8th+grade+-+Golden+Age+of+SF+-+Magazines

The role/importance of sci-fi magazines of the Golden Age of Science Fiction such as Astounding.

Astounding science fiction is a magazine that has been around since the 1930s. The magazine’s original name was //Astounding Stories of Super-Science// published by Clayton Magazines and edited by Hugo Bates. The name was shortened to //Astounding Stories// in 1931. In 1933, Clayton Magazines went out of business and the paper was bought by Street & Smith with F. Orlin Termaine as editor. Termaine was more serious about the newspaper and proved himself as an excellent worker. He also encouraged other readers to come up with their own ideas instead of recycling the old worn out ones. Notable stories in Termaine’s //Astounding// days are “Old Faithful” by Raymond Z. Gallun, “Parasite Planet” and “The Lotus Eaters” by Stanley G Weinbaum, “Sidewise in Time” and “ Proxima Centauri” by Murray Leinnster, and ”Minus Planet” by John D. Clark. Due to its growing popularity, //Astounding// had become one of the leading magazines of its time. In 1937 the role of editor was assumed by John W. Campbell. Campbell is known for giving undiscovered writers their "big break." These writers inclued Isaac Asimov, A E Van Vogt, and Robert A. Heinlein. A fan created his own version of the magazine which was printed by Campbell in //Astounding//. The letter/fake magazine contained very imaginative story titles which would later become big sellers, such as "Gulf" by Robert A.Heinlein. Campbell died suddenly in ' 71, but would leave his mark by changing the name once again to //Analog Science Fact and Fiction// with the letters s t o u n d i n g faded behind Analog. After Campbell's death in 1971, several people would try to fill the shoes of this legendary editor, including Ben Bova and Stanley Schmidt. Bova was editor from ' 71 to ' 78 winning the Hugo Award for best editor for 5 years in a row. His successor ,Schmidt, has been nominated for 26 years in a row, but has yet to win. He still remains the editor, hoping to win the title he so richly deserves. This magazine has helped many writers publish their award winning books and short stories. http://www.andrew-may.com/asf/ http://www.astoundingsf.co.uk/ http://www.space.com/sciencefiction/astounding_2_991124.html