"You could call it APOGGIATURA, the fanzine that's a note before the rest."

"Or SIGNAL, the 'zine that stops you in your tracks."

"Or GECKO."

"GECKO?"

"A lizard with adhesive feet. GECKO, the 'zine that sticks up for itself... GECKO, by hecko. Published in cold blood ... gumshoe ... a long tale ... ah! ... nothing newt under the sun ... iguana tell you something, so lizard to me...."

"Oh shut up. Uh ... ATTIC, what the fan is missing ... LINKED, slightly over-inked, ell of a difference ... off the cuff ... between ourselves ... chain gang ..."

"I kept one GECKO, but I had to salamander rest...."

"Shut up. MILKY WAY ... um ... Udder Worlds ... cream of s-f pasture you ... one good churn deserves an udder ... GALACTARY ... nobull zine ..."

"Other fanzines have comedians, but GECKO will have chameleons ... haw-haws of a different colour ... why are you looking at me thataway?"

"I've just decided. We're just going to have plain old ...

....AND NOW -- 'NEBULA' SCI-FICTION

SCIENCE FANTASY NEWS The independent newszine for British s-f fans. Issued irregularly, when the news warrants it, minimum 5 per year, by A. Vincent Clarke and H. Ken Bulmer, of 16, Wendover Way, Welling, Kent. Price, at present, 6d per copy, 2/6d per year, 1 prozine (not AMAZING or FANTASTIC) for 3 issues, fanzine exchanges welcomed. If you take exception, or even a liking, to anything herein, we'll be glad to hear from you ... & of course, we always want to receive Science Fantasy News.

A GLANCE AROUND THE
LATEST NEWS OF
S-F FILMS
****
by JAMES RATTIGAN
****

PARAMOUNT HAS FULL PROGRAMME OF S-F MOVIES

Producer GEORGE PAL has now finished WAR OF THE WORLDS for Paramount, will produce HOUDINI for the same studio, and follows it with AFTER WORLDS COLLIDE, sequel to WHEN WORLDS COLLIDE which Paramount claimed to be one of their biggest box-office successes. It is not yet known whether AWC will be retitled, but it's safe to presume that they'll leave the name, at least, well alone after WWC's success.

Pal will follow AWC with CONQUEST OF SPACE. No, it's not based on the famous LEY-BONESTELL book, but is rumoured to be from ARTHUR C. CLARKE'S forthcoming ISLANDS IN THE SKY, which deals with the building of an earth-satellite vehicle.

In addition, Paramount star BING CROSBY, in a recent interview, mentioned that he and BOB HOPE had talked over following their present picture, ROAD TO BALI, with ROAD TO THE MOON!

Shooting on the abovementioned WAR OF THE WORLDS has now finished, but the film has a six-month schedule for special effects. The reason for this, three months more than that for WHEN WORLDS COLLIDE, is that all the dramatic highlights, such as Martian fighting-machines, atom-bomb blasts, the destruction of cities by Martians, etc. will take up half the completed film. GORDON JENNINGS, who won the Academy "Oscar" for his work on WWC, will again do the special effects.

ALFRED HITCHCOCK and many other executives appear in their own productions. Pal and director FRANK FREEMAN JNR. do it in WOW. In one scene showing the destitution wrought by the Martian machines as they destroy everything around them and a huge exodus of citizens from a large city is taking place, the roving camera picks out 2 worn-out, beaten-up tramps ... Pal and Freeman. Paramount not only make movies for you but put their executives on the screen as well ... all for the price of one ticket. ((Saves 'em money, too. ED))

From R.K.O. comes news that 3000 A.D. will shortly be released here, while WALT DISNEY, (now working on PETER PAN) will soon start on Verne's 20,000 LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA. The latter will be a technicolor, live-action feature, with undersea photography and some cartoon animation of marine monsters.

For those waiting for THE THING, we hear from R.K.O. that it will be released at the end of June, or at the latest, the end of July. THE THING was seen at a private showing at R.K.O.'s Dean Street cinema to members of the London Circle recently. Owing to an arrangement with DAVY JONES, head of RKO publicity here we are unable to review the film till its public release, (we hope to do it in the next SFN) but we'll say this much though ... it's GOOD!

EXCLUSIVE have now scheduled BILL TEMPLE'S 'FOUR-SIDED TRIANGLE' for Autumn shooting, and for the sake of authenticity they're bringing over BARBARA PAYTON, who featured in the old Hollywood three-sided triangle recently. Exclusive didn't bother to mention it to Bill, and when he saw the news in the Press found his name mentioned casually a long way after Miss Payton's. Bill has our sympathy. Exclusive, who paid an all-time high for film rights (they said it, not us), have re-written the story (in 9 days, it's said), so that any resemblance to the original novel will probably be accidental. This one is wide open for morbid speculation.

ABOUT TOWN   The Charing Cross Road CAMEO started a new fantasy serial, THE BATMAN, on June 9th. FLIGHT TO MARS will not have a West End showing but is now on 'floating release' with PLANET X, LOST CONTINENT, etc, Incidentally, PLANET X is running as a serial at one news theatre.

THE ATOMIC CITY (Paramount) Starring Gene Barry. Lydia Clarke, Lee Asker.

A low budget film, but the best on hand at the moment. Not strictly s-f, it has a basis of science. The son of a nuclear physicist at Los Alamos is kidnapped by foreign agents who want the H-bomb equations. There are mysterious murders, etc, & a gradual build-up of tension to the final scenes amongst some Indian ruins.

It doesn't sound very impressive, but imaginative direction, crisp dialogue and fine photography put it above the norm. The opening shots, showing the interior of Los Alamos and the working arrangements there are extremely good. GO!

FLIGHT TO MARS (Monogram) Starring Marguerite Chapman & Cameron Mitchell

"Steve and Alita fall in love, and she consents to return to Earth with him as his wife. The six manage to launch their ship, and head back toward Earth just in time to escape Ikron's clutches."

We have an impulse to leave it at that, but Bob Tucker devotes a whole page of SCIENCE FICTION NEWS LETTER merely to examining the wonderful manoeuvrability of the FTM rocket, with its one jet tube and the one button controlling it, so to that last paragraph of the synopsis we'll add that to win Marguerite Chapman as the Cinecolored Martian 'Alita' (daughter of Tillamar) even we would dare the flashing, roaring meteors of Outer Space. Good for a laugh ... or a cry.

THE MYSTERY OF THE B.S.F.A. cont.

In the last SFN we published some details of the very peculiar organisation, which, although having letters in PICTURE POST, IMAGINATION, and AUTHENTIC S-F., naming it an s-f fan club, could not be contacted. The mystery has now deepened into a rather dirty murk:-

First and most interesting result of the BSFA item was a letter from a well known fan who had actually had a 5 page letter from L.W. Nowlan, the BSFA Chairman. We found it extremely interesting, and wrote again to Nowlan, offering him space in SFN for his views. As usual, we received no reply, so in fairness to the BSFA we're printing extracts from their Chairman's letter. :-

...."We knew of ((various organisations such as the London group ((sic)) etc.)) and also of the International Convention ... my association was well represented, esoterically, by our Secretary and Librarian. But quite frankly, these activities are the antithesis of our principles.

"Too many fan-clubs are tied-up with publishing bodies, agencies, authors circles, etc. etc., ad nauseam, and our Board feels that many of these clubs are just 'speakers' of various companies. Novels and mags are 'plugged' unashamedly and to our inexperienced ((sic)) eyes savour of commercialism -- the word 'fan' being an increment for the commission agents."

((Nowlan then criticises space-opera type s-f, and continues:-))

"Same old hackneyed plots between covers of a planet or two shadowed by the conventional rocket ship. Never mind, the fan-clubs help to sell the tripe --

"And the fan meetings, oh dear! Example 1. Mr. F.E. Riddelli, President of the Trans-Rocketry Syst., author of 'Blue Dust of Venus', etc. etc., is also a fan at these esteemed gatherings. Quaite naice. Fans? Oh yeah?

"Example 2. Mr. F.C. Rodelli, agent for this, that and the other, Editor of this, that and something else, chairman of this, that and -- Fan -- clubs, oh yeah?

"No, me old china, fan-clubs don't exist in s-f (not true fan clubs -- only this one). Like Communism in a Democratic world, fandom cannot exist all the time such 'blurbs' are shoved around by newsletters, booklists and the like.

"Even we had to stoop to writing to publishers recently -- in progress of gaining a slight degree of recognition...."

((Nowlan then gives data of BSFA membership; 92 in the U.K., 22 in U.S.A., 16 in Commonwealth *letter dated 12/12/51*, and criticises commercialism of 'Dan Dare' on radio, and ends by characterising the 'usual type of fanzine' as "booklists, author's lives, -- very little concerning actual fans, very little contributed by fans."))

The chap who received the above wrote back, "saying I note his points, feel suitably abashed, and ... beg on bended knees the honour of being permitted to join his very enterprising association. I pointed out, among other things, that so far as I could see a fan-club which completely ignored any professional activity was rather akin to a bloke who was able to hoist himself up in the air by reaching down and clutching firmly at his bootlaces; as I had a real interest in psychic phenomena, including levitation, I would really like to join. Or words to that effect."

There was no answer.

Eric Bentcliffe of Manchester wrote to the BSFA. No reply.

Matt Elder of Glasgow wrote to the BSFA. No reply.

John Gutteridge, of Shoreham-by-Sea wrote to the BSFA ... after his discovery of s-f as detailed in 'Post War', this issue. He writes:-

"After the letter appeared in POST from the Sect. BSFA, I wrote via the said magazine to enquire after details, and received a reply about 5 weeks later, on 10th October, saying Mr. Peermunde was in bed with diphtheria.((See SFS 2/3)) This is roughly the gen. :-

"The society was formed about 5 years ago as a form of correspondence club, culminating in registration in June '50. USA members 57 and British about 130. (My number was 254). Believed largest in U.K. He said my name would be placed on the Jan. mail list, for fan & book lists. I received none, however.

"There was to be a publicity campaign in the new year, calculated to produce 5000 fans in the South alone (from where, I too do not know!). He ((Nowlan)) said he would be pleased to help in any way as it was his opinion, that stf was neglected in U.K. Enclosed were a pre-signed membership card and an invite to join for 3/6, which I did.

"Later that month I enquired about some mags and received an answer on a P.C. and was told to keep up any letters from the USA. I did hear from one John Taylor Gatto, who required mint editions, etc. Apart from that I have heard nothing.'

"Unfortunately, I did not then know of Op. Fantast, or for that matter, of any other stf club."

Well, it looks as though the BSFA has the same sort of publishing schedule as the old SFS and SLANT ... once every 6 months. It may be this that is the cause of the rather sudden drop in membership figures between October and December.

In reply to a query, John wrote, (15.5.52):-

"No, I have not tried to contact the BSFA again since. I did, though, send in an American pen-pal's address, and he tells me he received an honorary membership card, but has likewise heard nothing since."

With his membership card John received 2 leaflets, slightly larger than postcard size, naming the Secretary as A.J. Savage, of Camberwell, London. These leaflets are apparently for including in magazines on bookstalls, etc., as the extremely poorly duplicated text reads:-

ASTRONOMY SPACE-TRAVEL INTERPLANETARY SCIENCE ((Sic))

Dear Reader, The mere fact that you are reading this book proves that you are intellectual enough to be interested in one of the above subjects. By joining the British Science Fiction Association you can be kept up to date with the latest trends in these sciences. For 3/6d Per Annum we supply you with Book Lists, Fan Lists, Information, Disscussion ((sic)) Groups etc. So Join Now. Send S.A.E. For Details ....."

Incidentally, we sent Mr. Nowlan the last two SFNs, as published. We had the usual.

Short of wiping the taint of the filthy lucre we get as commission agents from our hands and hammering on Mr. Nowlan's door with a copy of Dale Carnegie, we've run out of approaches. Any ideas? Comments?

???????

The Case of the Leytonstone Science Fiction and Progress Society is on a slightly different plane, tho' not necessarily higher, than the BSFA. They had a rather naive (it may have been cut, tho') letter in the SUNDAY PICTORIAL asking What Was Happening To Progress? (See PHANTASMAGORIA 2/1). Of course, we wrote in the same day, and after three weeks received the following from Joyce Gillard, Editorial Secretary of the SUNDAY PIC.

"I am afraid we must return your enclosure, as we have been unable to obtain an address for the (LSF&PS) -- they did not give complete details when they wrote to us.

"So sorry we cannot help you ..."

???????

Not half so sorry as we are, sister.

???????

We can see what's going to happen. One Thursday night we'll arrive at the WHITE HORSE and find all the tables and chairs missing. On enquiring, we'll find they've all been borrowed for a meeting of the London Science Fiction Club next door.......              AVC

====================================================================

FAN CLUBS

Details were given in the last SFN of meetings in Bradford, Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds, London and Gillingham. (send a SAE for information).

Matt Elder, of 37, Moray Place, GLASGOW, S.1., announces the formation of the 'NEW LANDS S-F FAN CLUB' in that fair city, starting with 5 members and one honorary... Roland Turner, the 'Scion Pub.' cover artist. This is, as far as we know, the first Scottish club. Let's have further details, Matt.

Geoff Nelson, a regular London Circleite since he joined last year, is moving to DEREHAM, Norfolk, He wants to start a similar institution in NORWICH. We can't recall any fans in that county at present, but will anyone with addresses let us know & we'11 relay them to Geoff.

*****

The NOR'WEST SCIENCE-FANTASY CLUB is holding a Manchester Science-Fantasy Convention on September 26th. This, they say, Will Be The Most Entertaining Convention Ever Held. Features include Talks, Discussions, an Auction, Plays, and 'some very unusual and entertaining items, details of which will be given later.' They also announce a VERY SPECIAL guest, who has never before attended a convention, 'but is well known to all of you'. ((Not.... Nowlan?)) In connection with the MANCON, the NWSFC are running a 'Design Your Own Spaceship' Competition, technical accuracy willingly sacrificed for comfort.

Join the MANCON SOCIETY for future bulletins ... 1/6d, (which includes a competition entrance fee) ... Treasurer is Sid Klepper, 55, Heywood St., Cheetham, Manchester 8. The Secretary is Bill Jesson, 30, Selby Road, Stratford, Manchester, and the Chairman is our old friend Dave Cohen.

By the way, boys, it would help to put the date on future bulletins.

The NWSFC have also just issued their first club 'zine, ASTRONEER, an effort that lends itself to constructive criticism, and a well turned out CHECKLIST OF BRITISH S-F & FANTASY MAGAZINES, original and reprint. 16 pages of small type,  l/6d. This is the first of 3 scheduled to cover the entire British field, tho' frankly we can see trouble when they start on books. The present effort is a really worthwhile job, and after a hard try we could only find half-a-dozen very minor omissions, mostly due to a lack of definition of what constitutes a magazine. It's strongly recommended to collectors. Editor is Eric Bentcliffe, 47, Alldis St., Woodsmoor, Stockport, Cheshire. (in U.S., from Dale R. Smith, 3744 Oakland Avenue, Minneapolis 7, Minn.)

****************************************************************************

ARTHUR! ARTHUR!

"I wish peop1e would stop trying to find me a husband. Now when I'm asked who I'm going to marry I say 'the first man to fly to the moon'."

Film star Yvonne de Carlo in a Gossip Column.
___________________________________________________________________

ERRATA In our forthcoming books section last ish. we titled Ted Carnell's forthcoming anthology of British s-f, NO PLACE TO HIDE. This, of course, is a book about the A-bomb tests by a U.S. Dr. Bradley. The forthcoming (still) Boardman effort is NO PLACE LIKE EARTH, from John (Beynon Harris) Wyndham's story.

INADEQUACY OF WORDS DEPT 'Supposing the space around you could be suspended and made into nothingness ...' Blurb to 'King of the Black Bowl' Sept.'30 Wonder Stories.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

S.F.N.'s SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT JAMES L. KEEPING REPORTS

        EXPEDITION S F N

I was not altogether surprised when my unheralded visitor announced that he had just returned from a trip to the Moon. I had already noticed the dust on his boots. The shock came later, when, having introduced himself as Professor I.M. Gonoff, he presented a letter from the Editor of SFN, requesting me to accompany Gonoff on a second trip and cover it for the magazine. Well, it did not exactly request me; it said I was to go or else..... implying that refusal would entail my relying for future reading matter on SLANT. In the ordinary way I do not take kindly to threats, but in this case I deemed prudence the wiser course and hastened to elicit details.

I found him singularly uncommunicative. Not silent, but completely unintelligible. At first I supposed he was quoting some mathematics from 'Exploration of Space', but I eventually discovered that he was a Bermondsey man who had lost his dentures. However, I am not a Special Correspondent without good cause, and soon fished out my 'One Hundred Useful German Phrases', (which of course is a mine of information about travelling into space), and in due course we were conversing quite naturally.

The one point on which Gonoff was most insistent was that I should bring my bicycle and my spacesuit. This put me in a predicament, since I do not possess a bicycle, and I said as much to the Professor. He was very perturbed.

"'Struth", he exclaimed, "Couldn't possibly manage without a bike. Can't you borrow one?"

I meekly agreed that it could be done, and kept silent about the spacesuit. I knew that, at a pinch, I could borrow one from the Editor, who commonly wears one -- the helmet, at least -- when reviewing SLANT. Next I asked when the ascent was to take place.

"As soon as the hydrogen arrives," he answered.

"A-ah! So it's a liquid-fuel rocket, then?" I said knowingly.

Gonoff looked at me gone out. "Rocket? Fuel? Nonsense, man. Must have hydrogen to fill a balloon, mustn't we?"

"Oh ... so we're going there by balloon?" "Of course. How the devil else could we, eh?"

I began to feel rather small. Apart from disclosing my colossal ignorance of modern space-travel, I had fallen through the chair, and now had to gaze up at Gonoff. At last, however, I gathered that the take-off would be from the rear of the White Horse at 6 a.m. the following morning. This was a change for me, who had last been taken out from the front of the White Horse at 11 p.m. the previous night. I hastily dashed round to a friend and borrowed a cycle, being secretly proud that it was a new de-luxe roadster, but Gonoff was not impressed. He prophesied that I should find the drop handle-bars awkward when we came to cross the Mare Serenitatis. He was right as it happened.

There were no important witnesses to our departure -- just the editor and my own sorrowing wife and family. A last minute hitch was averted when I assured Gonoff that I had brought a bike pump and repair outfit, though I did not foresee any use for it, since we were spending only a few hours on the moon. It transpired that they were required in case of a puncture in the balloon, not the bike.

After rising several thousand feet and drifting several thousand miles, we observed the lunar orb on our left-hand side as you go up, and Gonoff took a reading. I thought he should have taken a sight, but he explained, somewhat irritably, that he had mislaid his glasses. But now we appeared to have reached the limits of the balloon's lift, and I discovered the reason for the hundredweight of marbles Gonoff had stowed in the basket. One by one he threw them violently out and down, and true to Newton, the balloon arose slowly in small jerks. Soon I had to relieve him at this irksome but novel task, & with my younger muscles on the job we progressed much more rapidly.

Twice we narrowly escaped destruction when caught in the path of large meteors, but remarkable agility with a boathook on Gonoff's part saved us. Twice he fell out ... once through too violent a marble-throw ... the marble stayed with us, but Gonoff came to rest several hundred yards ahead and had to wait till I caught up with him ... and once he overbalanced whilst fending us off from a wandering asteroid with a boathook. But here his scientific training stood him in good stead, and remembering, the law of action and reaction again, he blew himself back to me in a most peculiar fashion.

We landed quite gently at about nine-fifteen moontime -- they have no a.m., but A.C. Clarke is their P.M. -- and unloaded our bicycle. I had not realised till then that Gonoff proposed to ride on the crossbar, or I would have borrowed the bike from a boy-friend instead of a girl. As it was I found the going hard with Gonoff perched up on my shoulders, and yet it turned out all for the best, as I was completely submerged in dust and had to take my navigational orders in morse. After we had gone a few miles in this manner Gonoff fell off, and only the fact that the laces of his space-boots were entangled in the rear sprocket saved him from falling to the bottom of the Mare Serenitatis.

At the further side of this great sea we came to the spot where Gonoff had first landed, marked by three empty beer bottles, a sardine can and an uncut copy of SLANT, all of which, as Gonoff pointed out, was unnecessary junk to take back.

Here we planted the flag which Editor Clarke had provided, bearing a white circle on a red field, with the inscription 'Speed Thou Our Progress'. Only, not having room for all the words, he had used only the initials.

All that was left to us was the return. I confessed myself puzzled. "There is no air on the moon," I argued, "therefore, how can the balloon ascend?" Now was pointed out to me the value of the pump which Gonoff had demanded. By vigorous exertions we succeeded in maintaining sufficient atmosphere around us to allow the sphere to rise, and in all other respects our return journey was a replica of the outward trip.

We arrived back at the White Horse just in time for opening. I was very thirsty.

James L. Keeping

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

EDITORIAL (NOT A COLUMN)

I was idly turning over a 5 inch thick pile of fanzines that Walt Willis brought over at Convention time when a sudden thought caused me to drop the fork. All these zines were replete with columns and columnists (mostly named Willis), yet SFN hadn't a single one. This was bad. We couldn't insult anyone (much), we couldn't start a feud....

Of course, I had the Editorial space, but it wasn't the same thing. F'rinstance, I couldn't tell you about Bob Shaw in an Editorial. Bob is a structural draughtsman, and one of the sides of the Belfast SLANT triangle. Unfortunately, he's been edged out of his job through no fault of his own, and the openings for draughtsmen being limited in Ireland, has decided to seek his fortune in Britain, preferably London. He's looking for accommodation in town where he can live a quiet life of intensive fanning until ... well, he's got plans.

Offhand I don't know of any London fans who've room for a paying guest, but I don't know all London fans that well. I do know that any of you who can help a stranger (if you can call the inventor of Fanmanship a stranger) either by offering accommodation or by the information of where he can find suitable 'digs' will earn the Belfast/London group's real gratitude and a red merit mark on his Space Patrol papers. Bob's present address is 70, Loopland Drive, Belfast, N. Ireland. Please?

It occurs to me you might not know about the Space Patrol. Curiously, it has no proper existence but an Official Handbook is available from Denis Gifford, 16, Sydenham Park, London, S.E. 28. It's a 16 page printed effort, with photos and drawings, information on interplanetary stuff; on the juvenile level, but worth l/6d for curiosity value alone.

If this wasn't an editorial, I could go on and mention the juvenile space-suits that one of our spies saw at the Ideal Home Exhibition. Disappointing ... a toughish coverall playsuit with rocket flashes, and a baseball helmet. Pity ... we know one little brat we'd like to get inside a fish-bowl type, and then cut his air-pipe. Still ... that might be managed even yet......

(There should be an illustration here, Pete, but I've no space. *)

Then, if I were writing a column, I could be funny about HYPHEN, the new fanzine from Walt W. and Chuck Harris. With a combination like this it'll be banned in no time, so send in for your nine-penno'rth now ... tomorrow they may be in jail. It's got letters to SLANT and articles by White and Shaw and a story by Ridley and a poem by a great friend of ours.

And the next SLANT is almost ready. Another NIRVANA is due, too.

Concerning editors, you'll be glad (?) to hear that Gold and Campbell have kissed & made it up. In fact, they're not only advertising in each other's zines, but are slowing down their work with their long telephone calls to each other,

(Just heard a kid in the next-but-one garden calling "I'm nearest to Earth, but you've got to get to your own planet ..." Ah no! Not in this fair dormitory suburb, PLEASE!)

A columnist instead of a deadly rival would sympathise with Fred Robinson, editor of the Welsh newszine STRAIGHT UP, who's in difficulties. You shouldn't have promised 'shangos' in the next ish., Fred ... one of these days I'll tell the world of my trip to Shango Island, and my meeting with the only eyeless BEM on Earth. That was the Case of the Crazy Corpse. ..she was a nice ghoul, but one of the raving kind. (The case was coffin "put me out of mahogany", Walt.) (See what happens when you get an Irish punster staying with u?)

But I digress. This is an Editorial, I should apologise here for not running the cartoon mentioned in the reply to Alan Hunter's letter in Post War ... space is, as usual, far tighter than anticipated. Also with the Con., this SFN, and a supplementary Con report to this ish. which will follow in a couple of weeks, we're behind again with acknowledgements to new subscribers. We like to welcome you with a letter and open arms, new subbers., but for three weeks prior to publication of SFN, every spare minute is devoted to it, come what may.

It was a mistake to have 5 letter pages, by the way ... or do you want it like that?

As usual we're indebted to a number of folk for news ... those mentioned above and also John Brunner (who's just sold a long yarn to ASF ... 1st sale ... congrats), Derek Pickles, and numerous people mentioned elsewhere in the ish. You give it to us ... we give it to you

By today's mail enters SPACE DIVERSIONS, a club-zine from Liverpool ... 18 4to pages, well duplicated, Convention and 'Pudlian stuff. No particular policy evident except annoying themselves ... this may get ver' interesting. 2 for 1/- to non-members ... write to L'pool S-F Society, 13a, St. Vincent St., Liverpool 3.

The Bulletin of the Central London Group of Dianeticists has just been published.... (No.1, May, 1/6), edited by s-f PB author George Hay ... a nicely done job. George is a subscriber to SFN ... and we don't know whether it's a coincidence but his Bulletin is entitled ... "The Epicentre"

Remember ... we want news ... Bob Shaw wants lodgings ...

QUOTES, NOTES, NEWS AND REVIEWS

U.S. MAGAZINES
AVON FANTASY READER and AVON S-F have now ceased publication, altho' Avon may put out another 'zine in September. New 'zines are appearing weekly in the U.S., it seems ...SPACE S-F, 35c pocket-size, edited Lester del Rey, lines up del Rey, Asimov, Kuttner, etc for its 1st issue (May) + department by G. O. Smith; it looks in the TWS class or slightly above. A companion ' zine, ROCKET STORIES, will feature space-opera.

FANTASTIC, (not FANTASTIC ADVENTURES, pubbed. by same firm), is also pocket-size, 35c, edited by Howard Browne. Best zine Ziff Davis have published, it features Gold, Bradbury, Asimov, tec-story author Raymond Chandler with a novel, etc. etc. in No 1 (April). The back-cover ... color photo of mediocre painting ... is thrown away, but this zine is worth watching.

To add to the confusion FANTASTIC WORLDS, semi-pro lithoed zine, is forthcoming from U. S. fan Ed. Ludwig ... not, as far as is known, for bookstall distribution.

June MAGAZINE OF FANTASY & S-F has interplanetary love-story by Richard Wilson, 12 others by Bretnor (a 3 page 'classic'), Wellman, Agatha Christie, Merwin, etc. As usual, this 'zine stands head and shoulders over the usual level of fantasy.

LIFE ran a 6 page article on FLYING SAUCERS, with 10 detailed case reports, pictures, drawings, etc. Fair minded and convincing, it sent an almost unprecedented chill down the editorial spine; the British SUNDAY DISPATCH ran 3 articles mid-April on FS. . . mostly re-hash, but included 1st publication here of Lubbock Lights photo, (7 months old);  DAILY MIRROR (British) reported June 18th that during previous week letters had been 'pouring' into French Ministry of Information re. FS's ... they'd set up a special office for them.

COLLIERS ran our forecast 'Interplanetary Issue' March 22nd; 7 articles, pics, by Bonestell. Anyone wishing to BORROW this, with the 'future' ish. and LIFE's s-f article, please write and we'll put 'em out on a chain- system, with any other oddments that we've got.

U.S. POCKETBOOKS
Now available in PB form. . . 'Illustrated Man' Bradbury. . . 'Revolt of the Triffids' Wyndham; FANTASY STORIES FROM SATURDAY EVENING POST. Avon PB, contains 9 of them; slick, simple stuff, not for the dyed-in-the-wool fan but useful as introductions to s-f.

BEYOND THE END OF TIME, anthology edited by Pohl, 407 pages for 35cents. General selection including MacDonald, Asimov, Leinster, Van Vogt, Gold, Wyndham, Clarke, Heinlein ... terrific value. Put out by Permabooks, who did the SCIENCE FICTION GALAXY.

U.S. BOOKS
JACK OF EAGLES, Blish, ($2.75, Greenberg), expanded version of fast-moving, ESP adventure yarn originally pubbed in TWS (BRE May '50) as 'Let the Finder Beware'. Hardly worth hardcovers, tho. TALES FROM UNDERWOOD. Dr David Keller, (Arkham House, $3.95), the best of the famous s-f doctor's yarns; tho' published mostly in the early '30's in many cases the best on their particular themes, (mostly extrapolation of social/business trends).

TRAVELLERS OF SPACE Edited Greenberg, (Gnome; $3.95) 400 page anthology, 14 stories, + Willy Ley intro. + 13 page straight-faced 'Dictionary of S-F' + descriptive 'Interstellar Zoo' story and 16 full page color Cartier illos. +  nice binding production. Anderson's 'Double-Dyed Villains' and Brown's 'Placet is a Crazy Place' head the stories ... in spite of the trimmings, the few and not over-good stories drag this book down. Worth $3.95? Ummmmm.

TOMORROW AMD TOMORROW & FAIRY CHESSMEN 'Lewis Padgett' (Gnome $5.75) Two 2-part serials from ASF. 'F.C.' has the first sentence 'hook' ... "The doorknob opened a blue eye and looked at him." Story of variable-truths used as weapon in future war; 'T & T' is probability worlds trying to avert war; two first-class stories and a nice jacket. Recommended.

FOUNDATION. Asimov (Gnome, $2.95) The first 5 stories of the famous ASF series concerning 'psycho-history'. One of the longest series and one of the best ... extra yarns will be added in the books. DAVID STARR - SPACE RANGER, Paul French (?) (Doubleday, $2.50) one of the series for adolescents which included NEEDLE ... again, well written stuff which passes a light hour or two for the adult fan as well.

INVADERS OF EARTH Edited Groff Conklin ($2.95 Vanguard) 22 stories, Sturgeon, Van Vogt, Boucher, Orson Welles (the 'War of the Worlds' script), Bill Temple ('Date to Remember' ), Russell ('Impulse') and others. a better-than-usual anthologist and a b-t-u anthology. '

CLOAK OF AESIR. J. W. Campbell, Jnr (Shasta $3.00) A trilogy (Story of the Machine) a pair (Aesir) and two others, one the 'Forgetfulness', originally published under the pseudonym of 'Don A. Stuart' when Stuart was ASF' s leading writer in the late mid-'30s. Some faults are evident now, after the renaissance introduced by Campbell/Stuart has brought better writing to most of the field, but such stories as the Aesir pair & 'Forgetfulness' rank very high indeed, even now.

Arkham House, publishers of weird, fantasy, and some s-f, are being absorbed by the U. S. publishers Pelegrini and Cudahy. No data on future s-f publications as yet.

BRITISH NEWS
Collectors item. THE GREY MIRROR, Swan 1/6d, reprinted from SFQuarterly with a redrawn BOK cover ... a hack yarn of Tibetans and Martians by Arthur J. Burks. An oddity. Latest BRE'S; SUPER SCIENCE July, TWS July, ASF July ... latter pair have re-drawn covers for first time ... FUTURE & S-F No 4 on sale in May too. Not outstanding. . (understatement). Note old-timer artist Morey on the cover.

Best wishes to fan Mike Tealby, now recovered from recent illness, will be issuing his WONDER again soon. (8, Burfield Avenue, Loughborough, Leics.)

Cheap editions; 'Death of a World' Farjeon (Collins 1/6d), 'Greener than you Think', Moore (Gollancz 3/6d). The famous book on semantics, Hayakawa's 'LANGUAGE IN THOUGHT AND ACTION' (Allen & Unwin), Bradbury's ILLUSTRATED MAN due June 20th (hart-davis 11/6d). Most of Wheatley's s-f (of a sort) has been reprinted, following intensive publicity of his STAR OF ILL OMEN (Hutchinson 12/6d), yarn of flying saucers and a-bombs which we're not reviewing because we couldn't bear to finish it. And further forthcomine - - ADVENTURES IN TOMORROW (Bodley Head) US s-f anthology, reviewed SFN 18.

POST WAR

A. CAUCASIAN WINNOWER of Cape Town writes: -

Great! Colossal! Gosh wow oh bhoy oh bhoy! This guy White is terrific! Who is he, Heinlein or Van Vogt ? This yarn is a classic. Should be in hard covers. Why doesn't he try for Slant ? Let's have more by this nova author. Don't let Gold get him. Throw out all those other hacks of yours and let's have more White. Let him fill the whole magazine. Give him his head. (What are you doing with it anyway?) Yours for more White, a White Fan'

****This postcard was postmarked 'Belfast'

C. R. (Chuck) HARRIS, of  'Carolin', Lake Averue, Rainham, Essex, writes:-

Clarke,
You cur.

I've only had your foul smear sheet for barely 24 hours. Since then I've received one telegram, six letters, and two concise English dictionaries from the White cohorts.

If there is anything in fandom that I loathe and abominate it's the everso helpful faned creatures who zealously INCORRECT their correspondents' spelling. You may have your little idiosyncrasies, but in future, kindly keep them the hell out of my letters. If you're full of grim determination to have 'immediately' spelt as ' immedietly' please try to confine your little crusade to the 'Editourial' page.

I'm not buying it, Clarke. I demand that you publish a retraction. Nobody, repeat NOBODY is going to label me as a BRE of Rick Sneary. If it had happened once I would have overlooked it. But TWICE!!!! --- and sundry other typos in the scant twenty lines that you allot to my superb piece of resistance. The retraction.

"We wish to make it clear to both of our readers that the incorrect spelling of 'immediately' that occurred twice in Mr. Harris's letter published in our last issue, was due solely to abysmal ignorance on our part and was in no way attributable to Mr. Harris."

All abject and grovelling apologies to the above address,

Coldly,

****Congratulations, Mr. Harris! You spotted the DELIBERATE MISTAKE in our last issue, and the first prize, a magnificent piece of EPICENTRE CEILING will be sent to you immedietly!

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A Picture Postcard of TROPICAL PALMS COURT, FORT MYERS, FLORIDA, with this message:-

INTERESTED FILM RIGHTS WHITE'S SUPERCOLOSSAL SMASH HIT EPIC THE UNCONVENTIONAL FAN STOP OFFERING $10,000,000 OR SUB TO SLANT STOP SUGGEST SCREEN PLAY TERENCE RATTIGAN STOP INCIDENTAL MUSIC ARTHUR CLARKE STOP SOUND CHARLES DUNCOMBE STOP PUBLICITY CONVENTION COMMITTEE STOP CAN YOU SUPPLY 16 MM PROJECTOR STOP WITH WARM CLASP OF FRIENDSHIP HANS TORRID RKO

****This postcard was postmarked 'Belfast'
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DAN MORGAN of "Hazelthelm", 25 Park Avenue, Spalding, Lincs, writes:-

Congratulations on the latest ish of S.F.N. which is better than ever! I note with concern, however, that the Belfast Triangle are present in force howling for their bowls of egoboo. Reading "The Unconventional Fan" with interest I guessed it to be one of the 'humorous fan stories' mentioned in Post War. I was rocked to my foundations to find at the conclusion the Saint Scholar Willis vouches for the veracity of same.

On the other hand, it could be that James White is actually a Monkey's Paw, this would account for some of the grimy marks on my last copy of Slant.

****We thought the last Slant was a bit dirty too ... the last progress report on the White slave's masterpiece (QUANDRY 19) "40 pages now take the reader right up to 8.30 pm on the first day of the Preliminary Sessions". Lay on that whip, Willis!

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A Picture Postcard of ELBBRUCKE (Elbe Bridge), HAMBURG, with this message:-

My Dear Mr. Clarke, I like White! Yours sincerely, D'White Eisenhower (General)
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JAMES WHITE of 29, Colinpark St., Springfield Road, Belfast, N.I., writes:-

I see a letter from Harris has been published at last. One has to admire him his dog-like tenacity. It's the same with the American mags, he decides he'll have a letter printed in one and he floods the mails with letters until the luckless editor either has to publish one or fold due to a strike of postmen. ((A Reign of Terrier?)) Now, a word in your ear about Harris, he is a sensitive soul and very easily embarrassed, so I wouldn't like him to see this (heh-heh-heh). I suggest you correct, or even re-write parts of his letters after this, because any slight inability to spell, specially these days, leaves one wide open to attack by some cowardly columnist or other, and I wouldn't like that to happen to an inoffensive type like him. I mean to say, imagine spelling imijitly 'immedietly', tsk tsk.

I note with boundless joy what you say at the bottom of Dan Morgan's letter quote SFN will print one good humorous fan story per ish unquote. Oh, you have made me so happy.

Or is this a statement of future policy?

****Terribly sorry, James, that we can't put Harris under a bad spell for you. Credit where credit etc. Mike Wilson gave us the last intro. Our policy, always the best... 

LAVA FIRESTONE (Miss). writes:-

Dear Vincy-wincy, I have just read your cute little SFN. I love every line of it. Would you do a little girl like me a bi-i-i-g f ivour? You would! Oh you dear boy. Just send me the address of James White who wrote that lovely, adorable story. I feel we are soul mates. I can just imagine him - dark, strong, and ever so brutal. Oh, he' s lovely. I must meet him - that super-dooper story convinced me. It was great! So vital, don't you think ? Yours Eagerly,

****Guess where this postcard was posted.

TERRY JEEVES, 58, Sharrard Grove, Intake, Sheffield 12. writes: -

Is there any chance of changing the News back to the mag size which was used once or twice before ? The way it comes now, with three folds in it makes reading rather a job. Duplicating of my copy at least, good. ((At least????)) Letters, from the mad Irish, as ever, good. Film Reviews, though I usually dislike these, I must admit that the way they were presented in the news gave them interest to me. Q. & N. satisfactory. James White's effort was also good. In other words, everything was good to a greater or lesser degree. Yet somehow, the ish was not outstanding, I think it may be the fault of so many 'bitty' items which ran over to another page. This is where I slip in my blurb for a smaller size (with more pages) where everything can be laid out, sorted and given its own special heading.

****The present size is easiest and most economical for us, but we'd like to get other opinions. Have a heart ... 2 items only were 'cont. over', not counting QNNR. In 20-odd copies Film Reviews was page 3 instead of 4, - sorry. Smaller pages = more 'run-overs'. Many thanks for constructive criticism. See you at the Con.

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'White is a genius, a master, another Bob Shaw. Whatever you do insure that you publish more of this young nova - if necessary - pay him. Yours Sincerely, Mrs. White.'

****We regret we had to cut some remarks concerning White from this Belfast postcard
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JOHN GUTTERIDGE, of 61, Hawkins Road, Shoreham-by-Sea, Sussex, writes:-

I often used to read copies of ASF (BRE) about three years ago, while still at school. I never heard of nor had occasion to believe there might be other stf books about. ((Nova publicity: Where are you??)) As you know there are no letters published in the British edition. When I left school I read a few WT (BRE)'s, and joined WT Club. Then it struck me that too many people were adding their names to the WTC list for there to be but one or two stf mags. ((Nice deducing)) So I started to look around, and found a shop a few miles away which sold Ziff-Davis BRE's and ASFM. Then I found an old copy of New Worlds, and seeing 'O. F.' advertised in there I wrote to Ken. Soon after I saw the BSFA letter in post. ((See 'Mystery of the BSFA 2'))

I now collect the three British 'zines, ASFBRE and have American ones sent from a penpal. Since joining O.F. I have seen what fandom really is. ((We swear this is unsolicited)). I know Bob Foster of 'SLUDGE', as I live only a mile away.

QNNR very good. Can you tell me why the ASFM must be so very out of dat with its letters of praise? Who wants to know what was thought of No 13 in three consec. issues about 2 or 3 months later? Why not one month? Even ((sic)) the fanzines are still news when they arrive, but ASFM news is positively stale by the time we get it.

****Well, Bert Campbell is so busy writing stories that by the time he gets around to writing letters to praise 'em ... no, that can't be the explanation. It's just The Schedule, John. When No. 20 comes out, No. 23 is being prepared. See 'In Times To Come', ASF (US) Oct. '51. Roughly, work on that ish. was between March and July!

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X. STASY (Editor: SEXY SEX STORIES) writes:-

"...Could you send me White's address? I want very much to get him into my magazine - I think he is the very type we need. Don't let him go!

****Owing to lack of space, we have had to condense this postcard from Belfast.
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GEO. L. CHARTERS, 3, Lancaster Avenue, Bangor, Co. Down, N. I. writes:-

Got SFN the other day and enjoyed every word in it - except one letter. It's worth a damn sight more than 6d. ((We couldn't agree with you more))

I had hoped that there would be a full Irish contingent at the Whitsun Convention, but it seems very doubtful. Wouldn't it be Grand: Walter in the van (you know why) and Shaw bringing up the rear with the White man's burden. Oh well.

****You mean WAW is a slave-driver? If perchance you refer to Ken Bulmer's 'Red Maria', the last we heard of the fan-van was that a pipe had got Exhausted and dropped off. For once the sound of the engine drowned the noise of the springs.

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..."I have been writing to fanzines for 75 years now, and yet I have never read one before. But something drove me to read James White's story in the current SFN. I was profoundly stirred, as if I had swallowed an egg-beater ... masterpiece ... Live On ... etc. "

****This postcard from Belfast can be examined at the Editorial office ... if you care.
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ALAN HUNTER (Fantasy Art Society), 124, Belle Vue Road, Southbourne, Bournemouth, Hants-

This is a particularly fine number, well balanced and interesting (I am still talking about SFN and not the blonde next door). Your news was, to me anyway, really news, and judging by remarks in an even more recent issue of an unmentionable, but upstanding British news-zine, you have scooped all opposition. ((Shhhhh)) The short story was excellent, the reviews were excellent, the humour was excellent - this begins to get a bit monotonous, ((Not to us)) so I must change the subject before the roof at present over your head is pushed up by an uncontrollable expansion of that same head.

****Alan then introduces nova-artist Bill Price, who drew the first-class s-f cartoon elsewhere in this issue. Many thanks to both of you.

BOB SHAW, 70, Loopland Drive, Belfast, N. I. , writes:-

Pre-title blurb:- great. I'm a sucker for this sort of thing.

Editourial:- is that a pun? ((Arrrrgh!)) I had no idea that the phenomenon of descending ceilings was so widespread. What we need is some method to fix the ceilings in place - is there not some kind of wax for that?

James' story was very, very good. I never knew James had so much ability. Now what can I ask him for? ((We'd say an ordinary writing-pad. or do you usually write your letters on pieces of paper measuring 11 x 17 ins.?))

****Most of this letter concerns a certain faned, who after ignoring Bob's letters while printing his contributions & then sending a demand for a sub. in an unsealed business envelope, leads our Mr. Shaw into a finely eloquent passage, part of which runs:- "The lousy, ungrateful ---- ! As far as I am concerned, he can stick his (zine) up his moth-eaten roll-neck sweater. Ghu preserve us from these small-brained, big headed types who, as soon as they receive a little taste of success, authority or even popularity, get several hundred times too big for their boots and start treading on hands that were offered in friendship." Tut. Shaw temper!

Chuck Harris writes:-

Tsk. Tsk. Is our Vin rouge? You should be. Only one fault with SFN. 'Forthcoming Books' was damned hard to read ... would have been better with more asterisks and less //s. Huh, I didn't like City in the Sea. ((Who're you?)) Hoff((man)) tells me that he ((Tucker)) has another ((book)) due shortly. Quote: "Tucker has a new book soon. Very fine. THE LONG LOUD SILENCE. In it Lee Hoffman is eaten in part by cannibals. I object."

****Read it in SFNews (4th hand). We'll sit this one out.

PETE CAMPBELL, of 60, Calgarth Road, Windermere, Westmorland, writes:-

Here at least is one reader whose ceiling is in its usual location. But I'm going to read the 'Star Watchers' soon and if nowt happens I'll raise the roof! ((You need a Clarke gable)) The current SFN is fairly packed with news. I've carefully worked my way through it and still can't remember half of it. Perhaps I need a chiropracter to destimulate me. The artwork is lacking in quantity compared with the previous ish, and none of the piohers are worthy of honorable mention. One doesn't expect R.A. quality stuff in a mimeoed zine, but column-breakers improve the appearance a lot.

You've a better balanced film review this time ... 'Unconventional Fan' was average, passable but not outstanding. ((Sure you've got the right 'zine and story?)). The best letter in Post War was the last one. If this goes on 'Stellar' will be driving Nova Pubs. out of business; even Slant hasn't had a Clothier cover.

****A sudden rush of news washed out our column-breakers in No 3. The stunts you mention in your letter ... any reader wanting contacts can get them through 'O. F.' or advertising. The ''Passifan Conversion Project' ... "those who want to become active write in and get a stunt to do to 'break into fandom'" ... all fanzines are crying out for letter-writers, columnists, etc.etc.; anyone with a literary bent doesn't need to 'break in' any more than you break into a swamp. Or, come to that, a bog. Suddenly ... you're in! Ta. tho.

PAUL ENEVER, of 9, Churchill Avenue, Hillingdon, Middlesex, writes:-

ManythanksfortheSFNrecievedthismorning. It is a distinct improvement on the previous issues - after all, there is a letter of mine in it! ((You come from Belfast too?)) Mind you, the rest of the contributions are not without merit - f'r instance, your warning against 'Swallow' stencils is very useful.

As for all that business about secret people going 'round pushing ceilings down, I just don't believe it. Now if they were accused of pulling floors down, I could understand it. The first week we were in this house, not six months ago, the wife fell through a space where the drawing-room floor had been only two minutes before. At the time I put it down to dry-rot, but of course, it may have been Dianetics. ((Don't split hairs))

Next, that article about the BSFA. This ties up very nicely with your footnote to my own letter, wherein you ask for further details. Well, you can't say you didn't ask, can you? Make yourself comfortable, lay in an extra couple of candles and switch off the radio, I am about to tell you the intimate, sordid story of my early fanlife :

Early in 1932, repeat '32, having been an avid reader of AMAZING stories for some 5 years, I accidentally allowed a workmate to see a copy, only to find that he, too, was a secret addict. His name was John R. Elliot, and with a name like that, what could we do but make him President. Of course, we had to have something to make him President of, so with the assistance of Leonard Tookey, we founded a Science Fiction Club (retitled the following year, '33, 'British S. F. Assoc.' )

A few letters in AMAZING's Readers' Column revealed the alarming fact that there were other sub-normals in Britain who read 'science-fiction', so we enrolled most of 'em. By a stroke of genius we thought of creating a magazine, to be called 'FANTASIA' and to be devoted to reviews of sf, amateur ditto, club correspondence, etc. We thought of it. We thought of it hundreds of times, even typed it for several months, but beyond having a bee-yootiful cover printed for the first three issues, we never seemed to get any further. We did, however, enrol an impressive list of Honorary Members, including Forrie Ackerman (who is this 4SJ?), Hugo Gernsback, Drs. Jung and Adler and many others. In conjunction with an amateur theatrical group known as the Oxford Players we made a film (?) of Marie Corelli's 'Young Diana' ((It's in the Checklist, anyway)) - I particularly recall that affair as I was the motive power in the thrilling water-wheel scene - and we had us a high old time while the club lasted.

But alas, around 1934 money, if not enthusiasm, began to run out.

I think it was the repeated failure of FANTASIA to emerge from the press that really cooled members' ardour. I remember we had to refund a sub. to J. R. Fearn, which noble act cut our Treasurer to the quick. Then, towards the end of 1935 I moved Manchester and lost touch with the remaining members. I left behind, in Hayes (Middx) a great library of sf, files and piles of correspondence, some unanswered no doubt, and a small printing press on which FANTASIA was at last to have been produced.

But apparently it never was. The last I heard was that a land mine wiped out the lot early in the war. At least, I know it 'vanished' the house for that was my father's, and I can only presume that the records were still in it. I have never heard of or from John R. Elliot to this day, though I doubt if he is still a fan in any case.

By one of those incredible coincidences that only occur once a week, I did have news of Leonard Tookey, only yesterday. He has recently returned from Cornwall, where he has been running a restaurant, and I hope soon to get in touch with him. There is a faint chance that he may still possess documentary evidence of the above sad tale.

Which brings me to Mr. L. W. Nowlan and the new BSFA. I know not the former, and I like not the sound of the latter: and as for his (?) ((No, not his)) three-point letter which you quote, it all sounds a lotta bull to me. ((No comment)) Just one small point, Vince. Your footnote to this item claims the SFA as the first British sf society. Tut! Tut. ' Just wait till I lay my hand on our old cheque book! I'll show yer! 1937!

((Another letter)). I still haven't dissected SFN. Let's have another quick gander at it, to see if there is anything dissectable. New Books? Hmmm. Expensive. Editourial? Already dealt with. My cheque for two thousand would be enclosed only I forgot to send my coupon in last week. Film News? Interesting, but as I never go, only academically. Fan Clubs? What are they? The BSFA ? Pa! QNNR; Dear, dear, these naughty editors.

And how you do run on. ((Hi, pot!)) The Unconventional Fan? I always knew White was Willis'  'ghost'. Post War? I disagree with all the other letters.  

****Not ghost ... 'spirit'. Kept in a bottle, y'know. Look, faneds! A Londoner who writes letters! Come to that, a fan who writes letters!! Happy day!!!

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A picture postcard of NORTH FRONT, WINDSOR CASTLE, one window marked with a cross, says:-

Dear Mr. Clarke, We were amused by the story about the Unconventional Fan by Mr. White. This is one of Our favourite subjects. Yours E. R.

X—this is Our room.

****This postcard was postmarked, curiously enough, 'Belfast'.
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****IS THERE A LETTER FROM YOU ON THE NEXT PAGE ? TURN OVER A NEW LEAF AND MAKE YOUR BOUGH ... OR LET'S HEAR FROM YOU NEXT TIME. YOUR OPINION IS AS GOOD AS ANYONE ELSES, IF NOT BETTER. IN FACT, IF YOU READ SFN, IT'S TWICE AS GOOD. TURN OVER NOW!

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THANKS FOR SHORT COMMENTS FROM:-
Eric Bentcliffe:- "... seems as though the falling ceiling hit someone on the right spot."; Seamus O'Halleron (of Belfast):- "He should have padded it a bit and tried for 'Galaxy'.";  Dave Wood:- 'The Unconventional Fan' Smashing laugh - no more can I say I" ((But more of Dave's doings on the front page)).
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JOHN WISEMAN, 41, Northcote Road, Sidcup, Kent, writes: -

You may have wondered what happened about that article I promised. ((Why? It was hardly a year ago.)) When I got down to it, I found that all I had to say could be said in a few lines as follows.

Why is it that spiritualism - by which I mean communication with and speculation on the 'whereabouts' of the so-called dead - never features in s-f ? When the new science of parapsychology was formed, s-f grabbed it with both hands, and some of the best of recent stories have been on that theme. Yet spiritualism received scientific investigation long before parapsychology was heard of. I believe the British Society for Psychical Research investigates spiritualistic phenomena just as much as the psi faculties. They are both 'frontier sciences', ripe for s-f extrapolation, yet one is neglected.

I think I may have the answer. Research and speculation on parapsychology is going on both here and in the USA. But is it true that spiritualism is almost nonexistent in the USA? If so, then it may be that American writers neglect it because they have heard very little about it - and our writers, following in their footsteps, unconsciously assume that it is not a legitimate theme.

****Not 'unconsciously', John. Except for the 'Amazing' type 'St. Peter-at-the-Gate-jolly- fantasy', religion is TABOO in the pulps. The classic 'E for Effort' 3-4 years ago was the last yarn even to glance at established religous beliefs.

Spiritualism was founded in the USA; even amongst the Calif. cults it can't have been submerged.

We've got a lot of answers to John's questions - mostly cynical - but we'll be glad of YOUR comments to print in the next SFN.

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AND NOW, FANDOM' S LEANING CRITIC AND EXPORT:-

WALTER A. WILLIS, of Oblique House, 170, Upper Newtownards Road, Belfast, N. I. writes:-

The leaders of world fandom here in Ireland are pleased to note that you have made quite a good job of this little circular of yours, considering the handicaps you labour under --- lack of time, money, talent, etc. Even the portions you have written out by yourself are of a certain ephemeral interest, since you have evidently worked hard to copy down with reasonable accuracy the simple items of information passed on to you by kind-hearted fans. I think you are one of the most promising of the minor fans, and I for one would not be surprised if one of these days you actually keep one of your promises. I do however think that you might have been satisfied with the 20% of this issue contributed directly by Irish fandom, without increasing it to 30% by copying out excerpts from encouraging letters from Irish fans, greedily snatched from their context with the dual purpose of impressing your subscribers by your aquaintance with these august figures and of embellishing your pages with the crumbs of wit that fall from their groaning table. However, though we may give a loafer like you a rye look we are not so ill-bread as to get crusty with you for picking up our crumbs. We only hope you don't make a wholemeal of them, since the magazine is quite crumby enough already. Yours encouragingly.

****You appear to enjoy the roll of the toast of Ireland, Willis, but in this 'zine your half-wheated corn goes against the grain ... we doughnut knead it. And it's  no use trying to get round us with these lavish compliments and general buttering up ... it may work with the innocent American fans, but SFN will tell all! 

Yes, gentlemen, for some time the US fans have been running a Big Pond fund for WAW. Not to give him a bigger one to croak in, but a trip across to the Chicon, the 10th World s-f Convention to be held in Chicago this fall. (Gernsback is Guest of Honour, Campbell of Astounding will be speaking, well over 400 members have joined the Chicon Society already.) Into this maelstrom WAW will introduce chaos, and we are extremely thankful to the US fans for taking him off our necks for a while. We can only contribute good wishes, unfortunately, and a tentative movement to start a Dry Land fund to keep Willis over in the US had to be abandoned as we couldn't find enough British fans who'd heard of him. Your sub will be returned, Madeleine.

****And before we sign off, a word from Arthur Clarke, now meeting Everybody and doing Everything in the US ( How would you like to be driven to White Sands by Heinlein?) Arthur's first television play was on the air June 13th over there; we hear he's been invited to write a series. And from a letter to the London Circle:- "The 'Book of the Month' publicity is out now, with a big review by Fadiman, who remarks, presumably for the benefit of the more nervous BOM members, that I do not appear to be a particularly imaginative man ... libel action pending ..."

*THE END OF SFN VOL 2 No. 4*