The Reader's Corner
The Readers' Corner
A Meeting Place for Readers ofAstounding Stories]
"Literature"
Dear Editor:
After comparison with various other magazines which specialize in thepublication of Science Fiction, we--The Scientific Fiction LibraryAss'n, of 1457 First Ave., New York City--have found that your magazine,Amazing Stories, publishes stories to which the term "literature" may beapplied in its real sense. A fine example of this is the story "MurderMadness," by Murray Leinster. Others of the finer novels are: "TheBeetle Horde," by Victor Rousseau, and, up to the present installment,"Earth, the Marauder," by Arthur J. Burks. "Brigands of the Moon," byRay Cummings, was interesting and well-written, but it was notliterature (not a story which you will remember and read over again). Ofthe shorter stories, the novelettes, the best are: "Spawn of the Stars,"by Charles W. Diffin, "Monsters of Moyen," by Arthur J. Burks, and "TheAtom Smasher," by Victor Rousseau.
Since the magazine started, there are only three stories that did notbelong in the magazine, and were not even interesting. These are: "TheCorpse on the Grating," by Hugh B. Cave; "The Stolen Mind," by M.Staley, and the last (I wonder that the editors who used such good sensein picking the other finer stories, let it pass), "Vampires of Venus,"by Anthony Pelcher. May you keep up the high standard of fiction you arepublishing at present.--Nathan Greenfeld, 873 Whitlock Ave., New YorkCity.
You See--It Didn't!
Dear Editor:
Firstly, let me say that I am sending a year's subscription toAstounding Stories, which will tell you that they are good.
On the average, the stories are of good literary merit and plot.However, there is one thing that seems to be getting rather pushedinto the background and that is the second part of your title,"Super-Science." If this is to be a Science Fiction magazine let us haveit so. I am kicking against stories like "Murder Madness" and the like.They are really excellent in every way but just need that tincture ofa little scientific background to make them super-excellent. "Brigandsof the Moon" and "The Moon Master" seem to me more the type of story"our mag" should publish, from its name.
No doubt this criticism will leave you cold and this effusion find itsway into the nearest waste paper basket, but I find that a number ofyour readers in Australia think somewhat the same as I do.
More brickbats--I hope not! and more bouquets--I hope so! the next timeI write.--N.W. Alcock, 5 Gaza Rd., Naremburn, N.S.W., Australia.
Not in de Head!!
Dear Editor:
I shall be glad to take advantage of your cordial invitation to comeover to "The Readers' Corner." In the first place, I find your magazinethe best of its kind on the market, and you are to be congratulated onhaving such excellent authors as Ray Cummings, Murray Leinster andCaptain S. P. Meek. Nevertheless, there are so many things to becriticized that I hardly know where to begin.
Let's start of with stories of future warfare. Although this class ispotentially one of the most interesting, it is at the same time one ofthe most abused. Ray Cummings can write classics in this field, but theefforts of most the others are atrocities. I'll wager that theirfavorite childhood sport was mowing down whole regiments of leadsoldiers with oxy-acetylene torches. It shows in their writings. Whycan't they think of something original? Why can't they make theirstories logical? The merits of a story are not dependent on the numberof people wiped out by one blast of a death ray! But they all stick tothe same old plot. A merciless but well-meaning scientist, or hordesfrom a foreign planet, wipe out thousands of American citizens at oneblow. Hundreds of airplanes are disintegrated before they discover thatthe enemy is invulnerable. An ultimatum in domineering tones gives theterror-stricken populace forty-eight hours in which to surrender. But,all unknown to the dastardly villains, an obscure young scientist laborsto save his country and the girl he loves. Fifteen minutes before thetime set in the ultimatum he perfects a new weapon that soon sends theinvaders to their well merited fate.
Surely you realize how ridiculous the whole affair is. It is onlyslightly less nauseating than the plot used in the stories of advancedcivilizations where the hero is conducted on a sight-seeing tour by theindividual in whose path he popped upon entering this new world. I can'tbelieve that more than a handful of my fellow beings are of such lowintelligence that they can find enjoyment in such trash. You will noticethat although every reader has a different list of favorite authors, RayCummings has his name in practically every list. He is easily yourfavorite author. Ray Cummings does not wipe out whole cities at onetime. His heroes do not save the world by inventing a new weapon at amoment's notice. His wars are not of forty-eight hours' duration. Hisconquerors do not attempt to win the war by one great attack on New YorkCity. Do try to have your authors write logical stories.
I would now like to criticize the love element in your stories. I do notclaim that there should be none whatever from cover to cover of yourmagazine, but I do claim that there should be none unless it reallyhelps the plot. Most of your authors seem to think that a girl isnecessary in every plot and so they bring her in, disregarding the factthat they do not know how to handle such material. The way it standsnow, the heroine is introduced in a lame, routine fashion; is rescuedonce or twice; and accepts the hero as a husband in an altogether lamefashion.
There are many other points but they can wait. Logical war stories, noUtopias or sight-seeing tours, sensible love element, plus your presentpolicy will make a corking magazine.--Philip Waite, 3400 Wayne Ave., NewYork, N.Y.
No Present Plans
Dear Editor:
Thanks for the new color cover. It certainly is a big improvement. Thepicture on the front of "our" magazine was just as astounding as thestory by R. F. Starzl from which it was drawn. Let's have more storiesfrom the pen of Mr. Starzl.
In my opinion "Beyond the Heaviside Layer" is the best story I have readin Astounding Stories to date. I am very pleased that you intend toprint a sequel to it.
Now I would like to ask you a question. Do you intend to print an Annualor Quarterly, or do think you will ever enlarge the size of thismagazine? I don't care so much whether you enlarge the magazine or not,but I certainly would like to read an Annual or Quarterly.
Even though this letter meets the fate of thousands of other suchletters and sees the inside of your wastebasket, I will at least havehad the pleasure of writing to you and wishing "our" magazine success tothe nth degree.--Forrest J. Ackerman, 236-1/2 N. New Hampshire, LosAngeles, Calif.
"Excellent" to "So-So"
Dear Editor:
I notice a large number of subscribers are giving their opinions ofAstounding Stories. I hate to be with the crowd, but I have to side withthe majority in this case and say it's just about right.
My favorite writers are R. F. Starzl (that "Planet of Dread" was apeach). Chas. W. Diffin, A. Merritt, Ralph Milne Farley, Murray Leinsterand Ray Cummings.
Now as to the August issue, here is how I rate them:
"Planet of Dread"--more than 20c. worth at the first crack. A realstory.
"Lord of Space"--excellent. I meant to include Victor Rousseau in mylist of favorites above.
"The Second Satellite"--so-so.
"Silver Dome"--so.
"Earth the Marauder"--too deep for me. And that Beryl stuff is sheerbunk.
"Murder Madness"--a real story. Get more like this.
"The Flying City"--too much explanation and description and not enoughaction.
Perhaps it looks like I'm sort of critical after all, but I didn't meanit just that way. What I'm driving at is that Astounding Stories is byfar superior to its competitors, and I'm telling you so because it mightmake you feel better to know it. If you want to print this testimonial,go to it. To tell the truth, I'll be looking for it.--Leslie P. Mann,1227 Ogden Ave., Chicago, Illinois.
"Too Many Serials"
Dear Editor:
I have just finished the August issue, and I would like to tell you myopinion of it and the mag
azine as a whole.
The stories in order of merit were:
1--"The Second Satellite"; 2--"The Flying City"; 3--"Silver Dome";4--"The Lord of Space"; 5--"The Planet of Dread."
I won't pass judgment upon the serials, as I have not read all theparts.
In "The Flying City" there are a number of points I am hazy about. Howcould Cor speak English? However, this could be cleared up by sayingthat Cor sent out men to get the language, etc.
As a whole, Astounding Stories is a good magazine. There are too manyserials, however, but since other readers like them I won't complain.
You have a fine array of Science Fiction authors. With such writers asVincent, Meek, Hamilton, Starzl and Ernst, your magazine can't beanything but a success.
The September layouts look good to me. I hope it is.--E. Anderson, 1765Southern Blvd., New York, N.Y.
Thanks, Mr. Glasser
Dear Editor:
Somewhat belatedly I am writing to commend you most heartily on theAugust issue of Astounding Stories, which I consider by far the finestnumber since the inception of the magazine last January. The authorswhose work appeared in this issue are among the greatest modern writersof fantasy and scientific fiction. Leinster, Burks, Hamilton,Rousseau--what a brilliant galaxy! And Starzl, Vincent, Rich; allwriters of note. If ever a magazine merited the designation "all-starnumber," your August issue filled the bill.
However, I am confident that even this superb achievement will besurpassed by some future edition of Astounding Stories, for eachsucceeding number to date has improved on the one before. And with a newCummings novel in the offing, it seems the August issue, despite itsexcellence, will speedily be eclipsed.--Allen Glasser, 1510 UniversityAve., New York, N.Y.
Are Our Covers Too "Gaudy"?
Dear Editor:
This is the first time that I have ventured to air my views to anymagazine, but as yours interests me greatly I hereby shed my reticence.
I believe, of all magazine of your type, you have come nearestperfection. But there are just a few things that bother me, and, nodoubt, others like me. In the first place, must you make your covers aslurid and as contradictory to good design as they are? Really, I blushwhen my newsdealer hands me the gaudy thing. People interested inscience do not usually succumb to circus poster advertising.
Then there are the stories. I realize that you must cater to all tastes,but some of them are very childish, slightly camouflaged fairy tales.Science Fiction can be written very convincingly, as is testified by thestories of H. G. Wells, Ray Cummings, Jules Verne, and others. Thesewriters attain their effects by the proper use of the English language,without silly and obviously tacked-on romance, the use of knownscientific facts elaborated sensibly and by not trying to make a novelout of a short story.
The stimulation of the imagination from Science Fiction is mostenjoyable and I shall continue to read your magazine even though myfault finding is not considered, for, as I said before, you certainlyhave come nearer my ideal than any of the others.--Hector D. Spear, 867W. 181st St., The Tri-Sigma Fraternity, New York City.
Nossir--Our Astronomy Is O. K.
Dear Editor:
I am taking advantage of your invitation to write to you. SinceAstounding Stories is available you have given me a lot of pleasure, andI hope you may get a little pleasure out of reading this.
First, I want to say that you're hitting the ball as far as I'mconcerned. I could hardly suggest an improvement.
In the August issue I liked "Planet of Dread," by R. F. Starzl, best.When that thing in the "pipe" grabbed me, I mean Gunga, wow! And it gaveme a lot of satisfaction to see the Master in "Murder Madness," byMurray Leinster, get it in the neck. "Lord of Space" was good, too. Infact all the stories were good. I have only read two or three I reallydid not like since you started.
Say, I never heard of a planet named Inra. Don't you think your authorought to brush up on his astronomy? I also noticed some other authorsare a little weak on astronomy; not that I'm complaining. The storiesare O. K. with me.--Harry Johnson, 237 E. 128th St., New York City.
Mr. Yetter Checks Up on Us
Dear Editor:
As I am a constant reader of Astounding Stories I wish to say thatthough S. P. Meek is one of my favorite authors his story, "Cold Light,"was a little wrong when he called the "Silver Range" by the name of"Stillwater Range." I also think it would have been better if he had hada car take Dr. Bird and Carnes out to the hills, became even in Fallon aburro is a strange sight.
But Meek, Cummings, Burks and all the rest of our famous authors'stories should be in the magazine often. If Verrill, Wells, Nathensonand Hamilton would also write, the magazine would be perfect.
I like all the stories, though some seem to be copies, and others lackscience.
Here is for a long life for Astounding Stories!--Frank Yetter, 369Railroad Ave., Fallon, Nevada.
"Charm All Its Own"
Dear Editor:
Let me congratulate you. I have just read "The Planet of Dread," by R.F. Starzl, in your August issue of Astounding Stories.
Real science, you know, is pretty rigidly limited, but super-science ofthe kind you seem to run has a freshness and charm all its own.
I came upon your magazine quite by accident, and from now on no doubtwill look for it as I stand before the racks of magazines, trying todecide upon something to read--Anton J. Sartori, 1330 W. 6th St., LosAngeles, Calif.
Inra Could Exist
Dear Editor:
You will have to excuse this old telegraph office typewriter. It is allI have to express my appreciation to you for the tremendouslyinteresting magazine you put out. I have only read the last threeissues, but those are enough to convince me that Astounding Storiesfills a long-felt want. I read all the others too, but from now on I'mgoing to look over their offerings at the stand before I buy. They haveto go some to come up to the standard set by you, especially in theAugust copy.
That story, "The Planet of Dread," was the most weird, exciting,thrilling, satisfying--in short, the most "astounding" story I have everread. Nothing has seemed so real since I first read Wells' stories. Iliked the characters. Poor Gunga. I could just see him, trying tosacrifice the man he obviously worshipped to stop that horrible noise.The picture of Gunga on the cover was just exactly what I would expectthe Martian to look like. You have a good artist. I liked MarkForepaugh, too. He didn't lose his nerve for one minute--not Mark. Whosays civilization is going down, when the future holds men like that?
Next to "The Planet of Dread" I liked "The Lord of Space." That was avivid and well-drawn story, too. Those two, I think, were theoutstanding stories for August. But I must not forget "Murder Madness,"the serial; it was thrilling and convincing. That's the only kick Ihave: so many stories sound thin. I don't believe them when I read them.I also want to mention "The Forgotten Planet" and "From An Amber Block."Good, exciting, and you can believe them without too much strain.
Oh, by the way, the author of "The Planet of Dread" made a mistake whenhe chose a mythical planet for his terrific adventures. Why not Venus orMercury? If they have water the conditions on them would be similar towhat he described for Inra. There ain't no such planet. But why expectperfection! I'm satisfied.
I wish you success. That's a late wish. You're a success already.--TomP. Fitzgerald, Newcastle, Nebraska.
Thus Ended the Quest
Dear Editor:
This is my first letter to your magazine, and right away I'm asking fora pair of sequels. One of these is to "The Moon Master," by Charles W.Diffin. These sad endings depress me greatly, but if I looked at theending first to see whether or not it was sad it would ruin the story;and besides sad endings usually have good stories in front of them. Theother sequel I want is to "From The Ocean's Depths," by Sewell P.Wright, and its sequel "Into The Ocean's Depths."
In looking over my back copies of the magazine I find that I have notdisliked a single story. Thus endeth my quest for a brickbat.
Are you going to put out
a quarterly? Both the other Science Fictionmagazines that I get do so, and I observe that it gives opportunity fora story of full novel length all in one piece. Not that I object toserials, but I like once in a while to sit down to a long story withouthaving to dig out three or four magazines. However, please continue thelong serials, for what is life without the element of suspense?--Hugh M.Gilmore, 920 N. Vista St., Hollywood, Cal.
"The Readers' Corner"
All Readers are extended a sincere and cordial invitation to "come overin 'The Readers' Corner'" and join in our monthly discussion of stories,authors, scientific principles and possibilities--everything that's ofcommon interest in connection with our Astounding Stories.
Although from time to time the Editor may make a comment or so, this isa department primarily for _Readers_, and we want you to make full useof it. Likes, dislikes, criticisms, explanations, roses, brickbats,suggestions--everything's welcome here; so "come over in 'The Readers'Corner'" and discuss it with all of us!
_The Editor._
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Transcriber Notes
Typographical and hyphenation inconsistencies have been standardized.
Otherwise, archaic and variable spelling is preserved, including'obsidion' and 'tyranosaur'.
Passages in italics indicated by _underscores_.
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