sues, but
the one just at hand contains the best story you have ever
published--"Terrors Unseen," by Harl Vincent. There's an
author for you; but evidently I don't have to tell you so,
as you have given us quite a number of his splendid stories.
"Vagabonds of Space" was a wow. Like some of the others who
have written in, I would like to see a sequel to this. Harl
Vincent is my favorite of all your authors.

A close second is Charles W. Diffin. He is good, too. As
your authors appeal to me, in order, I mean. I would line
them up in this way: Harl Vincent, Charles W. Diffin, R. F.
Starzl, Ray Cummings, Capt. S. P. Meek, Jack Williamson and
Murray Leinster.

I agree with Jim Nicholson of San Francisco that you should
give us some stories by Francis Flagg. Here is an author you
never have published, and, to my way of looking at things,
he has more fresh material than most of the authors put
together. Many of the things that have been copied widely
and used extensively (I don't mean that whole stories have
been stolen, or anything like that) were originated by this
fine writer. By all means get Francis Flagg. [We have just
bought a story--a good one--from him!--Ed]. He would stand
about third in my list if you had used his work before. I
made it up from those whose work has been used.

Two or three things I notice, that I would have you correct.
All your stories seem to be of standardized length, either
around 10,000 words or 25,000 words. Eliminate all
restrictions as to word length but make your writers boil
down their work. Most stories are too long, and could be
told better if cut down quite a bit. The paper and the page
size of the magazine are okay, but why not smooth edges? And
it is hard to keep the covers on. I wouldn't object to more
pages or an extra nickel in price. Or if not that, how about
publishing "our" magazine twice a month?

After fighting a fire, there's nothing like Astounding
Stories with which to "unlax." You're doing a fine job, and
I only make these suggestions because I want a "perfect"
magazine instead of one that bats 97% all the time. Hope
you'll have room for all this. And, oh yes, keep on with
your program of "No reprints." Your new yarns are better
than the old ones. Let's have the new one