Image Courtesy: Wikipedia
Welcome, friends and readers, to another rousing rendition of Science Fiction History Theatre! This is a special mid-week edition of Science Fiction Sunday, so hold your hats and let’s dive into science fiction’s past once more.
Last time on Science Fiction History Theatre we learned about science fiction’s originators: Mary Shelley and Jules Verne. These two authors laid the foundation for science fiction in the 19th century; but, it wasn’t until the 20th century that science fiction found a market of its own.
Image Courtesy: Wikipedia – Gernsback signed first edition Amazing Stories
In 1926, Hugo Gernsback published the first magazine that was devoted entirely to science fiction: Amazing Stories. Before Amazing Stories, science fiction stories were popular, but published intermittently with other types of fiction. However, when Gernsback founded the magazine in 1926 he gave science fiction a market to grow to its full potential.
While Gernsback was the publisher of Amazing Stories, it was known for publishing stories that were both scientifically plausible and entertaining. Gernsback had the idea that readers should be educated while they were reading science fiction; but it should be enjoyable too. More than cultivating a captivating mix of entertainment and education, however, Gernsback is known for his inclusion of fan columns in Amazing Stories. These columns introduced a new level of collectivity between fans of the genre and led to the formation of science fiction fandom.
Image Courtesy: Wikipedia
Unfortunately, Gernsback was forced out of his role in Amazing Stories and the magazine changed ownership in 1929. Under new direction, the magazine published less scientific fiction and more impossible fiction. Despite new directions, the magazine is known for first publishing some of science fiction’s greatest—including Isaac Asimov, Ursula K. Le Guin, and Roger Zelazny. And, despite a short reign and being ousted, Gernsback’s impact on science fiction as a genre is undeniable. Amazing Stories was published, intermittently, even through the 1990’s—almost 80 years in publication.
That’s all for this edition of Science Fiction History Theatre, friends. I hope you enjoyed reading about science fiction’s pulp era. Tune in to the next edition for a look into the Golden Age of science fiction.
Stay strange,
Dylan
The Blue Room 