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Sun Spots, v. 4, issue 3, whole no. 15, February 1941

Page 34

February, 1941.   SUN  SPOTS   Page 34.

THE WAY I SEE IT!
By
Larry Shaw,
1301 State St.; Schenectady,N.Y.

Gerry de la Ree,Jr pointed out in a recent editorial a fact that has often beem brough out by ardent fans, that is, "that Science Fiction is by far the most active of any type of pulp literature printed today." S-F fans hold conventions, science fiction fans print fanmags.
Of course!
These are the most notable outward marks of the activities of the fans. But it goes a lot deeper than that. S-F fans are much more interested in what the pro-mags are doing , what type of stories are printed, how they are improving, etc., than any other type fan. They write long letters to mags telling what stories were good and what should or should not be presented in the future. They don't always agree, but they are vociferous.
Now I'll chaw on my own personal experiances a little: I am a new member of the ranks of fandom. Formerly I was an aviation fiction fan. I read these stories because I was and still am interested in aviation. But then I tried S-f. I don't know exactly why I did, except that there is something in me that makes me alawys want something new. To put it mildly, I liked it! And trying to read the same old air-fiction, Ifound myself terribly bored. So I started grabbing up all the s-f mags in sight, old and new, all that I could possibly get.
I believe that some of the spirit caught me that had caught all the other fans. It would take a better man than I am to define it. At any rate, I kept going and finally began to distinguish between the good and bad stories. I was first introduced to Stf by ASTOUNDING, which I still think is absolutely tops.
My collection grew! That brings up another point. How many air, detective, western, love etc fans make collections of their mags, some of which they haven't even read? Few, if any. I know from experience that most western fans for instance (I'm inclined to be a little tough on Western fans; I can't think of anything I like to read less!) would ever think of buying a magazine that didn't have anything to read? Then, if the stories are comapritively good they enjoy them; and if they aren't so hot, they say, "Oh well, whats the difference?" In either case, they chuck the mag. away and forget all about it. Do they care much about departments, illustrations, etc? No, they use the pictures to help select a good mag, maybe but they have no favorite illustrators, etc. Most of them never think of buying the same magazine every month. I'll bet the most of them don't even know the name of the magzine they're reading. i was a great deal that way when an air-story fan, except they're were fewer mags. I never thought of writing letters to the editors then. I've written quite a few to S-f mags. They weren't printed, but I got the pleasure out of writing 'em. I always have a pile of unread mags in my room. ---The advertisments of AMAZING in other Ziff-Davis publications talk about the escape literature, release from the world in general and similer terms. It gives that, but you also must have more brains than are necessary in the other types of fiction. Perhaps thats where the fan spirit comes from. I don't know what it is, but i know that it's got me and I like it. But, remember, that's only, "the way I see it."
[[underline]]THE END[[end underline]]

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February, 1941. SUN SPOTS Page 34. THE WAY I SEE IT! By Larry Shaw, 1301 State St.; Schenectady,N.Y. Gerry de la Ree,Jr pointed out in a recent editorial a fact that has often beem brough out by ardent fans, that is, "that Science Fiction is by far the most active of any type of pulp literature printed today." S-F fans hold conventions, science fiction fans print fanmags. Of course! These are the most notable outward marks of the activities of the fans. But it goes a lot deeper than that. S-F fans are much more interested in what the pro-mags are doing , what type of stories are printed, how they are improving, etc., than any other type fan. They write long letters to mags telling what stories were good and what should or should not be presented in the future. They don't always agree, but they are vociferous. Now I'll chaw on my own personal experiances a little: I am a new member of the ranks of fandom. Formerly I was an aviation fiction fan. I read these stories because I was and still am interested in aviation. But then I tried S-f. I don't know exactly why I did, except that there is something in me that makes me alawys want something new. To put it mildly, I liked it! And trying to read the same old air-fiction, Ifound myself terribly bored. So I started grabbing up all the s-f mags in sight, old and new, all that I could possibly get. I believe that some of the spirit caught me that had caught all the other fans. It would take a better man than I am to define it. At any rate, I kept going and finally began to distinguish between the good and bad stories. I was first introduced to Stf by ASTOUNDING, which I still think is absolutely tops. My collection grew! That brings up another point. How many air, detective, western, love etc fans make collections of their mags, some of which they haven't even read? Few, if any. I know from experience that most western fans for instance (I'm inclined to be a little tough on Western fans; I can't think of anything I like to read less!) would ever think of buying a magazine that didn't have anything to read? Then, if the stories are comapritively good they enjoy them; and if they aren't so hot, they say, "Oh well, whats the difference?" In either case, they chuck the mag. away and forget all about it. Do they care much about departments, illustrations, etc? No, they use the pictures to help select a good mag, maybe but they have no favorite illustrators, etc. Most of them never think of buying the same magazine every month. I'll bet the most of them don't even know the name of the magzine they're reading. i was a great deal that way when an air-story fan, except they're were fewer mags. I never thought of writing letters to the editors then. I've written quite a few to S-f mags. They weren't printed, but I got the pleasure out of writing 'em. I always have a pile of unread mags in my room. ---The advertisments of AMAZING in other Ziff-Davis publications talk about the escape literature, release from the world in general and similer terms. It gives that, but you also must have more brains than are necessary in the other types of fiction. Perhaps thats where the fan spirit comes from. I don't know what it is, but i know that it's got me and I like it. But, remember, that's only, "the way I see it." [[underline]]THE END[[end underline]]