THE SLEUTH SPEAKS

The Keeper of the Unknown didn't do a very good job of explaining why Mystery
was brought into being, so permit me to explain.

The Keeper will accept your manuscripts and anything else you care to submit to
him, and he plans a letter column in the next issue if you send in enough
quality letters.  The Sleuth will not accept any manuscripts you send me. 
Unless your story/poem is an outstanding piece of work it shall not even be
considered for Mystery.

I hope to make Mystery one of the best zines in fandom.  Let the Keeper do what
he wishes with the UX?; let NEM, the person, do what he wishes with NEM, the
fanzine.  I plan on letting the Sleuth do what he wishes with Mystery.

Most of the stories you read within the pages of this zine will be solicited
personally by me, but I wish to extend an invitation to Edmond Romann' to feel
free to contribute to Mystery.

Within these pages lurks the secret of the mysterious Mr. Moward, and the
truth, for those of you who will believe it, of Catin.  It was his choice to
reveal the facts now and end all speculation.

This should also answer those who asked why I published the first two Catin
stories, which appeared little better than mediocre.  Once you know the
background to this character, you, too, may realize that there is something
worth investigating about Catin.

Dear old Professor Ichabod Michael Albert Genius may be able to get away from
the duties with the Unknown long enough to do a column or two here in Mystery
for me, if you request it, otherwise I believe that brother Howard and I shall
do whatever space filling may be necessary in these pages.

Occasionally, in the future, there will be special editions of Mystery
available from me for 25 cents per copy.  They will be advertised in the
following issue of Unknown, but if you wish to be sure of getting it as soon as
possible, send for it in advance.

Now, without further ado, I invite you to journey into the pages of fandom's
newest fanzine, where the contents will always be a Mystery.

                                   THE SLEUTH

                                  John Merkel

                                              [pp. 1 - 2, MYSTERY #1, Fall 1965]

Updated May 13, 2001. If you have a comment about these web pages please send a note to the Fanac Webmaster. Thank you.