Authentic Science Fiction Monthly No. 54 — page 142: what you’re looking at

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

AUTHENTIC SCIENCE FICTION PRIMIFAN I have been a S.F. reader now since those early days of 1931-2, when my brother and I were avid readers. In those days S.F. was rarely heard of in this country, we had to rely on picking up odd copies of American mags at second- hand bookshops. I always look back with a certain amount of nostalgia on those stories, many of them good S.F., though since those days this type of writing has matured considerably. People often used to say to me then: “I’m surprised at you reading those books, ‘Atomic Energy,’ what nonsense.”” They are the very people who today expound to all and sundry the theory of nuclear fission. From 1939-50 there was a gap in my reading, then about three years ago I read two or three American publications and was disappointed at the deterioration that had taken place; most of them could only be described as utter drivel. Since then there has been a spate of British published S.F., the covers of most of them, I may say, 141 being quite attractive. It wasn’t *til the other week that I spotted Authentic tucked away at the back of a newsagent’s stall. Need I say more when I say that I am already a subscriber after having read the (for me) first one. J. Houghton, 128 Alcester Road South, Kings Heath, Birmingham 14. Nice to have you back in fandom, Mr. Houghton. Don’t go away again, The more the better. LIBRARY I have noticed a letter in the 49th issue Of Authentic regarding the Redditch Branch library of L.S.F.O. It is at the undernoted address, If you would kindly mention this in your next issue I would be obliged to you as I have been trying to form a local group. E, Cox, 163 Enfield Road, Hunt End, Redditch. Gladly, Mr. Cox. All part of the service! comicloooks.conrn