DIY History | Transcribe | Hevelin Fanzines | Vanguard Variorum, May 1946

Transcribe
Translate

Vanguard Variorum, May 1946

VANGUARD VARIORUM        15

misleading. May I explain to Kubilius that I am not in the least interested in writing about the drama in the "concise" and "precise" style of the newspapers. "How Many Angels" was meant to be an essay on the state of the drayma, a critical essay, see -- not a capsule review. I used the Bentley remarks,and the Yordan play, as well as a symposium of critical opinion (since it was my first venture into the field and I more or less distrusted my own abilities) on which to to hang my conclusion as to the present state of the drama -- i.e., that it continues to exist.
February Amateur notable for the listing of the results of the poll. I'm duly gratified by every point awarded me, and I thank you one and all. I thought the financial note in the preceding Amateur ("The 1945 accounts will appear in the next issue of the official organ. For the moment, rest assured thatour coffers are brimming,") was marvelous in its own way, and the actual financial report is a marvel of succinctness. What with the quoted remark and frequent bons mots such as the "Remember your landslide!" in the same issue, I begin to think that someone should start making a collection with an eye to issuing a volume of Lowndesiana some day.
VanguardVariorum I have no comments on except to say I was deeply interested by all comments, as I always am; I think the publication is a fine idea; I expect to be represented in the next issue; I think contributors owe it to Larry to pay them for the stencils he uses to cut their reviews; and WHAT in HELL happened to your mimeoing technique, Larry?
It didn't even occur to me when I read various comments, and I didn't believe it when others referred indignantly to it, but when the direct statement was made in my hearing by one of the interested characters, I found myself roused to action and anger. I am now convinced that Shaw was trying to imply that Marshall Grassly performed the acts of vandalism which ruined some of the cut stencils for Science*Fiction; I think this is several degrees worse than a base canard. And I think an apology is in order.  I don't know who did write back-fence-stuff on one of the stencils and wantonly deface others, but I think it's for damn sure that Marshall Grassly, a personal friend of Blish's and mine, and a guest in this building, didn't.
While I'm feeling belligerent, I would like to mention that I am simply at a loss to account for the general hostility and mirth surrounding my projected year book. Ranging from Kennedy's cryptic "You kidding?" to Larry's "But frankly phooey on the Discrete thing," the attitudes puzzle me. ... The response was very spotty, so I gave up, so I hope you're satisfied. I'd appreciate an explanation of the hostility if of nothing else. But the point is hardly worth belaboring, and I weakly offer the Zissman-knight-Shaw contingent a bob and a curtsey as I wrap the tattered remnants of my wit and good taste (and let us not forger my charm) in a winding sheet and lay them away.
But anyhow and nonetheless, love and kisses to you all, from -- The Emden.
PS to Norman Stanley - oh boy, am I belligerent. This is your last chance, Norm. If you don't tell me what book you would like to have and that quickly, I'll give you the back of my ha---  I mean, I'll send you post-haste, one copy of Edna St. Vincent Millay's Conversation at Midnight. It's no longer my most favorite book by a long shot, but if you don't have it, I do think you might enjoy it thoroughly. If you don't agree, open up and tell me what you would like to have. I'm determined to send you a book. Incidentally, I've been trying in a desultory sort of fashion to find out the spelling of Phrontistery in the Greek for you. A simple transliteration starts like this, but sort of peters out [[handwritten Greek]] I have seen the FAPA edition of Fantods, and am looking forward to the day our own edition arrives at Airless Eyrie.
And a further post script, to Bill Danner. I am delighted to discover in

Saving...

VANGUARD VARIORUM 15 misleading. May I explain to Kubilius that I am not in the least interested in writing about the drama in the "concise" and "precise" style of the newspapers. "How Many Angels" was meant to be an essay on the state of the drayma, a critical essay, see -- not a capsule review. I used the Bentley remarks,and the Yordan play, as well as a symposium of critical opinion (since it was my first venture into the field and I more or less distrusted my own abilities) on which to to hang my conclusion as to the present state of the drama -- i.e., that it continues to exist. February Amateur notable for the listing of the results of the poll. I'm duly gratified by every point awarded me, and I thank you one and all. I thought the financial note in the preceding Amateur ("The 1945 accounts will appear in the next issue of the official organ. For the moment, rest assured thatour coffers are brimming,") was marvelous in its own way, and the actual financial report is a marvel of succinctness. What with the quoted remark and frequent bons mots such as the "Remember your landslide!" in the same issue, I begin to think that someone should start making a collection with an eye to issuing a volume of Lowndesiana some day. VanguardVariorum I have no comments on except to say I was deeply interested by all comments, as I always am; I think the publication is a fine idea; I expect to be represented in the next issue; I think contributors owe it to Larry to pay them for the stencils he uses to cut their reviews; and WHAT in HELL happened to your mimeoing technique, Larry? It didn't even occur to me when I read various comments, and I didn't believe it when others referred indignantly to it, but when the direct statement was made in my hearing by one of the interested characters, I found myself roused to action and anger. I am now convinced that Shaw was trying to imply that Marshall Grassly performed the acts of vandalism which ruined some of the cut stencils for Science*Fiction; I think this is several degrees worse than a base canard. And I think an apology is in order. I don't know who did write back-fence-stuff on one of the stencils and wantonly deface others, but I think it's for damn sure that Marshall Grassly, a personal friend of Blish's and mine, and a guest in this building, didn't. While I'm feeling belligerent, I would like to mention that I am simply at a loss to account for the general hostility and mirth surrounding my projected year book. Ranging from Kennedy's cryptic "You kidding?" to Larry's "But frankly phooey on the Discrete thing," the attitudes puzzle me. ... The response was very spotty, so I gave up, so I hope you're satisfied. I'd appreciate an explanation of the hostility if of nothing else. But the point is hardly worth belaboring, and I weakly offer the Zissman-knight-Shaw contingent a bob and a curtsey as I wrap the tattered remnants of my wit and good taste (and let us not forger my charm) in a winding sheet and lay them away. But anyhow and nonetheless, love and kisses to you all, from -- The Emden. PS to Norman Stanley - oh boy, am I belligerent. This is your last chance, Norm. If you don't tell me what book you would like to have and that quickly, I'll give you the back of my ha--- I mean, I'll send you post-haste, one copy of Edna St. Vincent Millay's Conversation at Midnight. It's no longer my most favorite book by a long shot, but if you don't have it, I do think you might enjoy it thoroughly. If you don't agree, open up and tell me what you would like to have. I'm determined to send you a book. Incidentally, I've been trying in a desultory sort of fashion to find out the spelling of Phrontistery in the Greek for you. A simple transliteration starts like this, but sort of peters out [[handwritten Greek]] I have seen the FAPA edition of Fantods, and am looking forward to the day our own edition arrives at Airless Eyrie. And a further post script, to Bill Danner. I am delighted to discover in