Astounding Science-Fiction, July 1939

Astounding/Analog

by John W. Campbell Jr. (Editor), Stanley Schmidt (Foreword)

Vol 23, No 5.

Astounding Science Fiction as edited by Campbell was the pre­mier magazine of the golden age of American science fiction. This special reprint edition ably demonstrates why the science fiction magazines of that era were so important to the develop­ment of modern science fiction into the popular and important literary form it is today.

Unquestionably a classic issue, it begins with the cover story, “Black Destroyer,” the first published work of A. E. van Vogt and also features “Trends” by Isaac Asimov, his first sale to Astounding. Significant as these debuts are, it is the overall strength of the issue that finally impresses. These are stories by some of the best-known writers in the field: Nat Schachner, “City of the Cosmic Rays”; Nelson S. Bond, “Lightship Ho!”; Ross Rocklynne, “The Moth”; C. L. Moore (one of the first women to achieve prominence in writing science fiction), “Greater than Gods”; as well as thought-provoking articles on nuclear energy, computers, and hemispheric migration.

But this new edition is far more than just a fine reprint of an important issue. There is a commentary on Astounding by Stanley Schmidt (the current editor of Analog Science Fiction / Science Fact, the successor to Astounding) and memoirs of the stories and the magazine by Isaac Asimov, A. E. van Vogt, and Ross Rocklynne.

First edition here.

【 PREVIOUS ISSUE ← July 1939 → NEXT ISSUE 】

Genres: Science Fiction

192 pages, Hardcover

First published July 1, 1939

About the author

John Wood Campbell, Jr. was an influential figure in American science fiction. As editor of Astounding Science Fiction (later called Analog Science Fiction and Fact), from late 1937 until his death, he is generally credited with shaping the so-called Golden Age of Science Fiction.

Isaac Asimov called Campbell "the most powerful force in science fiction ever, and for the first ten years of his editorship he dominated the field completely."

As a writer, Campbell published super-science space opera under his own name and moody, less pulpish stories as Don A. Stuart. He stopped writing fiction after he became editor of Astounding.

Known Pseudonyms/Alternate Names:

Don A. Stuart
Karl van Campen
John Campbell
J. W. C., Jr.
John W. Campbell
John Wood Campbell

Reviews

[Williwaw]

The July, 1939 issue of Astounding Science Fiction is widely considered to be the lush overture to the "Golden Age" of American science fiction. Unfortunately, it's very expensive to obtain a decent copy of the original pulp magazine. Imagine my delight, then, when I discovered that the Southern Illinois University Press had, in 1981, printed a facsimile reproduction of the whole magazine in a hardcover edition! Further, imagine my excitement upon finding a very inexpensive copy on ABEBooks.

I just got it in the mail a few days ago (we're talking January, 2012), and I'm looking forward to reading it. Will I actually read it, or will it end up in a pile of unread materials? It's a big question for me, these days. (It only takes a few seconds to click through a few screens and buy a book on the Internet, but the reading part can take many hours.)

I did read Van Vogt's "Black Destroyer" a few years ago, in a general science fiction anthology. It didn't strike me as memorable then, so maybe my excitement is misguided.

[Justin Drown · Rating 4 out of 5]

After doing some research I decided to start reading Astounding Stories here. From what I’ve read this is the agreed upon start of the “Golden Age” of science fiction. There is one must read story in this issue. Black Destroyer is an excellent piece of fiction. It influenced Alien (1979) and no doubt countless others by extension. I some mentioning that Black Destroyer is more of a horror tale but I disagree. The nature of SF should lead to stories frightening at times. But Coerl (the titular Black Destroyer) is far more cunning than your typical slasher character.

There are a couple other stories worth checking out. Isaac Asimov’s third published story will interest fans of the author’s work. And C.L. Moore’s Greater Than Gods is an interesting little tale. The non-fiction articles are fun to look back in. In the opening essay there’s excitement for the development of atomic energy. If only they knew what was coming… This is a read that is greater than the sum of its parts. Sure there are some clunkers in this issue. But that’s part of the experience. Not all stories can be winners.

[Paul · Rating 3 out of 5]

--first published story by A.E. Van Vogt
--first Astounding story by Isaac Asimov

A (excellent):

Black Destroyer by A. E. Van Vogt
The Moth by Ross Rocklynne

B (very good):

Greater than Gods by C. L. Moore
Trends by Isaac Asimov
Lightship, Ho! by Nelson S. Bond

C (average):

City of the Cosmic Rays by Nat Schachner

D (poor):

When the Half Gods Go by Amelia R. Long

[Jamie]

My full review can be found here: http://www.jamierubin.net/2011/01/23/...