Transformations : the story of the science-fiction magazines from 1950 to 1970

Transformations is the second volume in the three-volume History of the Science-Fiction Magazine . This volume covers the period from 1950 to 1970, which was both a turbulent time in magazine history and, at least in part, the true Golden Age of the science-fiction magazine. It was a period of boom and bust: for a moment the science-fiction magazine dominated the bookstalls and then, at the dawn of the Space Age, many foundered never to recover. It was the time when the pulp magazines folded, when the digest magazine appeared and when science fiction tried to reinvent itself not just once but. Read more... Abstract: Presents the history of the science fiction magazines from the earliest days onwards. This title reveals the turbulent period that witnessed the extraordinary rise and fall and rise again of science. It discusses the emergence of magazines such as "Galaxy", "Startling Stories" and "Fantastic". Read more... This Is The Second Of Three Volumes Which Chart The History Of The Science Fiction Magazine From The Earliest Days To The Present. The First Volume Time Machines Traced The Development Of The Sf Magazine From Its Earliest Days And The Creation Of The First Specialist Magazine, Amazing Stories. Transformations Takes Up The Story To Reveal A Turbulent Period That Was To Witness The Extraordinary Rise And Fall And Rise Again Of Science. Britain's Foremost Sf Historian, Mike Ashley Charts The Sf Boom Years In The Wake Of The Nuclear Age That Was To See The 'the Golden Age' Of Science Fiction With The Emergence Of Magazines Such As Galaxy, Startling Stories And Fantastic, As Well As Authors Like Isaac Asimov, Philip K. Dick And Frank Herbert . He Then Goes On To Explore The Bust Years Of 1954-1960 Followed By The Renaissance In The 1960s Led By The New Wave Of British Authors Like Michael Moorcock And J.g. Ballard And The Rise In Interest Of Fantasy Fiction, Encouraged By Lord Of The Rings And The Conan Books Of Robert E. Howard. Transformations Concludes With An Examination Of The New Found Interest In Sf Magazines During The Late 1960s And The Incredibly Influential Roles Star Treck , The Film 2001: A Space Odyssey And, Above All, The First Manned Moon Landing Played In Transforming The Sf Magazine. Title Page 4 Contents 6 Preface 8 Acknowledgements 11 1: A Galaxy of Stars 12 2: Saturation and Suffocation 45 3: The Best of British? 86 4: Creative Chaos 116 5: Transformations 172 6: The Times they are a-Changing 214 7: The New Wave 240 8: Fantasy versus Reality 270 9: Aftermath 310 Appendix 1: Non-English Language Science-Fiction Magazines 313 Appendix 2: Summary of Science-Fiction Magazines 331 Appendix 3: Directory of Magazine Editors and Publishers 361 Appendix 4: Directory of Magazine Cover Artists 376 Select Bibliography 401 Index 405 Content: A galaxy of stars -- Saturation and suffocation -- The best of British? -- Creative chaos -- Transformations -- The times they are a-changing -- The new wave -- Fantasy versus reality -- Aftermath -- Appendices: 1. Non-English language science-fiction magazines -- 2. Summary of science-fiction magazines -- Directory of magazine editors and publishers -- 4. Directory of magazine cover artists. The second volume covering the period 1950 to 1970 which was both a turbulent time in magazine history and, at least in part, the true Golden Age of the science-fiction magazine.