FANTASY COMMENTATOR. Vol. I, No. 2. June , 1944.

FANTASY COMMENTATOR was primarily devoted to articles dealing with various aspects of Fantasy and Science Fiction, rather than fans submitting their fictions, or fan squabbles. In this early issue, Sam Moskowitz has not yet begun his serialization of his Fanzine History, THE IMMORTAL STORM, and there is no A. Langly Searles column, FORGOTTEN CREATORS OF GHOSTS. This issue is primarily concerned with book reviews of SF & Fantastic literature, including William Hope Hodgson's, CARNACKI, with a few disparaging comments by HPL , and Carnacki is defended by SearlesHPL"In quality, CARNACKI falls conspicuously below the level of the other books. We here find a more or less conventional stock figure of the infallible detective type. . . moving through scenes and events badly marred by an atmosphere of professional occultism. A few of the episodes, however, are of undeniable power, and afford glimpses of the peculiar genius characteristic of the author" HPL. "With all due consideration of Lovecraft's abilities, it must be said that in this case his judgement is not to be relied upon. It must be remembered that he criticized a work on the basis of its supernatural horror, not its content of horror alone. And thus when the splendid atmosphere of horror that Hodgson builds up may turn out to have a material explanation Lovecraft's tendency is to belittle, SEARLES. Yes, there is more. John Collier is also noted as the young up & coming author. A very good copy.