Authentic Science Fiction Monthly No. 54 — page 141: what you’re looking at

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

AUTHENTIC SCIENCE PICTION stick to the evidence, you know. You've certainly given our readers some thinking points with your “expanding universe” ideas. Thanks. TOP I have been reading science fiction for over a year, and would like to pay my respects to Authentic for entertaining me with first class reading. Unlike most British and American numbers, your magazine isn’t merely out to satisfy the readers’ thirst for good literature, but is ready to exploit to SF fans any interesting data on up-to-date scientific accomplishments. For this, I class your magazine with the top American science fiction magazines. Philip C. Watts, Wroxton Abbey, Nr. Banbury, Oxon. We blush with pleasure, Philip! HANDBOOK I read with interest your review of the ‘“‘Handbook of S.F. and Fantasy,” by Donald H. Tuck. You say its entries are classified “according to story, author, maga- zine and pocketbook.” Could you tell me if it deals with the American magazines, please. Since about 1945 I’ve been collecting S.F., but mainly in the British Reprint Editions. Now that I’ve been buying some American editions as well, I would like some method of tying up both editions just in case I buy an American mag which has been given a complete British reprint. It seems to be the fashion nowadays to give the editor your opinions and favourite stories in his maga- zine. I will not do this, but merely congratulate you on your fine efforts in maintaining schedules, 140 and for your contribution to the making of British S.F. Eric Moore, 10 Dinsdale Street, Ryhope, Co. Durham. Yes, Eric, it does deal with all the American magazines. Ti hanks for the congratulations. MEAT In your editorial of the 50th issue of Authentic you say you want to know what we readers want—well, you asked for it, and if it seems that I want a lot it doesn’t mean that I don’t think you have a pretty good magazine already. Your non-fiction section is too “‘bitty.” I'd like to see the space used on one decent article which has plenty of meat, for when a magazine comes out only once a month, then one evening’s entertainment from it is not enough. As for the stories, - they are good, but the short stories just aren’t written well enough. Apart from one by Bryan Berry about a tree whose title I don’t remember at the moment, only Ray Bradbury has been successful at this type of story. Why not bea little more selective? Two or three really first class stories would suit me, and if sometimes you can find only one that’s good, well, better that than five that are disappoint- ing. Having read your mag from its first issue 1 am quite sure you have your eye open for improvements— keep up the good work. Higher standards may lose you a few readers on the way, but will, ’'m sure, gain you many more, 3025774 Cpl. Watts, B., Box No. 5, R.E.11, R.A.F., Honlow, Beds. That’s the way to talk! None of this going down to the masses nonsense. We'll bring the masses up to us—if they aren't already therel comiclooks.conrn