Please keep up the good work; and I know you will, for the longer I read A. S. the more I enjoy it.
The serial, "The Exile of Time," is a story par excellence.
But I know the forthcoming sequel to "Dark Moon" will be a super-story.
My idea of reading is that if a story is worth reading once it is worth reading twice, and I have never seen any story in your book that was not worth reading once. Nuff said.
I will answer any letters written me. I hope to hear from plenty of Readers--C. G. Davis, 531 S. Millard, Chicago, Ill.
_And Sequel It Has_
Dear Editor:
I have just finished the May number of Astounding Stories, and want to send my contribution to "The Readers" Corner."
The novelette, "Dark Moon," by Diffin, is rather an outstanding story, in my opinion. It is plausible and convincing, and the literary quality is high. I have a feeling that this should have a sequel, and wonder if others will not agree with me. That Astounding Stories is the best of the Science Fiction Magazines is something that scarcely lends itself to argument. Without questions, it leads them all. Take the present number for instance: Diffin, Meek and c.u.mmings, three top-notchers, all in one issue.--A. J.
Harris, 1525 Bushnell Ave., South Pasadena, Cal.
_I"m Afraid Not_
Dear Editor:
I have read every one of your Astounding Stories and think there is no other magazine on the market like it. Only one kick: it doesn"t appear often enough. I should like to see it every week; every two weeks, anyway. I like every story you print, and I think the size of your magazine is perfect.
I have saved every issue I read, and now have seventeen of them.
"Phalanxes of Atlans" and "Marooned Under the Sea" were especially good. "The Readers" Corner" is fine, but I don"t like so many brickbats thrown. I should like to see more bouquets given to you.
There is one thing I"d like to see you print. You probably have heard of the Fox Movietone picture, "Just Imagine," an interplanetary story of 1930. I"d like to see it printed in Astounding Stories more than anything else. It would make a fine serial. I don"t suppose it would be possible for you to print it, though, would it?--Ernestine Small, 1151 Brighton Ave., Portland, Ore.
_Better to Verse_
Dear Editor:
Astounding Stories can"t be beat; Its every issue is a treat.
The finest authors of the age Appear upon Astounding"s stage.
There"s Diffin, c.u.mmings, Leinster, Burks; An all-star cast that"s sure the works.
Harl Vincent, Wells, and Starzl, too, Belong among this famous crew.
Ed Hamilton and Vic Rousseau With Captain Meek complete the show.
Together they are sure the best; That"s why Astounding leads the rest!
--Booth Cody, Bronx, N. Y.
_Another "Two-Timer"_
Dear Editor:
I have just finished reading the May issue of Astounding Stories for the second time. I have been reading Astounding Stories for over a year, and so far I can find only one thing wrong with it, and that is that it is not thick enough. In other words, you do not put enough stories in it.
Some people who write in to the "Corner" say that the paper is rotten. I still have all my magazines, and the paper is as good as new. The paper is also good on the eyes, as it does not reflect light like a mirror, as some paper does.
Some people say the pages are uneven and hard to turn. Like Mr. H. N. Snager, I become so interested in the stories I do not notice such trifles. Anybody who yells about the color of the cover, the durability of the paper, is not very interested in Astounding Stories.
Why don"t you either print a full page picture at the beginning of each story or else keep the half page picture at the beginning and put another picture halfway through the story?--Wm. McCalvy, 1244 Beech St., St. Paul, Minn.
_A b.u.t.tercup for Paul_
Dear Editor:
Congratulations! Astounding Stories has scored again! Not satisfied with ill.u.s.trations by the mighty Wesso only, you have secured a drawing by the equally mighty Paul! May we see many more by him?--Thomas L. Kratzer, 3595 Tullamore Rd., Cleveland Heights, Ohio.
_Nerves Now Better?_
Dear Editor:
In Gould you have a fine ill.u.s.trator; in Wesso a better one, but as I skip the page on which the story, a truly remarkable one by R. F. Starzl, "The Earthman"s Burden" is on, my eye is caught by--yes! a drawing by Paul, good old reliable Mr. Paul, the king of Science Fiction ill.u.s.trators.
Now that you have him on your artist"s staff I wouldn"t feel at all bad seeing a painting of his on the cover.
The June issue was a dazzler. "Manape the Mighty" held me spellbound. The others were all excellent stories. The cover painting by Wesso was good, but I have already seen one of that sort in a previous issue. Why not give us more interplanetary ill.u.s.trations of s.p.a.ce ships and the like as in "Brigands of the Moon"?
Another thing, it is nine-thirty. I must be asleep by eleven-thirty in order to start for school early the next morning. I allow myself two hours in which to read Astounding Stories. I turn to the contents section; I see a story there which I wish to read. It is on page 604. I turn the pages: 599, 601, 607 come in rapid succession, all but the page I look for. This goes on for some time until at last the roughened edge of 604 comes into view. By then my nerves are on edge and I find it is almost eleven-thirty!
But I cannot say that you do not stand up with the foremost of all magazines, and the way you are improving now you"ll soon forge far in front.--Arthur Berkowitz, 763 Beck St., New York City.
_Some Goal!_
Dear Editor:
Permit me to congratulate Mr. Diffin on his latest masterpiece, "Holocaust."
Every once in a while Mr. Diffin produces a story that bids fair to eclipse all its contemporaries. His former story, "The Power and the Glory," could also be placed in that category. Somehow, that story has become indelibly written on my memory. The philosophy expressed in it was overwhelming. It would have done justice to a Shakespeare.
And now, you can imagine how delighted I am to learn that Mr. Diffin has once again graced us with a yarn of the same cla.s.s.
Man, if you continue to publish such stories as these frequently, you"ll have the public terming Astounding Stories literature of the highest grade! However, I won"t entreat Mr. Diffin to write these stories spasmodically, as the long wait between tales adds lure to the stories.
And now for Mr. Burks. Ah--here is an extraordinary chap!
Mr. Burks is your most versatile author. Of his several stories, each has opened up a new vista in the field of Science Fiction, and he is a thoroughbred in each endeavor.
If you want to be convinced, read the opening chapters of "Manape The Mighty," and I will wager any sum you won"t lay down the story until you"ve read every word.
As a matter of fact, all the stories are good. And the bill for next month appears to be exceptionally unusual. It is very evident that you are on the road to perfection. Smooth cut edges, the acquisition of the greatest of artists, Paul, all point to the accelerating progress Astounding Stories is achieving.
We Readers are frequently asked as to how we would run the magazine if we were Editors. Well, here is my conception of the ideal magazine: