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MFS Bulletin, v. 3, issue 8, whole 20, February 22, 1943

Page 2

In the current issue of the New Yorker, there is the most serious indictment of fandom yet to appear in any professional or amateur magazine. Absolutely no fan should miss this issue. The article (a long one, by the way) is titled (Onward and Upward With the Arts -- Inertrum, Neutronium, Chromaloy, P-P-Proot!" by one "Angelica Gibbs". It is a satire -- in a way -- and gleefully tears apart all of the pro stf magazines, including Astounding. Amazing Stories comes in for the largest part of the caustic ridicule -- everything from The Correspondence Corner through the stories to the Readers' Page. Hugo Gernabakc and his "Ralph 124041" have a whole half-page devoted to them alone. The Science-Fiction League is mentioned and likewise sections of fandom. New Fandom and the Futurians (!!!) have quite a space dedicated to them, while the fact that fans send copies of their amateur mags to the editors of professional magazines is mentioned. And above all, the editors pay attention to them (horrors!). The spat at the New York Convention between the Futurians and Moskowitz boys has 23 lines devoted to it. Everything but names is mentioned.

The article is all the more amazing because the author seems to know an unusual ammount of facts about fantasy and fandom, suggesting that some fan wrote it under a psudonym or that some fan, author, editor, was behind the article. Which reminds me: wasn't there a short news squib in Unger's magazine or the now-defunct Fantasy News about one woman reporter who attended one fan meeting in New York to get material for an article for the New Yorker? It seems to me thar there was a short piece about it in one of them quite awhile back. It's worth looking into.

The article cannot be recommended too much, but I advise that you have some water handy when you read it; you'll probably be quite burned up over it. Its one redeeming feature is that you'll be seeing yourself as others see you (perhaps).
                          -- Frank Robinson

CLUBNOTES
MFS MEETING OF FEBRUARY 17th:

This was one of our more successful meeting, just as most of those held at Sam Russell's place are: there was a fairly large attendance, considering that most of our members have been taken by the draft, or have moved, and all in all, the meeting was quite a success.

Manson Brackney reports to Fort Snelling today (Monday, Feb 22nd), after having spent his week furlough at home. This meeting was his last, and we wish Mense luck. The members congregated at Sam's place soon after 7, and Ollie Saari, Carl Jacobi, Gordon Dickson, Art Osterlund, Charlies Albertson, John Gergen, and Sam, of course, were present. The discussiom consisted mainly of the book "My Life and Loves" by Frank Harris, and several other books brought along by Manse. Some of Art's art-work was approved of heartily, and future meetings and the welfare of the MFS was brought up. Carl had to leave early, so Sam read Carl's latest story to the assemblage; the story is very good, and Carl's latest story to the assemblage; the story is very good, and Carl has already sent it in. It was slanted toward Astounding, but might appear in Planet if Astounding finds it cannot use it. Many of Carl's old Weird Tales were perused, and, of course, we devoured the usual delicious Russel coffee and sand-wishes. Russel-meetings are always hyper. For some reason....

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In the current issue of the New Yorker, there is the most serious indictment of fandom yet to appear in any professional or amateur magazine. Absolutely no fan should miss this issue. The article (a long one, by the way) is titled (Onward and Upward With the Arts -- Inertrum, Neutronium, Chromaloy, P-P-Proot!" by one "Angelica Gibbs". It is a satire -- in a way -- and gleefully tears apart all of the pro stf magazines, including Astounding. Amazing Stories comes in for the largest part of the caustic ridicule -- everything from The Correspondence Corner through the stories to the Readers' Page. Hugo Gernabakc and his "Ralph 124041" have a whole half-page devoted to them alone. The Science-Fiction League is mentioned and likewise sections of fandom. New Fandom and the Futurians (!!!) have quite a space dedicated to them, while the fact that fans send copies of their amateur mags to the editors of professional magazines is mentioned. And above all, the editors pay attention to them (horrors!). The spat at the New York Convention between the Futurians and Moskowitz boys has 23 lines devoted to it. Everything but names is mentioned. The article is all the more amazing because the author seems to know an unusual ammount of facts about fantasy and fandom, suggesting that some fan wrote it under a psudonym or that some fan, author, editor, was behind the article. Which reminds me: wasn't there a short news squib in Unger's magazine or the now-defunct Fantasy News about one woman reporter who attended one fan meeting in New York to get material for an article for the New Yorker? It seems to me thar there was a short piece about it in one of them quite awhile back. It's worth looking into. The article cannot be recommended too much, but I advise that you have some water handy when you read it; you'll probably be quite burned up over it. Its one redeeming feature is that you'll be seeing yourself as others see you (perhaps). -- Frank Robinson CLUBNOTES MFS MEETING OF FEBRUARY 17th: This was one of our more successful meeting, just as most of those held at Sam Russell's place are: there was a fairly large attendance, considering that most of our members have been taken by the draft, or have moved, and all in all, the meeting was quite a success. Manson Brackney reports to Fort Snelling today (Monday, Feb 22nd), after having spent his week furlough at home. This meeting was his last, and we wish Mense luck. The members congregated at Sam's place soon after 7, and Ollie Saari, Carl Jacobi, Gordon Dickson, Art Osterlund, Charlies Albertson, John Gergen, and Sam, of course, were present. The discussiom consisted mainly of the book "My Life and Loves" by Frank Harris, and several other books brought along by Manse. Some of Art's art-work was approved of heartily, and future meetings and the welfare of the MFS was brought up. Carl had to leave early, so Sam read Carl's latest story to the assemblage; the story is very good, and Carl's latest story to the assemblage; the story is very good, and Carl has already sent it in. It was slanted toward Astounding, but might appear in Planet if Astounding finds it cannot use it. Many of Carl's old Weird Tales were perused, and, of course, we devoured the usual delicious Russel coffee and sand-wishes. Russel-meetings are always hyper. For some reason....