drawings. Outside of that, the drawing was good. While not reading the serial as yet, I look forward with eager anticipation to the next issue. The name Lemkin, speaks for itself. "The Isle of Juvenescence" by Bob Olsen, while not the best in the issue, was above average. "When the Meteor Struck," was-oh-fair enough. "The Sword of Akalah" was a good story. How about a sequel? Now I'll come to the best story of the issue, "Luvium Under the Sand." No doubt this much needed sequel was awaited by many, and I trust that they were not disappointed. Of course, the rating was very good.
The best inside illustration was the one for "The Sword of Akalah." The rest were not as good.
When is the next Quarterly coming out (if ever)? If it does come out, please don't make it a reprint edition.
Although the small size Amazing Stories is good, I would much rather (and no doubt many others would too) have a large sized Amazing Stories.
By the way, I have a large number of Amazing Stories, both monthly and quarterly, that I wish to dispose of. Persons interested will please send a list of the ones they need, I will quote prices.
John V. Baltadonis,
1700 Frankford Ave.,
Philadelphia, Penna.
(We are not sure when the Quarterly will come out. It is quite irregular as you know. The preference in the matter of large or small size of the magazine seems fairly evenly divided.—Editor.)
An Excellent and Critical Letter, Very Well
Thought Out. It Is All the Better For Not
Being All Praise. And Wild Bill
Appears In It.
Editor, Amazing Stories:
After noting the improvement of such minor matters as paper, type size and so forth in your last three issues, without any rise in actual quality, the new April issue is quite a shock. A most pleasant shock it is, indeed. Not that it is VERY good, you understand, but it is really a big improvement, and I believe in giving credit where such credit is due. The proper procedure for a fan would be, I presume, to burst into a roundel and sing hallelujah choruses long and loudly; however, having been acquainted with Amazing Stories for several years now, I am not at all convinced. One swallow is not noted for making summers, you know, and there have been occasional good issues before rearing their heads out of the desert-sands of banality wherein you have been so long abiding.
This letter is, generally speaking, for commendatory purposes, so I shall graciously forget your somewhat shady past, for the moment, and dwell upon a more brightening present: the April, 1936, number.
First: Who could overlook the cover? I admit I could not; I seized the magazine eagerly, and making sure that it was the cleanest copy in the pile, bought it without bothering to look inside. Morey, your sins are forgiven! This cover is a delight to the eyes, and a credit to the spirit of science-fiction. Thanks, also, for putting the year as well as the month date on the cover; it helps a lot.
Second: The interior decorations. I have decided to stop thinking of them as illustrations (they aren't anyway—with a few exceptions) and regard them as sketches. By doing so, I can really appreciate them, for they are good pieces of sketching. An occasional drawing, such as the one for the serial and Neil R. Jones' latest, breaks up the monotony.
Third: Discussions. A number of highly amusing misprints slipped in this time, most notable of all "Sinners of Time." Wild Bill would probably agree wholeheartedly with this appellation and say that is what the story should have been called in the first place. Personally, I enjoy Mr. Fearn's efforts very much, and forgive his foibles, because he shows signs of deep thought at times. Which is more than can be said for myriad of stories you have published and which Will Bill has let pass unscathed. Note to our Wild friend: "I entirely disapprove of what you say and will defend to the death your right to say it." (Voltaire.)
To Mr. Leety: Perhaps you were thinking of "The Human Termites" by Dr. Keller, which appeared back in 1929 in another science-fiction magazine. One does get magazines confused at times. This story I mention seems to fit your descriptions better than any I can recall in Amazing Stories.
To Mr. Birch: Your after death what? theme is a distinctly touchy subject and by no means a virgin field. There is still room for more, though, because we know as little about it as anything. Not only does the writer come up against religion though, when dealing with this idea, but often those who successfully evade Scylla fall into Charybdis by becoming sentimental.
Fourth: The stories themselves (the last thing the readers read). "Intelligence Undying" was very well done. One wonders though, why there were not more immortal
