LOC for Tightbeam #331

The following is a letter of comment sent to George Phillies, editor of Tightbeam, commenting on #331.

Dear Mr. Phillies:

Jose Sanchez’s cover to Tightbeam #331 (April 2022) is amazing! Between this cover and Alan White’s recent cover for Eldritch Science, we’re really pulling out all the stops in terms of cover art in recent months. The back cover, while an older piece, is also impressive. Wonderful book ending, and what a joy to behold. I look forward to seeing more of Jose’s work.

    I like your use of the phrase “N3F Revival.” We are indeed enjoying fine days in terms of fanzine and apa activity. The migration of some material from Tightbeam to FanActivity Gazette makes total sense thematically, and we now have a proper newszine. I was sorry to hear that Silver Empire shut up shop. Hopefully, if rights to the works they published weren’t already held by the writers, the rights have reverted so we can see other publishers reprint and distribute their former catalog. I wasn’t familiar with them previously, so I don’t even know what I was missing. But “heroic, wondrous adventure fiction” sounds up my alley.

    Graham J. “GrayJay” Darling’s letter of comment on the mistaken origin of the unicorn and its cultural importance goes beyond my brief comments in response to Tightbeam #330, and I resonated with his reference to Physiologus and T.H. White’s consideration of the unicorn as an “ur-wild beast that could only be tamed by a gentle maiden.”

    While I was somewhat familiar with the recent scandal involving comic book and fiction author Warren Ellis, I was unaware he’d penned an anime, FreakAngels, as reviewed by Jessi Silver. Interestingly, it started as a Web comic and was later collected and published by Avatar Press, which has published multiple Ellis comics over the years. I might have to look for the Avatar edition before checking out the animated series.

    Thomas E. Simmons’s comic book reviews are a welcome addition, and we get reviews of three issues of Shogun Warriors! I have the third issue and another in storage and will have to return to the series based on Simmons’s comments. I hope to see more of his writing in the future.

    I appreciated Jon D. Swartz’s bio-bibliography of Frederik Pohl. His origins in the Futurians, fandom, and sf magazines are fascinating, and Mr. Swartz’s profile makes me want to return to his writing. I have a handful of his books cataloged in my personal library, including Alternating Currents, Shadow of Tomorrow, Space Merchants, and the anthology Star Science Fiction Stories No. 3. Which do you recommend I dip into first?

    Will Mayo’s short reviews are always welcome, and we end the issue with your recipe for Greek stew. I’ve yet to make any of the recipes offered in Cedar Sanderson’s column. Have any Neffers made anything in particular that they’d recommend?

    Thanks to all who submitted content to this ish of Tightbeam. It was well worth reading.

LOC for The National Fantasy Fan Vol. 81 #3

The following is a letter of comment sent to George Phillies, editor of The National Fantasy Fan, commenting on Vol. 81 #3.

Dear Mr. Phillies:

I received the March issue of The National Fantasy Fan (Vol. 81 #3) a few weeks ago, but it’s still the most recent ish on hand, so I still have time to comment. Phew! Kudos on undertaking the herculean task that is the Neffy Awards. You should still have my nominations from December; feel free to use as many of them as you see fit for the current categories. I am looking forward to the opportunity to vote on the best of 2021!

    What Facebook groups do you recommend members join? I’ve been enjoying the N3F Facebook and MeWe groups and have recently branched out to checking out a few others. Depending on a Neffers’ involvement and participation in fandom, folks might also appreciate and enjoy the FAAnEds, SF Fandom, Corflu 39, and Science Fiction groups—among others. I’d love to know which groups you recommend.

    Mr. Trainor, I would welcome the opportunity to buy an N3F T-shirt, perhaps screen printed with the illo in the top left corner of thish’s cover. That’s a mighty fine looking logo. Is it the work of Alan White? Even the older logo included on the N3F’s Fancyclopedia 3 Web page would make an excellent T-shirt. I continue to support the idea of an N3F gathering or mini-convention in Nevada next fall. Neffercon! I plan to wear my club T-shirt there.

    Welcome to new members Amy Brodhead, Tiffanie Gray, Lisa Nybaek, Lisbet Rasmussen, Ed Stapleton, Michael Williamson, Clark Wilson, Jami Wilson, Jagi Lamplighter Wright, and John C. Wright. I’m glad you joined.

    For those of you who haven’t worked with the Writer’s Exchange Bureau yet, let me tell you: It’s worth it! Not too long ago, I sent in a short story for comment and feedback. Not one, but two fellow Neffers—Judy Carroll and Denise Fisk—spent time with my story and sent thoughtful, in-depth feedback that will be eminently useful as I revise and continue to work on the story. Thank you very much to those involved in the bureau. Revisiting the piece given your input could even lead to a submission to the annual short story contest! I appreciate your help and support.

    I bet Lloyd Penney’s right. In his letter of comment, he suggests that the old N3F Fische Bureau might have trafficked in microfiche. I know that well into the ’90s, as a university student, researcher, and journalist, I was often called on to use microfiche to access the archives of various newspapers. It would have made sense—and been future-thinking—at the time to reduce fanzines and other fannish materials to such a format. I wonder where all that stuff ended up! Just imagine a stockpile of old fannish microfiche. Shiver!

       Bob Jennings makes an excellent suggestion for next year’s Neffys: Offer separate categories for Best Novel and Best Anthology. That makes total sense to me. Bob, your update on the later Planet Comics reprints and revitalized series (Blackthorn, Pacific) was welcome indeed. And speaking of comic books, John Swartz’s shift from classic franchise characters to sf- and fandom-related comic book titles is a welcome transition. His profile of Mystery in Space inspired me to turn to the portion of my comic book collection that I’ve cataloged to see what I have on hand to read. Alas, I haven’t documented any from that series yet, but I do have two issues of Strange Adventures that I’ve cataloged. I’ll have to revisit them. The Interplanetary Insurance and Space Cabby stories sound interesting, if a little goofy and mundane. And your inclusion of Ron Goulart’s works in the Sources listing was poignant given his death in January (https://tinyurl.com/GoulartObit).

    A solid issue with plenty to explore and learn. Looking forward to the next ish!