Various

“ Indeed, we may say that this school still survives; for to it clearly belong such of our contemporary horror tales as specialise in events rather than atmospheric details, address the intellect rather than the impressionistic imagination, cultivate a luminous glamour rather than a malign tensity or psychological verisimilitude, and take a definite stand in sympathy with mankind and its welfare. It has its undeniable strength, and because of its "human element" commands a wider audience than does the sheer artistic nightmare. ”

“ Collecting weird and fantastic stories is a fascinating pursuit. Locating first editions of some of our well-known authors affords considerable thrill, but the real kick comes when one discovers a comparatively little-known author of weird stories or re-discovers an old and forgotten one. I experienced such a thrill when I first came across one of the books written by a young Englishman named Charles Williams, and I didn't rest content until I had obtained all five of his novels. ”

“ Williams appears to be practically unknown over here and a few lines regarding him and his books may prove of interest to other readers and collectors.
Sooner or later, the inveterate reader of weird fiction becomes surfeited with stories of one pattern and falls into a rut. A year or so ago one of the magazines devoted to books recommended to readers who found themselves in such a predicament a sure cure—the intellectual shocker. It is the type of story the average fiction reader will overlook and even the habitual reader of weird and fantasy stories is apt to ignore it. ”

“ Between Heathcliff and Catherine Earnshaw is a tie deeper and more terrible than human love. After her death he twice disturbs her grave, and is haunted by an impalpable presence which can be nothing less than her spirit. The spirit enters his life more and more, and at last he becomes confident of some imminent mystical reunion. ”

“ Though full of the conventional spirit of romance, marred by a ponderous network of symbolic and didactic meanings, and left unconvincing through lack of perfect atmospheric realization of the situations hinging on the spectral world, "Zanoni" is really an excellent performance as a romantic novel; and can be read with genuine interest today by the not too sophisticated reader. ”

“ We may continue this every month if circulation allows. After all, circulation means everything. The more readers we have the more money comes into our treasury, and the more improvements we can give you. Will you subscribe (if you haven't already) , and urge your fantasy friends to do likewise? Every little bit counts.
Our motto, by-word, or whatever you want to call it, is "The Fans' Own Magazine," as you will notice, and we have made this issue consist of 100 per cent fan material (except for the poetry) , in order to emphasize this. ”

“ When a third set of unknown words is prompted, the sleep-walker's spirit suddenly rebels at uttering them, as if the soul could recognize ultimate abysmal horrors concealed from the mind; and at last an apparition of an absent sweetheart and good angel breaks the malign spell. ”

“ I like 'Famous Fantasy Fiction' by Emil Petaja very well and would enjoy an article like this every issue. 'Science Fiction in English Magazines' is good too. Keller is good as usual with his fast-moving and very interesting tale, 'Rider by Night.' Keller has the knack of making a story interesting no matter how condensed or short it is. I am looking forward to more by him. Lovecraft's article is becoming so interesting that I can hardly wait for the next instalment to appear. You should give this treatise on weird literature at least two sheets. ”

“ I am not a sufferer of hallucinations, though you may think so, but I feel that it is only by having a true knowledge of things that are known to have taken place and studying them that we can ever rise to a higher plane of existence.
What does the eye see? Does it ever perceive things beyond the familiar vibrations consisting of our everyday normal life? I believe that in some cases a man's eye does see more than normally. ”

“ The novel, despite enormous length, a highly artificial plot bolstered up by opportune coincidences, and an atmosphere of homiletic pseudo-science designed to please the matter-of-fact and purposeful Victorian reader, is exceedingly effective as a narrative; evoking instantaneous and unflagging interest, and furnishing many potent—if somewhat melodramatic—tableaux and climaxes. ”

“ Going to Weird Tales, Edmond (World-Saver) Hamilton musses it all up with a crazy man in "The Man Who Conquered Age," in the Dec., 1932 issue and in the next month Murray Leinster has his "Monsters" tramping through it.
A particular delight, of late, is tearing up the Empire State Building. The builders would groan with agony, if they could read some of the tales wherein their work is smashed in three seconds flat!
The movies have had their share in destroying New York, too. "King Kong" does some fancy exterior decorating, and in "Men Must Fight" it is bombed. ”

“ He is an authority on Shakespearean literature, poetry, etc. and has written a fairly long list of books, most of them dealing with poetical subjects. In 1930, however, he wrote his first novel, "War in Heaven," and it proved to be one of the finest high-brow horror stories written in recent years. It concerns a struggle for the "Graal," a battle between the forces of good and evil. It has all the elements of a real mystery story combined with the horror and thrill of the supernatural and the occult. ”

“ They have never seen print before and are well up to the standard set by these authors in the more professional magazines. We want to keep THE FANTASY FAN a magazine for the fans, of the fans, and by the fans—the authors being the very best of fans. If you feel capable of writing any fan material, we would be glad to consider it for publication. Payment for such consists of four copies of THE FANTASY FAN of the issue in which the article appears per each page of article, until our magazine is on a paying basis. ”

“ That he is in truth a diabolic spirit rather than a human being is more than once suggested, and the unreal is further approached in the experience of the visitor who encounters a plaintive child-ghost at a bough-brushed upper window. ”

“ Bob Olsen has written and had published by Amazing Stories another ant story "Peril Among the Drivers." He has another, but dissimilar type of "Antale"—to coin a word to describe his series—in preparation. In this story, no unusual or grotesque Giants appear, but the ordinary-sized insects band together to overthrow mankind; a possibility not to improbable, Bob believes. ”

“ Otis Caldwell of Columbia University, who announces that 98 people out of 100 are superstitious. Let that sink in—98 out of 100. He further states that women are more superstitious than men, and superstition is more prevalent in the country than in the city. ”

“ Again we have the mysterious user of life's elixir in the person of the soulless magician Margrave, whose dark exploits stand out with dramatic vividness against the modern background of a quiet English town and of the Australian bush ”

“ Naturally, there are those who aren't impressed one way or another, but in this article we are not concerned with personal tastes.
Perhaps Mr. Wright has the wrong idea of what constitutes weirdness. Would Weird Tales reach a tremendous circulation if Lovecraft, Machen, C. A. Smith, Blackwood, Merritt, and other blood-brothers collaborated on a novel with the following plot which I will sketchily outline? Have the hero born on Friday the 13th under the sign of—say Capricornus. ”

“ There you have something everybody can understand and appreciate. Oh yes! and have the novel endorsed by Einstein, Stalin, the A.A.A.S., Lindbergh, and Mae West. Publicly, you know. Seriously, though, I do not believe fantasy will be a strong force until we root out superstitious hoodoos. ”

“ Here's a special offer. To all those who have not subscribed to THE FANTASY FAN yet and wish to do so, we will make a 10 per cent discount on a two-year entry—$1.80 for two full years. This offer expires on October first.
This issue has gone to press before the publication of the August number, so we have very few letters on hand from the readers:
"Some extra fine stuff in the last TFF. I see, also, that you have added a new newshound to the mag. All are doing good work. ”

“ READ TFF's contemporary, Fantasy Magazine, if you want to keep up with the latest doings in the fantasy field. Schwartz's newsy "Science Fiction Eye" and Weisinger's gossipy "The Ether Vibrates" give all the news that's fit to print. They jointly interview a lot of famous fantasy authors, and a monthly biography is one of FM's most popular features. Try a copy, only a dime. SFDCO, 87-36 162nd Street, Jamaica, New York. ”

“ Make it a little longer, at least.
"'The Epiphany of Death' by Clark Ashton Smith is easily the best thing published in TFF this issue. Glad you are getting Smith's shorter tales for publication and I hope that they are enjoyed as much by others who read them as by myself. Smith has an in inimitable style—subtle, with many fine figures of speech. 'Dreams of Yith' by Duane W. Rimel was one of the finest poems you have so far published. ”

“ Catherine L. Moore, already acknowledged as one of the most promising weird tales authors, gleaned a rejection slip from Amazing Stories for the first story she ever penned. And she doesn't blame the editor for spurning the manuscript!... Seabury Quinn's latest Jules de Grandin story is "Hands of the Dead," a story of hypnotism.... A. Merritt's serial, "Creep, Shadow," currently running in the Argosy, differs considerably from the forthcoming book version, he confides.... Some time ago, a reader wrote a letter to the Evrie praising Francis Flagg's "The Picture" to the skies.... ”

“ You, we, and Farnsworth Wright know what happened.... Harry Stephen Keeler claims cats bring him good luck, and so he has four cats in his home, the latest one being named "Mencken the IV".... August W. Derleth has forged ahead and has crashed Scribner's and Story.... Eando Binder is really Earl and Otto Binder working together in collaboration.... Their other brother, Jack, does s-f illustrating work.... The fancy lettering of Weird Tales on the cover of the magazine was designed by J. Allen St. ”