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Wavelength, v. 1, issue 2, Summer 1941

Page 3

Birth of A Pro

ASTONISHING STORIES AND SUPER SCIENCE STORIES

by Frederik Pohl

Well, two pros. "Astonishing Stories" and "Super Science Stories." There is a mass of curiosity concerning How I Got to Be an Editor that I can only describe as insulting, and the oddest thing about the particular inquisitiveness is that I just don't know the right answer. On October 24, 1939, I was an agent and a writer of sorts, and fan. There was nothing amazing about that, to me; I was quite used to it. On October 25th, 1939, I was a fan and a writer of sorts and...an editor. And that was un-amazing too; I took it for granted.

There must have been a transition period, but I don't remember it. As to the mechanics of how the two magazines I pilot so proudly eventually came to be, that's more simple to answer. I was an agent, see, and I was pretty sure I knew about as much about science fiction as anyone. I'd read every issue of every science fiction magazine published in this country up to, say, 1938; I had a fair idea of what authors I would buy from if it were up to me; and when I looked at the magazines that were highly regarded in the field as of 1939, I was pretty sure that I could do better. I Felt It...Here.

That idea had been growing and growing in me in me, and just about when it reached its peak, something occurred. "Marvel Science Stories" gave out the information that it was dropping its straight science fiction policy, and changing the book around the become a sort of "Terror Tale of Tomorrow". I thought that was a mistake, so I went up to tell Robert Erisman so. He heard me out with great patience, but waived my thoughtful offer of taking the burden of editing the magazine off his hands. "No," he said in substance, "I don't think it would be a good idea for me to let you mess up any magazine in which I have an share. Suppose you go louse up the green pastures of my competitors. Roger Terrill, for instance, has no science fiction magazine; why not try to promote a magazine from him?" ( Author's Note: If Mr. Erisman read this, perhaps, I'm only foolin'. He was extremely helpful and altruistically helpful to a potential rival editor, for which I owe him thanks. F.P. ) I took him at his word, and went over to see Terrill, with whom I had some slight dealings in the past over the matter of horror and mystery yarns. 

Terrill wasn't enthusiastic, but he admitted the idea had possibilities. He promised to take it up with Popular Publication's enterprising and youthful president, Harry Steeger, which he did. Ensued then a rather long period of conferences and discussions, abortive and a few which were not abortive, and...then it was October 25th.

Red-Letter Day:

I had expected a magazine paying pretty high rates... as high as any in the field. But I had also expected a fly in the ointment; that I would not have complete control over the final publication, but would be a sort of glorified first-reader for Roger Terrill. That would have been not so good, for, though Terrill is on my personall-

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Birth of A Pro ASTONISHING STORIES AND SUPER SCIENCE STORIES by Frederik Pohl Well, two pros. "Astonishing Stories" and "Super Science Stories." There is a mass of curiosity concerning How I Got to Be an Editor that I can only describe as insulting, and the oddest thing about the particular inquisitiveness is that I just don't know the right answer. On October 24, 1939, I was an agent and a writer of sorts, and fan. There was nothing amazing about that, to me; I was quite used to it. On October 25th, 1939, I was a fan and a writer of sorts and...an editor. And that was un-amazing too; I took it for granted. There must have been a transition period, but I don't remember it. As to the mechanics of how the two magazines I pilot so proudly eventually came to be, that's more simple to answer. I was an agent, see, and I was pretty sure I knew about as much about science fiction as anyone. I'd read every issue of every science fiction magazine published in this country up to, say, 1938; I had a fair idea of what authors I would buy from if it were up to me; and when I looked at the magazines that were highly regarded in the field as of 1939, I was pretty sure that I could do better. I Felt It...Here. That idea had been growing and growing in me in me, and just about when it reached its peak, something occurred. "Marvel Science Stories" gave out the information that it was dropping its straight science fiction policy, and changing the book around the become a sort of "Terror Tale of Tomorrow". I thought that was a mistake, so I went up to tell Robert Erisman so. He heard me out with great patience, but waived my thoughtful offer of taking the burden of editing the magazine off his hands. "No," he said in substance, "I don't think it would be a good idea for me to let you mess up any magazine in which I have an share. Suppose you go louse up the green pastures of my competitors. Roger Terrill, for instance, has no science fiction magazine; why not try to promote a magazine from him?" ( Author's Note: If Mr. Erisman read this, perhaps, I'm only foolin'. He was extremely helpful and altruistically helpful to a potential rival editor, for which I owe him thanks. F.P. ) I took him at his word, and went over to see Terrill, with whom I had some slight dealings in the past over the matter of horror and mystery yarns. Terrill wasn't enthusiastic, but he admitted the idea had possibilities. He promised to take it up with Popular Publication's enterprising and youthful president, Harry Steeger, which he did. Ensued then a rather long period of conferences and discussions, abortive and a few which were not abortive, and...then it was October 25th. Red-Letter Day: I had expected a magazine paying pretty high rates... as high as any in the field. But I had also expected a fly in the ointment; that I would not have complete control over the final publication, but would be a sort of glorified first-reader for Roger Terrill. That would have been not so good, for, though Terrill is on my personall-