Last summer Ella Parker, leading light of London
fandom, editor of ORION and at that time Secretary
of the BSFA and Chairman of the SFCoL, surprised
her many visitors by coming up with a workable
scheme for attending the 1962 World Convention to
be held in Seattle this coming September. This
scheme was: “save like mad.” Ella has saved and
saved and insisted from the start that the scheme
should be kept secret, so that she would not be
dependent on fannish charity and so that she could
take the CRY Gang, in particular Wally Weber, by
surprise. Ella will be flying to the West Coast
and the news is no longer DNQ as an announcement
was made at the LXIcon. Anyone willing/wishing to
contribute to the. Parker Pond Fund should contact
Don Ford, Betty Kujawa (addresses inside) or Ted
Forsyth, 11 Ferndale Road, London SW 4. Ella looks
forward to meeting in person the many Stateside
friends she has made through fandom and we in
British fandom envy them their chance to seattle
back and enjoy Ella’s company on such an
enterprising trip.
Incidentally, SKYRACK scooped itself with this
item, for a special one copy 29th February issue
sent only to Ella ran the above news while it was
still DNP.
TERRY CARR FINISHES WITH FANAC.
Non-appearance of America’s leading newszine has
led to some speculation. Berkeley spy SPQR reports
that Terry has, after three years publishing,
turned FANAC over to Walter Breen. Terry is still
working on the FANNISH. Breen’s first issue should
be out by now, said to be 12 pages or more.
ORION 27 (Ella Parker, 151 Canterbury Rd.,
West Kilburn, London NW6;74pp; 1/6d; US subs to
Betty Kujawa, 2819 Caroline, South Bend 14,
Indiana).The latest offering from this year’s
Stateside visitor kicks off with the usual
excellent Atom job, depicting millions of fans of
all.Atom also did the headings for the articles
and there is enclosed a sample of the work he has
done for the forthcoming “Atom Anthology.”
Outánding in this up-to-standard issue of
Britain’s leading fanzine (ORION topped the recent
SKYRACK poll) is the second instalment of the
perceptive “European Pumble”, Andy Young’s lengthy
account of his trip to Europe last summer. Regular
items like Ken Bulmer’s excellent “Taff Tales” and
John Berry’s latest “Sergeant” story are also
present as are items br Jim Norrie, Len Moffatt,
George Locke, Don Ford. and Rory Faulkner. There
are twenty pages of readers’ letters and close
behind Andy Young’s contribution comes the “Specs”
editorial which deals with the two recent
conventions attended by Ella and the penitentiary
inmates. Printed on slick Gestetner paper, this
zine is naturally once again unhesitatingly
recommended.
There’s the tradition that British fanzines are
all of a uniform high quality and this month’s
offerings certainly seem to bear this out. For
example the next zine is
HYPHEN 27 (Walt Willis & Ian McAulay,
170 Upper N’Ards Rd., Belfast 4, N.I; March 1961;
26pp; 1/- or 15cents; 7 for $1) Right up to
the standard of not only British fanzines but of
Hyphen is this latest....well how does one
describe HYPHEN, pray? Here are the usual line up
of contributors, headed by Bob Shaw with "Bowmen
in the Gloamin’.” John Berry brings Irish Fandom
up to date and it’s especially pleasing to see
young Jeff Wanshel present amongst Atom cartoons,
articles by Ian McAulay and Ron Ellik, readers’
letters, a couple of book reviews by Walt in his
“Nebula” mood and a half page of bacovor quotes
like “Whenever I hear a knock at my door I always
think I’m the last man on Earth.”
ESPRIT 4 (April 1961; Daphne Buckmaster, 8
Buchanan St., Kirkcudbright, Scotland; 34pp;
1/6;US subs @ 20cents to Don Fitch, 3908 Frijo,
Covina, California). In contrast to HYPHEN in
content but not quality is this British readers’
forum, discussion zine. John Rackham writes on
drugs, Art Rapp conjures up a sense of wonder on
Indian relics, Julian Parr brings status seeking
up to date, Ray Nelson talks to himself, Nan
Gerding does not like IBM testing and dear old Max
Cranium is here again. Readers knock down the
targets sighted last issue. The letter from Don
Smith on supermen is especially notable.
VECTOR 11 (Official Organ of the BSFA,
edited by James A. Groves, 29 Lathom Road, East
Ham, London E.6; 43pp). Once again apart from
official business and reporting, Vector sets out
to be entertaining. Brian Aldiss Simakises, Harry
Gilbert writes a story, Doc Weir is present with a
piece on Three Dimensional Chess and. books and
stories are competently reviewed. The fanzine
reprint section is a worthy Birchby item and
readers’ letters make up another good issue with a
notable letter coming from John Phillifent on loan
from ESPRIT.
HAVERINGS 5...thoughtful fanzine reviews
from Ethel Lindsay, Courage House, 6 Langley
Avenue, Surbiton, Surrey..
JETSTREAM (Bob Parkinson, 52 Mead Rd.,
Cheltenham, Glos; 10 pp 6d). Odd bits and pieces
by Bob, Jhim Linwood and John Dyke.
THE SCIENCE FICTION CLUB OF LONDON CLUB
COMBOZINE 1961: Available from Ella Parker
(see ORION for address - if you really need it) @
1/6d, this second annual convention-appearing
lengthiest title in British fandom is with us
again and is well worth waiting for. If I said
that this year’s edition was not quite up to the
standard of last year’s I may possibly be
understood - or misunderstood - as meaning that
the drop in quality is other than relative. This
zine is a good one and worthy of adding to
anyone’s permanent collection. As most of the
SFCoL’s regular in-town members are present this
Combozine would have to be a qualitative affair.
Judge for yourself with material by Ethel Lindsay,
Ken & Irene Potter, Jimmy Groves, Don Geldart,
Chris Miller, Joe Patrizio, George Locke, Bruce
Burn, Arthur “Atom” Thomson and none other than
Paul Enever.
EMANATION 1 (John M. Foyster, 4 Edward St.,
Chadstone SE 10, Victoria, Australia. February
1961; 76pp;3/- Australian) From the stronghold of
Australian rules football comes a new zine of a
sercon type, which, despite its bulk, is not my
cup of tea, though it may be yours. Wynne N.
Whiteford writes on SF, Donald Tuck considers the
foundation of a S.F. library, Nigel Jackson writes
a story,John Baxter reviews books, the editor
contributes an index to SF Plus., Nigel Jackson
reviews “The 7th Day” and there are a few other
shorts around. The zine lacks personality and
suffers from poor lay-out, which is a pity, for
the promise is obviously present.
The 2nd newsletter of the Young SF Readers Group
formed by Jim Linwood, 10 Meadow Cotts,
Netherfield, Notts., is in and young fans wishing
to be added to the growing membership should
contact Jim. As there is no information given as
to the aims of the group it may be taken that the
YSFRG is a pretty informal one.
BUNYIP 4 (John Martin Baxter, PO Box 39,
King Street P.O., Sydney, NSW, Australia;) This is
another Aussifanzine in this month and one which,
having more issues behind it, shows more balance,
personality and straight readability than
EMANATION. John Foyster and Don Tuck are again
present and there is also material from Alan Dodd
in Spain and Bob Smith in fanzinesville. Letters
make up another pleasant issue.
Lots of fanzines mentioned this issue. One of the
jobs, I feel, of the fan newsletter is to let fans
know what is available, bread and butter items
which balance any startling scoops which may crop
up from time to time. Therefore, please excuse the
following notes of “running” items which have been
listed before and which are still available:
EPITAFF (7/- or $1 from Eric Bentcliffe, 47
Alldis St., Great Moor, Stockport, Cheshire)
One-shot publication of Eric’s 1960 TAFF trip
report, handled in an excellent fashion, liberally
illustrated by Eddie Jones.
COLONIAL EXCURSION (7/- or $1 from Ron
Bennett or Bob Pavlat). My own 1958 SolaCon TAFF
trip report, illustrated by photographs and
Atomillos.
THE DIRECTORY OF 1960 SF FANDOM. Addresses
of over 500 fans, a 6th annual listing. 1/6d or 25
cents from Ron Bennett or Bob Pavlat.
TAFF: Voting continues in the campaign to
bring over a U.S. representative to next year’s
convention. SKYRACK supports Ron Ellik who has
been nominated in a straight fight against Dick
Eney. Votes and contributions to Eric Bentcliffe
(address above) or Don Ford (Box 19-T, RR2, Wards
Corner Road, Loveland, Ohio, USA). Make certain of
casting vote by voting now!
THE KILBURN MICROCON was held at the Parker
Pen the weekend following the LXIcon, 7th/8th
April, and is covered fully in ORION 27. A party
was due to be held and Brian Jordan (with Ron
Bennett then resident at 151) suggested holding
our own minicon. Brian produced a stencil and had
soon run off a programme booklet, made a pile of
lapel badges, stuck up signs and spread out a
fanzine stall. Attendees were Ella Parker, Brian
Jordan, Ron Bennett, Ted Forsyth, Joe Patrizio,
Don Geldart, Ken, Irene and Karen Potter, Ethel
Lindsay, Jim Groves, Atom, Jim Linwood, Diane
Goulding, Alan Rispin, Bruce Burn, Ian Peters and
Brian Burgess. Con lasted through two days of
merriment and the programme included a discussion
on the LXIcon and a repeat performance of the
SFCoL playlet. It is hoped that Kilburn Microcons
become a firm part of fannish tradition. (The
cards Atom had brought along ran such mottos as “I
read ORION, my friends read ORION - we all read
ORION in here”, “Why do I like ORION? You might
well ask”, “Orion does things to me - no, I’ve
always been bald”, “Ella took ORION and made it
what it is today”, ‘I was an ORION subber - a
story to enliven the mind”, “I tried other
fanzines, but ORION showed me where I was wrong.”)
PETER SINGLETON, get well schnell. Peter is
now in Ward l9, Burnley General Hospital, Burnley,
Lancs....Bruce Burn has moved to 46 Warrington
Cres., London W.9. Next to Warwick Avenue
station....Archie Mercer still interested in
Tentcon....Rumoured that HABAKKUK headed recent
FANAC fanzine poll....Willis 10th Anniversary Fund
(Willis to States next year) in full swing
following invitation acceptance by Walt. Full
details next issue....Bruce Burn holding party 6th
May....SFCoL soon putting out Club genzine...Third
Programme 19th April - Prof.W.T.Williams of
S’ot’on University broke off natural history talk
to mention SF, quoting Tolkien Asimov and
Sheckley....BSFA Newsletter 7 (April 61) covers
LXIcon and Hugo nominations....Terry Jeeves’ son,
Keith, age l2- would like overseas pen-pal - how
about it, you fen with offspring around the same
age?....Bob Parkinson corrects SKY 31’s note about
the tape play TYPO which was made by the
Cheltenharn SFC....Gerfan editor of SPACE TIMES,
21 yr old Jurgen Molthol killed in car accident
13th March. Great loss to German fandom ....Brian
Jordan reports formation of a fan group in
Sheffield University - the Sheffield University
Union Science Fiction & Fantasy
Association....Beautiful postcard in from Boyd
Raeburn in Grand Cayman....Ron Bennett was in
London 22nd April to attend Wembley Amateur Cup
Final - with 840 children and 90 other Harrogate
teachers!
THE SKYRACK NEWSLETTER 32a
SPECIAL STOP PRESS SECTION TO SKYRACK 32, 1st
May 1961
TENTH ANNIVERSARY WILLIS FUND. Page four
note of SKYRACK 32 mentioned that more details of
the Fund would be given next issue. However, so
many bits and pieces have cropped up since the
main newsletter stencils were cut that I’m adding
this section and can naturally mention this Fund.
As many fans will know the leading fan of the
time, Walt Willis, was invited to the 1952 ChiCon
and a fund set up to take him to the States. The
Fund was successful and was virtually the
forerunner of TAFF. An Executive Committee has
taken it upon itself to raise enough money to
ensure that not only Walt, but his long suffering
wife, Madeleine., can travel over to the 1962
WorldCon, which certainly looks as though it will
be a tenth anniversary affair in Chicago. In
reminding fandom that they owe the pleasure of
THE ENCHANTED DUPLICATOR, WILLIS DISCOVERS
AMERICA, HYPHEN and the superlative THE HARP
STATESIDE to Walt, Committee Treasurer, Larry
Shaw, 16 Grant Place, Staten Island 6, N.Y., notes
that around $1000 will be needed if the Fund is to
be really successful. Obviously this is the time
for fandom to show its appreciation of Walt, the
man no fandom can be without. British
contributions to the Fund. should be sent to
Arthur Thomson, 17 Brockham House, Brockham Drive,
London S.W.2.
LIVERPOOL MINICON TIKI. Jeff Collins,
sturdy octopus hunting member of the Liverpool
Group, hopes to be sailing the Atlantic next
spring. And I do mean sailing. Jeff has sold his
car, packed up, left his job and has been taken on
as engineer on a three man sailing venture. With
Jeff are two friends, Andrew Herdman and Bill
Nolan. Herdman is owner and captain of the 20-ton
sloop Frolif which is now with the three
adventurers in the Isle of Man at the beginning of
a sea journey which will take them to Ibiza and
Casablanca. After wintering in the Mediterranean,
the three sailors hope to ride the spring Trade
Winds across the Atlantic to the Caribbean. Frolic
has an auxiliary 25h.p. engine in addition to 1200
square foot of canvas and Jeff, who is pictured.
in the 24th April edition of “The Liverpool Echo,”
is quoted as saying, “And now off to have a good
time for as long as possible. It’s the dream of a
lifetime.” I’m sure that all fans will wish Jeff
and his fellow adventurers well.
CACTUS 6 (Sture Sedolin, Valingby 4,
Sweden; 10 for 7/- to Alan Dodd, 77 Stanstead Rd.,
Hoddosdon, Hcrts; 19pp). Cactus is somewhat
overdue because of editor Sture’s service in the
army, but Sture laughs this down by quoting that
the zine is “yearly” and we must laugh with him,
for this is Sweden’s leading contribution to the
zinescene. John Berry writes on two American fans
he has met and shrewdly starts off what promises
to be another good Berry series with a typewriter
portrait of Dick Eney. Rainer Eisfeld writes from
a sercon viewpoint, Ray Nelson contributes
cartoons, Sture overrates SKYRACK and Alan Dodd
continues his “Bennett is a louse” campaign in the
letter column, thus balancing Sture’s review with
a soupcon of good sense.
PARTICIPATE IN HARROGATE. A further step
has been made towards holding the 1962 BSFA
Convention in Harrogate, Garden Spa of Britain’s
leading county. The Hotel St. George has been
booked for the weekend 20th/23rd April - and
that’s Easter 1962. All sorts of details on
bookings and prices still have to be finalised, so
hold off sending cash just yet. Announcements will
be made so often in SKYRACK that you’ll be
heartily sick of the whole idea before we’ve
finished!
SEACON ART SHOW. Bjo Trimble, 2790 W.8th
St, Los Angeles 5, California, USA, is hoping to
put on another convention art show which will beat
even that held at last year’s Pittcon. Bjo and I
see no reason why British artists should not
contribute, so how about it, Eddie, Arthur and
Jim? Bjo will be only too pleased to let you have
details of format etc and to send you the
artshow’s own fanzine, PAS-tell.
GEORGE LOCKE (24 Field Ambulance, BFPO 10),
now in Nairobi, mentions that his copy of COLONIAL
EXCURSION, sent printed rate arrived two days
after posting. Says he is thinking of buying
a 1947 MG sports car, “in excellent running order,
save for wheels, steering and lack of speedometer,
horn, brakes and hood.” Is thinking of putting out
a limited circulation fanzine, “The Prose of
Kilimanjaro” and. mentions the rainy season which
started on March 15th “the high tides of March.”
Just like home from home.
RON ELLIK, who is being supported for TAFF
amongst the elite of fandom, mentions that King
Arthur had a lance called Ron and says that he is
these days publicity director of N3F, his first
job being to sproad word of the Writer’s Contest.
Submissions and requests for information should be
sent to Edward Ludwig, 455 N.Tuxedo Ave,, Stockton
4, Calif. Closing date 30 June 1961. First prizes
of $10 will be awarded to stories in each of 3
categories, sf, fantasy and weird. Other prizes
for runners up. Special prize for stories less
than 1,500 words. Judges will be Marion Bradley,
Clayton Hamlin, Ed Ludwig and Ralph Holland.
MARK JEFFERSON TURNER, 9lbs, born to
Eleanor and Paul Turner who toured British fandom
last year. 11.44pm, Saturday. 1st April. Month
overdue, reports Ron Ellik.
LXIcon photos 8d each sent on approval—rmb. |