DIY History | Transcribe | Hevelin Fanzines | Scientifictionist, v. 1, issue 2, whole no. 2, 1945

Transcribe
Translate

Scientifictionist, v. 1, issue 2, whole no. 2, 1945

Page 1

FIRST IMPRESSIONS OF SCIENTIFICTION 
by John Stadter Jr.

This writer seems to be a member of that large, vague group designated "newfen", so perhaps you'd like to hear of the introduction to, and opinion of Stf by a newfan.
I was helping our church sponsor a waste paper drive and while baling some tons of paper and magazines I ran across two very old issues of ASF and WONDER minus covers.  They struck my fancy at the moment, and as I had always wanted to read a pulp mag I took them home to read.  By the time I had digested both mags from front to back, I was more than mildly interested in the phenomenon called "scientifiction".
Some months later while on a trip to the east, I was waiting in Washington's terminal when I spied a magazine stand.  Upon approaching what should I see but an ASF neatly done up in a subdued and pleasing cover.  But next to this very respectable looking book was another magazine entitled "Thrilling Wonder Stories".  One look at its cover was enough.  I need not describe it to you fellow fen.
Now here is my point.
If I had not been acquainted with the contents of this magazine (which, by the way, I did not purchase) I would have had every right in believing that this perverted horror contained the same lewd trash that the mags nestled so cozily against it contained.
Believe me, before I read a Stf mag, I firmly believed them to be just another conglomeration of sexy tripe thrown on the market to make a little money.  It is doubtful if I would have started reading Stf if I hadn't picked up those books.  The covers, at least in the cast of TWS, would have repelled me immediately.  Can the prozine publishers afford to have such a conception of their product in the minds of potential consumers!  Of course the argument is that gaudy covers (and in most cases contents to match) are necessary to assure the sale of the magazine.  Street & Smith doesn't seem to think so and I don't see them going bankrupt.  The publishers and editors of most (not all) prozines are following Hearst's dictum of finding the lowest common denominator of American taste and catering to that level or below it.
The cover of the average prozine isn't the only thing that is wrong with it.  The stories (with some exceptions by some writers whom I do not include in the average run-of-the-mine pulp hacks) are notoriously putrid.  Captain Future for one, has jumped straight out of Dime Western with an atomic blaster for a six-shooter and a spaceship for a horse.
Scientifiction, at lease the type ASF prints, is starting to pull away from the field of action pulps.  It seems that the postwar period would be a good time for those magazines in particular, which are holding back the Stf field in general, to switch from their thud and blunder policy to a style of fantasy literature which would elevate Stf to its rightful place above the motly mob of pulp mags.  Until that time, scientificton, despite what it may really represent, will be held in deserved contempt by that class of people which we want to have as its supporters.
THE SCIENTIFICTIONIST is edited and published by Henry Elsner Jr. at 13618 Cedar Grove, Detroit 5, Michigan.  Assistant editor: Walter Coslet.  Contributing editors:  Lynn Bridges, John Stadter Jr.  Subscription rates:  10 cents per copy, 3/25 cents  Published whenever material warrants.  All contributions in the form of constructive articles about science of scientifiction welcome.  NO SAMPLE COPIES OR FANZINE EXCHANGES.  "X" means your subscription expires with this issue.
page 1

Saving...

FIRST IMPRESSIONS OF SCIENTIFICTION by John Stadter Jr. This writer seems to be a member of that large, vague group designated "newfen", so perhaps you'd like to hear of the introduction to, and opinion of Stf by a newfan. I was helping our church sponsor a waste paper drive and while baling some tons of paper and magazines I ran across two very old issues of ASF and WONDER minus covers. They struck my fancy at the moment, and as I had always wanted to read a pulp mag I took them home to read. By the time I had digested both mags from front to back, I was more than mildly interested in the phenomenon called "scientifiction". Some months later while on a trip to the east, I was waiting in Washington's terminal when I spied a magazine stand. Upon approaching what should I see but an ASF neatly done up in a subdued and pleasing cover. But next to this very respectable looking book was another magazine entitled "Thrilling Wonder Stories". One look at its cover was enough. I need not describe it to you fellow fen. Now here is my point. If I had not been acquainted with the contents of this magazine (which, by the way, I did not purchase) I would have had every right in believing that this perverted horror contained the same lewd trash that the mags nestled so cozily against it contained. Believe me, before I read a Stf mag, I firmly believed them to be just another conglomeration of sexy tripe thrown on the market to make a little money. It is doubtful if I would have started reading Stf if I hadn't picked up those books. The covers, at least in the cast of TWS, would have repelled me immediately. Can the prozine publishers afford to have such a conception of their product in the minds of potential consumers! Of course the argument is that gaudy covers (and in most cases contents to match) are necessary to assure the sale of the magazine. Street & Smith doesn't seem to think so and I don't see them going bankrupt. The publishers and editors of most (not all) prozines are following Hearst's dictum of finding the lowest common denominator of American taste and catering to that level or below it. The cover of the average prozine isn't the only thing that is wrong with it. The stories (with some exceptions by some writers whom I do not include in the average run-of-the-mine pulp hacks) are notoriously putrid. Captain Future for one, has jumped straight out of Dime Western with an atomic blaster for a six-shooter and a spaceship for a horse. Scientifiction, at lease the type ASF prints, is starting to pull away from the field of action pulps. It seems that the postwar period would be a good time for those magazines in particular, which are holding back the Stf field in general, to switch from their thud and blunder policy to a style of fantasy literature which would elevate Stf to its rightful place above the motly mob of pulp mags. Until that time, scientificton, despite what it may really represent, will be held in deserved contempt by that class of people which we want to have as its supporters. THE SCIENTIFICTIONIST is edited and published by Henry Elsner Jr. at 13618 Cedar Grove, Detroit 5, Michigan. Assistant editor: Walter Coslet. Contributing editors: Lynn Bridges, John Stadter Jr. Subscription rates: 10 cents per copy, 3/25 cents Published whenever material warrants. All contributions in the form of constructive articles about science of scientifiction welcome. NO SAMPLE COPIES OR FANZINE EXCHANGES. "X" means your subscription expires with this issue. page 1