The Hollow Hassle was a newsletter devoted to the idea that the earth is hollow, published by Mary J. Martin in the 1970s and ’80s. I don’t know how long it lasted, but I note that a collection has been published. There weren’t many hollow earth newsletters; it’s a fascinating glimpse of a curious subculture.

This third issue (September 1972) is four pages; it contains names and addresses of readers, thoughts on subterranean UFOs from Commander J. Strauss of the Brazilian Navy, a description of Jules Verne’s tomb, information on other newsletters (Polewatchers and Meeting Place), discussions of news stories, and reproductions of “sky gods” from a Mayan manuscript. The first page mentions that that there have been “unfavorable reports” about Ray Palmer, editor of many magazines (Fate, Mystic, Search, Other Worlds, Flying Saucers), and Richard Shaver’s collaborator on the “Shaver Mystery” in Amazing Stories. It’s not clear if Palmer was ill, or had simply been unfavorable to The Hollow Hassle. Click to read the first page.

(Posted by Doug Skinner)