October 21, 1958

I became an avid science fiction fan in February 1954 (about four and a half years ago). At the time, science fiction digests were multiplying, and business seemed to be booming.

Even then, however, there was doom-saying about how the genre had already begun to die. Apparently, from an explosion that started in 1949 with the start of Fantasy & Science Fiction, quickly followed by the publication of Galaxy Science Fiction (which I have been reading since 1950), the number of books published began to drop off after a peak in 1953.



It is true that Beyond is long gone, and Venture recently disappeared. I lament the loss of the former--not so much the latter, after the publication of a particularly misogynistic story.

But that still leaves Astounding, F&SF, Galaxy, Amazing and IF to read, and their quality has remained decent-to-good.

In these past years, I have seen the genre evolve. I have read good stories and bad stories. I've seen the focus go from our solar system to the stars. I have occasionally seen the work of female writers, and I have occasionally seen the appearance of female/non-white characters.

Rarely. But occasionally.

So I decided it was high time I shared my observations with the public. From now on, I will be writing short pieces on recent science fiction/fantasy I have read, and perhaps others can use this information somehow.

Join me on my journey through (the) Galaxy (and F&SF and Astounding, etc.) I can always use the company!

( What is this madness? )

One year after Sputnik (10-21-1958)

On October 4, 1957, the world was stunned by the beep-beep of the first artificial satellite. Well, maybe stunned is the wrong word, because anyone following the papers throughout the summer saw that the Soviets had announced quite candidly that they had planned to do so.

It didn't take long for good ol' American know-how, like that provided by good ol' Americans like Wehrner Von Braun, to match the Russians at their game. Thus, Explorer 1 went up less than three months later.

Given the promptness of the American reply, one has to wonder if Ike wanted the first satellite to be Soviet...

Last week, if you followed the presses, American took the lead in the Space Race, at least for the time being. Pioneer-1 blasted off on October 11. Destination: Moon.



Sadly, the intrepid probe didn't quite make it. Still, traveled a good half of the way there, and it returned some pretty interesting science on the way, piercing Van Allen's dangerous clouds of radiation that may pose a permanent barrier to humankind ever establishing an orbital presence.

I understand a second Pioneer is scheduled for launch next month. I'm crossing my fingers and toes!

(Confused? Click here for an explanation as to what's really going on)