Page:Weird Tales Volume 26 Number 01 (1935-07).djvu/144

The Sealed Casket by Richard F. Searight in the March issue was very interesting; it had the horror of the unknown in it, and after one had finished the tale it left him wondering about it. What could have been in the casket?"

A. B. Gnaedinger, of Brooklyn, writes: "For nearly six years I have ignored your magazine in favor of a type which adheres more closely to the material sciences. However, impelled by some outré influence, I recently purchased a copy of your unique magazine. Suffice it to say that I will get the next issue. The best story in the May issue is the reprint, Arthur Jermyn. Judging by my rather limited experience, Lovecraft is the foremost modern exponent of weird fiction. The Secret in the Tomb and The Bronze Casket take second place; and The Death Cry and Muggridge's Aunt are third. Yellow Doom I did not even try to read. Perhaps I am prejudiced, but this story is all too plainly labeled with the familiar word 'Invaders!' The art work is fine. Keep up the reprints."

John F. Malone, of Jackson, Mississippi, writes: "Wow, what a shock I received when I read, in Robert Bloch's letter to the Eyrie, that he was at the tender age of seventeen. Sweet seventeen! Whew! The Secret in the Tomb is a masterpiece. With this story, Bloch takes his place with Moore, Smith, Lovecraft, and several others, in my estimation. 1935! It's already brought Bloch—who else will it bring? By the way, look at who 1934 brought, John Flanders and Laurence J. Cahill. Only time will tell. It seems to me that Fred Anger is unfair to Bloch. I suppose that if C. L. Moore had criticized Conan before his story, Shambleau, was published, Mr. Anger would have him on the rack by now. But please don't get the idea that I don't like Conan. I do, macro-cosmically! And I also like Bloch. Get Mr. Bloch to give us a twenty-page novelette. . . . Someone made a comment in the Eyrie this month that more authors should use Arabian Nights incidents for their stories. Well, what about The Bronze Casket in this month's WT? If there wasn't a genie released from that box, I'd like to know what it was. Otis Adelbert Kline's story, Lord of the Lamia, is a story worthy of Sax Rohmer. I like Jack Darrow's idea of a cover story contest. It sounds O. K. By the by, I'll bet that Jack could write some pretty good stories himself. Why not, Mr. Darrow?"

R. M. Gray writes to the Eyrie: "One of the most attractive features of your magazine Weird Tales was the colorful and artistic covers. Since you have discontinued them your magazine has lost some of its appeal. The covers now are cheap and uninteresting. They no longer call to the buyer's attention the fact that a new issue of a good magazine has just been published. It now looks like all the rest and unless you are particularly looking for Weird Tales you are apt to miss it. I rarely write and express my opinion on an editor's decision, but I feel impelled to in this instance because I thoroughly enjoy Weird Tales and would hate to see the magazine discontinued through loss of sales."

Jack Darrow, of Chicago, writes: "I congratulate you on obtaining the services of Napoli as one of your regular artists. His drawings have the true weird touch to them. I only hope that he is able to keep it up and not deteriorate. . . . Now for the stories. The Death Cry by Arthur B. Reeve is certainly not weird. Ever since I read it I've wondered how it found its way into the pages of Weird Tales. I've read stories in detective magazines that were weirder. . . . The concluding part of Lord of the Lamia by Otis Adelbert Kline was excellent indeed. You may mark that down as my choice for first place in the May issue. The Bronze Casket by Richard H. Hart was an excellent little tale, well written and interesting to the core. Same goes for Smith's The Flower-Women. Also The Secret in the Tomb by Robert Bloch."

Mrs. J. A. H. writes from Long Beach, California: "Although this is my first letter to you (or to any other magazine for that matter), I have been a regular reader of Weird Tales from the very first and never missed a copy throughout the twelve or thirteen years of its publication. My great regret