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Fantasy Commentator, v. 1, issue 11, Summer 1946

Page 298

298
FANTASY COMMENTATOR

less into his confidence. But Wollheim, despite his frequent callousness in wounding the feelings of others, was himself a sensitive person, easily susceptible to hurt; he recognized Sykora's change of attitude almost immediately, and felt at a loss to account for it. Sykora, on his part, met inquiries with evasions, asserting that his own attitude had undergone no change whatsoever. But to Michel he unburdened himself, confessing a distrust for Wollheim, and expressing the belief that his influence was harmful to the club---all this being precipitated by a long discussion with Michel concerning The International Observer's policy. (As might be guessed, it was the same bone of contention all over again---science-fiction vs. science-hobbying.) Sykora's views, not unnaturally, eventually reached Wollheim's ears, and Wollheim felt there was but one course open to him. This he took, publishing the following open letter to Sykora in the November, 1936 issue of The International Observer:

Dear Sir:

Feeling that I no longer have the honor of your confidence, I hereby tender my resignation as Acting Treasurer of the International Scientific Association.

Accompanying this resignation was another one by John B. Michel, asking that he be relieved of his editorial duties because of poor health and business matters. Michel's reasons were legitimate, but there is little doubt but that his growing friendship for Wollheim prompted its simultaneous issuance.

Despite everything, Wollheim had unquestionably been a loyal and valuable member of the ISA. He had worked hand in hand with Sykora on previous club projects, had fought side by side with him during ISA battles. Consequently fans were surprised to learn of the apparent rift between the two men.

Sykora accepted Michel's resignation, but refused to accept Wollheim's, claiming that his work for the ISA had been exemplary. Wollheim then withdrew his resignation, and there is no doubt that the strain had been alleviated to some extent. But the seeds of doubt had been sown.

Sykora then appointed Pohl editor of the club periodical in Michel's place. In retrospect this was both a very good and a very bad choice for him to make. It was good because Pohl had a definite talent for editorial work, and the interest of the magazine's contents swerved upward almost immediately. IT was bad---from Sykora's point of view, at least---because Pohl was at heart predominantly a science-fictionist who cared little for science as a hobby. And soon, where fiction and derived topics had never filled up more than a third of The International Observer, they now took up close to double that amount. The science-hobbyists began to voice faint, uneasy complaints and Sykora began to frown. On this unsteady note the ISA worked toward its greatly important concluding activities in early 1937.

XIII
The Science Fiction Advancement Association

Prior to 1936 the West Coast had been involved in few activities of national scope. The Los Angeles SFL chapter continued to hold meetings on varying scales of interest, and there is no hint in all available records of any serious discord in the group. Though fandom at large envied their sometimes over-reported meetings, members otherwise were well out of the public eye, enjoying the oblivion that is the usual lot of an efficient, well-functioning, localized machine.

Claire P. Beck's Science Fiction Critic was the first attempt by a West Coast fan to launch some project on a national scale, as has already been noted. But Beck was in no way connected with the Los Angles group, nor was C. Hamilton Bloomer, the second fan from the area to attempt something not merely local in

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298 FANTASY COMMENTATOR less into his confidence. But Wollheim, despite his frequent callousness in wounding the feelings of others, was himself a sensitive person, easily susceptible to hurt; he recognized Sykora's change of attitude almost immediately, and felt at a loss to account for it. Sykora, on his part, met inquiries with evasions, asserting that his own attitude had undergone no change whatsoever. But to Michel he unburdened himself, confessing a distrust for Wollheim, and expressing the belief that his influence was harmful to the club---all this being precipitated by a long discussion with Michel concerning The International Observer's policy. (As might be guessed, it was the same bone of contention all over again---science-fiction vs. science-hobbying.) Sykora's views, not unnaturally, eventually reached Wollheim's ears, and Wollheim felt there was but one course open to him. This he took, publishing the following open letter to Sykora in the November, 1936 issue of The International Observer: Dear Sir: Feeling that I no longer have the honor of your confidence, I hereby tender my resignation as Acting Treasurer of the International Scientific Association. Accompanying this resignation was another one by John B. Michel, asking that he be relieved of his editorial duties because of poor health and business matters. Michel's reasons were legitimate, but there is little doubt but that his growing friendship for Wollheim prompted its simultaneous issuance. Despite everything, Wollheim had unquestionably been a loyal and valuable member of the ISA. He had worked hand in hand with Sykora on previous club projects, had fought side by side with him during ISA battles. Consequently fans were surprised to learn of the apparent rift between the two men. Sykora accepted Michel's resignation, but refused to accept Wollheim's, claiming that his work for the ISA had been exemplary. Wollheim then withdrew his resignation, and there is no doubt that the strain had been alleviated to some extent. But the seeds of doubt had been sown. Sykora then appointed Pohl editor of the club periodical in Michel's place. In retrospect this was both a very good and a very bad choice for him to make. It was good because Pohl had a definite talent for editorial work, and the interest of the magazine's contents swerved upward almost immediately. IT was bad---from Sykora's point of view, at least---because Pohl was at heart predominantly a science-fictionist who cared little for science as a hobby. And soon, where fiction and derived topics had never filled up more than a third of The International Observer, they now took up close to double that amount. The science-hobbyists began to voice faint, uneasy complaints and Sykora began to frown. On this unsteady note the ISA worked toward its greatly important concluding activities in early 1937. XIII The Science Fiction Advancement Association Prior to 1936 the West Coast had been involved in few activities of national scope. The Los Angeles SFL chapter continued to hold meetings on varying scales of interest, and there is no hint in all available records of any serious discord in the group. Though fandom at large envied their sometimes over-reported meetings, members otherwise were well out of the public eye, enjoying the oblivion that is the usual lot of an efficient, well-functioning, localized machine. Claire P. Beck's Science Fiction Critic was the first attempt by a West Coast fan to launch some project on a national scale, as has already been noted. But Beck was in no way connected with the Los Angles group, nor was C. Hamilton Bloomer, the second fan from the area to attempt something not merely local in