Authentic Science Fiction Monthly, No. 66 — page 157: what you’re looking at

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

THE POLL NE OF THE INTERESTING things about running a poll is the replies obtained from the most unexpected places. This alone proves beyond doubt that Authentic is a truly international maga- zine and is read and enjoyed by people of all walks of life all over the world. This, while very gratifying, did have the effect of delaying the final compilation of results, but these results show that, while it is almost impossible to please all of the readers all of the time, we are managing to please all of them most of the time. ‘ This, in itself, is quite an achievement. The final breakdown shows that if most of you don’t like a thing you regard your dis- like as very important. For example, 80% of you who want more long stories regard this as very important indeed; almost as important as the 83% of those who feel the same way about short stories. On the main issues the percentages were as follows: 48° want more space, time travel and psychological stories, and 45° want more science in the stories. How- ever, while asking for more science, they insist that it shall be science, not fantasy. Those wanting more non- fiction totalled about half of those wanting less, but 65% want more illustrations, while the battle between single and double columns remains a draw. Those wanting reprints of classics were in a minority together with those who want less projectiles, less book reviews, and those who want a “sales and wants” column. Only 2% want less science in the stories, and not many of you are interested in author’s biographies. All of the forms returned had certain items stressed as being of importance, and most of them carried suggestions which are most helpful. Quite a large percentage would like to see a ““questions answered” column, but very few readers seem interested in American stories. The question of story- rating does not seem to be considered of prime impor- tance and, aside from one author, you did not express any particular preference. Modesty forbids me to name the author. 156 connicloooks.comn)