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Fantasy Commentator, v. 1, issue 9, Winter 1945-1946
Page 223
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FANTASY COMMENTATOR 223 tasy and the supernatural as well, realizing that only by appealing to all factions in the field could he hope to accumulate a modicum of support. Months passed, and nothing more was heard from Crawford. Finally, advance subscribers received a partially-completed section of the projected first issue, together with a circular wherein Crawford explained that the delay had been caused by the printer, who had contracted for a job considerably bigger than proved able to handle. What Crawford did not explain, however, was that he himself was the printer involved, and that consequently all blame was his alone. This so-called "Advance Issue" was dated March, 1934, and was mailed in the preceeding January. It contained an editorial, a short biography of author Richard Tooker, and nearly all the pages of Cyril G. Wates' story "When the Waker Sleeps," which was illustrated by Guy L. Huey. Pulp paper was used (contradicting Crawford's promise of fine book-paper stock) and the type-size was large and readable. Some time after, an additional fragment of the magazine was mailed; this contained pages finishing the Wates tale, and beginning "Tharda, Queen of the Vampires" by Richard Tooker. For some reason, this portion was apparently not sent to all subscribers. Both of these advance sections are today among the rarest of fantasy fans' collectors' items. Cajoling, pleas and threats alike proved to no avail: Crawford never did complete this initial issue of Miracle Stories. Instead, he bent his efforts toward the production of another title entirely: Marvel Tales. This was a Readers Digest-sized magazine whose first number was dated May, 1934, and whose contents included Lovecraft's "Celephaïs" and Keller's "Binding de Luxe," both of which had been originally scheduled to appear in the ill-fated Unusual Stories. Crawford's makeshift plans and press make Marvel Tales a difficult item to collect. The second number, dated July-August, 1934, appeared with no less than three different covers on different colors and grades of paper, with even the wording of the story-titles and authors shifted about. Fortunately the contents did not vary. Of the fiction presented, Howard's "Garden of Fear," which probably comes closer to pure science-fiction than anything else he has written, was easily the best. A prize contest for the best stories written around titles the editor named was also announced in this issue. It required Crawford six months to bring out the third Marvel Tales. In that issue appeared P. Schulyer Miller's superb novel "The Titan" as a serial; disappointingly, however, its was never completed. Outstanding also was Keller's "Golden Bough," and Robert Bloch was represented in print for the first time with "Lilies." Winners of the contest described in the second number were announced; they were W. Anders Drake, R. DeWitt Miller, Richard Tooker and Forrest J. Ackerman. Drake's tale was the only one of these that Crawford ever published, al-for the sake of completeness it should be noted that Miller's ("The Shapes") was eventually accepted and printed by Astounding Stories (February, 1935). With the fourth number Crawford at last presented a reasonable facsimile of his ideals. This neat, enlarged issue would have shamed no editor or publisher. Clay Ferguson, Jr., whose work had previously appeared in Fantasy Magazine, had added his talents to the magazine with excellent effect, holding down the art editor's post. A column of readers' letters made its appearance. Along with fiction by Miller, Lovecraft, Amelia Reynolds Long and John Beynon Harris there was the initial installment of George Allan England's lengthy novel, "The Nebula of Death," this being a reprint from The People's Favorite Magazine of fifteen years before. "The Creator" by Clifford D. Simak appeared in entirety, and was very favorably received, many fans terming it a classic. Despite some crudities of construction it is yet a memorable story, and epitomized to perfection Crawford's policy of publishing stories having too controversial a theme to be used by the average professional fantasy magazine. But, apparently elated by his success, Crawford propounded further grandiose plans, announcing in the fourth Marvel Tales that Unusual Stories would
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FANTASY COMMENTATOR 223 tasy and the supernatural as well, realizing that only by appealing to all factions in the field could he hope to accumulate a modicum of support. Months passed, and nothing more was heard from Crawford. Finally, advance subscribers received a partially-completed section of the projected first issue, together with a circular wherein Crawford explained that the delay had been caused by the printer, who had contracted for a job considerably bigger than proved able to handle. What Crawford did not explain, however, was that he himself was the printer involved, and that consequently all blame was his alone. This so-called "Advance Issue" was dated March, 1934, and was mailed in the preceeding January. It contained an editorial, a short biography of author Richard Tooker, and nearly all the pages of Cyril G. Wates' story "When the Waker Sleeps," which was illustrated by Guy L. Huey. Pulp paper was used (contradicting Crawford's promise of fine book-paper stock) and the type-size was large and readable. Some time after, an additional fragment of the magazine was mailed; this contained pages finishing the Wates tale, and beginning "Tharda, Queen of the Vampires" by Richard Tooker. For some reason, this portion was apparently not sent to all subscribers. Both of these advance sections are today among the rarest of fantasy fans' collectors' items. Cajoling, pleas and threats alike proved to no avail: Crawford never did complete this initial issue of Miracle Stories. Instead, he bent his efforts toward the production of another title entirely: Marvel Tales. This was a Readers Digest-sized magazine whose first number was dated May, 1934, and whose contents included Lovecraft's "Celephaïs" and Keller's "Binding de Luxe," both of which had been originally scheduled to appear in the ill-fated Unusual Stories. Crawford's makeshift plans and press make Marvel Tales a difficult item to collect. The second number, dated July-August, 1934, appeared with no less than three different covers on different colors and grades of paper, with even the wording of the story-titles and authors shifted about. Fortunately the contents did not vary. Of the fiction presented, Howard's "Garden of Fear," which probably comes closer to pure science-fiction than anything else he has written, was easily the best. A prize contest for the best stories written around titles the editor named was also announced in this issue. It required Crawford six months to bring out the third Marvel Tales. In that issue appeared P. Schulyer Miller's superb novel "The Titan" as a serial; disappointingly, however, its was never completed. Outstanding also was Keller's "Golden Bough," and Robert Bloch was represented in print for the first time with "Lilies." Winners of the contest described in the second number were announced; they were W. Anders Drake, R. DeWitt Miller, Richard Tooker and Forrest J. Ackerman. Drake's tale was the only one of these that Crawford ever published, al-for the sake of completeness it should be noted that Miller's ("The Shapes") was eventually accepted and printed by Astounding Stories (February, 1935). With the fourth number Crawford at last presented a reasonable facsimile of his ideals. This neat, enlarged issue would have shamed no editor or publisher. Clay Ferguson, Jr., whose work had previously appeared in Fantasy Magazine, had added his talents to the magazine with excellent effect, holding down the art editor's post. A column of readers' letters made its appearance. Along with fiction by Miller, Lovecraft, Amelia Reynolds Long and John Beynon Harris there was the initial installment of George Allan England's lengthy novel, "The Nebula of Death," this being a reprint from The People's Favorite Magazine of fifteen years before. "The Creator" by Clifford D. Simak appeared in entirety, and was very favorably received, many fans terming it a classic. Despite some crudities of construction it is yet a memorable story, and epitomized to perfection Crawford's policy of publishing stories having too controversial a theme to be used by the average professional fantasy magazine. But, apparently elated by his success, Crawford propounded further grandiose plans, announcing in the fourth Marvel Tales that Unusual Stories would
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