DIY History | Transcribe | Hevelin Fanzines | Sparx, v. 1, issue 5, October 1947

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Sparx, v. 1, issue 5, October 1947

Page 9

VE (Continued from page 8.)
series. In that story are all the details on the use, alaignment, and limitations of the power tube, which are only hinted at in the others. Furthermore it's a good story. "Identity is not vital to an understanding of the rest of the stories in VE. It is, however, a direct lineal descendant of the VE stories, and fits into no other series. It also is a swell story.
In brief, these two stories are related to VE, and to no others of Smith's works. They therefore belong in the volume with the rest. One of them is vital to the understandind of the rest. So its absence is twice as much to be mourned.
And, while I'm on the subject of mourning, I might as well get on to "Mad Holiday." "Mad Holiday" is Smith's attempt to bind up all the loose threads and put a final and decisive end to the series. He failed. And I think that the reason for the failure was a lack of firmness on the part of his publishers, or, possibly laziness on the part of GOS. It may be that the publishers had no chance to get the story rewritten. "Mad Holiday" is a fairly good rough draft of a story. It is not a polished job, of the sort that the stories that Mr. Campbell published were. I can't quote chapter and verse, but this finishing tale left a not nice taste in my mouth. One detail that I might pick on is the sudden splurge of love life. But I guess that that is normal, as a reaction to the escape from a certain mag's editorial policy. So I'll look the other way. Two things that I might point out, after all. One: Kingman is not totally done for. He has wiggled out of worse before. Two: How does he get to know all concerned well enough to write the note that is "left" at a point in the story I can't describe further without ruining the plot. And I ain't that much of a louse.
The illustrations are superd, if you like a wood-cut style. Much like Swenson's work in ASF, but not quite so mordidly gloomy.
Campbell's introduction is short, and to the point.
Taking the long view, the book is definitely a must for Smith fans, as the stories are not likely to be reprinted elsewhere, and they are much more convenient in VE than in a couple of miles of old Astoundings. In case you're interested, Prime Press, Box 2019, Philadelphia 3, Pa. (Free plug.)
I LIKED VE. I LIKED VE. I LIKED VE. I LIKED VE. I LIKED VE. I LIKE

SACRED TO THE MEMORY!

Saving...

VE (Continued from page 8.) series. In that story are all the details on the use, alaignment, and limitations of the power tube, which are only hinted at in the others. Furthermore it's a good story. "Identity is not vital to an understanding of the rest of the stories in VE. It is, however, a direct lineal descendant of the VE stories, and fits into no other series. It also is a swell story. In brief, these two stories are related to VE, and to no others of Smith's works. They therefore belong in the volume with the rest. One of them is vital to the understandind of the rest. So its absence is twice as much to be mourned. And, while I'm on the subject of mourning, I might as well get on to "Mad Holiday." "Mad Holiday" is Smith's attempt to bind up all the loose threads and put a final and decisive end to the series. He failed. And I think that the reason for the failure was a lack of firmness on the part of his publishers, or, possibly laziness on the part of GOS. It may be that the publishers had no chance to get the story rewritten. "Mad Holiday" is a fairly good rough draft of a story. It is not a polished job, of the sort that the stories that Mr. Campbell published were. I can't quote chapter and verse, but this finishing tale left a not nice taste in my mouth. One detail that I might pick on is the sudden splurge of love life. But I guess that that is normal, as a reaction to the escape from a certain mag's editorial policy. So I'll look the other way. Two things that I might point out, after all. One: Kingman is not totally done for. He has wiggled out of worse before. Two: How does he get to know all concerned well enough to write the note that is "left" at a point in the story I can't describe further without ruining the plot. And I ain't that much of a louse. The illustrations are superd, if you like a wood-cut style. Much like Swenson's work in ASF, but not quite so mordidly gloomy. Campbell's introduction is short, and to the point. Taking the long view, the book is definitely a must for Smith fans, as the stories are not likely to be reprinted elsewhere, and they are much more convenient in VE than in a couple of miles of old Astoundings. In case you're interested, Prime Press, Box 2019, Philadelphia 3, Pa. (Free plug.) I LIKED VE. I LIKED VE. I LIKED VE. I LIKED VE. I LIKED VE. I LIKE SACRED TO THE MEMORY!