283:
195:. The beginnings of science fiction as a separately marketed genre can be traced to this time, and by the end of the 1930s the field was undergoing its first boom. World War II and its attendant paper shortages led to the demise of several titles, but by the late 1940s the market began to recover. From a low of eight active magazines in 1946, the field expanded to twenty in 1950, and dozens more commenced publication over the next decade.
31:
364:, though in the opinion of science fiction historian Joseph Marchesani these stories were in many cases not among the authors' best work. Shaw was unhappy with the last two issues, for which Stein had taken over editorial duties, and Marchesani comments that the quality of those issues was "depressing to say the least".
653:
The magazine was published by Royal
Publications, and was edited by Larry Shaw for all twenty issues. The first issue was dated November 1955; the schedule varied, with a bimonthly period from June 1956 to Jun 1957, followed by an attempt to keep to a six-weekly schedule for over a year. At the time
447:
as "essentially an adventure magazine aiming at a juvenile readership", and
Marchesani calls Shaw "an editor of the middle echelon". Malcolm Edwards considers it "one of the most interesting of the flood of new sf magazines in the early and mid-1950s". In Edwards' opinion it became "one of the
266:, but their financial projections implied it would require a circulation of 50,000 to be profitable; Stein thought this unlikely for a magazine but possible for a paperback anthology series. The first in the series,
1444:
274:
in 1973. A sixth volume was prepared for publication but Lancer went bankrupt in
November of that year. The book was cancelled, and Hoskins returned the manuscripts to the authors.
400:
in book form", but it did not include the nonfiction sections or review columns that appeared in most magazines, printing nothing but fiction and some brief introductory material.
381:
in 1958, and
Silverberg took over the book reviews for the last three issues. Shaw also included a column titled "Fanfare" as a regular feature, which reprinted material from
255:'s last issue followed in November. To save money over the last two issues Stein made a deal to acquire some lower-priced material and took over story selection from Shaw.
1449:
657:
The volume numbering was regular, three volumes of six numbers each and a final volume of two numbers. All issues were digest-sized, 128 pages, and priced at 35 cents.
290:
Shaw knew the science fiction field well, and was friends with many established writers, so he was occasionally able to acquire good stories. The first issue included "
320:
in the UK for a short-story contest, but did not win any of the prizes. It was rejected by several publishers in the US before Shaw bought it; Clarke recorded that
262:
founded Lancer Books, and in 1963 Shaw was hired to be Lancer's editor; he was replaced by Robert
Hoskins in 1968. Hoskins tried to persuade Stein to restart
259:
1454:
170:
844:
155:
987:
232:
1439:
230:, a crime magazine, the same month, and gave it to Shaw to edit, but converted it to science fiction after five issues, retitling it
660:
The anthology series were all edited by Robert
Hoskins and appeared once each year from 1970 to 1973, except for 1972, during which
944:
1434:
1114:
1356:
1248:
452:"Larry Shaw's short-lived but immortal magazine". Edwards assesses the anthology series as "competent but not outstanding".
332:'s first science fiction sale, "Glowworm", appeared in the second issue, and Shaw was able to publish much early work by
448:
leading sf magazines of its period". David Kyle describes it as "exceptional", and writer and critic Algis Budrys calls
1459:
1084:
1017:
1144:
1413:
1394:
1375:
1337:
1318:
1299:
1280:
1225:
1198:
1179:
677:
385:. The artwork for the first issue's cover was provided by Robert Engle, but all the remaining covers were painted by
404:
reprinted Clarke's "The Star", but that was the only reprint
Hoskins used in the series. The same volume included
311:
139:
291:
202:
In 1954, Irwin and Helen Stein started a publishing company, Royal
Publications, and launched two magazines,
127:
1240:
1217:
828:
322:
412:
had stories in each of the five volumes, and other contributors included established names such as
251:, which had been suffering from poor sales, was cancelled; the last issue was dated June 1958, and
115:
1328:
Marchesani, Joseph (1985). "Infinity
Science Fiction". In Tymn, Marshall B.; Ashley, Mike (eds.).
1290:
Edwards, Malcolm; Nicholls, Peter (1993). "SF Magazines". In Clute, John; Nicholls, Peter (eds.).
282:
173:; a sixth was prepared but withdrawn after Lancer ran into financial problems at the end of 1973.
122:, and published by Royal Publications. The first issue, which appeared in November 1955, included
382:
367:
Knight provided a book review column, and a good deal of the material in his critical collection
169:, as a paperback anthology series. Five volumes were published between 1970 and 1973, edited by
668:
both appeared. The first anthology was priced at 75 cents; the remaining four were 95 cents.
979:
142:
for that year. Shaw obtained stories from some of the leading writers of the day, including
440:
270:, appeared in January 1970, and four more appeared over the next three years, ending with
226:
was on newsstands in
September 1955, with a November cover date. The Steins also launched
8:
1366:
Nicholls, Peter; Clute, John (1993). "Genre SF". In Clute, John; Nicholls, Peter (eds.).
397:
211:
980:"Culture : Infinity Science Fiction : SFE : Science Fiction Encyclopedia"
1210:
181:
American science fiction (sf) magazines first appeared in the 1920s with the launch of
1409:
1390:
1385:
Stableford, Brian (1993). "Amazing Stories". In Clute, John; Nicholls, Peter (eds.).
1371:
1352:
1333:
1314:
1295:
1276:
1244:
1221:
1194:
1175:
836:
421:
417:
409:
333:
303:
135:
1404:
Weinberg, Robert (1988). "Emshwiller, Edmund Alexander". In Weinberg, Robert (ed.).
1106:
654:
it was cancelled in October 1958, Shaw was hoping to switch to a monthly schedule.
405:
295:
239:
At the end of the 1950s, Irwin Stein decided to start two media-related magazines,
123:
936:
1237:
Gateways to Forever: The Story of the Science-Fiction Magazines from 1970 to 1980
349:
222:
the following year he returned to Royal to become the editor. The first issue of
183:
151:
937:"Authors : Ellison, Harlan : SFE : Science Fiction Encyclopedia"
429:
353:
329:
192:
247:, to take advantage of the new interest in horror and science fiction movies.
1428:
1212:
Transformations: The Story of the Science Fiction Magazines from 1950 to 1970
840:
425:
413:
386:
377:
188:
119:
44:
1189:
Ashley, Mike (1985). "Infinity". In Tymn, Marshall B.; Ashley, Mike (eds.).
1076:
1009:
1136:
357:
345:
341:
337:
316:
307:
166:
147:
143:
1077:"Culture : Infinity : SFE : Science Fiction Encyclopedia"
302:(an exploding star): the light from the nova was seen from Earth as the
361:
1271:
Edwards, Malcolm (1981) . "Shaw, Larry T.". In Nicholls, Peter (ed.).
408:'s first story, "The Water Sculptor of Station 233". Silverberg and
314:
for that year's best short story, had originally been submitted to
726:
Magazine publishing dates for the period are tabulated in Ashley,
344:. Shaw was able to obtain material by established writers such as
165:
The title was revived a decade later by Stein's publishing house,
215:
1445:
Defunct science fiction magazines published in the United States
1406:
A Biographical Dictionary of Science Fiction and Fantasy Artists
310:, appeared in the June 1956 issue. "The Star", which won the
30:
1408:. Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood Press. pp. 101–105.
1332:. Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood Press. pp. 352–355.
1193:. Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood Press. pp. 789–790.
1172:
The History of the Science Fiction Magazine Vol. 3 1946–1955
299:
131:
326:
turned it down on the grounds that it was "blasphemous".
158:, the owner of Royal Publications, decided to shut down
1330:
Science Fiction, Fantasy and Weird Fiction Magazines
1294:. New York: St. Martin's Press. pp. 1066–1071.
1191:
Science Fiction, Fantasy and Weird Fiction Magazines
199:
was launched in the middle of this publishing boom.
154:, but the material was of variable quality. In 1958
134:(an exploding star) that turns out to have been the
1450:Science fiction magazines established in the 1950s
1370:. New York: St. Martin's Press. pp. 483–484.
1209:
286:Cover of the February 1957 issue, by Ed Emshwiller
829:"Walter Zacharius, Romance Publisher, Dies at 87"
35:Cover of the first issue; artwork by Robert Engle
1426:
1389:. New York: St. Martin's Press. pp. 25–26.
728:History of the Science Fiction Magazine Vol. 3
1260:The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction
717:Edwards & Nicholls (1993), pp. 1066–1069.
1349:Sir Arthur C. Clarke: Odyssey of a Visionary
720:
455:
162:; the last issue was dated November 1958.
29:
1143:. Internet Speculative Fiction Database.
1113:. Internet Speculative Fiction Database.
705:Nicholls & Clute (1993), pp. 483–484.
277:
130:", a story about a planet destroyed by a
1455:1955 establishments in the United States
1275:. St. Albans, UK: Granada. p. 541.
281:
977:
392:The title page of the first anthology,
1427:
1311:A Pictorial History of Science Fiction
1147:from the original on December 16, 2019
1137:"Summary Bibliography: Robert Hoskins"
1117:from the original on February 25, 2013
1107:"Issue Grid: Infinity Science Fiction"
826:
176:
1258:Budrys, Algis (March 1987). "Books".
1075:Edwards, Malcolm (December 2, 2011).
973:
971:
934:
912:
910:
900:
898:
888:
886:
884:
882:
880:
870:
868:
866:
864:
862:
813:
811:
809:
807:
805:
803:
801:
799:
797:
795:
1174:. Chicago: Contemporary Books, Inc.
1010:"Summary Bibliography: Robert Engle"
990:from the original on August 14, 2020
978:Edwards, Malcolm (August 24, 2017).
947:from the original on August 14, 2020
767:
765:
746:
744:
742:
740:
738:
736:
713:
711:
439:by science fiction historians vary.
336:. Notable stories included "Dio" by
1387:The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction
1368:The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction
1292:The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction
1273:The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction
847:from the original on April 24, 2015
424:, along with newer writers such as
13:
1087:from the original on June 14, 2020
1020:from the original on June 14, 2020
968:
907:
895:
877:
859:
792:
647:Larry Shaw was editor throughout.
14:
1471:
827:Grimes, William (March 7, 2011).
762:
733:
708:
678:List of science fiction magazines
16:1950s US science fiction magazine
1440:Magazines disestablished in 1958
340:and "Who Can Replace a Man?" by
298:, about a planet destroyed by a
1129:
1099:
1068:
1059:
1050:
1041:
1032:
1002:
959:
928:
919:
820:
817:Marchesani (1985), pp. 352–355.
783:
774:
753:
699:
690:
1:
1435:Magazines established in 1955
696:Stableford (1993), pp. 25–26.
683:
396:, said it was "a magazine of
935:Clute, John (May 12, 2020).
465:showing volume/issue number
218:magazine; when they started
7:
892:Ashley (1985), pp. 789–790.
874:Ashley (2007), pp. 135–139.
771:Ashley (2005), pp. 186–187.
671:
64:; 68 years ago
10:
1476:
1241:Liverpool University Press
1218:Liverpool University Press
1163:
646:
249:Science Fiction Adventures
233:Science Fiction Adventures
1460:Science fiction magazines
750:Ashley (2005), pp. 73–74.
610:
574:
540:
510:
505:
502:
499:
496:
493:
490:
487:
484:
481:
478:
475:
472:
469:
323:The Saturday Evening Post
258:In 1961, Irwin Stein and
228:Suspect Detective Stories
99:
91:
76:
58:
50:
40:
28:
1170:Ashley, Michael (1976).
1038:Weinberg (1988), p. 105.
463:Infinity Science Fiction
383:science-fiction fanzines
197:Infinity Science Fiction
116:science fiction magazine
111:Infinity Science Fiction
23:Infinity Science Fiction
1313:. Feltham, UK: Hamlyn.
925:McAleer (2013), p. 114.
904:Edwards (1981), p. 541.
456:Bibliographical details
1347:McAleer, Neil (2013).
1047:Ashley (2005), p. 162.
965:Ashley (2005), p. 148.
916:Ashley (2005), p. 143.
789:Ashley (2005), p. 338.
780:Ashley (2005), p. 330.
759:Ashley (2005), p. 165.
375:; Knight left to edit
371:initially appeared in
287:
278:Contents and reception
214:. Shaw left to edit a
1351:. New York: Rosetta.
1309:Kyle, David (1977) .
1235:Ashley, Mike (2007).
1208:Ashley, Mike (2005).
1065:Budrys (1987), p. 23.
285:
1056:Kyle (1977), p. 144.
1081:sf-encyclopedia.com
984:sf-encyclopedia.com
941:sf-encyclopedia.com
730:, pp. 323–325.
466:
398:speculative fiction
369:In Search of Wonder
245:Monsters and Things
177:Publication history
25:
833:The New York Times
460:
288:
80:November 1958
62:November 1955
54:Royal Publications
21:
1358:978-0-8092-3720-3
1250:978-1-84631-003-4
651:
650:
422:Clifford D. Simak
418:Gordon R. Dickson
334:Robert Silverberg
304:Star of Bethlehem
136:Star of Bethlehem
107:
106:
1467:
1419:
1400:
1381:
1362:
1343:
1324:
1305:
1286:
1267:
1254:
1231:
1215:
1204:
1185:
1157:
1156:
1154:
1152:
1133:
1127:
1126:
1124:
1122:
1103:
1097:
1096:
1094:
1092:
1072:
1066:
1063:
1057:
1054:
1048:
1045:
1039:
1036:
1030:
1029:
1027:
1025:
1006:
1000:
999:
997:
995:
975:
966:
963:
957:
956:
954:
952:
932:
926:
923:
917:
914:
905:
902:
893:
890:
875:
872:
857:
856:
854:
852:
824:
818:
815:
790:
787:
781:
778:
772:
769:
760:
757:
751:
748:
731:
724:
718:
715:
706:
703:
697:
694:
467:
459:
406:George Zebrowski
296:Arthur C. Clarke
260:Walter Zacharius
124:Arthur C. Clarke
114:was an American
87:
85:
72:
70:
65:
33:
26:
20:
1475:
1474:
1470:
1469:
1468:
1466:
1465:
1464:
1425:
1424:
1416:
1403:
1397:
1384:
1378:
1365:
1359:
1346:
1340:
1327:
1321:
1308:
1302:
1289:
1283:
1270:
1257:
1251:
1234:
1228:
1207:
1201:
1188:
1182:
1169:
1166:
1161:
1160:
1150:
1148:
1135:
1134:
1130:
1120:
1118:
1105:
1104:
1100:
1090:
1088:
1074:
1073:
1069:
1064:
1060:
1055:
1051:
1046:
1042:
1037:
1033:
1023:
1021:
1008:
1007:
1003:
993:
991:
976:
969:
964:
960:
950:
948:
933:
929:
924:
920:
915:
908:
903:
896:
891:
878:
873:
860:
850:
848:
825:
821:
816:
793:
788:
784:
779:
775:
770:
763:
758:
754:
749:
734:
725:
721:
716:
709:
704:
700:
695:
691:
686:
674:
458:
435:Assessments of
350:Robert Sheckley
306:. A sequel, by
280:
184:Amazing Stories
179:
152:Robert Sheckley
83:
81:
68:
66:
63:
36:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1473:
1463:
1462:
1457:
1452:
1447:
1442:
1437:
1421:
1420:
1414:
1401:
1395:
1382:
1376:
1363:
1357:
1344:
1338:
1325:
1319:
1306:
1300:
1287:
1281:
1268:
1255:
1249:
1232:
1226:
1205:
1199:
1186:
1180:
1165:
1162:
1159:
1158:
1128:
1098:
1067:
1058:
1049:
1040:
1031:
1001:
967:
958:
927:
918:
906:
894:
876:
858:
819:
791:
782:
773:
761:
752:
732:
719:
707:
698:
688:
687:
685:
682:
681:
680:
673:
670:
662:Infinity Three
649:
648:
644:
643:
641:
638:
635:
633:
630:
628:
625:
623:
620:
617:
615:
612:
608:
607:
605:
602:
599:
596:
594:
591:
588:
586:
583:
581:
578:
576:
572:
571:
568:
566:
563:
561:
558:
556:
553:
551:
549:
547:
544:
542:
538:
537:
535:
532:
530:
528:
526:
524:
522:
520:
518:
516:
514:
512:
508:
507:
504:
501:
498:
495:
492:
489:
486:
483:
480:
477:
474:
471:
457:
454:
430:Dean R. Koontz
410:Barry Malzberg
354:Lester del Rey
330:Harlan Ellison
279:
276:
241:Monster Parade
193:Hugo Gernsback
178:
175:
171:Robert Hoskins
105:
104:
101:
97:
96:
93:
89:
88:
78:
74:
73:
60:
56:
55:
52:
48:
47:
42:
38:
37:
34:
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1472:
1461:
1458:
1456:
1453:
1451:
1448:
1446:
1443:
1441:
1438:
1436:
1433:
1432:
1430:
1423:
1417:
1415:0-313-24349-2
1411:
1407:
1402:
1398:
1396:0-312-09618-6
1392:
1388:
1383:
1379:
1377:0-312-09618-6
1373:
1369:
1364:
1360:
1354:
1350:
1345:
1341:
1339:0-313-21221-X
1335:
1331:
1326:
1322:
1320:0-600-38193-5
1316:
1312:
1307:
1303:
1301:0-312-09618-6
1297:
1293:
1288:
1284:
1282:0-586-05380-8
1278:
1274:
1269:
1265:
1261:
1256:
1252:
1246:
1242:
1239:. Liverpool:
1238:
1233:
1229:
1227:0-85323-779-4
1223:
1219:
1216:. Liverpool:
1214:
1213:
1206:
1202:
1200:0-313-21221-X
1196:
1192:
1187:
1183:
1181:0-8092-7842-1
1177:
1173:
1168:
1167:
1146:
1142:
1141:www.isfdb.org
1138:
1132:
1116:
1112:
1111:www.isfdb.org
1108:
1102:
1086:
1082:
1078:
1071:
1062:
1053:
1044:
1035:
1019:
1015:
1014:www.isfdb.org
1011:
1005:
989:
985:
981:
974:
972:
962:
946:
942:
938:
931:
922:
913:
911:
901:
899:
889:
887:
885:
883:
881:
871:
869:
867:
865:
863:
846:
842:
838:
834:
830:
823:
814:
812:
810:
808:
806:
804:
802:
800:
798:
796:
786:
777:
768:
766:
756:
747:
745:
743:
741:
739:
737:
729:
723:
714:
712:
702:
693:
689:
679:
676:
675:
669:
667:
666:Infinity Four
663:
658:
655:
645:
642:
639:
636:
634:
631:
629:
626:
624:
621:
618:
616:
613:
609:
606:
603:
600:
597:
595:
592:
589:
587:
584:
582:
579:
577:
573:
569:
567:
564:
562:
559:
557:
554:
552:
550:
548:
545:
543:
539:
536:
533:
531:
529:
527:
525:
523:
521:
519:
517:
515:
513:
509:
468:
464:
453:
451:
446:
442:
438:
433:
431:
427:
423:
419:
415:
414:Poul Anderson
411:
407:
403:
399:
395:
390:
388:
387:Ed Emshwiller
384:
380:
379:
374:
370:
365:
363:
359:
355:
351:
347:
343:
339:
335:
331:
327:
325:
324:
319:
318:
313:
309:
305:
301:
297:
293:
284:
275:
273:
272:Infinity Five
269:
265:
261:
256:
254:
250:
246:
242:
237:
235:
234:
229:
225:
221:
217:
213:
209:
205:
200:
198:
194:
191:published by
190:
189:pulp magazine
186:
185:
174:
172:
168:
163:
161:
157:
153:
149:
145:
141:
138:; it won the
137:
133:
129:
125:
121:
120:Larry T. Shaw
117:
113:
112:
102:
98:
95:United States
94:
90:
79:
75:
61:
57:
53:
49:
46:
45:Larry T. Shaw
43:
39:
32:
27:
24:
19:
1422:
1405:
1386:
1367:
1348:
1329:
1310:
1291:
1272:
1263:
1259:
1236:
1211:
1190:
1171:
1149:. Retrieved
1140:
1131:
1119:. Retrieved
1110:
1101:
1089:. Retrieved
1083:. Gollancz.
1080:
1070:
1061:
1052:
1043:
1034:
1022:. Retrieved
1013:
1004:
992:. Retrieved
986:. Gollancz.
983:
961:
949:. Retrieved
943:. Gollancz.
940:
930:
921:
849:. Retrieved
832:
822:
785:
776:
755:
727:
722:
701:
692:
665:
661:
659:
656:
652:
462:
449:
444:
436:
434:
402:Infinity One
401:
394:Infinity One
393:
391:
376:
372:
368:
366:
358:Algis Budrys
346:Isaac Asimov
342:Brian Aldiss
338:Damon Knight
328:
321:
317:The Observer
315:
308:Betsy Curtis
289:
271:
268:Infinity One
267:
263:
257:
252:
248:
244:
240:
238:
231:
227:
223:
219:
210:, edited by
207:
203:
201:
196:
182:
180:
167:Lancer Books
164:
159:
148:Isaac Asimov
144:Brian Aldiss
118:, edited by
110:
109:
108:
22:
18:
1266:(3): 14–20.
441:Mike Ashley
156:Irwin Stein
77:Final issue
59:First issue
1429:Categories
684:References
461:Issues of
443:describes
362:Jack Vance
312:Hugo award
212:Larry Shaw
140:Hugo Award
841:0362-4331
426:Ed Bryant
204:Celebrity
51:Publisher
1151:June 12,
1145:Archived
1115:Archived
1091:June 14,
1085:Archived
1024:June 14,
1018:Archived
994:June 12,
988:Archived
951:June 12,
945:Archived
851:June 12,
845:Archived
672:See also
450:Infinity
445:Infinity
437:Infinity
373:Infinity
292:The Star
264:Infinity
253:Infinity
224:Infinity
220:Infinity
208:Our Life
160:Infinity
128:The Star
100:Language
1164:Sources
1121:May 25,
216:hot-rod
103:English
92:Country
84:1958-11
82: (
69:1955-11
67: (
1412:
1393:
1374:
1355:
1336:
1317:
1298:
1279:
1247:
1224:
1197:
1178:
839:
420:, and
360:, and
294:", by
150:, and
41:Editor
611:1958
575:1957
541:1956
511:1955
470:Year
1410:ISBN
1391:ISBN
1372:ISBN
1353:ISBN
1334:ISBN
1315:ISBN
1296:ISBN
1277:ISBN
1245:ISBN
1222:ISBN
1195:ISBN
1176:ISBN
1153:2020
1123:2020
1093:2020
1026:2020
996:2020
953:2020
853:2011
837:ISSN
664:and
640:4/2
637:4/1
632:3/6
627:3/5
622:3/4
619:3/3
614:3/2
604:3/1
601:2/6
598:2/5
593:2/4
590:2/3
585:2/2
580:2/1
570:1/6
565:1/5
560:1/4
555:1/3
546:1/2
534:1/1
506:Dec
503:Nov
500:Oct
497:Sep
494:Aug
491:Jul
488:Jun
485:May
482:Apr
479:Mar
476:Feb
473:Jan
428:and
300:nova
243:and
206:and
187:, a
132:nova
126:'s "
1431::
1264:72
1262:.
1243:.
1220:.
1139:.
1109:.
1079:.
1016:.
1012:.
982:.
970:^
939:.
909:^
897:^
879:^
861:^
843:.
835:.
831:.
794:^
764:^
735:^
710:^
432:.
416:,
389:.
378:If
356:,
352:,
348:,
236:.
146:,
1418:.
1399:.
1380:.
1361:.
1342:.
1323:.
1304:.
1285:.
1253:.
1230:.
1203:.
1184:.
1155:.
1125:.
1095:.
1028:.
998:.
955:.
855:.
86:)
71:)
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
