Silverberg to Moskowitz

Silverberg, Robert. SIX TYPED LETTERS SIGNED (TLsS), all to "Dear Sam" [Moskowitz], each about 1/2 page or less, dated: 8 October 1951; 11 February 1952; 14 December n.y.; 17 February 1962; 19 August 1963; 7 July 1968, all signed "Bob.". The letters cover a period of 17 years, starting in 1951, when Silverberg was 16 - and the editor/publisher of a fanzine, SPACESHIP. Moskowitz had written, ordering some back issues as well as a subscription. Silverberg informs him that some of the back issues are sold out and that he will credit this payment for those to extend his subscription. He thanks him for suggestions made about the publication. "I've been working on the artwork problem for quite some time - as well as various other format bugs. The current issue (#14) shows some of the changes which I've made, but the improvements probably won't show for a while... I'll appreciate your comments on the current issue when you get it, and I'd be happy if you'd care to contribute something for one of the future issues." A sign of the early literary activity of Silverberg, who would go on to become not only one of the most prolific sf authors of the postwar period, but one of the most highly-regarded. Writing in Clute and Nicholls (eds), The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction (1993), p. 1107, Brian Stableford says, "He remains one of the most imaginative and versatile writers ever to have been involved with sf. His productivity has seemed almost superhuman, and his abrupt metamorphosis from a writer of standardized pulp fiction into a prose artist was an accomplishment unparalleled within the field." The second letter, written four months later, from the same Brooklyn address, contains Silverberg's congratulatory comments on M's history of early fandom, THE IMMORTAL STORM, which had just been published. "I thought it a most impressive work, which will probably rank with the FANCYCLOPEDIA, the Kennedy reviews, and other similar works." He suggests that he bring it up to date, saying that he would "probably have a greater sale, since most everybody likes to find his name in a history." In response to an ad by Moskowitz (as a dealer) in STF Trader, the young Silverberg orders an old issue of FANTASY MAGAZINE and asks that it be packed carefully since the "Brooklyn post office gives the mail quite a buffeting." The third letter, its year undated but written sometime after 1956 (since it refers to a magazine story of that year) and with a return address of West End Avenue in New York, is brief, answering a bibliographic question that Moskowitz had evidently asked him. "The Robert Howard story was 'White Smoke Rolled' - DOUBLE ACTION WESTERN Dec. 1956. Not a bad yarn, and sort of a parallel-world fsy." In turn, he asks M (in his capacity as dealer, one imagines) if he has had "Any luck with the Brand book?," presumably referring to Max Brand, the prolific author of Westerns and other genre fiction. The fourth letter, dated 1962, mentions a recent move to Goodridge Avenue in New York and concerns payment for some books bought from Moskowitz, "...Olaf Stapledon at $29.40 and Philip Wylie at $35.28. Ted [Carnell] also notifies me of payment having been made on Shiel and Heard..." Carnell was a British editor, anthologist and literary agent, whose "contribution to UK sf was enormous." - Clute and Nicholls (eds), The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction (1993), p. 196. Carnell was apparently acting as some sort of agent between Silverberg and Moskowitz. The fifth letter, written about a year and a half later (August 1963), from the same address, is addressed to both Sam and his wife Chris. It refers to the brouhaha with Ted White. Silverberg notes that M's lawsuit against White is coming to trial in October and asks politely but firmly that he not be included among the New York fans that M plans to subpoena as witnesses. "I'm neutral. It's my considered opinion that both sides have merit, and also that both sides are at fault. I wish the whole thing had never blown up. Nothing I could say in court could conceivably help your case - or hurt it either. I ask out of friendship that you refrain from dragging me into it, and if you insist on calling me anyway, well, I'm afraid our friendship will be at an end." He notes that he is busy and doesn't want to lose productive time. "If I told you how much it would cost me to take a day off and testify, it would seem like bragging, so I'll simply point out that you're both professional people and can understand that nobody is going to reimburse me for any time I'm compelled to waste." The last letter, written in 1968, notes that his place on Goodridge Avenue had been damaged in a fire and that he is living temporarily in the Bronx. He mentions some books that he needs to replace, thanks him for the return of a borrowed book and mentions his review of Moskowitz's just-published anthology SCIENCE FICTION BY GASLIGHT. "I hope you'll forgive me for taking a few swipes at your prose style, which isn't getting more elfin with the years. The general tone of the review otherwise can best be summed up by quoting the final line: 'This is a splendid book - an item for the basic s-f shelf.' It sure is. What a fine job!" The lot of six letters provides a sketch of the changing connection between two of the key figures of American genre sf. The first three letters are typed on good-quality note paper, the third with a blue border; the next three are on cheap letter-size paper, browning with age. Sam Moskowitz was one of the pioneers of genre science-fiction scholarship, approaching the subject from historical and sociological as well as literary vantage points; editing anthologies, magazines and book reprint series; and championing the work of obscure authors as well as the genre itself. Though not always meticulous in his research or discerning in his taste, he took seriously a field of literature that academic critics ignored until much later, and blazed many of the trails that they smoothed out later. In saying that he made up in enthusiasm what he lacked in rigor, it could be argued that the former virtue was, at the time, the more needed one. Besides old creases where folded for mailing, the first letter has two faint triangles of offsetting from some other acidic paper at lower corners, the second has a 2 cm hole near the top, above the salutation; else the lot is in very good to fine condition. (#100297)

A Harlan Ellison/Sam Moskowitz Letter

From LW Currey

Ellison, Harlan. TYPED LETTER SIGNED (TLS). 1 page, dated 3 November [19]68, to "Dear Sam" [Moskowitz], signed "Harlan Ellison." On Ellison's 3484 Coy Drive, Sherman Oaks letterhead. Ellison chafes Moskowitz sarcastically for not sending him a copy of the 30th anniversary issue of the fanzine DIFFERENT, in which he apparently issued a manifesto critical of Ellison and certain trends he disliked in science fiction. He reminds Moskowitz that they've known each other 17 years, then predicts that Moskowitz's cause is doomed and "can only aid and abet the revolution in speculative fiction.... The louder you squeal, the quicker the changes will be wrought." Ellison goes on to castigate him for misquoting him and offers to give him as many "inflammatory" quotes as he likes if he just asks for them directly. "In short, what I'm saying, Sam my man, is this: you want a Holy War? Then get it on, baby, get it on." Ellison was "...the most controversial and among the finest of those writers associated with sf whose careers began in the 1950s. He was born and raised in Ohio, attending Ohio State University for 18 months before being asked to leave, one of the reasons for his dismissal being rudeness to a creative-writing professor who told him he had no talent." - Clute and Nicholls (eds), The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction, p. 376. Two faint creases where folded for mailing, 7 mm closed tear in right margin, else fine. (#100282)

National Fantasy Fan Jan. 1968

The official organ of The National Fantasy Fan Federation Volume 27, Number 3. Editor and Publisher: Don Miller January, 1966 EDITOR’S NOTES Since this is the first issue under a new editorship, it would seem appropriate to say a few words at the beginning of the issue concerning our plans and editorial policy for the forthcoming year. TNFF will be monthly during 1968. Most of the issues will be 10 pages in length, and will be mailed to all members via 1st-class mail; however, time, money, and material permitting, we will try to get out an occasional 20-page, 3rd-class issue —- we make no promises, however. Editorials will be kept to the minimum, to conserve space and save wear and tear on the members. Oh, yes -- from this point on we will no longer use the editorial “we”, but will stick to the plain and ordinary first—person singular, “I”; this will avoid confusion between editorial opinions and official club policy (and will also please Don Franson). However, if /w/e/ I occasionally slip and use "we" instead of “I”, please forgive /u/s/ me; with 100% use of the editorial “we” in all of my other magazines, it will be very difficult for me to remember (I even find myself using “we” in conversation!). As stated in TIGHTBEAM #46, the primary focus of TNFF during 1968 will be on club news and activities, with strong secondary emphasis on news and activities of “outside” fandom; the remaining space will be filled with general material, with special reference on timely reviews of books, magazines, fanzines, movies, etc. Volunteers are urgently needed to: 1. Keep me posted on apa activity; 2. Keep me posted on forthcoming conventions and other club and regional activities of general interest; 3. Keep me posted on news of time, place, and program (if any) of clubs around the country (this can be done on a regional, or even an individual club, basis -- certainly with more than one person involved In the reporting); 4. Keep me posted on clubs, conventions, and other fannish news from outside the U.S.; 5. Keep me posted on forthcoming movies, TV shows, books, magazines, etc. (again, probably involving more than one reporter); 6. Review fanzines; 7. Review prozines; 8. Review books; 9. Review movies, TV shows, etc. Don’t force me to have to rely exclusively upon my WSFA JOURNAL sources for extra material for TNFF —- N3F certainly has enough members to be able to develop its own sourcesl
In brief-1967 NFFF Story Contest winners: 1st Prize ($20), “The Feline Technique” by Doris ‘ Beetem; 2nd Prize ($15), “The Seeding” by Evelyn Lief; 3rd Prize ($10), “The SAH Effect” ‘by Chet Gottfried.
(Source: THE WSFA JOURNL #51) If your report, etc.,doesn’t appear in this issue, it’s because we don’t have it yet. We are typing this issue on Jan. 2, and are including every bit of N3F material on hand. (Undoubtedly something will arrive in tomorrow's mail) Deadline for each issue will be on the last day of the preceding month -— so mail early -- if I don’t have it by the deadline, it will have to wait until the next issue. (Sorry about those “we’s” earlier in this paragraph, Don.) “The Con Game” in this issue was reprinted from THE WSFA JOURNAL #51. DLM

Groff Conklin

40 years ago.

From Science Fiction Times # 457: Groff Conklin, leading science fiction antholgist, died July 20 {1968} at his summer home in Pawling, NY. He was 63 years old at the time of his death, which was due to emphysema. His permanent home was in New York City. // Mr. Conklin edited a total of 38 science fiction and fantasy anthologies. His first, The Best Science Fiction (1946) was the first hard-cover collection to specifically use the term 'Science Fiction' in its title. With very few exceptions, Mr. Conklin selected stories for his books which had not been published in other anthologies. // He was editor of Grasset & Dunlap's sf series in the early 1950's, and was book reviewer for Galaxy magazine for 5 years starting with the first, October 1950, issue. Mr. Conklin also wrote an introduction to Theodore Sturgeon's colleaction, A Way Home. // Mr. Conklin was also active outside of the field. For the last three years he was science editor for the American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language which is being prepared for publication next year. He wrote books on home improvement and maintenance, and had been a freelance writer on scientific and technical subjects. He was formerly book editor for Robert M McBride & Co. and scientific researcher for the N W Ayer & Son advertising agency.