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Sun Spots, v. 4, issue 1, whole no. 13, December 1940
Page 4
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December, 1940. SUN SPOTS Page 4. EDITORIAL #2- "[[underline]]Mentioning Mags[[end underline]]--" By Roy Plotkin The number of new science fiction mags hitting the market is very few at present, but there is every promise that these few, if the go over, are sure to be followed by others. In the past year or so, about five new Science fiction mags have appeared on the market. They are: [[underline]]Science Fiction[[end underline]] and [[underline]]Future Fiction[[end underline]], both put out by Blue Ribbon and run by Horning; [[underline]]Super Science[[end underline]] and [[underline]]Astonishing[[end underline]], published by Popular Publications, and headed by Fred Pohl; and the newest addition, [[underline]]Comet[[end underline]], put out by Ace Fiction group of H-K Pub's., and editored by Orlin F. Tremaine. Now this number exceeds that of any other type of fiction, as far as new publications go. If you consider [[underline]]Planet[[end underline]] and [[underline]]Captain Future[[end underline]] in this new group, the number reaches seven, an impressive total for magazines put out new within the short space of a year. Now, I will stop for a while and consider the factors and difficulties attendant in putting out a new mag. First, the publishing house desirous of doing so must select an editor. Now this task is more difficult than it seems at first sight. You may think that a fan who is too old to be actively interested in the fan side of Stf would snap up an oppertunity to edit a pro-mag. This is not so. The job of editor is a thankless one, with little money attached to it, and a lot of headaches and hard work. They have to please their readers and treat their authors with the proper amount of respect; have a make-up which is attractive not only to old fans and readers but to new ones as well, and finally, give the public value for their money. This last point can be well illustrated. [[underline]]Amazing[[end underline]], [[underline]]Astounding[[end underline]], and [[underline]]Unknown[[end underline]] all give you over 140 pages for the 20[[cent symbol]] you pay for them. At the same time, [[underline]]Comet[[end underline][ and [[underline]]Planet Stories[[end underline]] only give 128 pages for the same price. This number is the same as [[underline]]TWS[[end underline]], and all the other 15[[cent symbol]] mags give. Yet [[underline]]Planet[[end underline]] has been going for over a year, and the [[underline]]Comet[[end underline]], although new, plans a monthly schedule. Now the secret of these magazines is different in each case. [[underline]]Planet[[end underline]] is quartely,so fans and readers don't mind forking out 20[[cent symbol]] for 128 pages of good material--and [[underline]]Planet[[end underline]] does supply fairly good stuff. But if [[underline]]Comet[[end underline]] is to succeed, there must be an increase in the number of pages and also in the quality of material. This is not a quarterly, but a monthly, and it has to compete with old hands like [[underline]]Amazing[[end underline]], [[underline]]Astounding[[end underline]],[[underline]]TWS[[end underline]], and [[underline]]Unknown[[end underline]]. If MR. Tremaine doesn't meet those requirements his circulation will drop off so fast that it won't even be funny, and eventually be limited to the non-reading collector. This latter aim is never the ultimate dream of any editor, least of all Orlin Tremaine, who has had experience with [[underline]]Astounding's[[end underline]] circulation and policy, as he was editor, of that magazine before John W. Campbell,Jr. took the helm. When the poor harassed editor has finally been chosen, his first task is to consider the title of his mag. These are far and few between today, most of the good and approiate ones being already taken and copyrighted. When this task is surmounted, all the authors must be contacted, and asked if they would consider stuff ubder their name for the new magazine. If they say yes, it is the first hope for the editor, for he knows that this wily band of individuals--yes I mean (concluded Page 20)
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December, 1940. SUN SPOTS Page 4. EDITORIAL #2- "[[underline]]Mentioning Mags[[end underline]]--" By Roy Plotkin The number of new science fiction mags hitting the market is very few at present, but there is every promise that these few, if the go over, are sure to be followed by others. In the past year or so, about five new Science fiction mags have appeared on the market. They are: [[underline]]Science Fiction[[end underline]] and [[underline]]Future Fiction[[end underline]], both put out by Blue Ribbon and run by Horning; [[underline]]Super Science[[end underline]] and [[underline]]Astonishing[[end underline]], published by Popular Publications, and headed by Fred Pohl; and the newest addition, [[underline]]Comet[[end underline]], put out by Ace Fiction group of H-K Pub's., and editored by Orlin F. Tremaine. Now this number exceeds that of any other type of fiction, as far as new publications go. If you consider [[underline]]Planet[[end underline]] and [[underline]]Captain Future[[end underline]] in this new group, the number reaches seven, an impressive total for magazines put out new within the short space of a year. Now, I will stop for a while and consider the factors and difficulties attendant in putting out a new mag. First, the publishing house desirous of doing so must select an editor. Now this task is more difficult than it seems at first sight. You may think that a fan who is too old to be actively interested in the fan side of Stf would snap up an oppertunity to edit a pro-mag. This is not so. The job of editor is a thankless one, with little money attached to it, and a lot of headaches and hard work. They have to please their readers and treat their authors with the proper amount of respect; have a make-up which is attractive not only to old fans and readers but to new ones as well, and finally, give the public value for their money. This last point can be well illustrated. [[underline]]Amazing[[end underline]], [[underline]]Astounding[[end underline]], and [[underline]]Unknown[[end underline]] all give you over 140 pages for the 20[[cent symbol]] you pay for them. At the same time, [[underline]]Comet[[end underline][ and [[underline]]Planet Stories[[end underline]] only give 128 pages for the same price. This number is the same as [[underline]]TWS[[end underline]], and all the other 15[[cent symbol]] mags give. Yet [[underline]]Planet[[end underline]] has been going for over a year, and the [[underline]]Comet[[end underline]], although new, plans a monthly schedule. Now the secret of these magazines is different in each case. [[underline]]Planet[[end underline]] is quartely,so fans and readers don't mind forking out 20[[cent symbol]] for 128 pages of good material--and [[underline]]Planet[[end underline]] does supply fairly good stuff. But if [[underline]]Comet[[end underline]] is to succeed, there must be an increase in the number of pages and also in the quality of material. This is not a quarterly, but a monthly, and it has to compete with old hands like [[underline]]Amazing[[end underline]], [[underline]]Astounding[[end underline]],[[underline]]TWS[[end underline]], and [[underline]]Unknown[[end underline]]. If MR. Tremaine doesn't meet those requirements his circulation will drop off so fast that it won't even be funny, and eventually be limited to the non-reading collector. This latter aim is never the ultimate dream of any editor, least of all Orlin Tremaine, who has had experience with [[underline]]Astounding's[[end underline]] circulation and policy, as he was editor, of that magazine before John W. Campbell,Jr. took the helm. When the poor harassed editor has finally been chosen, his first task is to consider the title of his mag. These are far and few between today, most of the good and approiate ones being already taken and copyrighted. When this task is surmounted, all the authors must be contacted, and asked if they would consider stuff ubder their name for the new magazine. If they say yes, it is the first hope for the editor, for he knows that this wily band of individuals--yes I mean (concluded Page 20)
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