Stirring Science Stories/February 1941/The Vortex
As you readers must undoubtedly have surmised by this time, Stirring Science Stories isn't really one magazine but two. A sort of Siamese twin embracing within its covers for the first time in publishing history a science-fiction magazine and a weird-fantasy magazine. You'll find Stirring Science Stories in the pages preceding this department with an outstanding assortment of scientific imaginative fiction. You'll find our more modest twin Stirring Fantasy Fiction in the pages following this central vortex with the finest tales of fantasy and weird imagination you can obtain anywhere.
Perhaps you are not certain of just how we draw the distinction between the one form of fantasy and the other. Let us define our fields. Science-fiction is that branch of fantasy relying for its effect on the fact that its imaginative visionings are based upon logical projections of known science. That is, these stories are not impossible, not sheer dream-stuff, but actually conceivable as things that may occur under specific conditions today, or that may have occurred in the unrecorded past.
Weird fiction, on the other hand, is the branch of fantasy that depends upon the readers' willingness to accept the factors on which the story is based may be true (but cannot now be accepted by science), or that since, at one time or another great numbers of people have accepted such things as true, there may indeed be something to them. A weird-fantasy is by no means to be considered as impossible. It requires a more open mind, a mind that is willing to concede that the very laws of the universe may not be stable and may be subject to change even as every existing thing known to science is known to be subject to steady and never-ending change. Cannot the laws of science themselves be subject also to this eternal alteration? Are they not in fact actually so subject? Do we know everything already or is it true that "the more we know the more there is to learn"?
We place therefore in the forepart of our double-magazine those stories which science is prepared to accept as probable; we place in the latter half those stories which science may someday be willing to accept but is not now prepared to do.
We feel that there is a definite place for a magazine such as ours, we feel that those readers, and there are myriads of you, who possess minds capable of encompassing the whole scope of human imagination, whose minds truly know no barriers, will welcome Stirring Science Stories with open arms. We, on our part, will justify that support by continuing to give you between these two covers, the most audacious and imaginative fiction to be had.
The vortex, which is the midway
dividing line, will serve as
a combination editorial and correspondence
department. We have only
a few letters this time since only a
handful of super-fans who make fantasy
their all-in-all heard about our
project in time to write us opinions.
A few words from Olon F. Wiggins. Director of the Colorado Fantasy Society and Chairman of the 1941 World Science Fiction Convention
Committee:—"There is definitely a place for a magazine combining the elements of science-fiction and weird-fantasy. I'm sure the magazine will be a success under your editorship—and if wishing you all the luck in the world will help—then you have my well wishes."
Managing Editor's Note:—
Thanks, Olon, we certainly intend to do our best. But perhaps the readers are wondering just who the editor thinks he is that he should be able to select just what is good and what is not among fantasy offerings. We think that's a serious point; we have often felt that putting together a magazine is not just a business routine; it is and should be a work of art done by experts, and not by just some literary store clerk. Forrest J Ackerman and Morojo, famous foremost fantasy fans, listed our editor's credentials when they first heard about Stirring Science Stories:—
"So it's come at last, the establishment of Wollheim as editor of a magazine of fanciful tales. . . . Possessor of a world-famous fantasy collection, noted as a book-reviewer, author of science-fiction stories, and one who has had the distinction of being the Top Fan for some time during the last decade, we can think of few fans so fit. Knowing your literary and science standard, your long record as a crusader for better things in the field of imaginative fiction, we anticipate a publication with editorial policy of significant science fiction and fine fantasy, that will be a wonderful success. . . ."
This is Wollheim again. We don't think our past record is as marvelous as our two Los Angeles fans outline, but we do admit to be just a bit frightened that so much is expected of us. Now we'll just have to grit our teeth and live up to expectations. Ackerman and Morojo go on to make a few suggestions
"We submit that stories of dynamic concept, sound psychology, humanitarianism, wit, satire, and grip can be had from Coblentz, Keller, Heinlein, deCamp, Bond, Hubbard, Moore, Van Vogt—. While these authors should be illustrated by artists worthy of their talents, it is senseless to suppose one can find one's favorite artists illustrating everything in all of them, so we should be satisfied with occasional pictures by the favorites, while recommending you concentrate on developing Mooney, Marconette, Wright, Perri and Hunt. Dold and Ferguson might be contacted to see if they would be interested in illustrating once again. And the unique hand of Hannes Bok is not yet being overworked. . . . By the time of the 3rd World Science Fiction Convention, the so-called 'Denvention' in
Denver—'41, we hope your mag will've climbed high on the popularity poll"We feel the same way about artists as you do and if you look you'll find we've taken several of your suggestions. About big-name writers however, Robert W. Lowndes. Chairman of the Futurian Society of New York, has varying views:—
"There are a few suggestions I'd like to offer along the line of making this title really stirring. (1) A 'To Hell with Big Names' policy. As a reader and fan of long standing, you yourself know, that big names do not necessarily mean big stories. There are, true, a few virtually 100 per cent reliables, but they are very few and are nearly all sewed up by other markets. If you can resist the lure of names for your cover, regardless of merit of contributions to which those names are signed (as many editors apparently cannot) one big hurdle will be over and done with. And, on the other hand, if you can dispense with any reluctance at featuring the names of newcomers who have the goods, another will have gone. A great many editors seem determined to bury their best lights under bushels so long as they can publish a roll-call of (one-time) old standbys on their covers month after month.
"(2) Please make sure that the illustrators really illustrate. It's irritating to see a drawing which, upon closer inspection, has little or nothing to do with the story it graces. (3) Please make your readers' column a two-way affair; it may be a little more effort, but that little extra work will put you way ahead of other magazines whose editors either do not believe in the practice of putting personality in their magazines, or are reluctant to spend the extra time. That readers want this can be attested by the flood of positive replies that come up when the question is raised, and by the high standing that the old time discussions and readers columns had in the first science-fiction magazines. (4) Do not fence yourself around with policy. No story which you would like to use is over the heads of your readers and too high class for them. Keep a fumigator handy for authors who try to write down to readers.
"And, generally speaking, rig up some sort of device which will remind you periodically of all the things which you constantly demanded from other editors when you were a fan. Most editors who have risen from the ranks, as it were, seem to have forgotten that they were fans once; or have become aloof in the manner which they deplored so well when they wrote articles and letters. So long as you can keep the magazine up to a level which would have kept you haunting newsstands for it had someone else been putting out the identical thing a year or so ago, then neither you nor we fans have anything to worry about. Stirring will be tops and stirring away like mad!"
We suppose that we ought to comment in detail on Mr. Lowndes' opinions as he wishes but we can't because frankly we agree with most of what he says. We intend to edit Stirring without trepidation and in such a way as to play absolutely fair and square with our readers. We have tried to make a good start in this issue, we hope that we have succeeded and we guarantee you that we intend to make our magazine the leader in the field. We welcome your opinions and your comments and in our next issue will present in The Vortex as many of these views as we can find room for. We want you to let us know what you think of this issue, what, you think we can do, and what your views are on anything that may concern the world of imagination. Write us.