Donald Allen Wollheimwith letters from Forrest J Ackerman and Robert A. W. Lowndes

“ Possessor of a world-famous fantasy collection, noted as a book-reviewer, author of science-fiction stories, and one who has had the distinction of being the Top Fan for some time during the last decade, we can think of few fans so fit. Knowing your literary and science standard, your long record as a crusader for better things in the field of imaginative fiction, we anticipate a publication with editorial policy of significant science fiction and fine fantasy, that will be a wonderful success. ”

“ It requires a more open mind, a mind that is willing to concede that the very laws of the universe may not be stable and may be subject to change even as every existing thing known to science is known to be subject to steady and never-ending change. Cannot the laws of science themselves be subject also to this eternal alteration? Are they not in fact actually so subject? Do we know everything already or is it true that "the more we know the more there is to learn"?
We place therefore in the forepart of our double-magazine those stories which science is prepared to accept as probable ”

“ As a reader and fan of long standing, you yourself know, that big names do not necessarily mean big stories. There are, true, a few virtually 100 per cent reliables, but they are very few and are nearly all sewed up by other markets. ”

“ We don't think our past record is as marvelous as our two Los Angeles fans outline, but we do admit to be just a bit frightened that so much is expected of us. Now we'll just have to grit our teeth and live up to expectations. ”

“ So long as you can keep the magazine up to a level which would have kept you haunting newsstands for it had someone else been putting out the identical thing a year or so ago, then neither you nor we fans have anything to worry about. Stirring will be tops and stirring away like mad! ”

“ That readers want this can be attested by the flood of positive replies that come up when the question is raised, and by the high standing that the old time discussions and readers columns had in the first science-fiction magazines. (4) Do not fence yourself around with policy. No story which you would like to use is over the heads of your readers and too high class for them. ”

“ While these authors should be illustrated by artists worthy of their talents, it is senseless to suppose one can find one's favorite artists illustrating everything in all of them, so we should be satisfied with occasional pictures by the favorites, while recommending you concentrate on developing Mooney, Marconette, Wright, Perri and Hunt. ”

“ We think that's a serious point; we have often felt that putting together a magazine is not just a business routine; it is and should be a work of art done by experts, and not by just some literary store clerk. Forrest J Ackerman and Morojo, famous foremost fantasy fans, listed our editor's credentials when they first heard about Stirring Science Stories:—
"So it's come at last, the establishment of Wollheim as editor of a magazine of fanciful tales. ”

“ And, generally speaking, rig up some sort of device which will remind you periodically of all the things which you constantly demanded from other editors when you were a fan. Most editors who have risen from the ranks, as it were, seem to have forgotten that they were fans once ”