''The Acolyte'' was a

science fiction fanzine A science-fiction fanzine is an amateur or semi-professional magazine published by members of science-fiction fandom, from the 1930s to the present day. They were one of the earliest forms of fanzine, within one of which the term "''fanzine''" wa ...

edited by Francis Towner Laney from 1942-1946 (a total of 14 issues), dedicated to articles about

fantasy Fantasy is a genre of speculative fiction involving magical elements, typically set in a fictional universe and sometimes inspired by mythology and folklore. Its roots are in oral traditions, which then became fantasy literature and d ...

fiction, with particular emphasis on H. P. Lovecraft and his circle. (Laney's essay, "The Cthulhu Mythology: A Glossary", initially published in the Winter 1942 issue, was expanded at the request of

August Derleth August William Derleth (February 24, 1909 – July 4, 1971) was an American writer and anthologist. Though best remembered as the first book publisher of the writings of H. P. Lovecraft, and for his own contributions to the Cthulhu Mythos and th ...

and became part of the 1943

Arkham House Arkham House is an American publishing house specializing in weird fiction. It was founded in Sauk City, Wisconsin, in 1939 by August Derleth and Donald Wandrei to publish hardcover collections of H. P. Lovecraft's best works, which had ...

Lovecraft anthology ''Beyond the Wall of Sleep''.) Later issues were co-edited and published by Samuel D. Russell. Contributors included Clark Ashton Smith and

Donald Wandrei Donald Albert Wandrei (20 April 1908 – 15 October 1987)Minnesota Death Certificates Index
. ...

. The first two issues were hectographed, the remainder were

mimeograph A mimeograph machine (often abbreviated to mimeo, sometimes called a stencil duplicator) is a low-cost duplicating machine that works by forcing ink through a stencil onto paper. The process is called mimeography, and a copy made by the proc ...

ed. Due to its influential role in the field, it is indexed in the ''Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Weird Fiction Magazine Index'' compiled by Stephen T. Miller & William G. Contento., as well as fanzine indexes. It was nominated for the 1946 Retrospective Hugo Award for Best Fanzine, losing to

Forrest J Ackerman Forrest James Ackerman (November 24, 1916 – December 4, 2008) was an American magazine editor; science fiction writer and literary agent; a founder of science fiction fandom; a leading expert on science fiction, horror, and fantasy films; a pr ...

's ''Voice of the Imagi-Nation''.The 1946 Retro Hugo Awards
/ref>

References

External links

''The Acolyte'' at the Internet ArchiveScans of issues 7-14
Cthulhu Mythos Defunct science fiction magazines published in the United States Magazines established in 1942 Magazines disestablished in 1946 Science fiction magazines established in the 1940s Science fiction fanzines H. P. Lovecraft Magazines published in Los Angeles {{US-lit-mag-stub