DIY History | Transcribe | Hevelin Fanzines | Scientifun, v. 1, issue 2, April 1942

Transcribe
Translate

Scientifun, v. 1, issue 2, April 1942

Page 3

A SHORT HISTORY OF EGBERT FANN
By
LeRoy Tackett

Once upon a time there was an ordinary guy named Egbert. Egbert lived in a small western town and grew up as an ordinary guy in a small western town would grow up. Being an ordinary guy Egbert had a dog who was called Pluto--and looked it.
Now Egbert, the ordinary guy, liked to read. He read detective stories. Every month Egbert would waddle over to the local magazine stand and get a Spider sandwiched between two Shadows. One day Egbert got up bright and early--in the afternoon--and said to Pluto; "Pluto, the time has come for me to get a new magazine.
Pluto said, "Zzzzzz." This meant that he was asleep as usual. Noticing that Pluto slept fitfully, Egbert decided that the dog had ants in his trance and staggered off to the newsstand. Upon entering the store Egbert went immediately to the pile of pulp mags stacked in the corner. There he began an extensive search for his Shadow. Suddenly he came accross a guady cover with a red-haired hero shooting rainbow-colored smoke rings at a green and orange monster. 
"Gad," cried Egbert, "What is this? Captain Future! Gad! Hmmm, this is interesting."
And thus Egbert became one of those strange creatures known by other strange creatures as fantasy fans. Egbert rushed home to show his new discovery to Pluto.
And Pluto said, "Zzzzwhee."
All that night Egbert read and early the next morning he rushed back for more of our favorite literature. Astounding, Future, and one day a mail-order catalog bearing the title AMAZING STORIES QUATERLY. Egbert read stories, articles, and letters to the editors. Eventually he becae interested in fandom.
Fanzines! Gad, here was something new. Egbert ordered one. Then he ordered nearly every fanzine on the market and some that weren't.
Then came the Denvention.
His mother said, "Egbert, you are a jerk."
His friends said, "Egbert, you are a jerk."
His girl said, "Egbert, you are a jerk."
Pluto said "Zzzzumphzz."
But Egbert was determined. Nothing, absolutely nothing, was going to stop him from attending the Denvention. He was sure of that. At least he was sure until a calendar walked up and kicked him right square in the pocketbook. Thhe Denvention started the 4th. Egbert got paid the 15th. So Egbert turned to Pluto for consolation.
Pluto told Egbert, "Zzzzzzhonk."
When the fanzines arrived Egbert wondered what the other fans looked like. From descriptions in fanzines he drew pictures of the fans. Egbert sent these drawings to the editors of TWS, who used them on the cover of that mag in place of the BEM'S.
After reading reports on the Denvention, Egbert wa more determined than ever to attend the next convention. "Picificon or bust," was his slogan. That was before December 7. On December 7 the Yngvi from Nippon disrupted those plans. So Egbert turned back to his fanzines.
(Continued on page 10)

Saving...

A SHORT HISTORY OF EGBERT FANN By LeRoy Tackett Once upon a time there was an ordinary guy named Egbert. Egbert lived in a small western town and grew up as an ordinary guy in a small western town would grow up. Being an ordinary guy Egbert had a dog who was called Pluto--and looked it. Now Egbert, the ordinary guy, liked to read. He read detective stories. Every month Egbert would waddle over to the local magazine stand and get a Spider sandwiched between two Shadows. One day Egbert got up bright and early--in the afternoon--and said to Pluto; "Pluto, the time has come for me to get a new magazine. Pluto said, "Zzzzzz." This meant that he was asleep as usual. Noticing that Pluto slept fitfully, Egbert decided that the dog had ants in his trance and staggered off to the newsstand. Upon entering the store Egbert went immediately to the pile of pulp mags stacked in the corner. There he began an extensive search for his Shadow. Suddenly he came accross a guady cover with a red-haired hero shooting rainbow-colored smoke rings at a green and orange monster. "Gad," cried Egbert, "What is this? Captain Future! Gad! Hmmm, this is interesting." And thus Egbert became one of those strange creatures known by other strange creatures as fantasy fans. Egbert rushed home to show his new discovery to Pluto. And Pluto said, "Zzzzwhee." All that night Egbert read and early the next morning he rushed back for more of our favorite literature. Astounding, Future, and one day a mail-order catalog bearing the title AMAZING STORIES QUATERLY. Egbert read stories, articles, and letters to the editors. Eventually he becae interested in fandom. Fanzines! Gad, here was something new. Egbert ordered one. Then he ordered nearly every fanzine on the market and some that weren't. Then came the Denvention. His mother said, "Egbert, you are a jerk." His friends said, "Egbert, you are a jerk." His girl said, "Egbert, you are a jerk." Pluto said "Zzzzumphzz." But Egbert was determined. Nothing, absolutely nothing, was going to stop him from attending the Denvention. He was sure of that. At least he was sure until a calendar walked up and kicked him right square in the pocketbook. Thhe Denvention started the 4th. Egbert got paid the 15th. So Egbert turned to Pluto for consolation. Pluto told Egbert, "Zzzzzzhonk." When the fanzines arrived Egbert wondered what the other fans looked like. From descriptions in fanzines he drew pictures of the fans. Egbert sent these drawings to the editors of TWS, who used them on the cover of that mag in place of the BEM'S. After reading reports on the Denvention, Egbert wa more determined than ever to attend the next convention. "Picificon or bust," was his slogan. That was before December 7. On December 7 the Yngvi from Nippon disrupted those plans. So Egbert turned back to his fanzines. (Continued on page 10)