DIY History | Transcribe | Hevelin Fanzines | Dawn, issue 11, combined with The Imaginative Collector, issue 1, November 1950

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Dawn, issue 11, combined with The Imaginative Collector, issue 1, November 1950

Page 5

(5)
fiction field and there is no doubt at all in my mind but that he pays the standard royalty rates to authors. For some explainable reason, he followed up a first class anthology with two or three of the most worthless science fiction books imaginable; a so-so novel, three juvenile novelettes which pretend to be a complete novel, and a flock of very poor short stories which also masquerade as a novel in book form. The only conclusion I can draw from this astounding parade is that some slick agent took advantage of the publishers---the poor man was new to the field and didn't know what good science fiction was.
Simon & Schuster published Jack Williamson's THE HUMANOIDS for two dollars. Some readers immediately complained of the poor quality of the book--not the story, but the book itself. They should realize that a New York house, burdened with the overhead cannot publish a well-bound book for two dollars. The small fantasy house can do it, but only lght-weight volumes can be excepted from New York at that price.

Just recently, these fantasy firms are entering the lower price field. Gnome Press, in 1950 is bringing our several books for two dollars and a half, the first of which is George C. Smth's PATTERN FOR CONQUEST. In addition they have announced five more at that price, the majority of which I consider fine stories. And although I am under a personal promise not to reval detailed information sometime during the coming year one of the leading fantasy publishers plans to introduce a line of cut-price novels, perhaps as low as two dollars each. As before mentioned, I do not believe this will start a trend in the field, but it is possible that those houses which are publishing worthless old serials for three dollars may feel the pinch of competition and trim their prices.
Some recommended books in different price ranges, each well worth the money asked in this readers estimation:

$3.75
STRANGE PORTS OF CALL -August Derleth (Pellegrini & Cudagy
THE OTHER SIDE OF THE MOON- August Derleth (Pellegrini)
$3.00
THE BEST OF SCIENCE FICTION (Crown Publishers)
WHO GOES THERE (Shasta)
WITHOUT SOCERY (Prime Press)
...AND SOME WERE HUMAN (Prime Press)
THE WHEELS OF IF  (Shasta)
FINAK BLACKOUT (Hadley Publishers Co.)
SINISTER BARRIER (Fantasy Press)
DARKER THEN YOU THINK (Fantasy Press)
THE BLACK FLAME (Fantasy Press)
MARTIAN ODYSSET (FantasyPress)


$2.50
SLAN (Arkham House)
World of A (Schuster)
WHAT MAD UNIVERSE (Dutton & Co.)
OUT OF THE UNKNOWN (F P C I)

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(5) fiction field and there is no doubt at all in my mind but that he pays the standard royalty rates to authors. For some explainable reason, he followed up a first class anthology with two or three of the most worthless science fiction books imaginable; a so-so novel, three juvenile novelettes which pretend to be a complete novel, and a flock of very poor short stories which also masquerade as a novel in book form. The only conclusion I can draw from this astounding parade is that some slick agent took advantage of the publishers---the poor man was new to the field and didn't know what good science fiction was. Simon & Schuster published Jack Williamson's THE HUMANOIDS for two dollars. Some readers immediately complained of the poor quality of the book--not the story, but the book itself. They should realize that a New York house, burdened with the overhead cannot publish a well-bound book for two dollars. The small fantasy house can do it, but only lght-weight volumes can be excepted from New York at that price. Just recently, these fantasy firms are entering the lower price field. Gnome Press, in 1950 is bringing our several books for two dollars and a half, the first of which is George C. Smth's PATTERN FOR CONQUEST. In addition they have announced five more at that price, the majority of which I consider fine stories. And although I am under a personal promise not to reval detailed information sometime during the coming year one of the leading fantasy publishers plans to introduce a line of cut-price novels, perhaps as low as two dollars each. As before mentioned, I do not believe this will start a trend in the field, but it is possible that those houses which are publishing worthless old serials for three dollars may feel the pinch of competition and trim their prices. Some recommended books in different price ranges, each well worth the money asked in this readers estimation: $3.75 STRANGE PORTS OF CALL -August Derleth (Pellegrini & Cudagy THE OTHER SIDE OF THE MOON- August Derleth (Pellegrini) $3.00 THE BEST OF SCIENCE FICTION (Crown Publishers) WHO GOES THERE (Shasta) WITHOUT SOCERY (Prime Press) ...AND SOME WERE HUMAN (Prime Press) THE WHEELS OF IF (Shasta) FINAK BLACKOUT (Hadley Publishers Co.) SINISTER BARRIER (Fantasy Press) DARKER THEN YOU THINK (Fantasy Press) THE BLACK FLAME (Fantasy Press) MARTIAN ODYSSET (FantasyPress) $2.50 SLAN (Arkham House) World of A (Schuster) WHAT MAD UNIVERSE (Dutton & Co.) OUT OF THE UNKNOWN (F P C I)