Page:Stirring Science Stories, March 1942.djvu/65

 {| Vincent, Stanley G. Weinbaum, Miles J. Breuer, Clark Ashton Smith, and innumerable others. Surely, we thought, what a mighty array of terrific fiction could be assembled from the files of these writers! What a colossus among books!

But we shall have to wait. That book has yet to be compiled. The elite circle has scored again.

HE BOOK that was published is entitled "" and is edited and prefaced by Phil Stong. It is 466 pages long, it contains twenty-five stories, it sells for $2.50, and is published by Wilferd Funk of New York. It bears the subtitle on the jacket "The best modern stories of free imagination since Dracula and Frankenstein."

The wording of that subtitle was our first hint. Was this another weird anthology ignoring science-fiction? Well, we could make the most of it anyway. But it did not ignore science-fiction though the weird story is in the majority.

We had thought that it would contain only stories from the pages of the fantasy pulps. Mr. Stong, the anthologist, admits that that was his intention. But, he goes on to say, after going through the files of all the fantasy magazines, some 20,000 stories he estimates, he was not able to find enough good stories to fill up his book—hence there are some tales included that appeared in Westminster Magazine and Esquire and a couple that have never been published before.

Before going on further, let us introduce Mr. Stong. You all must of heard of him we're sure. For, according to the book jacket, he is "the foremost critic of this type of fiction." He is "a recognized authority upon this unique type of fiction." He has been "a devotee and student of weird and fantastic stories for a number of years." He is the author of many books, the best known of which are "State Fair" and "Horses and Americans."

At this point we wish to state that we are familiar with fantasy fiction in every aspect for over fifteen years; we have met and contacted several hundred students, collectors and enthusiasts of fantasy; we have read thousands of articles and letters by fantasy fans and authorities; we never heard of Phil Stong.

Let that pass. Obviously he is recognized among the elite, among the non-pulp writing literati. The book proves that clearly enough.

"THE OTHER WORLDS" is divided into three sections: "Strange Ideas" being stories with ideas never used before, "Fresh Variants" being new twists on old ideas, "Horrors" being just that. We shall take up the third section first.

Here is a compilation of fairly passable but not outstanding weird tales. The best is Henry Kuttner's minor classic, "The Graveyard Rats." The rest are not poor stories but they certainly do not rate reprinting. They were acceptable stories when they appeared but they are not the gems of weird fantasy. Manly Wade Wellman's "School for the Unspeakable" and "Song of the Slaves" are good average ghost stories. This is true also of August Derleth's two stories. Stong felt that Seabury Quinn should be included and deliberately picked a story he describes as among Quinn's worst "The House Where Time Stood Still." Stong states that it is a good example of Quinn's most outstanding flaws. Therefore Stong stuck it in.

In his introduction to this section, Stong dwells a bit on H. P. Lovecraft. Lovecraft's tremendous popularity compelled Stong grudgingly to admit him a place, but he takes revenge by making mockery of him and including one of his most unrepresentative works, "In the Vault." The manner of Stong's handling of Lovecraft left us utterly infuriated, so crudely cynical it was, so  World's Greatest Collection of Strange & Secret Photographs NOW you can travel round the world with the most daring adventurers. You can see with your own eyes the weirdest peoples on earth. You witness the strangest customs of the red, white, brown, black and yellow races. You attend their startling rites, their mysterious practices. They are all assembled for you in these five great volumes of the SECRET MUSEUM OF MANKIND. FEMALE BEAUTY tl Round the 600 LARGE PAGES Here is the world's Greatest Collection of Strange and Secret Photographs. Here are Exotic Photos from Europe, Primitive Photos from Africa, Torture Photos from Asia, Female Photos from Oceania and America and hundreds of others. There are almost 600 LARGE PAGES of Camera Shots, each page 57 square inches in size. 1,000 REVEALING PHOTOS You see actual courtship practiced In every quarter Of the world. You see magic and mystery in queer land* where the foot of a white man has rarely trod. You ee# Oriental modes of marriage and female slavery in China. Japan, India, etc. Through the intimacy of the camera yo< witness the exotic habits of every continent and the BtranP gest customs of life and love in America, Europe, etc. Yota are bewildered by these large pages of ONE THOUSAND PHOTOGRAPHS, including 130 full-page photos, and thrilled by the hundreds of short stories that describe them. Contents of 5-VoIume Set Volume 1—The Secret Album of Africa Volume 2—The Secret Album of Europe Volume 3—The Secret Album of Asia Volume 4—The Secret Album of America Volume 5—The Secret Album of Oceania 5 PICTURE-PACKED VOLUMES The SECRET MUSEUM OF MANKIND consista of flva picture-packed volumes (solidly bound together for convenient reading). Dip into any one of these volumes, and afl you turn its pages, you will find it difficult to tear yourself away. Here, in story and unusual photo, is the WORLD'S GREATEST COLLECTION OF STRANGE AND SECRET PHOTOGRAPHS, containing everything from Female Beauty Round the World to the most Mysterious Cults and Customs. These hundreds and hundreds of large pages will give you days and nights of thrilling instruction. Specimen Photos Various Secret SocietiesCivilized Love vs. Savage. Exotic Rites and CultsStrange Crimes, Criminals Omens, Totems & TaboosMysterious Customs Dress & Undress Round the World. 1,000 Strange and Secret Photos SEND NO MONEY Simply sign and mall the coupon. Remember, each of tho 5 Volumes is 91/4 inches high, and opened over a foot wide! Remember also that this 5-Volume Set formerly sold for $10. And it is bound in expensive "life-time'* cloth. Don't put this off. Fill out the coupon, drop It in the next mall, and.receive thia huge work at once. For tme Complete Æ VoLume FORMERLY NOW ONLY ■70 Fifth Ave., Department 3303, New York, N. Y. I Send me "The Secret Museum of Mankind" (5 great ■volumes bound together). I will pay postman $1.98, ■plus postage on arrival. If in 5 days I am not de-I lighted, I will return the books and you will refund I my $1.98. I Nam». g Addreaa* B City. State
 * METRO PUBLICATIONS,

I r—1 CHECK HERE If you are enclosing $1.98, thus I Saving the mailing costs. 
 * }