Science Fiction Magazines

Science fiction became widely popular once it started getting published in magazines in the United States. Early sci-fi work was published in books and in magazines not devoted entirely to science fiction work. In 1926, American publisher Hugo Gernsback created Amazing Stories and sparked the revolutionary movement of science fiction-only magazines. As a matter of fact, most of the stories that appeared between 1296 and the early 1950s were found exclusively in sci-fi magazines.

The science fiction comic strip was also a very influential medium for sci-fi work. In 1929, Buck Rogers, a space-traveling, ray gun-toting superhero, leapt onto the scene and captured the attention of millions of readers. The strip told the story of a futuristic man who, after being overcome by mine fumes, found himself catapulted 500 years into the future.

Buck Rogers' adventures with the evil Mongolian overlords enthralled audiences and inspired writers like Ray Bradbury and George Lucas. Flash Gordon (1934) was also a popular character in sci-fi strips. Radio programs were spun-off from the strips. Through the radio, these stalwart heroes came to life. In 1938, Orson Welles' infamous broadcast of The War of the Worlds had millions believing that the world was being attacked by aliens.

Sci-Fi Today
This same kind of frenzy over sci-fi work continues today. Sci-fi magazines still exist, but not nearly as prevalently as they did in the 1930s and 1940s, making many of these titles vintage collector's items. Since its inception, sci-fi has filtered into every genre: books, films, television, and radio. Entire groups and conventions center around sci-fi topics and fan clubs, and documentaries like "Trekkies" have been nominated for Academy Awards for covering the genre and its fans.