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Tympani, v. 1, issue 18, December 29, 1947
Page 5
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repute undeservedly, because many of the writers have not followed the excellent rules laid down by Jack Williamson in this essay -- most of which rules apply to good fiction of any kind rather than to "space opera" alone. A. E. van Vogt's article on "complication" disturbs me -- perhaps because I feel that he deals with it on too personal a basis. Superficially, it seems the most clear and exact of the lot, giving a graphic analysis to his own manner of dealing with the problems. However, I feel that a method which works for him would not necessarily work for another. No formula of approach to creative work will ever satisfy more than a few. L. Sprague de Camp (who certainly should know) takcles the basic element of humor in science fiction. He manages to be both entertaining and sound. E. E. Smith's study of the science fiction epic is on the whole very satisfying; it handles the serious problem of balance, just how much of each element of character, plot, scientific background, etc., is to be used, and the difficulty of achieving an organic whole from diverse materials. Summing up the entire field, John W. Campbell, Jr., speaking both as writer and editor, warns of pitfalls and reiterates the obvious truth -- that any story, science fiction or any other, must be a story. One doubts if any science fiction masterpieces will be written by readers of this book which would not otherwise have been written. But it is both entertaining and stimulating -- what more do you want for two bucks? THE END * * * * * * * * TYMPANOTES. Theodore Sturgeon has made his first sale to Famous Fantastic Mysteries. (Ackerman). # A Christmas card from Tokyo indicates that the embryo known as Little Ralazone has begun independent existence under the name, one of those signed to the card, Shelton Pierce Wesson, probably junior. (Speer). # "Today (29 November 47) I entered the 637th item in the Accession Book of the Fantasy Foundation -- and daylight is not yet in sight!" (Don Bratton). # Card from Burt Brazier, New York City, advises: Listen at 9:00 Monday nights to radio program called "Quiet, Please", written and directed by same man who did "Lights Out". (Donn Brazier). # Add atomovies: "God of the Atom", a technicolor short being circulated by the Moody Bible Institute. (Hyman A. Thyeste). # If his plans materialize, East Coast fans may have the opportunity shortly after the first of the year to see and hear Theodore, the rave fantasy raconteur of the Pacificon. The one-man showman has been approached by a Greenwich Village representative and is considering going to New York to present his "Blossoms of Evil". (Weaver Wright). # Forry Ackerman's 31st birthday was celebrated in the company of Jean Cox, E. E. Evans, Lea Budoff, Walt Daugherty and Bill and Peggy Crawford. Fans took in the fantasy film, "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty". (Claire Voyant). # "On Thanksgiving evening I read seven or eight submissions to Fantasy Book, and had to reject all but one. This was a mystery manuscript from the Ackerman Agency, whose head sends me stories with the name of the author covered up, so I can judge on merit alone. I had decided to buy this story, "Blurb", before I had any idea who the author was. I was astonished when I discovered it was -- E. E. Evans. Evans has turned in an exceptionally good fantasy." (Garrett Ford). -5-
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repute undeservedly, because many of the writers have not followed the excellent rules laid down by Jack Williamson in this essay -- most of which rules apply to good fiction of any kind rather than to "space opera" alone. A. E. van Vogt's article on "complication" disturbs me -- perhaps because I feel that he deals with it on too personal a basis. Superficially, it seems the most clear and exact of the lot, giving a graphic analysis to his own manner of dealing with the problems. However, I feel that a method which works for him would not necessarily work for another. No formula of approach to creative work will ever satisfy more than a few. L. Sprague de Camp (who certainly should know) takcles the basic element of humor in science fiction. He manages to be both entertaining and sound. E. E. Smith's study of the science fiction epic is on the whole very satisfying; it handles the serious problem of balance, just how much of each element of character, plot, scientific background, etc., is to be used, and the difficulty of achieving an organic whole from diverse materials. Summing up the entire field, John W. Campbell, Jr., speaking both as writer and editor, warns of pitfalls and reiterates the obvious truth -- that any story, science fiction or any other, must be a story. One doubts if any science fiction masterpieces will be written by readers of this book which would not otherwise have been written. But it is both entertaining and stimulating -- what more do you want for two bucks? THE END * * * * * * * * TYMPANOTES. Theodore Sturgeon has made his first sale to Famous Fantastic Mysteries. (Ackerman). # A Christmas card from Tokyo indicates that the embryo known as Little Ralazone has begun independent existence under the name, one of those signed to the card, Shelton Pierce Wesson, probably junior. (Speer). # "Today (29 November 47) I entered the 637th item in the Accession Book of the Fantasy Foundation -- and daylight is not yet in sight!" (Don Bratton). # Card from Burt Brazier, New York City, advises: Listen at 9:00 Monday nights to radio program called "Quiet, Please", written and directed by same man who did "Lights Out". (Donn Brazier). # Add atomovies: "God of the Atom", a technicolor short being circulated by the Moody Bible Institute. (Hyman A. Thyeste). # If his plans materialize, East Coast fans may have the opportunity shortly after the first of the year to see and hear Theodore, the rave fantasy raconteur of the Pacificon. The one-man showman has been approached by a Greenwich Village representative and is considering going to New York to present his "Blossoms of Evil". (Weaver Wright). # Forry Ackerman's 31st birthday was celebrated in the company of Jean Cox, E. E. Evans, Lea Budoff, Walt Daugherty and Bill and Peggy Crawford. Fans took in the fantasy film, "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty". (Claire Voyant). # "On Thanksgiving evening I read seven or eight submissions to Fantasy Book, and had to reject all but one. This was a mystery manuscript from the Ackerman Agency, whose head sends me stories with the name of the author covered up, so I can judge on merit alone. I had decided to buy this story, "Blurb", before I had any idea who the author was. I was astonished when I discovered it was -- E. E. Evans. Evans has turned in an exceptionally good fantasy." (Garrett Ford). -5-
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