My favorite writers are R. F. Starzl (that "Planet of Dread" was a peach). Chas. W. Diffin, A. Merritt, Ralph Milne Farley, Murray Leinster and Ray Cummings. Now as to the August issue, here is how I rate them: "Planet of Dread"--more than 20c. worth at the first crack. A real story. "Lord of Space"--excellent. I meant to include Victor Rousseau in my list of favorites above. "The Second Satellite"--so-so. "Silver Dome"--so. "Earth the Marauder"--too deep for me. And that Beryl stuff is sheer bunk. "Murder Madness"--a real story. Get more like this. "The Flying City"--too much explanation and description and not enough action. Perhaps it looks like I'm sort of critical after all, but I didn't mean it just that way. What I'm driving at is that Astounding Stories is by far superior to its competitors, and I'm telling you so because it might make you feel better to know it. If you want to print this testimonial, go to it. To tell the truth, I'll be looking for it.--Leslie P. Mann, 1227 Ogden Ave., Chicago, Illinois. "Too Many Serials" Dear Editor: I have just finished the August issue, and I would like to tell you my opinion of it and the magazine as a whole. The stories in order of merit were: 1--"The Second Satellite"; 2--"The Flying City"; 3--"Silver Dome"; 4--"The Lord of Space"; 5--"The Planet of Dread." I won't pass judgment upon the serials, as I have not read all the parts. In "The Flying City" there are a number of points I am hazy about. How could Cor speak English? However, this could be cleared up by saying that Cor sent out men to get the language, etc. As a whole, Astounding Stories is a good magazine. There are too many serials, however, but since other readers like them I won't complain. You have a fine array of Science Fiction authors. With such writers as Vincent, Meek, Hamilton, Starzl and Ernst, your magazine can't be anything but a success. The September layouts look good to me. I hope it is.--E. Anderson, 1765 Southern Blvd., New York, N.Y. Thanks, Mr. Glasser Dear Editor: Somewhat belatedly I am writing to commend you most heartily on the August issue of Astounding Stories, which I consider by far the finest number since the inception of the magazine last January. The authors whose work appeared in this issue are among the greatest modern writers of fantasy and scientific fiction. Leinster, Burks, Hamilton, Rousseau--what a brilliant galaxy! And Starzl, Vincent, Rich; all writers of note. If ever a magazine merited the designation "all-star number," your August issue filled the bill. However, I am confident that even this superb achievement will be surpassed by some future edition of Astounding Stories, for each succeeding number to date has improved on the one before. And with a new Cummings novel in the offing, it seems the August issue, despite its excellence, will speedily be eclipsed.--Allen Glasser, 1510 University Ave., New York, N.Y. Are Our Covers Too "Gaudy"? Dear Editor: