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Fantasy Times, v. 2, issue 21, whole no. 52, May 25, 1947
Page 63
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Fantasy-Times Page 63 ------------------------------------------------ The V-Mail Interviews by Ray Van Houten, co-editor of Fantasy-Times Part I - "The Shaver Hoax" In the autumn of 1945, when the furore against the current-named "Shaver Mystery" was just beginning to make itself felt, questionnaires were sent to four leading stf pulp publishing firms in an effort to bring some amount of professional opinion to bear on the issue. The four publishers were Street & Smith (aSF) Standard Magazines (TWS and SS) Popular Publications (FFM), and Ziff-Davis Publishing Company itself. The answers, as any astute observer of the scientifictional situation could have foreseen, were disappointing in the extreem. Miss Mary Gnaedinger of FFM said "I prefer to stay on the side-lines while the present controversy over AMAZING's "racial memory" stories goes on. Since our circulation seems to go steadily up with every issue, can't say that such stories have affected our circulation in any way, except good." Sam Merwin, Jr., science-fiction editor of Standard had only this to say: "We have no quotable opinion to offer on AMAZING's racial theory gag." John W. Campbell, Jr., ever ready with a word of solemn adjudication, lectured as follows: "I am afraid that you cannot publish my opinion of AMAZING's racial memory stories. It would not be ethical. It isn't right for one editor to discuss another editor's policy." Raymond A. Palmer, who is, one may say, a key man in the investigation, had a most amazing statement to offer. Most amazing indeed. He said "AMAZING's present policy is the policy it has held for eight years, and will continue to hold, it being the policy of the company (i.e.Ziff Davis - Ed.) for all fiction magazines." In other words, anything may be said "pro", but no responsible person is going to say one word "con". Responsible person, that is in the sense of someone in a high professional position, a person whose opinion would make news. In other words, someone with some thing to lose. Well, how about the fans who judging by past activity, have nothing, or very little, to lose? Any "con" men in their ranks? Sure, plenty of them. And plenty of the other kind too. How do they divide up? There seems to be no solid grouping, merely a hurly-burly of personal opinion, one-shot diatribes, and jelly-spined beggings of the question. We, the editors of Fantasy Times may smugly say that the most coherent opposition to Palmer and the "Shaver Mystery" has been our own. We may also say, not smugly at all, that said opposition has been about as effective as throwing baseballs at Betelgeuse. What is needed is more coordination of effort, a continual din which will penetrate, and finally permeate, every corner of scientifictiondom. Palmer claims that, spontaneously, a group of between five and ten thousand "believers" in Shaverism has simply "grown". That is a lot of belivers. Can the "con" men lick 'em? Fantasy-Times thinks we can! ____________________________ Why pulp stf magazines were not sent to the Armed Forces overseas is the question answered by the pro-editors next week.
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Fantasy-Times Page 63 ------------------------------------------------ The V-Mail Interviews by Ray Van Houten, co-editor of Fantasy-Times Part I - "The Shaver Hoax" In the autumn of 1945, when the furore against the current-named "Shaver Mystery" was just beginning to make itself felt, questionnaires were sent to four leading stf pulp publishing firms in an effort to bring some amount of professional opinion to bear on the issue. The four publishers were Street & Smith (aSF) Standard Magazines (TWS and SS) Popular Publications (FFM), and Ziff-Davis Publishing Company itself. The answers, as any astute observer of the scientifictional situation could have foreseen, were disappointing in the extreem. Miss Mary Gnaedinger of FFM said "I prefer to stay on the side-lines while the present controversy over AMAZING's "racial memory" stories goes on. Since our circulation seems to go steadily up with every issue, can't say that such stories have affected our circulation in any way, except good." Sam Merwin, Jr., science-fiction editor of Standard had only this to say: "We have no quotable opinion to offer on AMAZING's racial theory gag." John W. Campbell, Jr., ever ready with a word of solemn adjudication, lectured as follows: "I am afraid that you cannot publish my opinion of AMAZING's racial memory stories. It would not be ethical. It isn't right for one editor to discuss another editor's policy." Raymond A. Palmer, who is, one may say, a key man in the investigation, had a most amazing statement to offer. Most amazing indeed. He said "AMAZING's present policy is the policy it has held for eight years, and will continue to hold, it being the policy of the company (i.e.Ziff Davis - Ed.) for all fiction magazines." In other words, anything may be said "pro", but no responsible person is going to say one word "con". Responsible person, that is in the sense of someone in a high professional position, a person whose opinion would make news. In other words, someone with some thing to lose. Well, how about the fans who judging by past activity, have nothing, or very little, to lose? Any "con" men in their ranks? Sure, plenty of them. And plenty of the other kind too. How do they divide up? There seems to be no solid grouping, merely a hurly-burly of personal opinion, one-shot diatribes, and jelly-spined beggings of the question. We, the editors of Fantasy Times may smugly say that the most coherent opposition to Palmer and the "Shaver Mystery" has been our own. We may also say, not smugly at all, that said opposition has been about as effective as throwing baseballs at Betelgeuse. What is needed is more coordination of effort, a continual din which will penetrate, and finally permeate, every corner of scientifictiondom. Palmer claims that, spontaneously, a group of between five and ten thousand "believers" in Shaverism has simply "grown". That is a lot of belivers. Can the "con" men lick 'em? Fantasy-Times thinks we can! ____________________________ Why pulp stf magazines were not sent to the Armed Forces overseas is the question answered by the pro-editors next week.
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