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Fantasy Commentator, v. 1, issue 5, Winter 1944-1945
Page 87
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FANTASY COMMENTATOR 87 Past Decades in Science-Fiction by A. Langley Searles Ten years ago readers were in the midst of a golden age in science-fiction, though doubtless not very many realized it. Astounding Stories, rejuvenated by the comparatively recent backing of Street and Smith, had begun to hit its stride several months before, and was now featuring consistently a high percentage of worthwhile material. The January issue saw Weinbaum entering the Astounding fold with "Flight on Titan," which, being a typical Weinbaum story, was also typically good. The cover had a rather unattractive Brown painting for Frank K. Kelly's "Star Ship Invincible"; it was Kelly's last---and finest---effort in the field, but the story wasn't generally appreciated, mainly on account of its being too good. Frank B. Long, C. C. Campbell. Harl Vincent, Clifton B. Kruse and Raymond Gallun had short stories in the issue; these were readable at the time, and perhaps even entertaining but scarcely memorable. But the serials were both entertaining and memorable. Smith's "Skylark of Valeron" was nearing its conclusion, and was already receiving nearly unanimous praise in the readers' lettes. In "Brass Tacks" Smith himself was represented: Leinster, Williamson and Campbell were mentioned therein, and C. L. Moore's "Bright Illusion" merited a lengthy paragraph of praise. In this department, too, Charles Fort's "Lo!" was being footballed around; a few readers liked it, but most were panning it unmercifully. And finally a fellow named Tucker wrote in to tell everyone about his new alphabetical society, with its "Grand Gadzook" and "Honorary Igwagig." This, one gathered, was supposed to be funny. The cover of the February number was striking, if not artistic, a criticism which also applied to "The Ultimate Metal" of Nat Schachner, the "thought-variant" it illustrated. Schachner showed great promise of becoming an outstanding hack as far back as 1935. The interior illustrations, as usual, were handled by Dold, Marchioni's work being pleasingly conspicuous by its absence. There was a Dr. Conklin story by Calvin Peregoy (T. C. McClary) which failed to click, and something by Frank B. Long called "The Great Cold." Carl Buchanan and Arch Carr's sequel to "Warriors of Eternity" was titled "Discus Men of Ekta," and was pleasingly reminiscent in theme of Giesy's "Palos" trilogy of fifteen years before. The best yarn in the issue was Weinbaum's "Parasite Planet," with its unforgettable descriptions of the fantastic creatures of Venus; excellent it was then, and equally so it is even today. "The Skylark of Valeron" concluded as only a Smith novel could, and the good doctor presumably began work on his next opus, which was not to appear until late 1937. John W. Campbell was twice represented, first by the third installment of his "Mightiest Machine," and secondly by "The Machine"---written under the pseudonym of Don A. Stuart---the first of a fine trilogy. "Brass Tacks" was mainly taken up with vociferous letters trying to show why Karl Van Campen had not disproved the law of conservation of energy in his story "The Irrelevant". March of 1935 saw a fair cover by Brown. Murray Leinster's "Proxima Centauri" was the featured story; it was one interstellar in theme, and proved quite entertaining. Friend Schachner was again with us, this time with "Mind of the World." The effort was entertaining then, but did not stand up under rereading. The only really bad thing in the issue was "No Medals" by one Leigh Keith; flesh and blood automatons, with their inventor coming to a Frankenstein-like ending. Chan Corbett and Dr. Arch Carr had two short tales of fair quality, "When the Sun Dies" and "Cardiaca Vera." In Campbell's serial the terrestrian adventurers' exploits in the star system of Anrel and its 87 planets was being quite well told. Two brief gems appeared in this number, too: "Blindness," by Don A. Stuart, and Gallun's beautiful "Telepathic Piracy." Both were liked, but neither ever re-
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FANTASY COMMENTATOR 87 Past Decades in Science-Fiction by A. Langley Searles Ten years ago readers were in the midst of a golden age in science-fiction, though doubtless not very many realized it. Astounding Stories, rejuvenated by the comparatively recent backing of Street and Smith, had begun to hit its stride several months before, and was now featuring consistently a high percentage of worthwhile material. The January issue saw Weinbaum entering the Astounding fold with "Flight on Titan," which, being a typical Weinbaum story, was also typically good. The cover had a rather unattractive Brown painting for Frank K. Kelly's "Star Ship Invincible"; it was Kelly's last---and finest---effort in the field, but the story wasn't generally appreciated, mainly on account of its being too good. Frank B. Long, C. C. Campbell. Harl Vincent, Clifton B. Kruse and Raymond Gallun had short stories in the issue; these were readable at the time, and perhaps even entertaining but scarcely memorable. But the serials were both entertaining and memorable. Smith's "Skylark of Valeron" was nearing its conclusion, and was already receiving nearly unanimous praise in the readers' lettes. In "Brass Tacks" Smith himself was represented: Leinster, Williamson and Campbell were mentioned therein, and C. L. Moore's "Bright Illusion" merited a lengthy paragraph of praise. In this department, too, Charles Fort's "Lo!" was being footballed around; a few readers liked it, but most were panning it unmercifully. And finally a fellow named Tucker wrote in to tell everyone about his new alphabetical society, with its "Grand Gadzook" and "Honorary Igwagig." This, one gathered, was supposed to be funny. The cover of the February number was striking, if not artistic, a criticism which also applied to "The Ultimate Metal" of Nat Schachner, the "thought-variant" it illustrated. Schachner showed great promise of becoming an outstanding hack as far back as 1935. The interior illustrations, as usual, were handled by Dold, Marchioni's work being pleasingly conspicuous by its absence. There was a Dr. Conklin story by Calvin Peregoy (T. C. McClary) which failed to click, and something by Frank B. Long called "The Great Cold." Carl Buchanan and Arch Carr's sequel to "Warriors of Eternity" was titled "Discus Men of Ekta," and was pleasingly reminiscent in theme of Giesy's "Palos" trilogy of fifteen years before. The best yarn in the issue was Weinbaum's "Parasite Planet," with its unforgettable descriptions of the fantastic creatures of Venus; excellent it was then, and equally so it is even today. "The Skylark of Valeron" concluded as only a Smith novel could, and the good doctor presumably began work on his next opus, which was not to appear until late 1937. John W. Campbell was twice represented, first by the third installment of his "Mightiest Machine," and secondly by "The Machine"---written under the pseudonym of Don A. Stuart---the first of a fine trilogy. "Brass Tacks" was mainly taken up with vociferous letters trying to show why Karl Van Campen had not disproved the law of conservation of energy in his story "The Irrelevant". March of 1935 saw a fair cover by Brown. Murray Leinster's "Proxima Centauri" was the featured story; it was one interstellar in theme, and proved quite entertaining. Friend Schachner was again with us, this time with "Mind of the World." The effort was entertaining then, but did not stand up under rereading. The only really bad thing in the issue was "No Medals" by one Leigh Keith; flesh and blood automatons, with their inventor coming to a Frankenstein-like ending. Chan Corbett and Dr. Arch Carr had two short tales of fair quality, "When the Sun Dies" and "Cardiaca Vera." In Campbell's serial the terrestrian adventurers' exploits in the star system of Anrel and its 87 planets was being quite well told. Two brief gems appeared in this number, too: "Blindness," by Don A. Stuart, and Gallun's beautiful "Telepathic Piracy." Both were liked, but neither ever re-
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