I think this would improve the magazine, although it is perfect just the way it is.
Hoping Astounding Stories has a long and successful life!--Forrest Ackerman, 530 Staples Avenue, San Francisco, Cal.
_Watch the Coming Issues, Miss Miller!_
Dear Editor:
Saw your new magazine at the newsstand and bought it at once. I like the following stories in this issue: "The Beetle Horde," "Phantoms of Reality," "The Stolen Mind." I did not care much for the others, and least of all for "Tanks."
I believe that readers, like myself, who are interested in scientific fantasies, prefer stories of interplanetary travels and fourth dimensional stories, and variations of these themes. Such as various s.p.a.ce-ships and vibration machines for visiting other planets and traveling backward and forward in time. Stories of lost continents and of strange races of people living in unknown places on our own Earth are interesting also.
A magazine of this kind has unlimited possibilities for stories of the aforementioned types, and I believe that readers who buy magazines of these subjects expect to find therein really Astounding Stories. Best wishes for the success of your magazine!--Ruth Miller, St. Regis Hotel, Cleveland, Ohio.
"_The Scienceers_"
Dear Editor:
This is to inform you that we have formed a club which we named "The Scienceers." The object of this club is to bring together members who are interested in science in general, also to talk the stories of your magazine over. We have no means of reaching those who are interested except through your magazine. We hope you will grant us s.p.a.ce to print this letter in your magazine. We would appreciate it if every reader of your magazine living in New York City or nearby towns would drop us a card with his name and address. We then would be able to send him information of our club. We hope you will print this letter, as we are all readers of your magazine.--Louis Wexeler, 1933 Woodbine Street, Brooklyn, New York.
_We Examine All Science Very Carefully_
Dear Editor:
In the first edition of your periodical, you invite criticism from its readers. I am extremely pleased to note that Ray c.u.mmings is among its contributors. His short crisp sentences and word pictures are most interesting. As to the type of stories, I would not be particular; but there is one thing which must be observed: Since this magazine is about science every story must be examined to discover any false statements by the author concerning present-day science.
I think that discoveries and inventions to be made in the future--by the author, of course--cannot be censored.--James Brodent, New York, N. Y.
_Young Mr. Wright Writes In_
Dear Editor:
I am accepting your offer to write and tell you what kind of stories I like. So I did.
I prefer stories of the Fourth Dimension.
I hope to find plenty of these fascinating stories in your coming issues.--Billy Wright, Age 11, Sheppard Place, Nashville, Tenn.
_Likes His Science Fiction_
Dear Editor:
Allow me to congratulate you on your fine magazine, it being one of the seven (more or less) magazines in print that are the best on the market.
I am glad to say that I can"t throw you any brickbats, only bouquets, and thought I would tell you the kind of stories I would like to see in "our" magazine, if I may take the liberty of calling it that.
I like stories of the type A. Merritt and Edgar Rice Burroughs write, particularly A. Merritt, and if you could reprint "Through the Dragon Gla.s.s," by A. Merritt, I wish you would, and give it a cover ill.u.s.tration, as I have everything by him except that one. Please give it a cover ill.u.s.tration as well as any by Merritt and Burroughs you ever print.
You certainly have a good t.i.tle, and in my opinion the magazine need not be changed one iota, except perhaps you might have the background a different color every month; that is, the background of the cover, using every color in the solar spectrum, which might make it sell better, and, at any rate, would make a nice looking magazine in my opinion.
Everything in Science Fiction that comes out I have to get, and pretty soon I will have so much that I will probably have to pay storage s.p.a.ce for it. I have a pretty good amount now; four stacks two feet high each, but I can"t resist it and will keep on buying as long as there is anything in that line to buy, and as long as I can.
Put this in the proverbial waste-basket if you don"t want to print it, as that is probably its ultimate destination anyway, as my ideas are not worth much or less than that.
But I do wish you would read it through and act on my suggestions soon.
Thanks--from an ardent devourer of Science Fiction, who reads everything in that line he can get his hands on, your and our magazine being one of the best in that line.--Worth K. Bryant, 406 North Third Street, Yakima, Washington.
"_A Great Magazine_"
Dear Editor:
I have just come across a copy of your new magazine Astounding Stories, and to say that it is a great magazine is putting it mild. I enjoy stories of the distant future.
The first instalment of "The Beetle Horde" by Victor Rousseau was great. I hope to hear more of this author in coming issues. I would like to see stories by such authors as Edgar Rice Burroughs, Harl Vincent, Otis Adelbert Kline, Garret Smith, also Ray c.u.mmings. I wish Astounding Stories a long life.--Wilbert Moyer, 533 N. 7th Street, Allentown, Pa.
_Mr. Anderson"s Favorites_
Dear Editor:
Just a word referring to your "What kind of stories do you like?" in Astounding Stories. I like stories with some facts based on true science of to-day, but let the author"s imagination wander a little, because anything might be possible to-morrow. I do not like love stories or much humor in this type of stories.
Stories of other worlds or of the Fourth Dimension always interest me, because there is no limit to the imagination there.
Why not have a discussion column and print some of the letters? It would encourage more to write, and give you their opinion: and, whether good or bad, should help you please the majority.
Some will maybe say the cover is too vivid--but that was what attracted my eye when I picked it out from among many others.
Most of your stories in the first edition were good. I liked "The Beetle Horde" and "Phantoms of Reality" best. Also noticed the "Sp.a.w.n of the Stars" next issue, which sounds O.
K. Hoping you all success in this type of stories.--C. E.
Anderson, 3504 Colfax Avenue, Minneapolis, Minn.
_A Young Reader"s Favorites_
Dear Editor:
I am writing you, per your request in your first issue of Astounding Stories. They are most entertaining. I have read three of the stories and they are excellent. You asked the readers to tell you the kind of stories we liked best. I like stories that concern the future of aviation. I like interplanetary stories, also the stories about the Fourth Dimension. I like c.u.mmings", Rousseau"s, Leinster"s Meek"s, Vincent"s and Starzl"s writing. Your magazine is sure worth twenty cents. You could put more science in your stories.
Please hold H. Wesso, your artist. He can really draw. I have seen his drawings in other magazines. And you may console yourself with the thought that you have one continuous reader. I feel that your magazine is going to be a success. I am also expressing the thoughts of other readers. I am only 15 years old, but I like to read good science stories, nevertheless. I hope to see you in next month"s magazine.--Ward Elmore, 2912 Avenue J. Ft. Madison, Iowa.
_A Contented Reader_
Dear Editor: