly or indirectly, sooner or later, everything. Science fiction is not in the least bit immune from such changes. As the present instant science fiction seems to have reached a peak of professional production unsurpassed in all its career. Nine American science fiction magazines, two British, one or two more American magazines projected and a possible new French publication. Yet we can already perceive a falling away. MARVEL and DYNAMIC appear to be already on their way out. Whether the others will continue, or some fall by the waysidewill depend on other factors. And the principle factor at the moment is the question of war. It is becoming increasingly obvious that war will have a very definite and unpropitious effect for science fiction magazines. There is little doubt that the two British magazines would fold up at once. England's sources of pulp paper are Scandinavian, and war would kill that traffic at once. Likewise the projected French publication would be felled, if even it ever gets started. Further, the bad effects of the outbreak of a general war in Europe on the American stock market, and consequently on American business risks, will raise havoc with the narrow margins on which pulp magazines are published. We could expect in such a case that all magazines that are lagging behind or just making out would disappear first. Mention might be made of the special instance of Street & Smith, which corporation is in the hands of receivers and up for sale. Under stress, it is not impossible that S & S magazines might fold up or be severely curtailed. Now despite dark war clouds it is just possible that war might not break out this year. But that it will break out inevitably is certain and would be a matter of not too long a period. So that in speculating about the future of fan magazines we must take into account firstly that the present "golden age" of pre publications is facing inevitable end, and possibly very soon. Thus under these new circumstances -- those of the rapid decline of professional stf. -- what becomes of the fan publications? I believe that if worst comes to worst it is not inconceivable that all pro stf may vanish. So far the fan mags have no had any definite function to fill. They have served to keep track of all the miscellaneous stf bits published, they have served to aid collectors, they have functioned to help fans keep in contact with each other. Naturally with a world financial crises, the number of fans who can afford to put out fan magazines will decrease. Thus only the hardiest and firmest will survive. Those magazines will survive that