Search Results for: Galaxy retro

Galaxy Science Fiction, November 1952: A Retro-Review

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The November 1952 issue of Galaxy Science Fiction features cover art by Jack Coggins of an Earth satellite. This satellite is more like a space station than satellites I typically think of. But considering that the first artificial satellite (Sputnik 1) wasn’t launched until about five years after this issue hit newsstands, everything was still left to the imagination at this point. Before I jump to the fiction, I want to comment on Willy Ley’s “For Your Information.” In part…

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Galaxy Science Fiction, October 1952: A Retro-Review

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Galaxy celebrated its second birthday (and start of its third year) with a cover depicting some of its staff and contributors (illustrated by E. A. Emshwiller). The artwork wrapped around the back (interrupted by the spine) and included a “key” on the inside cover to identify each person, including the robot and alien. Editor H. L. Gold is on the left on the front cover, halfway down the picture, shown in a blue suit and holding a cup. (Click on…

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Galaxy Science Fiction, September 1952: A Retro-Review

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With this issue, Galaxy completed its second year of publication. That’s 24 issues of top-notch science fiction. It’s tough to match that stamina, and I applaud H.L. Gold, his staff, the authors, and the artists for staying the course. “Delay in Transit” by F. L. Wallace — Denton Cassal is a sales engineer, traveling toward the center of the galaxy to solicit a top scientist to work for his company on an instant communication device. His journey takes him through…

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Galaxy, April 1961: A Retro-Review

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Here’s an issue from Galaxy late in H. L. Gold’s editorial tenure, which probably means that Frederik Pohl was doing most of the editorial work. (Pohl officially took over with the December 1961 issue, but I have read that he was editor in all but name from the late ’50s.) It’s got a pretty impressive Table of Contents, though it’s a bit disappointing in that the best known writers (Sturgeon and Leiber) are not at their best, and a couple…

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Retro Review: A Hitchhiker’s Guide to Edmond Hamilton’s Galaxy

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He remembered his father, the Valkar of years ago, teaching him from a great star-chart on the wall of the ruined palace. “The yellow sun that neighbors the triple-star just beyond the last rim of the Darkness only to be approached from zenith or the drift will riddle you –” THE SUN SMASHER: A PULP MAGAZINE SPACE OPERA CLASSIC (sic) Yes, as an escape from the current sadness-of-the-canines, I’ve been reading Edmond Hamilton. Ironic really, since Hamilton’s an author with rockets…

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Galaxy Science Fiction, August 1952: A Retro-Review

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This is an issue I had looked forward to for a long time. One of my first steps toward reading Galaxy was listening to an X-Minus One radio broadcast titled “Surface Tension,” based on the story with the same title by James Blish in Galaxy’s August, 1952 issue. My wife had gotten this one for me early on, but I hadn’t made my way to it until now. “Surface Tension” by James Blish — Humans explore the galaxy, seeding adaptations of themselves…

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Galaxy Science Fiction, July 1952: A Retro-Review

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Sporting a robot miner on the cover (art by Jack Coggins), Galaxy’s July, 1952 issue invites readers inside. And it doesn’t disappoint! “Star, Bright” by Mark Clifton — A single father observes that his four-year-old daughter, Star, has an impressive intelligence level. He doesn’t understand exactly how high it is until she begins to use telepathy. The story has an interesting premise, but I’m not sure I liked where the story went. It seemed a bit too far-fetched at points….

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Galaxy Science Fiction, June 1951: A Retro-Review

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Here’s a review of a magazine issue that Matthew Wuertz has already covered here in his excellent ongoing traversal of Galaxy from its beginning … but I happened to read it and John O’Neill assures me that another (not necessarily dissenting) view is always welcome. This is from the first year of Galaxy‘s existence. To me it reflects an magazine increasingly confident of its place. The cover doesn’t illustrate any story: it’s by Ed Emshwiller, titled “Relics of an Extinct…

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Galaxy Science Fiction, June 1952: A Retro-Review

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The June, 1952 issue of Galaxy is another good one. It included six pieces of fiction and a science article by Willy Ley. “Gravy Planet” (Part 1) by Frederik Pohl and C.M. Kornbluth — Mitch Courtenay works at Fowler Shocken, the top ad agency in the world. And now, the agency has its eyes on the possibility of colonizing Venus with governmental approval to exclusively profit from the venture. Fowler Shocken chooses Mitch as chairman of the Venus Section, leaving…

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Galaxy Science Fiction, April 1952: A Retro-Review

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Ah, Galaxy. My old friend. I wonder if this is how readers felt by the time the April, 1952 issue rolled out. Officially labeled as Volume 4, Number 1, this issue marked the completion of 18 months for the magazine. You can tell a lot about a magazine by that point in time, especially if it’s hitting newsstands every month. And I think readers could tell that this was something amazing. “Accidental Flight” by F. L. Wallace — Medical advancements…

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