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No 28 (1955) Courtesy of Galactic Central Publications (www.philsp.com)
y separately published work icon Future Science Fiction [USA: 1955-1960] periodical   science fiction  
Alternative title: Future Combined with Science Fiction Stories; Future Science Fiction Stories
Issue Details: First known date: 1955... 1955 Future Science Fiction [USA: 1955-1960]
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AbstractHistoryArchive Description

The convoluted and tangled history of Future Science Fiction began in 1939 when Future Fiction and Science Fiction were launched eight months apart by US publishing company Columbia Publications. Two years later they were merged to create Future Combined with Science Fiction. In 1942 Columbia retitled the magazine Future Fantasy and Science Fiction, and then a year later changed it once again, this time to Science Fiction Stories (1943). The new magazine ceased publication after two issues, however, due to factors brought on by America's involvement in World War II. The last issue was numbered Volume 3, Number 5 (July 1943).

A little over five years after the end of the war, Columbia brought the two magazines back under the one of its former titles - Future Combined with Science Fiction Stories. With its numbering restarted at Volume 1 Number 1 (1950) the magazine ran under that title for two years before it was renamed twice more - first title being Future Science Fiction Stories (Jan. 1952), followed two issues later by Future Science Fiction (May 1952). In all 27 issues of the magazine were published between 1950 and 1954, the last being the October 1954 edition (Volume 5, Number 3)

In the meantime, Columbia had decided to trial the digest size magazine format, releasing an individual and unrelated magazine issue called Science Fiction Stories in 1953. After publishing a second trial issue the following year, the company decided to use the digest format for Future Science Fiction, beginning with the June 1954 issue (Volume 5, Number 1). However, in January 1955 (after only three issues in the new format), Future Science Fiction was abandoned and replaced by an entirely new magazine - Science Fiction Stories.

Exactly a year after closing down Future Science Fiction, Columbia Publications decided to revive it (again), effectively returning to the "sister-magazine" operations of 1939-1941. The first issue was identified simply as Number 28 (no volume included). In this respect the magazine was also effectively treated as a continuation of the 1950-1954 Future Combined with Science Fiction Stories/Future Science Fiction Stories and Future Science Fiction series (which as noted earlier ended after 27 issues).

Although considered distinct entities from 1955 onwards, Future Science Fiction and Science Fiction Stories both ceased publication in early 1960.

[Source: "Future Science Fiction/Science Fiction Stories." Galactic Central - online (sighted 8/12/2011)

Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of

First known date: 1955
Last amended 6 Jan 2012 08:29:02
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