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Scientifictionist, v. 1, issue 4, April 1946

Page 18

the same pay-load of explosives.  This changes Bridges plan very little.  And the plan of attack would be the same.  I might suggest another type of ship, tho.  A bomber, similar to his space-carrier, only it would be filled with one-shot robot bombs.  Each bomb would have a television set in its warhead, and would be guided by a man on the mother ship.  The bomb could be made to explode on contact, or when the operator pressed a firing button.  For a pretty good picture of what I mean see LIFE for Nov. 19, 1945.  And the article 36 HOURS WAR.  (Also a good view of our future cities.)

A large, over-ripe hunk of hen-fruit to dear old Wranek.  Just what Slanry, is the point of such articles!  We fans know we are queer acting and that there are things wrong with stf, but will we change! Ha, not fans!

Tho I find Coslet's articles interesting, I'm afraid that I still do not see the point.  I can add to his list a little.  Ross Rocklynne did a number of ego-changing tales for Planet Stories.  I can remember only two.  TASK OF LAHRI and SLAVE OF THE NINTH MOON.   There was at least one other of the series, maybe two.

Your short article on makes a classic set me to thinking.  I ask myself what I thought made a classic.  And for once I couldn't answer myself.  For I can say that this or that thing makes a story better than others, and I doubt that many can say truly what it is.  I know I did not find SLAN to have some great meaning that some seem to think it had.  It was a swell story, but I have been stirred more by shorter stories.  An example is NIGHTFALL by Asimov.  I'm not saying SLAN wasn't a better story, for it was, but there was more...more....well, meaning in NIGHTFALL.

I am afraid I did not see the point or reason for THE ART OF THE SUN.  It was a lot of nice-sounding words that lead you on, and then merely say that if we lived in a Technocracy a painter could paint a better looking sun.  

I found interesting things in DEDUCTION.  Which was very good.  Please keep having these short bits of humor, not too much, just a page like you have. 

Letters were interesting.  Always glad to see what other people think. --Rich Sneary, 2962 Santa Ana St., South Gate, California

Art, WAR AND PROGRESS, and Kennedy

Anent Scientifictionist, I must say it is the fnz with the most sense, as you have so far refrained from decorating it with "art".  Unfortunately, a mimeo is not ideally suited for printing sketches--so I believe it would be best to continue as you are now.  that little sketch on the bottom of the cover now, Was not incongruous, though I failed to see the relationship between the gear, the rocket-ship and the robot.
Joe Kennedy's remark that Bertram's WAR AND PROGRESS has no place in a stf mag strikes me as unfounded.  Stf is always trying new forms, of government, often changing them by introducing variations as war, atomic disaster, or wholesale mental depreciation.  There are certain forms of stf dealing wholly with political theory, and only using scientific (or otherwise) weapons to bring about the necessary state to which the author's theory is applicable. --Paul W. Juneau, Jr., 4720 Palmetto St., New Orleans 15, La.
---------------------------------
(AMONG THE CLASSICS, continued form page 13)

Zongainian espionage system.  While it is likewise not clear why the Kananese should not have seen to it that their one ace in the hole, the magnetic weapon, was not more adequately guarded.  Certainly they must have had to deal with more adroit saboteurs than such babes in the woods as three earthmen lost in Kanan!

Still this reviewer does not find these latter shortcomings at all bothersome when the table is read as it is written--purely as fanciful adventure.  In this aspect it is delightful.
page 18

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the same pay-load of explosives. This changes Bridges plan very little. And the plan of attack would be the same. I might suggest another type of ship, tho. A bomber, similar to his space-carrier, only it would be filled with one-shot robot bombs. Each bomb would have a television set in its warhead, and would be guided by a man on the mother ship. The bomb could be made to explode on contact, or when the operator pressed a firing button. For a pretty good picture of what I mean see LIFE for Nov. 19, 1945. And the article 36 HOURS WAR. (Also a good view of our future cities.) A large, over-ripe hunk of hen-fruit to dear old Wranek. Just what Slanry, is the point of such articles! We fans know we are queer acting and that there are things wrong with stf, but will we change! Ha, not fans! Tho I find Coslet's articles interesting, I'm afraid that I still do not see the point. I can add to his list a little. Ross Rocklynne did a number of ego-changing tales for Planet Stories. I can remember only two. TASK OF LAHRI and SLAVE OF THE NINTH MOON. There was at least one other of the series, maybe two. Your short article on makes a classic set me to thinking. I ask myself what I thought made a classic. And for once I couldn't answer myself. For I can say that this or that thing makes a story better than others, and I doubt that many can say truly what it is. I know I did not find SLAN to have some great meaning that some seem to think it had. It was a swell story, but I have been stirred more by shorter stories. An example is NIGHTFALL by Asimov. I'm not saying SLAN wasn't a better story, for it was, but there was more...more....well, meaning in NIGHTFALL. I am afraid I did not see the point or reason for THE ART OF THE SUN. It was a lot of nice-sounding words that lead you on, and then merely say that if we lived in a Technocracy a painter could paint a better looking sun. I found interesting things in DEDUCTION. Which was very good. Please keep having these short bits of humor, not too much, just a page like you have. Letters were interesting. Always glad to see what other people think. --Rich Sneary, 2962 Santa Ana St., South Gate, California Art, WAR AND PROGRESS, and Kennedy Anent Scientifictionist, I must say it is the fnz with the most sense, as you have so far refrained from decorating it with "art". Unfortunately, a mimeo is not ideally suited for printing sketches--so I believe it would be best to continue as you are now. that little sketch on the bottom of the cover now, Was not incongruous, though I failed to see the relationship between the gear, the rocket-ship and the robot. Joe Kennedy's remark that Bertram's WAR AND PROGRESS has no place in a stf mag strikes me as unfounded. Stf is always trying new forms, of government, often changing them by introducing variations as war, atomic disaster, or wholesale mental depreciation. There are certain forms of stf dealing wholly with political theory, and only using scientific (or otherwise) weapons to bring about the necessary state to which the author's theory is applicable. --Paul W. Juneau, Jr., 4720 Palmetto St., New Orleans 15, La. --------------------------------- (AMONG THE CLASSICS, continued form page 13) Zongainian espionage system. While it is likewise not clear why the Kananese should not have seen to it that their one ace in the hole, the magnetic weapon, was not more adequately guarded. Certainly they must have had to deal with more adroit saboteurs than such babes in the woods as three earthmen lost in Kanan! Still this reviewer does not find these latter shortcomings at all bothersome when the table is read as it is written--purely as fanciful adventure. In this aspect it is delightful. page 18