on the air and was supported in place
by it, would be untenable. As I said in my previous letter,
I don't believe such a layer exists. If it does, I hope that
no one proves it before I get some characters off on a space
flyer for an interplanetary adventure or two.--S. P. Meek,
Capt., Ord. Dept., U. S. A.

_Right from the Shoulder_

Dear Editor:

I know for a fact that Astounding Stories is the best
Science Fiction magazine on the stands. I have read it every
issue except the first three, and have not yet found a bad
story. The characters in other Science Fiction magazines
seem like machines, but Astounding Stories' characters seem
like intimate friends. Why do ---- [censored] like some
write in and start bellyaching about the cover, pages, the
size, the edges and many other things that no one but ----
[censored] would notice? If they know so much why don't they
start a magazine and put all other publications out of
business? If they liked the stories they would not care if
the color of the cover was black or red, white and blue. I
get so interested in the stories that the edges of the paper
do not amount to anything; and people that bellyache about
such minor things prove that they do not care for the
stories, and furthermore they prove that they are ----
[censored] and ---- [censored] ready for the booby hatch.

There is only one thing wrong with the perfect magazine: it
does not come out twice a month. I have never known a bunch
of Editors that have the intelligence of the Staff of
Astounding Stories [uncensored--Ed.]. They have never
published a single story that any intelligent Reader could
kick about.

About reprints: whether the Editors think that they should
publish some or not, it is all the same to me, as they know
what they are doing. I should like very much to see some
stories by Burroughs, though.

If I were to name your best authors, I would have to name
every one that ever wrote a story for your wonderful
magazine.--H. N. Sager, R. F. D. 6, Box 419, Bessemer, Ala.

_Disposing of Old Stories_

Dear Editor:

I have observed that numerous readers request reprints. I
have a collection that goes back to 1900! Since I have no
more use for them, I have decided to dispense with them.
Here is a