DIY History | Transcribe | Hevelin Fanzines | Fantasy News, v. 3, issue 1, whole no. 53, June 25, 1939

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Fantasy News, v. 3, issue 1, whole no. 53, June 25, 1939

31858063100923_018

PAGE (16)         FIRST ANIVERSARY ISSUE                 FANTASY NEWS

membrances.
In but a few years, the magazines of today, and the stories of today, lousy as they are, and good as they are, will slowly acquire their own halo of legendary importance, and the names of the authors and the names of the stories, and the types of stories, and the format of the magazines, will constitute a new plea fo science-fiction as it was in the good old days.
The better the stories get, the lousier the science-fiction fan will want them. If they get lousier, he'll want better ones. If a magazine becomes perfect, its readers will be forced to jack themselves up to a new level of criticism. If the magazine stays the same year after year, he'll become increasingly restless with it. If it changes too much, he'll write bitter letters to the editor. If the magazines small size, he'll want large size; and conversely. Which reminds me:

"As a rule, a man's a fool,
When it's hot, he wants it cool.
When it's cool, he wants it hot,
Always wanting what is not."

That is true of the ardent science-fiction fan --- and especially, dear readers, of me.

___________________

THE SPIRIT OF FANTASY NEWS or "Who Ghost's There?"
by HOY PING PONG

AROUND THE rickety wooden table sat five huddled figures. It was the backroom of Somebody's Bar on 42nd St. A conspiracy was afoot. That was easily to be seen. In fact, somebodys foot was right atop the table in somebody else's beer. Furtive whispers went back and forth across the table. Glances fearfully made over shoulders! Secrecy! Listen:

Palmer: "Well, you guys got your minds made up? I know what I am gonna do to the little shrimp. In the next issue of Fantastic Adentures, out the same week as .... you know, "X Week" ..... the back cover features a picture by Paul of a Moon-man. The Moon-man is seeing reading a newspaper. I'll have Paul make that paper resemble a copy of ..... you know. Incidentally. Fantastisc Adventures gives you large size, no printing on picute. back cov--------"

Weisinger: "Cut it Palmer! Remember we agreed on no commercials! Now about my plans! Starling Stories will be out the week before "X Week" and the entire 'Fan Mag Review' column will be given over to the little squirt's sheet! Can anybody top that?"

Wright: "Easy! Know what I am gonna do white the issue that comes out just before "X Week"? I'm gonna place a box, right on the cover, right underneath the title 'Weird Tales'. And in the box I'm gonna put a big ad for his rag. Think I'll have Finaly draw in a little ghoul or something climbing up on the box, just to give it atmosphere! Wharcha think a dat?"

Erisman: "Not bad, not bad. But I am going you one better. Know what? Next issue we are continuing our "Beauty Parlor of the Future" cover series, and the picture on that particular cover shows a gorgeous maked firl sitting in an overstuffed chair being revamped. While the authomatic machine is doing it's work on her beautiful naked body, a robot is holding up a magazine for her to read. I will change the scene a little and have the robot

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PAGE (16) FIRST ANIVERSARY ISSUE FANTASY NEWS membrances. In but a few years, the magazines of today, and the stories of today, lousy as they are, and good as they are, will slowly acquire their own halo of legendary importance, and the names of the authors and the names of the stories, and the types of stories, and the format of the magazines, will constitute a new plea fo science-fiction as it was in the good old days. The better the stories get, the lousier the science-fiction fan will want them. If they get lousier, he'll want better ones. If a magazine becomes perfect, its readers will be forced to jack themselves up to a new level of criticism. If the magazine stays the same year after year, he'll become increasingly restless with it. If it changes too much, he'll write bitter letters to the editor. If the magazines small size, he'll want large size; and conversely. Which reminds me: "As a rule, a man's a fool, When it's hot, he wants it cool. When it's cool, he wants it hot, Always wanting what is not." That is true of the ardent science-fiction fan --- and especially, dear readers, of me. ___________________ THE SPIRIT OF FANTASY NEWS or "Who Ghost's There?" by HOY PING PONG AROUND THE rickety wooden table sat five huddled figures. It was the backroom of Somebody's Bar on 42nd St. A conspiracy was afoot. That was easily to be seen. In fact, somebodys foot was right atop the table in somebody else's beer. Furtive whispers went back and forth across the table. Glances fearfully made over shoulders! Secrecy! Listen: Palmer: "Well, you guys got your minds made up? I know what I am gonna do to the little shrimp. In the next issue of Fantastic Adentures, out the same week as .... you know, "X Week" ..... the back cover features a picture by Paul of a Moon-man. The Moon-man is seeing reading a newspaper. I'll have Paul make that paper resemble a copy of ..... you know. Incidentally. Fantastisc Adventures gives you large size, no printing on picute. back cov--------" Weisinger: "Cut it Palmer! Remember we agreed on no commercials! Now about my plans! Starling Stories will be out the week before "X Week" and the entire 'Fan Mag Review' column will be given over to the little squirt's sheet! Can anybody top that?" Wright: "Easy! Know what I am gonna do white the issue that comes out just before "X Week"? I'm gonna place a box, right on the cover, right underneath the title 'Weird Tales'. And in the box I'm gonna put a big ad for his rag. Think I'll have Finaly draw in a little ghoul or something climbing up on the box, just to give it atmosphere! Wharcha think a dat?" Erisman: "Not bad, not bad. But I am going you one better. Know what? Next issue we are continuing our "Beauty Parlor of the Future" cover series, and the picture on that particular cover shows a gorgeous maked firl sitting in an overstuffed chair being revamped. While the authomatic machine is doing it's work on her beautiful naked body, a robot is holding up a magazine for her to read. I will change the scene a little and have the robot