Henry Louis Hasse (1913-1977) began in Science Fiction fandom, writing letters to his favorite magazines: Wonder Stories, Amazing Stories, Weird Tales and Astounding Stories. His first professional sale was to Hugo Gernsback at Wonder Stories. In 1942 he described himself as being of “the Gernsback school“. Later on Planet Stories became the regular home for his space opera fiction.
His first Mystery story was “They Aren’t Allowed to Win” in Thrilling Detective, June 1941. Three years later he would appear in the more prestigious Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine. His most famous story is “He Who Shrank”, the ultimate tale of minimization. It was only the fourth tale he had written. Isaac Asimov wrote of it fondly in Before the Golden Age (1974):
The beautiful elaborateness of “He Who Shrank” was one of the factors that kept me convinced that science fiction was beyond me, that only demigods could write such material. And, of course, what fascinated me most about “He Who Shrank” was the notion of taking an idea to its ultimate and having it close the circle.
It would be remiss to not mention Hannes Bok’s connection to Henry Hasse. No other artist illustrated Hasse’s work as often as Bok did. Beginning in 1939, Hasse published work in Ray Bradbury’s fanzine Futuria Fantasia. Bok was there too. Like Virgil Finlay did for the Kuttners, Bok became “the Hasse artist”.
The 1930s
1930
Letter to Air Wonder Stories (March 1930) This is Hasse’s first letter and it was written, like many to follow, from Indianapolis. Hasse states that all of Edmond Hamilton’s stories have the same plot but he still likes them. He suggests the editors publish A. Hyatt Verrill or A. Merritt.
1931
Letter to Amazing Stories (May 1931) Hasse does a review of the last issue. He enjoyed “The Purple Plague” by Russell Hays.
Letter to Wonder Stories (December 1931) Henry congratulates the editor on having the best Science Fiction magazine ever. He picks A. Rowley Hilliard as his favorite writer.
1932
Letter to Amazing Stories (August 1932) Hasse agrees with a letter from Forrest J. Ackerman asking that Amazing Stories add reprints and reclaim its position as the best magazine.
1933
Letter to Weird Tales (March 1933) Hasse tells Wright to put the logo “The Unique Magazine” back on the cover.
“Some Interesting Statistics” (Science Fiction Digest, May 1933)
“The End of Tyme” (Wonder Stories, November 1933) with A. Feodor
Letter to Amazing Stories (December 1933) Hasse offers to sell his complete collection of Amazing Stories.
1934
Letter to Wonder Stories (January 1934) Hasse offers his complete set of Wonder Stories for sale.
Letter to Weird Tales (March 1934) Hasse votes for Donald Wandrei’s “In the Triangle” for best story. He asks if Donald is brother to Howard Wandrei, which he was.
Letter to Weird Tales (July 1934) Hasse votes for David H. Keller’s “The Solitary Hunters”, a three part serial. He remarks that fans voted all three sections as their favorite. Some kind of record, eh? Farnsworth Wright agrees.
Letter to Weird Tales (August 1934) Hasse votes for Laurence J. Cahill’s “They Called Him Ghost” with Robert E. Howard second and Julius Long third.
“The Return of Tyme” (Wonder Stories, August 1934) with A. Feodor
Letter to Fantasy Magazine (October-November 1934)
Letter to Astounding Stories (November 1934) Hasse begins by telling the editors to hang on to illustrator, Elliott Dold. He reviews the issue then goes on to say: “I do not claim to be the world’s foremost reader of science and fantasy fiction–for I am not; but I do hereby claim to be the foremost collector of this type of literature, and will defend this honor against all comers.” In true fan tradition, he is bragging about his collection.
1935
Letter to Wonder Stories (February 1935) Hasse offers “Phifty Phavorite Phrases” from the letter column of the magazine. These include chestnuts like: “We don’t want reprints!” and “I dare you publish this letter.”
Letter to Weird Tales (April 1935) Hasse picks his twelve choices for reprints from previous issues before 1928. He includes H. P. Lovecraft, Frank Belknap Long and G. G. Pendarves among the dozen. He also recommends W. C. Morrow and his book, The Ape, the Idiot and Other People.
Letter to Weird Tales (May 1935) Hasse asks that “The Dinner Set” by Fanny Kemble Johnson be reprinted in the future.
Letter to Wonder Stories (May 1935) Hasse comments on an article by Forrest J. Ackerman called “Seeing Your Brain”. He tries the experiment that the editor calls “a good trick”.
“An Index to Tales of Magic and Mystery”, Fantasy Magazine September 1935
1936
“He Who Shrank” (Amazing Stories, August 1936)
1937
“The Guardian of the Book” (Weird Tales, March 1937)
1938
Letter to Weird Tales (January 1938) Hasse points out that the reprints lately have all been from past issues of the magazine. He reminds the editor there are plenty of stories from outside he could select. Hasse, unlike most fans, probably had all the stories from past issues.
1939
“Lost Soul” (poem) (Futuria Fantasia, Fall 1939)
“Pendulum” (with Ray Bradbury) (Futuria Fantasia, Fall 1939) – version 1
Letter to Voice of the Imagi-nation (December 1939) Hasse comments on the first issue, saying he would like less on “Technocracy”, the idea that government should be run by scientists. He also plugs Henry Kuttner.
The 1940s
1940
Letter to Weird Tales (January 1940) Hasse wrote this letter from Seattle. He votes for a shorter story, “Finished Game” by Harry Butman for best story. He gives second to Seabury Quinn, who he likes when he doesn’t write about Jules de Grandin, and third to the Lovecraft/Sterling duet, “In the Walls of Eryx”. He congratulates the editor for using the artwork of Hannes Bok.
“Aw, G’wan!” (Futuria Fantasia, Winter 1940)
Letter to Astonishing Stories (April 1940) Hasse congratulates the editor on the new magazine. He says he buys one weird and one SF magazine a month. Now he will buy three with Astonishing Stories joining the triumvirate.
“A Miracle of Time” (Astonishing Stories, June 1940)
The Man Who (Marvel Stories, November 1940) with A. Feodor
1941
“Mission Unknown” (Super Science Novels Magazine, May 1941)
“They Aren’t Allowed to Win” (Thrilling Detective, June 1941)
“Proktols of Neptune” (Planet Stories, Summer 1941)
“Farewell to Fuzzies” (Astonishing Stories, September 1941)
“The Star of Satan” (Planet Stories, Fall 1941)
“Pendulum” (with Ray Bradbury), (Super Science Stories November 1941) – version 2 revised by Bradbury alone
“Thief of Mars” (Planet Stories Winter 1941/1942)
1942
“The Missing Day” (Super Science Stories, May 1942)
Letter to Planet Stories (Summer 1942) Hasse writes a long one from Hollywood, CA. He gives top spot to Leigh Brackett’s “Child of the Sun” and goes on about Alexander Leydenfrost’s cover and illustration. (I had a similar reaction seventy years later, Leydenfrost is that good.)
“Out of This World” (Planet Stories, Summer 1942)
“Mars Warning” (Super Science Stories, August 1942)
“City of the Living Flame” (Planet Stories, Fall 1942)
1943
“Dead Dog’s Dividend” (Mammoth Detective, January 1943)
“Star of Panadur” (Planet Stories, March 1943) with Albert dePina
“Gabriel’s Horn” (with Ray Bradbury) (Captain Future, Spring 1943)
“Alcatraz of the Starways” (Planet Stories, May 1943) with Albert dePina
“The Angular Stone” (Super Science Stories, May 1943)
“I Came to Kill You” (Mammoth Detective, May 1943)
“Horror at Vecra” (The Acolyte, Fall 1943)
“Revenge of the Vera” (Planet Stories, Fall 1943)
1944
“The Man Who Read Too Many Detective Stories” (Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine #16, May 1944)
1945
“Passage to Planet X” (Planet Stories, Winter 1945)
1946
“Final Victim” (with Ray Bradbury), (Amazing Stories, February 1946)
“Dread-Flame of M’Tonak” (Planet Stories, Fall 1946)
1947
“Walls of Acid” (Fantasy Book #1, 1947)
“Final Glory” (Planet Stories, Spring 1947)
“P.S.’s Feature Flash” (Planet Stories, Spring 1947) Hasse details his journey to become an SF writer, while giving little personal info other than jobs he has had.
“Trail of the Astrogar” (Amazing Stories, October 1947)
1949
“Eternal Zemmd Must Die!” (Planet Stories, Spring 1949)
“Dear Cold Ruth…” (Dime Mystery Magazine, April 1949)
Letter to Planet Stories (Fall 1949) Hasse’s final fan letter from Gastonia, NC. He comments on a letter written by eighteen year-old future SF writer, Ray Nelson. Nelson charges an author lifted the idea from another story. Hasse points out many cases where writers used the same ideas and that there are few original ones out there. He challenges Nelson to come up with a few of his own. Hasse would have to wait until 1963.
“A Guy’s Gotta Live!” (Detective Tales, November 1949)
“Welcome, Killer!” (Detective Tales, December 1949)
Thus ends the first and most productive era of Henry Hasse’s career. Next time Part Two 1950s and Beyond…
