The Cosmic Circle

So you’ve tried to forget the Breenigan? And you’ve been making efforts to think as charitably as possible about Steve Pickering? Besides, you’ve been in fandom too short a time to remember when the mad dogs were on the point of kneeing Harlan Ellison in the groin? Then you’ve heard about only the minor ripples that have recently swept across the calm waters of fandom. For listen:

“And so, tho the black clouds have been gathering as Fandom knows — for a long time — yet I feel a singularly deep sadness inside me tonight as I finish this, my closing Oration or Address to the LASFS on the eve when perhaps all fandom will be plunaged into a ‘war’ that will parallel the war in the outside world!!

“I hope it is not too late that this may be averted! Certainly if a vote is taken here tonight it would be a black dishonour against all democratic ideals in Fandom to be a signer, and I would hate to have my name connected with a similar proceedure in any way. In the outside world we are fighting a war for freedom and democracy — in fandom the P.F.F. has always stood for Democracy and the rights of newer and younger fans, as well as the old timers. I can only say that if this monsterous farce takes place here tonight, it will be a victory for the forces of totalitarianism and reaction all over fandom –- this concerns every reader of stf and fantasy fiction on this planet!

“What about the scores of other fans who may want to join this, or any other club, in the future? It is the Futurian-New Fandom fight and Nycon exclusion act all over again! I hear the horrible laughter of Czechoslovakia, Poland, France and all the others that fall before the dictators!! I see the shades of Wolheim, Lowndes, Michel, Pohl, Kornbluth, Gillespie!

“Will fandom be free? Will fandom continue to grow and prosper in peace, or have only bitter war and feuding for ages to come!!??”

I’ve taken the liberty to do something analogous to the way Lovecraft used to spare his readers the more awful details, by disguising them under such adjectives as “certain” or “curious”. Several words in almost every line of the original were either capitalised or underlined. I didn’t designate those emphases, for fear of scaring you as much as Claude Degler shook up fandom when he wrote that speech late in 1943. It was published in the second issue of Futurian Daily Planet, a single-sheerer. It’s a good thing that this Cosmic Circle publication exists, because the speech would otherwise be lost to the world. Degler, then referred to most of the time as Don Rogers, had just been kicked out of the LASFS, prepared a farewell address, but never delivered it “due to circumstances arising near the last minute.”

Laney once defined Cosmic Circle publications as bowel movements postmarked Newcastle. For a year or a little longer, they florished incredibly. Most of them were slim, rarely running to as many as a dozen pages. They bore a staggering profusion of titles. Almost invariably they were stenciled on the same elite typewriter, usually mimeographed on a darkish hue of paper, and squeezed an improbable number of words onto each page by dispensing with artwork and offering only the most grudging of margins.

Perhaps the most famous of the titles Degler published was Cosmic Circle Commentator. Its first issue, dated September 1943, contained in its four legal length pages a summary of the Cosmic Circle as Degler then imagined it to be. It listed ten local CC organizations, 22 state CC organizations, 15 sectional CC federations, and an ll point programme for fandom. Excerpts from this programme include:

“To work toward the attainment of such an increase in membership publicity, prestige, influence, and public recognition, so that Cosmic Fandom will actually be some sort of power or influence in the post-war world of the near future.

“Cosmic Camp...a tract of land in northwestern Arkansas, owned by Cosmic Circle. This tract in the mountains of Van Buren County, near fishing, hunting, and other recreational facilities may be used free by vacationing members of Cosmic Circle...Club room-laboratory-library for members’ use. An apartment in Indianapolis where an “open house” is always maintained for visiting fans. Food and lodging and true slan hospitality for all hitch hiking, vacationing, or visiting fans and members. Free storage space for books, fanzines, records of members going in service or moving away to new jobs... The owner of a large ranch in Arizona has granted us permission to conduct rocketry experiments there after the war!

“Immediately after the war, the purchase of a tract of land (or even an entire city block) and construction of futuristic (taking advantage of the latest developments in building and prefabrication technique) homes for fans, with gorgeous landscaping, provision for playground and recreational centers, set in the midst of an incredibly beautiful park, making use of hydroponics and the latest agricultural discoveries.”

But that was just the start. Later in this issue Degler-Rogers explained:

“We have created a fannationalism, a United World Fandom. Someday soon we will have our own apartment building, then our own land, our own city of Cosmen, schools, teachers, radio programme — later; our own laws, country perhaps! Our children shall inherit not only this earth — but this universe! Today we carry 22 states, tomorrow, nine planets! We can and will help to make a better world of the future — have influence and be an active force in the furtherance of scientific democracy in the post-war world! — attempt to conquer space travel and see another world — in our own lifetimes — while we of the council are alive! Our children will carry on this organization after we are gone — The Cosmic Circle now exists for all eternity.”

The second issue of Cosmic Circle Commentator looked back at more immediate matters, like one of Degler’s famous good-will tours of fandom. These were hitch-hiking expeditions during which the CC gospel was spread in every fannish home where Degler wasn’t denied admittance. Let’s look at some of the laconic descriptions of one of these trips:

“Thence to the remote mountains of New Hampshire, there after some of the most toilsome searching and walking 31 miles found an old time fan in a remote hamlet who promised to organize a group in the White Mountain State... A hectic trip across fantastic and isolated wildernesses, up through Maine and Quebec North Woods to the city of old Quebec. Here Rogers visited friends in the Mountain Police and a French doctor at CHRC. He also rescued Jodine Fear, a girl from Frankfort, Indiana, who was in some minor trouble with the Canadian authorities...Following the unsuccessful attempt in Virginia, Rogers met up with a guy heading West and helped him drive to Oklahoma. Some rather weird, fantastic and almost unbelievable occurrences preceding a noteworth visit with Red Gale and the subsequent forming of an Oklahoma and North Central organization. Don thereon proceeded to get stuck out on the Gila desert, near Yuma where the thermometer stood at 120 degrees in the shade, (no shade)...finally the weary pilgrim arrived at his Mecca...the crowning achievement...the high spot of the whole trip... Rogers was in Shangri-La after 5200 miles of crossing deserts, mountains, and seas. The Quebec-Los Angeles Goodwill Tour of Fandom was finally completed.”

As you may remember or guess, Degler was a fan whose enthusiasm exceeded his judgement, who took literally the high-sounding nonsense that is published in fanzine editorials and spoken in worldcon speeches. When a fan or a pro speculated that fans were different because of their interest in the future, Claude assumed he could count on them to rule the future: when he read about a feud between two fans and then got angry at someone, he threatened a feud far beyond the poor capacity of the Hatfields and the McCoys. His Cosmic Circle caused at least one heart attack, engulfed prozine editors and the most obscure fans, caused chaos in staid groups such as the LASFS and FAPA, and was accompanied by an impressive assortment of subsidiary and auxiliary groups. (The P.F.F. mentioned above was the Planet Fantasy Federation.) Nobody knows for sure if Degler wrote all the material in CC publications not obviously the work of established fans. He listed associates and friends who with one exception remained completely unknown to general fandom. The exception was Helen Bradleigh, a name under which a young girl was introduced to several fans; but internal evidence indicates that the Helen Bradleigh who bobs up throughout CC publications cannot have been bound by normal limitations of space and time. The first extended manifestation turns up in what is not exactly a CC publication: the second issue of Infinite, dated November, 1941, which was co-edited by Degler and Leonard Marlow. It alleges to tell about an early adventure of Degler’s, his “actual — believe it or not — attempt to reach Hell!”

“Just why we decided to dig the hole was not precisely clear at first. There were three main reasons. Degler had a radio tube device with which he had detected a metallic object of some sort below the ground. We wanted sand to make some concrete. We also thought we might hit water at that spot. I am greatly afraid that we had read overly much of fantastic literature concerning the probable nature of the earth, underground cities, etc. We had no intention of having anything but a little exercise and fun at first. Then as progress was made we became more enthusiastic. We were young and foolish then.”

Helen describes their digging a hole four by seven feet at the top, “heading for the nether regions at incredible speed.” She says that Claude and his brother, Robert, wired the hole for electricity, created a bucket brigade to get rid of the excavated material, and used a phonograph to speed work. “More and more distant people whom we had never known came over to see who was digging a hole to Hell. They got in the way and hindered the work horribly. So many people came to see the Hell Hole, as it came to be called, that it finally caused us to erect a sign at the top saying ‘Hell 12ft’ and an arrow pointing down. When people were standing around watching, we would heave buckets of dirt out and work ferociously, while yelling things like ‘On to Pellucidar, on to Hell!’ The main shaft finally went down to 23 feet or a little more. Of course when we were in our tunnel the people standing around the shaft could not see us at all. We built large fires, many times for fun, in the bottom of the shaft while we were back in the tunnel, and let the smoke and flames roll out the top.” The narrative halted there with a promise that a second installment would make fans “understand why Degler’s back yard was given as wide a berth as possible, and why no longer would anyone use the alley in back of the house after dark if this could possibly be avoided.” But the third Infinite never appeared, and the remainder of the manuscript very well could be lost to posterity.

Things around Degler’s home had changed considerably a few years later. The 12th issue of Cosmic Circle Commentator, dated December 4th, 1943, published a dispatch from Oakgrove, Ind., which I believe it would be wise if I copied in an unexpergated form:

“Special meeting of the New Oakgrove Fantasy Society called! (This has only recently been taken over by Frank Stein and has no connection with the old O.F.S.) A banquet was staged for the surprised, half-starved Rogers, who had went over 22 hours with nothing to eat (only a few hours ago). Rogers was surprised no end — not yet having learned that ghu-ghuists (and Martha’s Cathaginian Government in Exile) had shortly before superceeded Taliafero’s Home-inspired, pro-Ashley, pro-Axis regime in the Oakgrove Fantasy Society. Notable innovations were: that the 16 x 22 picture of Sykora had been removed from above the speaker’s platform and had been replaced instead by a smaller photograph of Wolheim! Kinney came dressed as Bruce Yerke, complete with horns and tail. The little plaques on the walls with slogans on them: such as “Blessed are the Damned, for they shall inherit fandom,” — Stein. Frank trying to improvise something known as the Slan Shack Stomp (a definite takeoff on the Michifans who invariably hate anything but classical music!) but failing because he hadn’t had time to work on it.

“Newcastle, Ind. Nov. 2 — Rogers developing cold from exposure, general debility and lowered resistance due to the Ashley Atrocity — and was feeling quite sick today. Nov. 4th -Rogers is suffering from what was described as a ‘bad chest cold with complications developing’. Has been confined to bed for last three days. Bradleigh, Mathews, Raymond Kinney, Rosy Jinkins and others carry on the CC publishing projects and try to catch up on the mounting correspondence and clerical work of the Planet Bureau. Nov. 5 — Rogers condition is critical. This was the only information given out today at HDQ.”

Claude, you see, had not entered the Al Ashley home, at Ashley’s insistence, and blamed this event for his declining health.

The second issue of Fantasy Forum, dated February 27, 1944, really shook up fandom which might have expected anything from Dealer except the headline in this single-sheeter:

“NEW C.C. POLICY — NO MORE FEUDS!”

The explanation:

“Larry Shaw has written a card, intimating that he ‘might join again’ ‘if we could have him — now’. Certainly, he may if he wishes. And you are already paid up, too, Larry. It is we who are louses — we hadn’t even refunded your money! And Degler has said that he wants to apologise to Larry and to Suddsy, for some of the things he said about them!! Larry was right about the feuding. Bob Tucker has written us a very long and well-thought out letter; it also mentions that persons have been ‘villified’ in certain sheets. Not Rob, of course, who is as nice a fan as one could care to know. His letter of constructive criticism to Raym and Don, will help the organization and quality of the pubs a lot. Bob said he hoped that Raym might be able to accomplish this result. We wish to thank Bob Tucker for his letter, even though not complimentary.... We hope it is clear to all that the Cosmic Circle (Planet Fantasy Federation) considers it beneath their dignity to regard any other organization as a ‘rival club’ and wage competitive feuds accordingly (or to carry on feuds with any fan or fans)!”

Raym was Raymond Washington, Jr., a youthful fan in Live Oak, Florida, who inherited the Cosmic Circle when Degler finally decided that he was offending the more sensitive members of fandom and tried briefly to salvage something from the organization’s putrefying cadaver. One envelope filled with CC publications bears Raym’s name as return address, is postmarked Live Oak, but contains publications that are unmistakably from the hands of Degler. These were inspired at least in part by the investigation Jack Speer had made in Newcastle, Ind. (Officially, it’s New Castle, but Degler and most of the rest of fandom always wrote it as one word.) Degler promptly announced the forthcoming publication of “Investigating and Investigation” and “Conversations at an Asylum” by Don Rogers “a true account of the Speer affair in Newcastle”. (Spear had discovered that Degler’s background was what we might describe today as troubled.) The World Science-Fantasy Association, yet another Degler organization, “wishes to announce its complete independence of the promags, of the rest of fandom, and of any other group, as of July 4, 1944. We support the pro mags, we buy ‘em, but we are completely independent. We would keep right on existing whether there were any pro stf mags or not.” Palmer had said some nasty things about the CC. This batch also reprinted a letter from Dr. C. L. Barrett, who confessed inability to understand the fan situation in Oakgrove. Helen explained:

“There were two Oakgrove factions that fought bitterly; it was worse than the Outsiders vs. the LASFS. But it’s over since last Sept., October. Frank Stein who fought for democracy and the right to even hold any fan meetings at all in Oakgrove finally won, though some of his overenthusiastic Ghu-Guerillas were jailed for fighting, when carrying the flag of General Draja Mihailovitch (and his Chetniks), they stormed the old Oakgrove Fantasy Society, armed with slings and brickbats!”

There’s just one other thing you should know about the Cosmic Circle, over and above the detailed narration which you may soon be reading in the first volume of my history of fandom. When in the mood, Degler could write as calmly and as well as the average good fan. Rarely but often enough to show that it was no accident, the hysteria, obvious hyperbole, and near illiterare syntax disappeared from a Degler publication. It happened once in a set of mailing comments he wrote for FAPA, and again in reply to the Speer investigation and his claims that most events and people in and around Newcastle were Degler’s imagination. Degler pounced on weak points in the Speer report: an undocumented statement by Speer that he was speaking for hundreds of fans, for instance; and Degler unerringly and accurately countered Speer’s complaints about sloppy reproduction of CC fanzines by recalling some Speer publications in early FAPA mailings.

So where’s the real truth? Was Degler a fan with a sort of manic-depressive fanac, who ran the Cosmic Circle during an unusually long dominance of the hectic phase? Was he a different kind of Steve Pickering...rarely allowing his real personality to appear in his fanac because he discovered that he could gain notoriety by this method of making himself conspicuous? Did he take his own claims about fandom and the CC at face value? Or at some point in his fannish career, did he realize that fandom was taking something seriously he was doing for a lark, and then proceeded to pull fandom’s leg out of sadistic delight in seeing fans hop around and howl in anguish? I wish I could promise the answer in my fan history, but I can’t.