Imagination!

Zine
Title:	Imagination!
Publisher:
Editor(s):	Various
Type:
Date(s):	October 1937-1938
Medium:	Print
Size:
Fandom:	Science Fiction
Language:	English
External Links:	Online at FanAc.org
Click here for related articles on Fanlore.

Imagination! was a science fiction zine that ran for 13 issues from 1937-1938. It was the "official organ" of the Los Angeles Science Fiction League, nicknamed Madge by many readers.

After its last issue, its letter column was resurrected as the letterzine Voice of the Imagi-Nation. Voice of the Imagi-Nation was often abbreviated to VOM for Voice of Madge, rather than the less-common VotIN.

According to Bob Tucker, his zines avoided reprinting material from Imagination! because "Madge" required that all reprints be done in the original formatting, including Forrest J Ackerman's "Ackermanese" spelling and "non-stop paragraphing", which Tucker didn't care for.

Madge

"Madge" was personified as a woman, and fans would address her by name in letters to the editor even after the end of Imagination! itself. In Voice of the Imagi-Nation issue 2, Dick Wilson wrote, "The spirit is willing, but the poetics are weak. Nor is truth to be found, there in gobs, since tisn't Madge that's returned, but only the best part of her...how, now, are we going to flippantly allude to The Voice—to call it 'Madge' would indeed be sacrilege. ?." Co-editors Morojo and Forrest J Ackerman answered, "(U woud flippantly allude to the Voice of Her Ladyship?! U forget yourself, sir! Y, Madge is deep purple with the mist of a memory... er, is deep purple from a fall over a sleepy garden wall..er, uh, oh, hell—heaven can wait! Skip it.)"

Commentary

From the first issue of Voice of the Imagi-Nation:

Dear 'Madge':- I received the last issue with mingled feelings. However, I am really sorry that it is impossible to continue, and I agree that it is best to discontinue while at the top of the fan world. Would you please return 'The Battle of Smaltz', a story which I submitted a while ago? Since ’Madge' is out, I know where I can get it published-- and not in Cosmic Tales either.

Louis Kuslan, publisher of Cosmic Tales

Sorry that 'Madge' is no more. In spite of all the nasty, nasty things I've said about her, I loved her just the same.

Wally Marconette of Scienti-Snaps

Dear Madge: The good die young! I am most sincerely sorry to hoar that you must pass from the scene of science-fiction fandom, and can only wish that, now that the CRITIC has also gone its way, California will revive its unique abilities in some other form. ....It seems too bad indeed that MADGE, who really did have a future, should now have no more than a past----even though so thoroughly successful and enjoyable a past.

John W. Campbell, Jr.

The last MADGE received, and thanks for the nice set-up you gave our ad. ~~ ...[If] you ever revive the old girl, you’re sure of at least one subscriber----me. Hodgkin's eulogy was truly heartrending ([Ed.:]Russ did not write it) but after all, it was a much better way to quit than just to let the mag degeneratemonth after month and then just all of a sudden stop.

Harry Warner, Jr., editor of Spaceways

I have suggested that New Fandom try to get your column, Way Out West, which was of especial interest, and try to obtain similar columns from other chapters. In union there is strength. A single large magazine could have better printing facilities, be a much larger magazine, create a greater profit ([Ed.:] what was that last word?), and sustain much more interest for the fans. There'd be plenty of room to print all articles designed or desired. ~~ Anyway, it’s merely a suggestion. ~~ Thanx, Imagination, for many restful moments, tucked away in your erratic lettering. If only you could have been that one all-embracing nation-wide magazine!

J. Harvey Haggard

Another fan expressed extreme (joking) confusion at the Ackermanese used in Imagination!:

Well, I have 'Imagination.' The magazine, I mean. I am completely bewildered. I had intended to investigate several of the magazines listed in the department in Startling Stories, I probably shall yet, but if they are all like 'Imagination,' I wonder if my mentality will stand it. To judge from most of the writings in 'Imagination,' none of the authors' mentalities did. Upon breaking the seals on the magazine, I found it temporarily hidden by the sheet advertising the Robert E. Howard Memorial volume. I only looked it over briefly... but later was to attach great significance to the statement that it is in 'legitimate English.'

But, as I said, I brushed that sheet aside - and looked at the cover. Five minutes later (approximately), I turned the first page, and saw, 'ANNIVERSARYARN.' I couldn't make heads or tails of the word at first, so I read on down. 'Forecastale,' 'so to telescope,' 'Thrill-packt,' 'pgs—' did that means 'pigs'? I finally decided that it couldn't be mere mistyping - that there must be some method behind it all. But I still don't see it....

Eureka! I have just remember where I've seen spelling and so forth such as employed in 'Imagination.' The reports of meetings of the Los Angeles SFL, of course.

John A. Bristol

Reviews

I was quite glad to read that you fellas there in the Golden West hadn't become embittered to such an extent over the spelling controversy - or should I say riot? - that the organ was discontinued. Please don't do that. Despite the fact that I am on the side of those among you who think that less of the extremist spelling would enhance the magazine, I would rather see 'Madge' with it, than not see it without it — or don't I make myself clear?

Jack Chapman Miske: letter printed in Imagination! #7 pg. 18 (Apr 1938)

Enclosed you will find One Dollar to renew my subscription to IMAGINATION?.

The sciencefiction fan who sincerely believes in the world-state aim and in the immediate needs for scientific socialism and other advances, would do far better to confine his writings and actions to the regular English language. Rationalization of spelling is desirable, but NOT NOW.

You ought at least to pretend that the editorial staff has spent a little time on the magazine instead of dashing it out while waiting for a street-car.

Donald A. Wollheim: letter printed in Imagination! #7 pg. 18 (Apr 1938)

Thru sum quir kwirk ths's th 1st time we'v rviewd ths mag. Th covr's quīt atraktiv.....Th contnts is wel varyd wth sum intrestin artikls. DAW carrys the flag fr michelism wth 'n artikl 'n nsr to 2 Yerke. D'rekly oppsit th page 'sa "New Attack on Michelism" by Erick Freyer. A good item 'n th ishu's "Why Stf Editors Go Nuts" by 'Jack Coburn." Othr reglr stuff prsent.

"Fan Mag Review" in Science Fiction Collector #19 pg. 25 (May 1938)

The ornate chirography of the address on April issue of IMAGINATION, duly received by yours truly, leads me to suspect that the hand of Ackerman was somewhere involved in this unexpected byt very welcome gift. While no comments were requested, I think it possible that you might be interested in the reaction of a purely unbiased reader of publication; one who was formerly a sciencefiction reader of the first water.

The jovial spirit manifest in those wretchedly mimeographed pages is a real delight to my old heart. It compensates for the weird paragraph-indentation arrangement. It compensates for the unholy methods of spelling that doubtless have the good brothers Webster thrashing madly about in their respective rough-boxes—having by this time worn through their coffins by maintaining a perpetual rotary motion. The puns are unspeakable; a demon's delight. I couldn't think up worse ones myself. I couldn't think up worse ones myself.

When I consider the countless fan-magazines, societies, leagues, etc. that now flourish, I look back with pardonable pride on the days of the ORIGINAL sciencefiction society—The Boys Scientifiction Club, Forrest J. Ackerman, President. Referring to one of the first letters ever received from Forrest, late in 1930, I note that I was the SIXTH member to join this honorable organization, which was shortly enfolded, through the machinations of one Jim Nicholson, by the Junior Scientific Association. Sic transit gloria mundi.

[signature unclear]: letter printed in Imagination! #8 pp 17-18 (May 1938)

Greatly have I enjoyed the recently received early issues of Madge -- she has matured very rapidly and efficiently. I thot the No. 3 cover was especially good. I hope Mooney gets a full pardon too, blimee. Madge is taking great strides forward in every way (tho not in all directions). Let me congratulate all concerned on the meatiness that it contains. Each issue I find more to put my teeth into.

Nancy Featherstone: Letter printed in Imagination! #11, pg. 15. Aug. 1938.

I like IMAGINATION! so much—I think the magazine has rapidly won to top place in the US fan publications.

Ted Carnell: Letter printed in Imagination! #11, pg. 20. Aug. 1938.

On to IMAGINATION!, one of the top-notch fan magazines. It is edited by an intelligent bunch of fans, and is extremely neat. Articles, stories, interviews, and reviews of plays, radio dramas, and movies are all presented in its pages. The magazine has an appreciative and critical clientele, as evidenced by the lively readers’ columns. A delightful informality and sense of humor is weilded by the publishers. The one item that stands out like a sor thum (as they would say) is its overindulgence in so called Ackermanisms: the use of extremely abbreviated and telescoped English. Ackerman, Morojo, and Pogo seem to be the outstanding exponents of this outlandish outrage, with Hodgkins, Yerke, and Lewis the conscientious objectors. The rest of the staff seems indifferent. The best solution of the problem would appear a vote among the readers to decide the issue. If such a course has occurred to FJA & Co, they more than likely will not make use of it, through fear of overwhelming opposition of public opinion.

Dick Wilson: What I Think of Present Day Fan Mags. Scienti-Snaps Summer '38 pg 17 (quoted in Imagination! #13 pg 7)

Editor, IMAGINATION! Dear Sir: Enclosed you will find ten cents in stamps for which I wish you to send me the latest copy of your excellent fan-magazine, IMAGINATION!

If there is to be a new issue published within a week, could you kindly send me that one? If not, the current issue will do.

I would also like to find out the approximate publishing date of your magazine as I intend to be a fairly regular subscriber from now on.

Isaac Asimov (age 18): Letter printed in Imagination! #13, pg. 13. Oct. 1938.

Notable Articles

• A Reply to "Michelism" by T. Bruce Yerke Issue #7 (1938)
• Formula for Successfool Stf Story by Ray Bradbury Issue #7 (1938)
• In Defense of Michelism by Donald A. Wollheim; New Attack on Michelism by Fred Shroyer (both Issue #8 (1938))
• Disillusion by Sam Moskowitz Issue #10 (1938)
• So You're Going to Publish a Fan Mag! by Charles Hornig Issue #10 (1938)
• If I Had $100,000 by Louis Kuslan Issue #10 (1938)
• Personality Parade by Dale Hart Issue #12 (1938)