A. Merritt's Fantasy Magazine, October 1950 — page 124: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

READERS’ COLUMN LL Fans please note: since A. MERRITT’S FANTASY has gone quarterly some of your let- ters will pertain to stories two or even three issues back. To bring them up to date and keep them more or less so in the future, try to write us within one month of publication date. This is not absolutely necessary but we feel that it will be more fun for all concerned to read the various opinions concerning one or more stories at the same time . . . for comparison pur- poses. Ixcept for one thing the letters have been fine. We seem to have acquired a steady stream of writers (most welcome) but what about an occasional letter from you other fans? Here’s hoping that you continue to en- joy A. Merritt’s FANTASY! —The Editor TWO CLASSICS Dear Editor: Well, A. MERRITT’S FANTASY seems to have become definitely established as an excellent addition to the fantasy field. Each issue the stories are good. They don’t improve because you can’t improve on anything so nearly perfect. Some issues may be a mite better than others, but the next issues make up for them. Take for instance the Merritt story which I have never tried to read, “Creep, Shadow!.” The next issue was an improvement. A great improvement! Challis’ style of writing was dif- ferent from the usual run of writers and his story, “The Smoking Land,” although not unique, was good. After reading this wonderful issue I had high hopes for the magazine, but they were dimmed by the next issue. I absolutely gave up tryi to get through Mann’s “The Ninth Life.” Yet, see that some people liked it. I wonder why. But the latest issue has my hopes back to a new high. Not one classic, but two. “The Face in the Abyss” was really good. The best thing about it was that it wasn’t drawn out to exces- sive length. Just the length I like them. “The Green Flame” was also of the length that I like. It was not quite as good as Merritt’s story and not as good as North’s “Three Against The Stars,” but it still held my interest. Maybe I'll be the one to find that yellow marble. I am very disappointed to hear that you are going quarterly. I'll certainly miss your maga- zine—ali that time between issues. I guess you ad a good reason, but I still wish you hadn't one it. Thanks again for the information on the authors which you give in “Calling Afl Fantasy Fans.” To know something about the author of a story seems to increase the enjoyment of that story. I hope that you will continue to give u$ all those little-known facts. Callé is really good on the illustrations. If I weren't afraid of being hopped on by all my fan friends I’d say that he’s the equal of Finlay and Bok if not better. There, I’ve said it! Sincerely, Tom Covington i 315 Dawson Street Wilmington, N. C ED: Hope this issue will live up to your high praises of our last one. I KNEW HIM THEN Dear Editor: I’m quite pleased that you find my story, “Racketeers in the Sky” worthy of reprinting in A. MERRITT’S FANTASY. _ Especiall leased because I’m an old Merritt fan myself. remember “The Moon Pool,” “The Face in the Abyss” and “The People of the Pit” as vividly as I do most things that have actually papeenes to me. ncidentally, Merritt was kind enough to take some interest in my own work, when I was just beginning to write. When the first installment of my first serial was published, he asked for the carbon copy of the rest of it. In later letters he told me something about his methods of work and gave me some very sound professional suggestions. Once when a friend and I called at the offices of The American Weekly while he was editor, he took an hour or so of his crowded time to talk fantastic fiction with us—turning out to be as enjoyable in person as his stories always are in print. I still feel that he was one of the great figures in imaginative literature, and I look back on those casual contacts with a good deal of pleasure. ... Jack Williamson ED: We thought that you would be in- terested in seeing the above letter with Mr. Williamson’s personal comments on A. Merritt. MASTER OF FANTASY Dear Editor: I have been a follower of fantasy, supernatural and the occult for many many years. As a result I have naturally come to look upon one author as my favorite. That author is Abraham Merritt. In my humble estimation Merritt is the ab- solute master of modern fantasy. There are many writers of fantasy and science fiction but no one has the feeling and the delicate touch that 121 MICLOOKS (C(O)