THE FANTASY COMMENTATOR. (1948-1952).
New York: A. Langley Searles. 1948-1952. Large octavo, 6 issues, mimeographed self wrappers, stapled. A major amateur magazine devoted to the study of fantastic fiction. "...one of the earliest fan-based magazines that could be regarded as an Academic Journal based on its scholarly articles." - SFE online. Contributors included William Evans, David H. Keller, H. C. Koenig, A. Merritt, Sam Moskowitz, Darrell C. Richardson, George Wetzel and many others. Articles and commentary on books, authors, themes, etc. In these pages was the first publication of the first major work on fandom, "The Immortal Storm" by Sam Moskowitz. This volume 3 is the last volume published until revived by Searles in 1978. Though Searles had prepared volume 3, numbers 7 & 8 they were not published until he revived the magazine. Highlights: Issue twenty-one. W. 1948-49. Article on rare amateur magazine Leaves. Article on L. Ron Hubbard. The Immortal Storm part 14. Issue twenty-two. Sp. 1949. The Immortal Storm part 15. Long review of THE SHIP THAT SAILED TO MARS. Issue twenty-three. Su-F 1949. The Immortal Storm part 16. Issue twenty-four. W. 1949-1950. The Immortal Storm part 17. Issue twenty-five. W. 1951-1952. Article on Stanley Weinbaum. Verse by A. Merritt. Issue twenty-six. Sp.-Su. 1952. The Immortal Storm part 18. [Reference: Pavlat and Evans, Fanzine Index (1965), pp. 36-7. Tymn and Ashley (eds), Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Weird Fiction Magazines, p. 822]. Chip from lower corner of last leaf of issue twenty-one, some toning, a bit of staple rust, nearly fine to fine copies. (34603). Item #34603
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