DIY History | Transcribe | Hevelin Fanzines | Fantasite, v. 2, issue 5, whole 11, May-June 1943

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Fantasite, v. 2, issue 5, whole 11, May-June 1943

Page 30

30 .... THE FANTASITE

AMAZING STORIES--MAY, 1943. Cover by McCauley--another depiction of the "Mac" girl who still can't compare to Finlay's femmes. The stories don't seem to improve, but Rocklynne scores with his "Warrior Queen Lolarth" (B). "Priestess of the Floating Skull" (Ye Gods! what a title) barely rates second. Wish that Amazing would stop overworking the word "Priestess". "Bridge of Banishment" and "Adam's Eve" are vaguely interesting, while I don't care to do more than mention "The Machines" by Williams. Amazing is slipping, and unless they get Binder and Finlay back, they're goners as far as I'm concerned. AMS has the most uninteresting readers' section in existence. 

PLANET STORIES--May, 1943. Cover is quite good, if you're willing to overlook the worn-out "heroine-hero-ungly-monster" theme. At least Rozen's human figures are well proportioned. Most interesting and well-developed story this time is "Alcatraz of the Starways" by de Pina and Hasse; good characterization and nice handling of the emotional sequences. Rocklynne's "The Sandhound" is good for second place, followed closely by Bok's "Stranger from Space". Other yarns by Hamilton, Gold, Brackett, etc. have their individual merits, but failed to register with me as being worthwhile. "The Vizigraph" remains the best letter section of the lot. 
--RAYMOND GRUMBO.

HAMS--

THE ACOLYTE--Spring, 1943; Volume 1, Number 3.10c per, 35c for 4 copies. Francis T. Laney, 720 Tenth Street, Clarkston, Washington. Gather around you fanzine fiends while I discourse on a fan mag what is a fan mag. Laney scores again with the third issue of this nifty number, which features an exceptionally attractive linoleum block cover by Duane Rimel. This magazine is neatly reproduced and set-up, and presents twenty-nine pages of mature articles, fiction, and poetry for your pleasure. Of particular interest is "Poetry and the Artistic Ideal", being the body of a letter by H.P.L. While I confess that most poetry is beyond my unsympathetic soul, I found most of the verse in this number enjoyable. Rimel's "Music of the Stars" absorbing, and in true Lovecraftian vein, but a trifle weak owing to the over-worked plot-idea employed. I could go on and on, but since our esteemed Editor has decreed that space is valuable, I'll slip away with a hearty recommendation for this magazine.

BR-R-RACK!--Volume One, Number Two. Published by Manson Brackney (now in the armed forces, I understand) of Minneapolis. Copies available for a three-cent stamp thru The Fantasite. Well, slap me down and call me "Happy"! If this isn't the doggondest fan mag ever to deposit its hilarious pages within my overburdened mailbox! It's an unpretentious, raucous, sportive little hoyden of a mag, overflowing with self-ao-claimed "corn". This second issue is a burlesque of one of the old Fantasites, and contains eleven pages of rollicking satire, and un-subtle, but good humor. You'll clasp your sides over Arden "Buns" Benson's "The Ice-Cream King", and his satirical "Monsters of the Void", not to mention "The Dice King", and other delightful items.

DAWN--Spring, 1943, 15c from Tom Wright, 3618 Maple Avenue, Oakland, Calif. Welcome back to the fold, Wright! This 28-page mag is a thing of beauty, with several wonderful lithographed illustrations, and some dandy two-color mimeography. The contents aren't quite in keeping with the trim format, unfortunately, but worth reading despite this drawback. Perhaps the lack of outstanding material is due to the fact that only Northern California writers are represented. We suggest a bit more variety next time. "Lament to May", and "Window in Space", by Fortier, and Smith, respectively, offer pleasant reading, and three articles, by Fortier, Watson, and Miller are okay, if nothing sensational. Try a copy, if there are any extras left. A mag like this is a rarity in these troublesome times. 
--Randolph Tillywish.

Saving...

30 .... THE FANTASITE AMAZING STORIES--MAY, 1943. Cover by McCauley--another depiction of the "Mac" girl who still can't compare to Finlay's femmes. The stories don't seem to improve, but Rocklynne scores with his "Warrior Queen Lolarth" (B). "Priestess of the Floating Skull" (Ye Gods! what a title) barely rates second. Wish that Amazing would stop overworking the word "Priestess". "Bridge of Banishment" and "Adam's Eve" are vaguely interesting, while I don't care to do more than mention "The Machines" by Williams. Amazing is slipping, and unless they get Binder and Finlay back, they're goners as far as I'm concerned. AMS has the most uninteresting readers' section in existence. PLANET STORIES--May, 1943. Cover is quite good, if you're willing to overlook the worn-out "heroine-hero-ungly-monster" theme. At least Rozen's human figures are well proportioned. Most interesting and well-developed story this time is "Alcatraz of the Starways" by de Pina and Hasse; good characterization and nice handling of the emotional sequences. Rocklynne's "The Sandhound" is good for second place, followed closely by Bok's "Stranger from Space". Other yarns by Hamilton, Gold, Brackett, etc. have their individual merits, but failed to register with me as being worthwhile. "The Vizigraph" remains the best letter section of the lot. --RAYMOND GRUMBO. HAMS-- THE ACOLYTE--Spring, 1943; Volume 1, Number 3.10c per, 35c for 4 copies. Francis T. Laney, 720 Tenth Street, Clarkston, Washington. Gather around you fanzine fiends while I discourse on a fan mag what is a fan mag. Laney scores again with the third issue of this nifty number, which features an exceptionally attractive linoleum block cover by Duane Rimel. This magazine is neatly reproduced and set-up, and presents twenty-nine pages of mature articles, fiction, and poetry for your pleasure. Of particular interest is "Poetry and the Artistic Ideal", being the body of a letter by H.P.L. While I confess that most poetry is beyond my unsympathetic soul, I found most of the verse in this number enjoyable. Rimel's "Music of the Stars" absorbing, and in true Lovecraftian vein, but a trifle weak owing to the over-worked plot-idea employed. I could go on and on, but since our esteemed Editor has decreed that space is valuable, I'll slip away with a hearty recommendation for this magazine. BR-R-RACK!--Volume One, Number Two. Published by Manson Brackney (now in the armed forces, I understand) of Minneapolis. Copies available for a three-cent stamp thru The Fantasite. Well, slap me down and call me "Happy"! If this isn't the doggondest fan mag ever to deposit its hilarious pages within my overburdened mailbox! It's an unpretentious, raucous, sportive little hoyden of a mag, overflowing with self-ao-claimed "corn". This second issue is a burlesque of one of the old Fantasites, and contains eleven pages of rollicking satire, and un-subtle, but good humor. You'll clasp your sides over Arden "Buns" Benson's "The Ice-Cream King", and his satirical "Monsters of the Void", not to mention "The Dice King", and other delightful items. DAWN--Spring, 1943, 15c from Tom Wright, 3618 Maple Avenue, Oakland, Calif. Welcome back to the fold, Wright! This 28-page mag is a thing of beauty, with several wonderful lithographed illustrations, and some dandy two-color mimeography. The contents aren't quite in keeping with the trim format, unfortunately, but worth reading despite this drawback. Perhaps the lack of outstanding material is due to the fact that only Northern California writers are represented. We suggest a bit more variety next time. "Lament to May", and "Window in Space", by Fortier, and Smith, respectively, offer pleasant reading, and three articles, by Fortier, Watson, and Miller are okay, if nothing sensational. Try a copy, if there are any extras left. A mag like this is a rarity in these troublesome times. --Randolph Tillywish.