Back to the old grind. Good grief, do you realize we've published 16 issues of this thing!! (counting the copy you're reading.) Frightening thought, wot? And now this, our next-to-the-last issue of 1951. In this issue we wish to wish you a Merry Christmas, as our next issue won't be mailed until after the joyous day. As we see it, both the mag and the post office will be better off if we don't go tossing Quandry into the mails along with all the Christmas Cards and parcels that'll be driving mail men to the madhouse during December. It occurs to us now that this is our last issue of 1951, as it bears the December date and you probably won't receive #17 until January altho we will be making it up in December. Confusing, Huh? Then it will be the first issue of 1952 which will carry our fan-poll. So start thinking now about who was who and what was what in 1951.
In 1952 we would like to keep a check-list of fan-publications (except a a mags). We have at present over 30 mags on our trade list. We would like to trade zines with any and all non-FAPA & non-SAPS zines being published in fandom. Our checklist can't list mags that we don't get. We may publish this checklist in quarterly sections in Quandry. Maybe as one big project at the end of the year. Or maybe as irregular installments in Q. We don't know now. This won't be an index, just a check list. We would appreciate it if you fellow faneds publish the fact that we plan this check-list, along with our address. In the case of one-shot mags and special publications such as the proposed volume of The Immortal Storm, we'll list them if we receive them or if the editor or publisher will let us know about them. A postcard will do. Please keep this in mind.
HEARTS AND FLOWERS DEPT: It was only a small postcard of customary postcard color, but there, lettered on its backside in that now familiar type-face, was the horrible pronouncement: Another Mighty Oak has fallen. Post Office Box 260 no longer ... Aghast we held this card in our trembling fingers and realized that this was one of the last strongholds of the Fandom That Once Was. Slowly but surely every great oak is being felled. Eventually all will be gone and probably a parking lot erected. Soon, perhaps, Harry Warner will break his now-famous record and attend a convention; Forrest Ackerman will sell out his personal collection of stf; Ghughu and (pause for breath) foofoo will be forgotten. The Idols will lie smashed and trampled upon. Fandom will flang shut the portals of the past and stornchel on its merry way, leaving but the dust of once-mighty oaks. Tucker, you have failed us. This decree portends only evil and disaster.
An even greater blow to Southern Fandom, altho damyankees may rejoice, is the news that BT's plans to make his home in Florida, are also as defunct as Box 260. I cry.
But on this grey and forboding horizon, there is a spark of light. Lee Jacobs now finds himself stationed at Camp Gordon, GA. Practically walking distance from Savannah. (Well, around 100 miles by fast mule.) Mr. Jacobs, under the spell of the Hoffmanwirerecorder, has purchased himself one of these fiendish devices and wishes it announced that he would like to wirespond with any and all. Those desiring to join in are asked to send wires to him c/o Quandry. You can send wires to Lee, yed or both if you so wish.
This month a talkative mood so overpage please, eh wot!
Mayhap we should mention that Tuck's new Box No. is 702, but then you probably know already, don't you.
While on the subject of Bloomington's #1 fan some mention should be made of City In The Sea. We got our copy and it is terrific. The book is reviewed further on in this issue but is well worthy of more mention than that alone. It is much more than "just another stfbook" to our way of thinking.
Another black note: no more colored covers on Q for a while. We no longer have the equipment for doing color work. WE hope to replace it soon, but until then, you'll have to manage on black print. Unfortunately we seem unable to get colored paper either.
Due to the chaotic state of affairs at present we aren't going to take any more 1-year subs. We'll take subs at 7 issues for a dollar, and orders for less than 7 issues, but please, none bigger. This may portend the folding of Q. We surely hope not. It is our intent to continue as is thru Q#25. At that time we may change our publishing schedule or whatever, depending upon the state of affairs at that time. Or, if things work out, we may continue as is indefinitely. Fie, we may even go weekly!
The Thing Upstairs has moved downstairs. The mimeo now resides in the same room we do. This room is beginning to get a bit crowded now. But nonetheless it is an ideal room as far as we are concerned. As is we can reach almost everything in it while seated at the typer table. The addition of the mimeo to this conglomerated mess, makes it even more convenient.
We have for sale (or trade for back number fanzines) ASF since Dec '46 except for a couple of recent ones, GALAXY and GALAXY NOVELS and IMAGINATION. Also several recent AMAZING (850 - '51) and OTHER WORLDS. Also some other pulps ... SS, TWS, OOTWA, AFR, etc. Anyone interested? Also pb Ship of Ishtar.
Clyde T. Hanback at 1531 O St NW, Washington 6, D.C. announces his forthcoming newszine, STANEWS, with the first issue to be out around November 24th. He will review fanzines, publish bi-weekly and include stf books & movies in review and a Who's Who in Fandom column. Sounds good.
Contrariwise to previous plans the next issue of Q will be late. Probably won't be along until well into January. In fact it may be so late that it will be dated for two months. This is due to non-fan activities on the part of yed. So don't be concerned when the end of December rolls around and there's no Q in your mailbox. And don't be confused into thinking that you are getting one issue for the price of two. You'll get your full set of 12 per year, if you're a year-subber. It's just that we're going off schedule again. And please remember this. Save yourself the trouble of writing us early next year employing your best profanity (if you cuss like a trooper) to tell us that you haven't received your copy of Q#17 yet. Cause it won't have been out yet. Okay?
Happy birthday Bob & Forry and all other cumpleano-ing around now. And at other times too. Like WAW a month ago and Bob Johnson two months back. Coswal around Halloween and columist Conner a bit before then, Serxner a bit later, Ridley some months hence, Slater a bit after Christmas, Pike a few days ago, and Wendayne a few days before him. And coming soon, Bob Farnham, Pavlat, Warner, and Silverberg. And coming and been, so many many people and so little paper. Well, happy birthdays and joyous Christmas and a long damp New Year to you all. You too, Piper Pan.
Data entry by Judy Bemis
Updated June 17, 2001. If you have a comment about these web pages please send a note to the Fanac Webmaster. Thank you.