Status Updates From The Time Machines: The Stor...

Epilogue: Helpful summary of Ashley's thematic phases in which he's viewing the magazines' development.

Appendix 1 - Non-English SF mag: Nice rundown (mostly post-WWII)

Appendix 2 - Summary of SF mags: Tables and tables!

Appendix 3 - Directory of editors & publishers: Useful!

Appendix 4 - Directory of cover artists: Also useful!

Chapter 5 (very long) covers the restrictions during WWII and the post-war boom, with a look with fan/semipro mags and UK/Can/Aus efforts. Lots of very recognizable names for me, but my biggest shock was learning about the Shaver Mystery in Amazing Stories, and I had to laugh that Ashley ended this with Hubbard's crackpottery. I'm regretting not having a highlighter to mark all the stories I want to read.

Chapter 4 covers the extreme proliferation of magazines (22 in 1941!!!) and the entrance of different publishers trying to tap the perceived market as well as new editors showing up (hi Frederik Pohl and Donald A. Wollheim). These magazine names still crack me up, but a lot of them will disappear by the end of the World War II. A lot more recognizable names (though it also helps I've read Pohl's memoir before, too).

Chapter 3 covered Campbell's first year or so at Astounding, but also the editorial changes at the other magazines. We got some interesting description of the various pulp genres at this time, as well as the massive rise of the comics. In general I'm definitely getting bombarded with a lot of names and titles, but still enjoying it. He touched on the UK attempts at SF magazines, too. Next up is THE GOLDEN AGE, haha.

Chapter 2 focuses mostly, but not entirely on Hugo Gernsback's Amazing Stories (the first magazine devoted solely to science fiction). It's a wild ride, though, as he loses it in 1929 due to bankruptcy and starts Wonder Stories. Astounding also joined the fray as a rival mag, and I found the different editors fascinating (also, pay your writers on time!). Gernsback was out of SF entirely after 1936. Campbell's next.

Chapter 1 covers the development of the magazine from the 17th century onwards in France, to Britain and early literary mags with SF to a focus on American pulps and Hugo Gernsback's early career. Ashley is using a stricter definition of "SF magazine" than I think I would use, but it's all setup for next chapter's focus on Amazing Stories.

Volveré a empezar a leerlo más tarde, este y sus tres siguientes volúmenes.