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Scientifictionist, v. 1, issue 6, August-October 1946

Page 12

               I WUZ ROBBED!
by Rupert Evans

I wuz gypped! Once upon a time I sent $3.00 to the Buffalo Book Co. for The Skylark of Space. About a week later I received it with joy. "At last", I thought, "I shall read this great classic of science fiction." I opened the package, looked, and was somewhat discouraged by the bookjacket, an amateurish effort. if I ever saw one. Then I looked into the interior -- the "Schneeman illustrations" consisted of one frontspiece -- a picture of a girl dancing. Now I have nothing against pretty girls, like them very much in fact; but, after all if there is to be but one illustration in the whole book, why choose a picture of a pretty girl dancing to be the sole artwork in the book! Besides, I cannot remember a scene in the book to which it could apply -- although I could be wrong about this.
   However, I took heart at the neat printing job and commenced reading the book, hoping for the best. After all, this is a classic of stf, and it is written by the master writer, Dr. E.E. Smith. But I was doomed to disappointment.
   The plot consists of the tried and true elements of the space opera. The hero invents a space drive. The villains, in the form of a steel trust and a Dr. DuQueene attempt to steal the invention, and murder our hero. They succeed in stealing the element x which causes atomic disintegration of copper -- the method of the drive used in this ship. The hero builds his ship despite interference from the villains. The villains also build a ship, and use it to kidnap the hero's girl. The hero's girl. The hero naturally pursues them. The villain's ship gets out of control, and is about to crash on a planet due to lack of fuel, when our hero rescues the villain and his girl in the neck of time. They all land on a planet; help to win a war; return home healthy and happy -- even the villain who gets away.
   The book wasn't even well-written. In spots it reminded me of E.R. Burroughs. It was as much science fiction as Carter of Mars; which book it reminded me of somewhat -- especially the episode on the allien planet.
   I GOT GYPPED! I WUZ ROBBED!
       ___________________
        AMONG THE CLASSICS (con'td from page 6)
istic artist, Briggs. These to your reviewer's mind, capture the mood of the story to perfection.
     To be concluded in Scientificationisht no. seven.
      __________________
       AGHARTI -- AN OVERLOOKED CLASSIC (cont'd from pg. 1)
fan  How long the story could retain the title of "classic", is hard to say. It will become outdates, even as Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea. Even as I write this the "V-7" described in AGHARTI does not seem very far off: one can almost hear it blasting the capitols of the world
   My advice to you would be to read AGHARTI -- don't let that Amazing cover frighten you away. We've been promised more stories by Heinrich Hauser; let's hope they materialize, for here is a writer of whom science fiction may well be proud.
      ____________________
"'LIGHTS IN THE SKY' SEEN IN LORRINE. Nancy, Sept. 13 (AP). Mysterious 'lights in the sky' were reported streaking over Lorraine Thursday night by inhabitants of the region, and the French News Agency quoted them as saying the objects could not have been shooting stars or fast-moving airplanes. The first reports cam several days ago from Longwy". --The Detroit News. Ed. note: Is this another instance of "Russian Rockets", or is it in the nature of a Fortean item!
                    page 12

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I WUZ ROBBED! by Rupert Evans I wuz gypped! Once upon a time I sent $3.00 to the Buffalo Book Co. for The Skylark of Space. About a week later I received it with joy. "At last", I thought, "I shall read this great classic of science fiction." I opened the package, looked, and was somewhat discouraged by the bookjacket, an amateurish effort. if I ever saw one. Then I looked into the interior -- the "Schneeman illustrations" consisted of one frontspiece -- a picture of a girl dancing. Now I have nothing against pretty girls, like them very much in fact; but, after all if there is to be but one illustration in the whole book, why choose a picture of a pretty girl dancing to be the sole artwork in the book! Besides, I cannot remember a scene in the book to which it could apply -- although I could be wrong about this. However, I took heart at the neat printing job and commenced reading the book, hoping for the best. After all, this is a classic of stf, and it is written by the master writer, Dr. E.E. Smith. But I was doomed to disappointment. The plot consists of the tried and true elements of the space opera. The hero invents a space drive. The villains, in the form of a steel trust and a Dr. DuQueene attempt to steal the invention, and murder our hero. They succeed in stealing the element x which causes atomic disintegration of copper -- the method of the drive used in this ship. The hero builds his ship despite interference from the villains. The villains also build a ship, and use it to kidnap the hero's girl. The hero's girl. The hero naturally pursues them. The villain's ship gets out of control, and is about to crash on a planet due to lack of fuel, when our hero rescues the villain and his girl in the neck of time. They all land on a planet; help to win a war; return home healthy and happy -- even the villain who gets away. The book wasn't even well-written. In spots it reminded me of E.R. Burroughs. It was as much science fiction as Carter of Mars; which book it reminded me of somewhat -- especially the episode on the allien planet. I GOT GYPPED! I WUZ ROBBED! ___________________ AMONG THE CLASSICS (con'td from page 6) istic artist, Briggs. These to your reviewer's mind, capture the mood of the story to perfection. To be concluded in Scientificationisht no. seven. __________________ AGHARTI -- AN OVERLOOKED CLASSIC (cont'd from pg. 1) fan How long the story could retain the title of "classic", is hard to say. It will become outdates, even as Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea. Even as I write this the "V-7" described in AGHARTI does not seem very far off: one can almost hear it blasting the capitols of the world My advice to you would be to read AGHARTI -- don't let that Amazing cover frighten you away. We've been promised more stories by Heinrich Hauser; let's hope they materialize, for here is a writer of whom science fiction may well be proud. ____________________ "'LIGHTS IN THE SKY' SEEN IN LORRINE. Nancy, Sept. 13 (AP). Mysterious 'lights in the sky' were reported streaking over Lorraine Thursday night by inhabitants of the region, and the French News Agency quoted them as saying the objects could not have been shooting stars or fast-moving airplanes. The first reports cam several days ago from Longwy". --The Detroit News. Ed. note: Is this another instance of "Russian Rockets", or is it in the nature of a Fortean item! page 12