Chapter XIII: In the Burned Forest (4)

The February issue had some very good stories, and I just
must say that the story entitled "Werewolves of War," is the
best story of its type I have ever read. Unlike most of
these stories there is more future truth than fiction.

Perhaps you didn't expect to hear from me so soon again, but
I am interested in this type of story as I used to write
this kind in my English class back in high school. My
stories were of this type, but always different from any
that the rest of the class wrote. Another thing, I love to
be writing, so I take this way to satisfy myself. I do hope
you will excuse me.

I have one more thing to say and that is: I only wish your
magazine was put out every two weeks instead of every four;
or print more stories and raise the price to twenty five
cents. I'm sure people will pay if they are as interested as
I.--Ken F. Haley, 36 Mechanic St., Lebanon, N.H.

"_Easier to Turn_"

Dear Editor:

I have just read "The Readers' Corner" of the March issue
and noticed that bright remark about that super-rotten
story, "Skylark Three." Anyone who liked that story is
certainly not hard to please. It does not compare with the
worst story ever published. I also read that "other
magazine" and I say that it has disgraced itself by "Skylark
Three."

Everything is perfect about your magazine except that there
are not enough stories in each issue. The uneven edges are
just fine, for it makes the pages easier to turn. The covers
are not too gaudy. The covers should depict a thrilling
incident in a story; they do.

"Phalanxes of Atlans" offered a good theory as to the
whereabouts of the descendants of the Atlanteans and the
Lost Tribes of Israel. It was keen.

I conclude my letter with a warning: do not change your
type. Also do not change your order of issue; I mean, do not
make your magazine into a bi-monthly as I see some magazines
of this type have done.--Robert Leonard Russell, 825 Casey
Ave., Mt. Vernon, Illinois.

_You Tell 'Em!_

Dear Editor:

I have always considered the drawings of H. W. Wesso far
superior to those of all other Science Fiction artists, and,
indeed, much better than the work of most pulp magazine
illustrators. But his cover for the March issue of
Astounding Stories was remarkable even for him; it was a
veritable masterpiece.

So enthralled was I by the first sight of this eye-arresting
picture that I stared at it for minutes on end. This
snarling titan with his mighty arm outstretched toward the
tiny figures just beyond his reach--what a gripping tableau!

Free from the superfluous, uninteresting machinery and
apparatus that clutter up most illustrations in other
Science Fiction magazines, your March cover remained
fantastic, but human--a picture that expressed the very
essence of super-scientific fiction as presented in
Astounding Stories. Vivid in color, striking in subject,
dramatic in treatment and drawn with consummate skill, that
cover must have attracted many new Readers to this magazine.

And the promise held out by the cover was more than
fulfilled by the contents of that issue--one of your best to
date. The only discordant note in the entire magazine was
the yapping and ranting of certain dissatisfied ----
[censored] too ---- [censored] to appreciate the finest,
most worthy publication in its field to-day.--Booth Cody,
Bronx, New York.

"_Nothing Is Automatic_"

Dear Editor:

First, I wish to congratulate you on the increasing quality
of your magazine since its first issue. It surpasses all
other Science Fiction magazines, and I haven't missed a
single issue and don't intend to!

What prompted me to write this letter was an article, "A
Robot Chemist," published in your March, 1931, issue. In the
article it states that a mechanical robot performed several
experiments without human supervision. But, I am sorry to
say, I disagree. Nothing is automatic. Foolishly, after
perfecting anything that performs its work afterwards by
itself, man calls it an automaton. But it is not! Did he not
have to work and slave hour after hour, day after day and
month after month to perfect it? He did! Ever since man
became civilized he has deceived himself by calling, for
instance, machinery in a factory, automatons. The quest for
automatic machinery is as hopeless as the quest for
perpetual motion!

What is my idea of an automaton? Well, take a robot for
instance. Man calls it an automaton in spite of the fact
that he had to slave to put it together before it did its
work.

My idea is this: the iron ore would come out itself, smelt
itself, form itself in the various shapes and parts needed
to construct a robot, then take its correct place and rivet
itself. Then the radio brain, electrical eyes and magnet
hands take their place; and when it has constructed itself
it will conduct the experiments--if a chemical
robot--without human supervision. Thus, the latter clause
would be true! That's my conception of an automatic robot!
Otherwise, its just some metal doing the bidding of a
master's brain.

Another thing: the novelette "Beyond the Vanishing Point,"
by Ray Cummings, is preposterous. The flesh might shrink or
grow, but the bone would not! If one shrunk as did George
Randolph, one's bones would burst through the flesh.

But in spite of all that, I like the stories that way.
Science, in the years to come might discover how to shrink
or grow both flesh and bones. I guess I'm taking too much of
your time, so adios!--Jay Zee, Chicago, Illinois.

_Hot Times in the Fire-House_

Dear Editor:

The first Thursday in each month I make a bee-line for the
newsstand--and Astounding Stories. It may interest you to
know that I have every issue on file that you have put out.

There have been some mighty good yarns in those issues, but
the one just at hand contains the best story you have ever
published--"Terrors Unseen," by Harl Vincent. There's an
author for you; but evidently I don't have to tell you so,
as you have given us quite a number of his splendid stories.
"Vagabonds of Space" was a wow. Like some of the others who
have written in, I would like to see a sequel to this. Harl
Vincent is my favorite of all your authors.

A close second is Charles W. Diffin. He is good, too. As
your authors appeal to me, in order, I mean. I would line
them up in this way: Harl Vincent, Charles W. Diffin, R. F.
Starzl, Ray Cummings, Capt. S. P. Meek, Jack Williamson and
Murray Leinster.

I agree with Jim Nicholson of San Francisco that you should
give us some stories by Francis Flagg. Here is an author you
never have published, and, to my way of looking at things,
he has more fresh material than most of the authors put
together. Many of the things that have been copied widely
and used extensively (I don't mean that whole stories have
been stolen, or anything like that) were originated by this
fine writer. By all means get Francis Flagg. [We have just
bought a story--a good one--from him!--Ed]. He would stand
about third in my list if you had used his work before. I
made it up from those whose work has been used.

Two or three things I notice, that I would have you correct.
All your stories seem to be of standardized length, either
around 10,000 words or 25,000 words. Eliminate all
restrictions as to word length but make your writers boil
down their work. Most stories are too long, and could be
told better if cut down quite a bit. The paper and the page
size of the magazine are okay, but why not smooth edges? And
it is hard to keep the covers on. I wouldn't object to more
pages or an extra nickel in price. Or if not that, how about
publishing "our" magazine twice a month?

After fighting a fire, there's nothing like Astounding
Stories with which to "unlax." You're doing a fine job, and
I only make these suggestions because I want a "perfect"
magazine instead of one that bats 97% all the time. Hope
you'll have room for all this. And, oh yes, keep on with
your program of "No reprints." Your new yarns are better
than the old ones. Let's have the new ones, and encourage
our fine string of authors to do even better work.--Gayl
Whitman, Fireman, Co. No. 11, Main at 22nd, Columbus, Ohio.

_Correspondents Wanted_

Dear Editor:

Another critic is going to take his pen in hand and give you
a bouquet. I have just finished reading the March issue of
A. S. and think it was fine.

Of all the stories you have published I liked "The Gray
Plague" the best. I don't care much for reprints because I
like new stories the best.

I would like to correspond with some of the Readers of A. S.
I will answer any or all letters I receive.--L. B. Knutson,
629--3rd Ave., So, Minneapolis, Minn.

_A Heroine a la Mode_

Dear Editor:

I'm with J. H. Nicholson, who advises those who are
indifferent to the scientifically possible in order to give
the author a broader field in which to lay his plot. As he
says, they should feel right at home with their noses stuck
into a volume of Anderson's Fairy Tales. However, this
letter is more to express the science lovers' viewpoint than
to sling mud at the authors. For us, the plot loses much of
its kick if the science is not reasonable.

Suppose for once that one of these Readers who waives
scientific possibility aside as secondary should pick up a
plot-distorted story in which the heroine should be
described something as follows:

"Hers was a tall superbly built figure combining the
strength of a horse with the gentle curves of a hippo. When
she spoke, her sweetly modulated voice was as pleasant to
the ear as the bray of a Spanish jackass. Her hair hung to
her waist and was the convenient nesting place for several
English sparrows. She was slightly cockeyed from birth and
had had her nose squashed in a saloon brawl. She carried
herself with the graceful dignity of an African orang-utan
and was always much sought after, having a quaint habit of
slapping every new male she met a resounding whack on the
back that loosened their bridge work. Being a veteran
tobacco chewer and having high blood pressure she could spit
one hundred feet against a fifty-mile wind. When she ate in
company, she had an amusing way of gargling her soup in
G-flat. Her--"

It's unnecessary to go further. Such a character would be
every bit as reasonably possible as some of the science
these science-conniving Readers are willing to sanction.

Here are some of the seemingly impossible feats of a recent
story: 1--a diver in an ordinary diving dress is able to
stand the pressure at three miles down; 2--(granting the
above is possible) a diver shoots up three miles without
stopping and still does not become a victim of the bends;
3--(granting the above two possible) a diver after shooting
from such a great depth and pressure to a depth of
comparatively low pressure would not be able to lower the
pressure inside his dress, since it would be held so rigid
that he would not be able to bend his arms; 4--a man or
animal suddenly released from the enormous pressure of about
three hundred tons to the square inch to atmospheric
pressure, it seems, would most certainly burst before the
internal pressure could equalize itself.

Please notice that I said seemingly wrong. I'm for A. S.
just one hundred per cent and would prefer to have it as
right as possible. I don't like crank letter writing and
would never have written this now if it hadn't been for
several of the letters in the March issue that gave me a
touch of hades under the collar. S'long. Maybe I'll write
again sometime when I get some more "ham science"
ideas.--William S. Lotsch, 1 Morrison Ave., Troy, N. Y.

_You Make Them Adequate_

Dear Editor:

Thanks. Of course I accept your invitation to "The Readers'
Corner." I have been a constant Reader of your magazine
since its appearance on the Science Fiction horizon, and I
have yet to meet a story that I failed to read in its
entirety or that I didn't like.

To merely write a letter and say that this story was good,
the other story was fair, and oh my! how poor the third
story was, is futile. But as it is the usual custom to do so
here goes:

Excellent stories--all of the first five volumes; good
stories--who's interested?; poor stories--where are they?;
good authors--takes up too much room and time; poor
authors--got tired looking for them.

All I want to say is, Astounding Stories is the best or one
of the best magazines on the market. Gee, but aren't words
futile when you describe something great and
wonderful!--Herbert Goodket, 707 Jackson Avenue, New York,
N. Y.

_Ain't It Too Awful!_

Dear Editor:

I knew it. It was bound to come. At last my efforts have
been rewarded. Fame has sought me out--even in Brooklyn. It
was suggested in the March issue of Astounding Stories that
I, Louis Wentzler, as one of the active contributors to "The
Readers' Corner," regale your Readers with a description of
myself, my interest in Science Fiction and how I got that
way. A picture was also requested, but this had better be
omitted. As for my personal history, bend an ear:

At the tender age of four, while making mud pies on the
doorstep of my home, I was beaned by a brick hurled by an
uncouth ruffian across the street. The results were not
fatal--who said "unfortunately?"--but from that moment I
developed a taste for Science Fiction. Had it not been for
that incident I might have grown up a normal lad; but the
caress of that brick on my cranium did things to me, and I
have been a Science Fiction addict since.

Of course, I do not contend that all Science Fiction fans
were hit by bricks, though a lot of them should be. I do
believe, however, that a slight concussion of the brain
helps one appreciate Science Fiction the more. Anyway, once
imbued with the urge I took to Science Fiction like a Hindu
to hashish. Such stories were rare in those days, but I
started to collect all I could find.

Then came the war. I was too young to fight, but I did my
bit making canteens out of old sieves. That was how my mind
worked, you see. Well, the war ended--I forgot who won--and
I went back to my beloved Science Fiction. Years have passed
since then, and I have a fine collection of stories now.
Should any of you care to see them, come around to the local
booby-hatch some time: you'll find me in Padded Cell No.
17.--Louis Wentzler, 1935 Woodbine St., Brooklyn, N. Y.

_Hurrah!_

Dear Editor:

Except for a brief letter of criticism in the August, 1930,
number of Astounding Stories, I have been a silent but loyal
follower of the magazine since its first issue. My silence
was that of profound satisfaction. Almost all the stories
suited me to perfection; and the few I did not like were
hardly worth commenting on. Since the magazine has grown
better with every issue I would probably have kept my peace;
but there is one disturbing factor which impels me to write
again.

I refer to the irresponsible outbursts of certain ----
[censored] who squeeze into "The Readers' Corner" and
sputter out senseless denunciations of the magazine, its
appearance, its policies, and so on. I do not object to
logical, well-founded criticism, but I most decidedly do
object to the ---- [censored] remarks and invidious
comparisons indulged in by various ---- [censored] Readers.
It's about time someone told them where to head in, and, by
your leave, I'll do it.

The most recent offender is J. Vernon Shea, Jr., a
Pittsburgh lad of eighteen who, in the March issue, ventures
to criticize the grammar of Ray Cummings, call the Editor
harsh names, and demand that the magazine conform to his own
dizzy notions. He concedes that Astounding Stories prints
consistently interesting tales, but charges that the Editor
is indifferent to "the advancement of Science Fiction." Mr.
Shea, can't you see that the publication of first-class
stories, as in this magazine, is the best possible way to
popularize Science Fiction? Or do you simply prefer inferior
stuff?

Then there's D. R. Guthrie, from way back in Idaho, who
liked a yarn in another magazine so much he had to tell us
all about it--as if we didn't have the best Science Fiction
ever written right here in Astounding Stories. Guthrie's
another who seems to prefer brass to gold.

Going back an issue or two, we note a letter from Edwin
Magnuson, a deluded denizen of Duluth, who says he's plumb
disgusted because Astounding Stories receives far more
bouquets than brickbats, when according to him the mag
deserves to be panned plenty. Get in step, Edwin, you're
falling way behind!

And I mustn't forget M. Clifford Johnston of the Newark
Johnstons, who calls Astounding Stories trash and its
Readers morons. Well, there are various degrees of mental
incompetence, and the moron is far above the idiot, Mr.
Johnston!

Now that I've taken a few hasty pokes at those who most
deserved them, I'll give my own comments on some of your
latest stories--and anyone who feels like telling me where I
get off is welcome to do so.

First, let me take my hat off to Jack Williamson. I never
thought much of his stuff in other mags, but his "The Meteor
Girl" was a mighty fine piece of work. Evidently you've got
to be good to crash Astounding Stories. Interesting as it
was, though, Williamson's yarn contained a noticeable error.
In the story, the narrator and his friend witness an event
occurring twelve hours in the future at a distant place.
They then travel to that place, reaching it at a time
exactly corresponding to the time of the event witnessed.
Therefore, they should have seen themselves in the future
scene--an obvious fact which the author either failed to
consider or conveniently ignored. [But--by the story, they
did not arrive at the rock until just AFTER the events they
witnessed by means of the fourth dimension. Thus, everything
is O. K. Take another look.--Ed.] Despite this flaw the
story embodied several original ideas, had plenty of action,
and was well told. We can stand more of Williamson.

"Phalanxes of Atlans," by F. V. W. Mason, was a corker. When
writers of Mason's standing turn to Science Fiction, we fans
have much to be thankful for. Is there any chance of our
getting a story by Fred MacIsaac, Theodore Roscoe, or Erle
Stanley Gardner? All of them are first-class writers, and
they can handle Science Fiction better than many who have
specialized in that field. The only other suggestion I can
offer for improving the magazine is to have additional
illustrations within the stories, such as Wide World
Adventures used to have.

Satisfied as I am with Astounding Stories it will probably
be a long time before I write again--unless I feel called
upon to administer a few more verbal spankings to certain
obstreperous individuals!--Sears Langell, 1214 Boston Road,
New York, N. Y.

"_The Readers' Corner_"

All Readers are extended a sincere and cordial invitation to "come over in 'The Readers' Corner'" and join in our monthly discussion of stories, authors, scientific principles and possibilities--everything that's of common interest in connection with our Astounding Stories.

Although from time to time the Editor may make a comment or so, this is a department primarily for Readers, and we want you to make full use of 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._

* * * * *

End of Project Gutenberg's Astounding Stories, May, 1931, by Various