If you missed the last one…
Plenty of series continued into 1940. William Gray Beyer had two more installments in the Minion series, Eric North was back with another novel reprint, and Arthur Leo Zagat’s Tomorrow tales of Dikar and the Bunch rolled on. We got plenty of short fiction from Robert Arthur, Paul Ernst and E. Hoffman Price, who also did the lost world/Western, Yaqui’s Gold. No Tarzan or clones either. There were historical pieces that appeal to fantasy fans though, Philip Ketchum returned to the world of Bretwalda with the “Odin’s Cup” series and John Myers Myers gave us The Harp and the Blade, a tale of Celtic warriors that I remember well when it was reprinted in the 1980s. It is our last solid year, so enjoy!
Minions of Mars by William Gray Beyer (January 13-February 10, 1940), in five parts takes Mark to the Red Planet.
“Footsteps Invisible” by Robert Arthur (January 20, 1940) is one of many tales Arthur wrote in the early part of his career. Today is remembered as the editor of many of the best Alfred Hitchcock paperbacks collections and as the man who penned the Three Investigators series for children. Reprinted in A. Merrit’s Fantasy Magazine, December 1949
“Message for McTavish” by E. Hoffmann Price (February 3, 1940) is the first for this friend of H. P. Lovecraft and Robert E. Howard. (Price was the only one to meet both of them.) Price wrote for all kinds of Pulps but his best work is in the historical adventures.
“The Devil’s Well” by Kenneth MacNichol (February 10, 1940)
“The Jest of Hamarath” by Garnett Radcliffe (February 17, 1940) is a short piece from the British author.
The Green Flame by Eric North (February 24-March 16, 1940), in four parts was reprinted from the hard cover novel, Toad (1929). Reprinted in A. Merrit’s Fantasy Magazine, July 1950.
“Mortal Formula” by Robert W. Cochran (March 2, 1940)
“The Last Illusion” by John Ames York (March 2, 1940)
“Till Doomsday” by Richard Sale (March 9, 1940) is set at sea and that will surprise no one. Sale became the most famous sea story writer in the Pulps. Reprinted in Fantasy Fiction, May 1950.
“Thunder Tomorrow” by Arthur Leo Zagat (March 16, 1940) returns to the struggle between the Asian invaders and the brave Americans.
“The World That Drowned” by Frederick C. Painton (May 4, 1940) is the first of three in the Time Detective series. Painton is a surprise to see here writing Science Fiction. He wrote Northerns for Adventure.
“The Playful Powerhouse” by William P. Templeton (May 11, 1940)
“If You But Wish” by Robert Arthur (May 11, 1940)
“The Flying Eye” by Robert Arthur (May 18, 1940) Reprinted in Fantasy Fiction, May 1950
“Apart from Himself” by William P. Templeton (June 1, 1940)
“Sunrise Tomorrow” by Arthur Leo Zagat (June 8-15, 1940), in two parts.
“Postmarked for Paradise” (aka “Postpaid to Paradise”) by Robert Arthur, is the first of the Murchison Morks stories. Reprinted in Fantasy and Science Fiction, Winter-Spring 1950.
The Harp and the Blade by John Myers Myers (June 22-August 3, 1940), in seven parts is told in the first person. Finnian aids another man, one named Conan (not that one) and his adventures in Medieval France are off. Myers most famous book is the enigmatic Silverlock.
“Miracle on Main Street” (aka “the Wonderful Day”) by Robert Arthur (July 6, 1940) Reprinted in Fantasy and Science Fiction, August 1960.
“Wolf of the North” by Philip Ketchum (July 20, 1940), a Bretwalda tale in the Odin’s Cup series.
“The Pearls of Madame Podaire” by Robert Arthur (July 20, 1940) Reprinted in Fantasy Stories, November 1950
“Yaqui Gold” by E. Hoffmann Price (July 27-August 24, 1940), in five parts is a lost world tale set in America. You could call it a Western but there are some fantastical elements.
“Traitor’s Arrow” by Philip Ketchum (August 10, 1940) is the second Odin’s cup story.
Minions of Mercury by William Gray Beyer (August 31-September 28, 1940), in five parts has Mark’s adventure on Mercury.
“Napoleon of Nothingness” by Robert Arthur (September 14, 1940)
“Emerald of Isis” by H. Bedford-Jones (September 21, 1940), is the first of three Shipman and Crews stories. This time Bedford-Jones is using jewels as the vehicle for his various stories.
“Another Road to Destiny” by E. Hoffmann Price (September 28, 1940)
“The Golden Empress” by Frederick C. Painton (October 5, 1940) is the second Time Detectives story.
“Racketeers in the Sky” by Jack Williamson (October 12, 1940) Reprinted in A. Merritt’s Fantasy Magazine, October 1950
Satans on Saturn by Otis Adelbert Kline and E. Hoffmann Price (November 2-30, 1940), in five parts. This was Otis Adelbert Kline final Argosy novel.
“Ruby of France by H. Bedford-Jones (November 9, 1940), is the second Shipman and Crews tale.
“Gallows Clan” by Philip Ketchum (November 23 1940) is the final Odin’s Cup story.
“The Angry Amethyst” by H. Bedford-Jones (November 30, 1940) is the last Shipman and Crews tale.
“He Didn’t Want Soup” by Paul Ernst (December 14, 1940) Reprinted in Famous Fantastic Mysteries, December 1951
“The Little Doll Died” by Theodore Roscoe (December 14-21, 1940), in two parts.
Conclusion
The Fantastic in the Argosy: 1940 was the final year that offered plenty of fantastic material. 1941 would see a big drop with the years after that producing two or three pieces a year. The August 3rd issue signaled this change at Argosy. The covers were now a generic table of contents rather than a scene from a story. It was the clarion call: the beginning of the end.
