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Science Fiction Collector, v. 2, issue 6, May 1937
Page 18
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18 The Science-Fiction Collector... ----------------------------- "WHITHER SCIENCE FICTION?" By Olan F. Wiggins To the old reader of science-fiction might come the thought. "Where is sf going, and what will be the outcome?" that this particular form of literature has changed (and is still changing) in the last few years no one can doubt. Particularly those who have been reading it since it first came into its own back in April of 1926. Whether the changes have been for the better or the worse is a matter of individual likes and dislikes. With the return of Astounding under the Street & smith banner came an entirely new era of s-f. Editor Tremaine called it thought-variants. These T.V.'s were supposed to present an entirely new concept to the world of s-f, and in some cases a new idea did come out. Wonder Stories, during the Gernsback period, also came out with a new story policy. It was no doubt new, but evidently far the better, as the new story policy with WS soon passed into oblivion, or wherever all bad s-f magazines go. To get back on the subject of whether all this changing around is for the better or worse, it depends mostly on whether you like your s-f "heavy" or in the lighter vein. If you like the "heavy", Astounding should suit you. If you like the latter, T. W. S. or Amazing Stories will do the trick. There is a world of difference in these two classes of science-fiction, as one will find upon reading them. I don't mean that you can't read "light" s-f in AST, because you can: but I do say that you can't and haven't read the thoughtvariant type TWS or AS. A reader of s-f may well wonder (after going through the changes and maturing tastes of the science-fictionist) where and when the climax to all of it will end. One thing is positive: regardless of when (if ever) it does end there will still be readers who like and dislike it, as the magazine to please each and all s-f fans is an impossibility, unless a magazine is edited to please each separate fan, which is not very likely to happen. NOTE FROM THE PUBLISHER: Do you like the new format? Or do you prefer the smaller one which we used to have? The big size just fits the material plan to publish; it enables us to hektograph each page as soon as it is completed; it allows the use of large illustrations; but it isn't as convenient to handle as the smaller size. Some of you may prefer the small size because of the resulting extra "thickness" which makes the magazine look more "professional". However, whether you want the large or the small size, we are starting the next issue in the large size; your letters of comment and criticism will decide whether future issue will be changed. If we receive enough response from our prize content announced in this issue, we plan to have at least one or two more contests, although of a different nature. Your suggestions of what we might ask for in a contest of this sort will be appreciated. We cannot guarantee that we well have perfectly-hektoed pages in each issue as our hektograph is playing tricks on us---sometimes it works perfectly, and sometimes awfully---we have a time trying to make the copies come out readable. But we assure you that we take the most care in doing our duplicating possible. St this particular moment we are having trouble with the ink running--all over the place at that. This page, page 18, is our 1st attempt at even borders, using a new method of getting them---we hope to have a lot of our future issues typed this way. OUR ADVERTISERS Ads are free to individuals, up to 50 words. Magazine ads are on an exchange basis. WANTED [illegible green ink]
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18 The Science-Fiction Collector... ----------------------------- "WHITHER SCIENCE FICTION?" By Olan F. Wiggins To the old reader of science-fiction might come the thought. "Where is sf going, and what will be the outcome?" that this particular form of literature has changed (and is still changing) in the last few years no one can doubt. Particularly those who have been reading it since it first came into its own back in April of 1926. Whether the changes have been for the better or the worse is a matter of individual likes and dislikes. With the return of Astounding under the Street & smith banner came an entirely new era of s-f. Editor Tremaine called it thought-variants. These T.V.'s were supposed to present an entirely new concept to the world of s-f, and in some cases a new idea did come out. Wonder Stories, during the Gernsback period, also came out with a new story policy. It was no doubt new, but evidently far the better, as the new story policy with WS soon passed into oblivion, or wherever all bad s-f magazines go. To get back on the subject of whether all this changing around is for the better or worse, it depends mostly on whether you like your s-f "heavy" or in the lighter vein. If you like the "heavy", Astounding should suit you. If you like the latter, T. W. S. or Amazing Stories will do the trick. There is a world of difference in these two classes of science-fiction, as one will find upon reading them. I don't mean that you can't read "light" s-f in AST, because you can: but I do say that you can't and haven't read the thoughtvariant type TWS or AS. A reader of s-f may well wonder (after going through the changes and maturing tastes of the science-fictionist) where and when the climax to all of it will end. One thing is positive: regardless of when (if ever) it does end there will still be readers who like and dislike it, as the magazine to please each and all s-f fans is an impossibility, unless a magazine is edited to please each separate fan, which is not very likely to happen. NOTE FROM THE PUBLISHER: Do you like the new format? Or do you prefer the smaller one which we used to have? The big size just fits the material plan to publish; it enables us to hektograph each page as soon as it is completed; it allows the use of large illustrations; but it isn't as convenient to handle as the smaller size. Some of you may prefer the small size because of the resulting extra "thickness" which makes the magazine look more "professional". However, whether you want the large or the small size, we are starting the next issue in the large size; your letters of comment and criticism will decide whether future issue will be changed. If we receive enough response from our prize content announced in this issue, we plan to have at least one or two more contests, although of a different nature. Your suggestions of what we might ask for in a contest of this sort will be appreciated. We cannot guarantee that we well have perfectly-hektoed pages in each issue as our hektograph is playing tricks on us---sometimes it works perfectly, and sometimes awfully---we have a time trying to make the copies come out readable. But we assure you that we take the most care in doing our duplicating possible. St this particular moment we are having trouble with the ink running--all over the place at that. This page, page 18, is our 1st attempt at even borders, using a new method of getting them---we hope to have a lot of our future issues typed this way. OUR ADVERTISERS Ads are free to individuals, up to 50 words. Magazine ads are on an exchange basis. WANTED [illegible green ink]
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