BangZoom Posted November 20, 2010 Author Share Posted November 20, 2010 But, isn't Astounding supposed to be THE ONE when it comes to Sci-Fi pulps or am I mistaken? I am not well-versed in the realm of sci-fi at all and I am trying to figure them out. I could do a little more online search but what's the fun of that. The one thing I keep on hearing is that TWS for all its wonderful covers tended to cater to the younger crowd as opposed to Astounding. I wouldn't mind sampling a few Astounding beyond the 2 issues I have (Dec. 1938 & March 1942). Scrooge, Astounding paid the highest rates in the business and as a result it attracted the leading authors of the day. Under John Campbell's stewardship as editor, the magazine raised the standards of the genre. He helped discover and develop the work of many of the most respected authors of the field. I used to love science fiction when I was younger, but now I'm attracted to other reading. Perhaps I misunderstood your original question. If you're looking for confirmation about ASF's reputation, it is stellar, no doubt about it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pat Calhoun Posted November 20, 2010 Share Posted November 20, 2010 some ASF at top... on left red Galaxys (& my sons Crane left, Theo right- Theo was named after another fave, Sturgeon (whose 'The Dreaming Jewels' -GREAT book!!!- is four in just under Theo's head) ps- young Pat just to left of duck............ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pat Calhoun Posted November 20, 2010 Share Posted November 20, 2010 thief of bagdad is one of few facsimile djs (only one in pic) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pat Calhoun Posted November 20, 2010 Share Posted November 20, 2010 BZ- as latecomer to board I'll say 'your' thread is the only one I'm reading whole- have done 1-310 & 1040-up- Love it! cheers, Pat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BangZoom Posted November 20, 2010 Author Share Posted November 20, 2010 Gorgeous collection and I love your bookcases. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BangZoom Posted November 20, 2010 Author Share Posted November 20, 2010 BZ- as latecomer to board I'll say 'your' thread is the only one I'm reading whole- have done 1-310 & 1040-up- Love it! cheers, Pat Thanks very much, Pat. The board has a great group of collectors on it and I've learned a lot by chatting with everyone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BangZoom Posted November 20, 2010 Author Share Posted November 20, 2010 I know we've posted fanzines in this thread before, so I wanted to share this one with you all. I've been after this one a long while. It includes a Detective Comics index! Congratulations, Bill. I love those early fanzines. I don't think their entertainment value has diminished through the years. I'm surprised in reading them today how much great research was actually done so long ago. I remember enjoying Michael Friedrich's article about selling his first pro -script in that issue of Bat-Mania. And I don't want to forget to wish you a ... HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pat Calhoun Posted November 20, 2010 Share Posted November 20, 2010 don't have this- found Brit online US cov same 1950-ish- maybe Scrooge should get & read this for that good yarn straight from pulp feel.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pat Calhoun Posted November 21, 2010 Share Posted November 21, 2010 speaking of great reads (I think Scrooge was...) and bookcases found pic of part of another case- old pb's lean more towards crime than SF but Cornell Woolrich (aka William Irish) is spooky and super enough to transcend genre... Hitch got 'Rear Window' from him... His 'black' books, especially, The Bride Wore Black, The Black Path of Fear, The Black Angel, and Rendezvous in Black are wonderful as is Phantom Lady + many great short stories... & Happy Birthday Bill !!!!! ps - the 'Dr Solar' on top was inscribed and sent to me by Paul S Newman after the interview I did with him in CBM paved the way to coming to Comicon and getting award... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BangZoom Posted November 21, 2010 Author Share Posted November 21, 2010 I have the American counterpart of that pulp. I see from reading an online synopsis of the plot that the story takes place in a traveling circus. I'm a sucker for stories that involve circuses and carnivals so I might have to read this one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BangZoom Posted November 21, 2010 Author Share Posted November 21, 2010 Cornell Woolrich (aka William Irish) is spooky and super enough to transcend genre... Hitch got 'Rear Window' from him... His 'black' books, especially, The Bride Wore Black, The Black Path of Fear, The Black Angel, and Rendezvous in Black are wonderful as is Phantom Lady + many great short stories... I posted a photo of a few Dell 10¢ paperbacks a couple of years ago. This shot includes Woolrich's Marihuana. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scrooge Posted November 21, 2010 Share Posted November 21, 2010 But, isn't Astounding supposed to be THE ONE when it comes to Sci-Fi pulps or am I mistaken? I am not well-versed in the realm of sci-fi at all and I am trying to figure them out. I could do a little more online search but what's the fun of that. The one thing I keep on hearing is that TWS for all its wonderful covers tended to cater to the younger crowd as opposed to Astounding. I wouldn't mind sampling a few Astounding beyond the 2 issues I have (Dec. 1938 & March 1942). Scrooge, Astounding paid the highest rates in the business and as a result it attracted the leading authors of the day. Under John Campbell's stewardship as editor, the magazine raised the standards of the genre. He helped discover and develop the work of many of the most respected authors of the field. I used to love science fiction when I was younger, but now I'm attracted to other reading. Perhaps I misunderstood your original question. If you're looking for confirmation about ASF's reputation, it is stellar, no doubt about it. No, you've got it right. My mind was musing into Sci-Fi for some reason and I thought there'd be some board members well versed into that culture. My only experience with sci-fi was in the '80's with some trashy cheap paperbacks by what I seem to remember were no name authors. Then I did read the whole cycle of Dune but never made it to Asimov or Heinlein or much else for that matter. Fantasy is where it was at for me but as I get older, I recognize that fantasy or sci-fi is only a genre and that the story underneath is what matters regardless of genre and as pulp prices continue of going down, why not look into the grand-daddy of the genre if cheap copies turn up. This is the result I was looking for: you, Pat and anyone else jumping in. I know this next question is impossible to answer ... but what time period should I target with these random buys? 1939 to 1950 or what? :shrug: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scrooge Posted November 21, 2010 Share Posted November 21, 2010 My best guess at to why I have been thinking sci-fi is this pile of books with Mars and Venus in some of the titles. Never read Burroughs before, just audio-ed Tarzan of the Apes a couple of years ago so when I could grab a nice stack of cheap ppbs spanning ERB's entire output, I took the plunge Currently reading the second Tarzan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pat Calhoun Posted November 21, 2010 Share Posted November 21, 2010 these were probably hard to see in the group shot. Please read the Sturgeon. I have 5 other great carny novels lined up (Nightmare Alley by William Gresham is one)! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pat Calhoun Posted November 21, 2010 Share Posted November 21, 2010 if you want to read 'raw' (and unlike CGC I use it to mean original appearance) sometimes Startling is hard to beat. 3/52 superb Kuttner sci-fantasy short novel illustrated by Finlay... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pat Calhoun Posted November 21, 2010 Share Posted November 21, 2010 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BangZoom Posted November 21, 2010 Author Share Posted November 21, 2010 I know this next question is impossible to answer ... but what time period should I target with these random buys? 1939 to 1950 or what? :shrug: If you're referring to Astounding, many consider the Golden Age from 1939 to 1946. Alva Rogers, who wrote the book A Requiem for Astounding, said 1941 was the best year ever. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ciorac Posted November 21, 2010 Share Posted November 21, 2010 I know we've posted fanzines in this thread before, so I wanted to share this one with you all. I've been after this one a long while. It includes a Detective Comics index! Congratulations, Bill. I love those early fanzines. I don't think their entertainment value has diminished through the years. I'm surprised in reading them today how much great research was actually done so long ago. I remember enjoying Michael Friedrich's article about selling his first pro -script in that issue of Bat-Mania. And I don't want to forget to wish you a ... HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! Why thank ya very much BZ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ciorac Posted November 21, 2010 Share Posted November 21, 2010 speaking of great reads (I think Scrooge was...) and bookcases found pic of part of another case- old pb's lean more towards crime than SF but Cornell Woolrich (aka William Irish) is spooky and super enough to transcend genre... Hitch got 'Rear Window' from him... His 'black' books, especially, The Bride Wore Black, The Black Path of Fear, The Black Angel, and Rendezvous in Black are wonderful as is Phantom Lady + many great short stories... & Happy Birthday Bill !!!!! Thanks Pat (thumbs u Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scrooge Posted November 21, 2010 Share Posted November 21, 2010 I know this next question is impossible to answer ... but what time period should I target with these random buys? 1939 to 1950 or what? :shrug: If you're referring to Astounding, many consider the Golden Age from 1939 to 1946. Alva Rogers, who wrote the book A Requiem for Astounding, said 1941 was the best year ever. Yes, yes, I meant Astounding. This is exactly what I was wanting to hear / know. Thanks BZ. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...