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Banshee, whole no. 4, March 1944

Page 17

Banshee * * * 17

with all the pitfalls of a trying time. I know my shortcomings, and have done my utmost to keep them from cropping out in the wrong places. At times I get a bit tangled in the resulting web of circumstance, but I come through with my spirit and body intact (generally). Now don't get the idea that I'm alluding to any one of fandom's farflung minions. This is something that should be aired thoroughly, and with no sense of blasting any one single individual. I've looked over some of my letters and magazines back in 1932 and later, and I almost blush with shame at some of the pretty foul things I used to say in reference to some fan or author.
Which should take us to the very next step of my mental meanderings. The principles outlined just now can also be applied to criticism of the pro field. Cynical or blatant criticism will say an author's or artist's work stinks -- "If I couldn't do better than that myself, I'd dip my head in a tub of water three times and come up twice." Just a flowery example. And not so flowert at that, compared to some of the elaborate torture devices I have seen described. I will say that some of this can be laid to youthful exuberance and inexperience, but as a rule, what we do see of it comes from all quarters of fandom.
Many who are guilty of one of the above vices could not be so charged with any other, but must we have one of them? Fandom could expand limitlessly if the proper approaches could be discovered to welcome the new and untried, to help them over the hurdles we had to knock down. Should we feel that since we had it the hard waym then so must they? What price all this wonderful scientific adnvace if our moral and mental clearness cannot cope with it. 
"What's good enough for my Granpappy, is shore good enough for me!"

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Purely Personal -    ((continued from page 14))
as Klono made little pink space puppies. So, as you have made up your mind on that score, naturally the stories stink. You're too ready to find all the flaws and disregard the good points--and I think you'll find tha tnearly any story contains something of worth.
But suppose that Palmer gets, as he sometimes does, a story from a well known writer who has written very good stuff for other oubs. Like the lineup he got quite some thime back: Bates, Asimov, Bester, Eric Frank Russell. Well, you say, what's gonna happen! Some good stories at last. You read the story by Bates and you're a little disappointed. It's formula stuff, you say--but it's pretty good formula, anyway. If that story had been written by, say, Wilcox, ten to one you'd have been quick to throw it away in disgust. Personally, the only one of those stories we thought good was Russell's. Asimov's was fair.
Palmer prints somegood stories once in a while, if you'll only take the trouble to dig them out; and some of the best covers and interior pix have appeared in FA and Amz.

Oh, by the way, Larry. We l-i-k-e the Three Stooges too!!!! Heresy, rank heresy. . . .

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Banshee * * * 17 with all the pitfalls of a trying time. I know my shortcomings, and have done my utmost to keep them from cropping out in the wrong places. At times I get a bit tangled in the resulting web of circumstance, but I come through with my spirit and body intact (generally). Now don't get the idea that I'm alluding to any one of fandom's farflung minions. This is something that should be aired thoroughly, and with no sense of blasting any one single individual. I've looked over some of my letters and magazines back in 1932 and later, and I almost blush with shame at some of the pretty foul things I used to say in reference to some fan or author. Which should take us to the very next step of my mental meanderings. The principles outlined just now can also be applied to criticism of the pro field. Cynical or blatant criticism will say an author's or artist's work stinks -- "If I couldn't do better than that myself, I'd dip my head in a tub of water three times and come up twice." Just a flowery example. And not so flowert at that, compared to some of the elaborate torture devices I have seen described. I will say that some of this can be laid to youthful exuberance and inexperience, but as a rule, what we do see of it comes from all quarters of fandom. Many who are guilty of one of the above vices could not be so charged with any other, but must we have one of them? Fandom could expand limitlessly if the proper approaches could be discovered to welcome the new and untried, to help them over the hurdles we had to knock down. Should we feel that since we had it the hard waym then so must they? What price all this wonderful scientific adnvace if our moral and mental clearness cannot cope with it. "What's good enough for my Granpappy, is shore good enough for me!" ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Purely Personal - ((continued from page 14)) as Klono made little pink space puppies. So, as you have made up your mind on that score, naturally the stories stink. You're too ready to find all the flaws and disregard the good points--and I think you'll find tha tnearly any story contains something of worth. But suppose that Palmer gets, as he sometimes does, a story from a well known writer who has written very good stuff for other oubs. Like the lineup he got quite some thime back: Bates, Asimov, Bester, Eric Frank Russell. Well, you say, what's gonna happen! Some good stories at last. You read the story by Bates and you're a little disappointed. It's formula stuff, you say--but it's pretty good formula, anyway. If that story had been written by, say, Wilcox, ten to one you'd have been quick to throw it away in disgust. Personally, the only one of those stories we thought good was Russell's. Asimov's was fair. Palmer prints somegood stories once in a while, if you'll only take the trouble to dig them out; and some of the best covers and interior pix have appeared in FA and Amz. Oh, by the way, Larry. We l-i-k-e the Three Stooges too!!!! Heresy, rank heresy. . . .