with amazing science fiction and fantasy and science fiction magazines, galaxy magazine was one of America’s most important science fiction digests of the 1950s. Ray Bradbury wrote for this piece – includes an early version of his masterpiece Fahrenheit 451 degrees– So did Robert A. Heinlein, Isaac Asimov, Frederick Pohl, Theodore Sturgeon, Cordwainer Smith, Jack Vance, and many others.
It turned out to be a pretty decent set of questions (total 356). It is completely free to view at archive.org. It’s not finished yet, but it’s getting closer.
when galaxy It arrived in October 1950 and promised a kind of science fiction different from the space operas of previous decades. The Annual Report written by publisher HL Gold declares:
…Other publishers thought the idea of offering mature science fiction in an engaging, adult format was totally interesting. they are knew For sale were a shapely female endomorph with a bronze bra, a beleaguered male mesomorph with muscle, and a terrifying alien monster seeking human souls.
and in between amazing science fiction Focused on technology suited to a fundamentally changed America after World War II – HL Gold’s galaxy Focuses on ideas, humor, satire, psychology, and sociology. It also offered some of the best compensation rates in the industry and exclusive contracts for some of its writers. And although Gold often suggested ideas, the writers responded in kind and followed their own obsessions.
(Ironically, even though Gold was obsessed with stories of inner space and outer space, he was severely agoraphobic and stayed in his apartment, communicating by phone.)
After a shaky start graphically, Gold hired Ed Emshwiller to draw the covers in 1951, but his often humorous style (e.g. This Christmas issue includes:) It was perfect for the humor of this issue.
We are confident in our stable team of writers, galaxy has created a stunning birthday cover featuring caricatures of everyone from Bradbury to Asimov on top. There’s also a guide to see who’s who.
After a car accident in 1961, a series of editors, including Frederick Pohl, took over from Gold, and by 1977, eight years after Paul’s departure, the magazine was in decline. There were many more editions, reprints, anthologies, and online editions. But the important run is here. And that first decade changed American science fiction forever, paving the way for experimental writers like Philip K. Dick and William Gibson.
You could start with Ray Bradbury (“Firefighter”) we spoke, or Robert A. Heinlein’s “doll”
Related content:
Enter the huge archive of great storythe world’s first science fiction magazine, launched in 1926.
Science fiction encyclopedia: 17,500 entries on everything science fiction now free online
Isaac Asimov’s Foundation Trilogy: Listen to the 1973 Radio Drama Adaptation
Science Fiction Radio: Listen to radio dramas of science fiction stories by Ray Bradbury, Philip K. Dick, Ursula K. LeGuin and others (1989)
X Minus One: Hear Classic Science Fiction Radio Stories by Asimov, Heinlein, Bradbury, and Dick
Ted Mills is a freelance arts writer who currently hosts an artist interview-based show. funk zone podcast I’m a producer at KCRW. Curious Coast. You can also follow him on Twitter. @Ted Millsread his other works of art tedmills.com and/or watch his movies here.
