SCIENCE FICTION IN ENGLISH MAGAZINES
by Bob Tucker
(Series Seven)
A late May issue of TRIUMPH carried "Invisible Charlie" by Tom Stirling. (No reflections on you, Editor). However, the story was of juvenile character, and the most terrible thing Invisible Charlie did was to make a ball do funny tricks on its way from the pitcher to the batter, Invisible Charlie himself carrying it, of course.
Vol. 1, numbers 15 and 16 of SCOOPS presented: Two chapters of Doyle's "Poison Belt," two of "Devilman of the Deep," and two of "Black Vultures," leaving very little short story space.
Number 15 had "Fighting Gas" which is self explanatory, and "The March of the Beserks," mentioned previously. Number 16, besides the serials already mentioned, had "The Accelerator Ray" which speeds up life, and "Temple of Doom" which is a sort of "suspended animation" tale, with its usual Man from the past waking in the future twist.
The cover of 16 is "Mails by Rocket" and portrays two rockets flying over London with the mail.
Incidentally, although not a part of this dept., I would like to mention that there are 'Rocket Mail' stamps on sale over there! Regular rocket mail service is carried on in parts of Europe, and special stamps have been issued for it. The two I have seen portray huge rockets taking off, with long streamers of fire behind. Price is 1 mark and 10 Groschen.
FAMOUS FANTASY FICTION
by Emil Petaja
The Supernatural Omnibus, edited by Montague Summers; Doubleday Doran Co. This remarkable collection contains thirty-six stories of the best fantasy fiction. It is of particular interest to American readers as most of its stories are taken from English magazines and out-of-print books which most of us would find difficult to obtain. The introduction is especially interesting.
A. Conan Doyle has written several books of a scientific and weird nature. Perhaps the best of these is "The Maracot Deep." In this story the scientific theme predominates, until the very last chapter, in which we find a typical Jules de Grandin finis. Among the other stories in this book, "When the Earth Screamed" is easily the best. This book can now be had in the 75 cent reprint list.
"Famous Mystery Stories" and "Famous Ghost Stories" both edited by J. W. McSpadden contain many old favorites, such as O'Brien's "The Diamond Lens," Crawford's "The Upper Berth," and de Maupassant's "Horla." You can get these books at any public library.
Ghosts, Grim and Gentle, edited by L. C. French; Dodd, Mead & Co. Although many of the stories in this volume have been reprinted very often, it is well worth reading. One of its best is "The Tractate Middoth," by Dr. M. R. James; mentioned by Clark Ashton Smith in his article in the February Fantasy Fan.