Page:Weird Tales v33n05 (1939-05).djvu/154

152 It left me with the conviction that that beautiful bit of writing was rightly kept until after his death, and then published as an epitaph. Perhaps I have this idea because of his oft-repeated statement to the effect that the longer he worked and studied, the further he was from his aim as a writer; an estimate that no one shared with him."

Charles H. Chandler writes from Wooster, Ohio: "The issue for March was an outstanding one. The cover was beautiful—better than any for a long time—better even than last October's cover, which is saying quite a bit. Finlay deserves high praise for his work this month His full-page illustration this month was also outstanding, although I prefer his line and stipple work to his charcoal. He certainly does like Sterling's A Wine of Wizardry—nor do I blame him, for it's a fearful and wonderful poem....}} In my opinion, The Return of Hastur was the best story in the March issue, and one of the best you have ever printed. It is a true weird tale—fulfils every requirement, and a good job at that—imaginative, really creepy, convincing, and the rest of it. Those soggy footsteps, for instance, and the strange noises that permeated the sub-basement in the night. It is a story that will not be quickly forgotten. Derleth has also tied together a great many loose ends of local color, with his associating and organizing the books we have heard so much about: viz., De Vermis Mysteriis, the Necronomicon, Book of Eibon, and the rest, even bringing in good old WT—which is as it should be Second place in the issue goes, I think, to The Quest of Iranon, although The Swine of Æaea is a close tliird in my opinion. The former's beauty gives it the edge The Stratosphere Menace wasn't even good science-fiction—much less a weird tale. It was childish and out of place. Smoke Fantasy was at least weird—I'll say that much for it. However, these brickbats are negligible; an issue containing seven good stories may certainly be forgiven a couple of bad ones. Maybe they were just bad by comparison."

Robert A. Madle writes from Philadelphia: "Far and away the best story in the March issue is H. P. Lovecraft's masterpiece of fantasy, The Quest of Iranon. I am almost tempted to say that this tale is the greatest you have ever published by HPL. The Quest of Iranon is one of the most magnificently composed pieces of writing I have ever read. If there are any other pieces of pure fantasy by HPL still unpublished, I advise you to grab them up in a hurry. The Return of Hastur, an unusual story for Derleth, and Clifford Ball's The Swine of Æaea take second and third honors respectively. The reprint in the February issue, The Last Horror, was a classic; one of the most enthralling stories I have ever read."

Paul N. Nicholaioff writes from New York: "After finishing reading the March issue of I couldn't help writing and letting you know how much I enjoyed it. First, the cover was excellent and striking. Inside illustrations were great, and I notice Virgil can apply his pens, brushes and inks in various ways which few artists can use. And what do you know—four illustrations for the yarn by Ball!  seems to be going places since the change in publishers."

B. M. Reynolds writes from North Adams, Massachusetts: " cerainly 'went to town' this month in its new 160-page augmented edition. You are 'tops' now in the fantasy-fiction field in both size and quality and I sincerely hope this new achievement will gain for you many new friends and supporters. I was more than delighted to read of the return of some of the old-time contributors to your pages, C. L. Moore, Donald Wandrei, H. Warner Munn and Clark Ashton Smith. As to the contents of the issue: Thomas P. Kelley again takes first honors with I Found Cleopatra. I eagerly await his next novel. Second place goes to Donald Wandrei for Giant-Plasm. Third place I award to Clark Ashton Smith and