DIY History | Transcribe | Hevelin Fanzines | Vampire, whole no. 8, December 1946

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Vampire, whole no. 8, December 1946

Page 9

A BRIEF HISTORY OF SCIENCE FICTION

by Lloyd Alpaugh, Jr.

In the beginning there was Gernsback and He was alone and this was not good.

And the earth was void and empty of stef, and darkness was upon the face of the deep, and the spirit of Gernsback moved over the pulp field. And to relieve his loneliness He created Amazing and lo! it was a great success, for the money rolled in by the bale.

But a cosmic catastrophe took place, for Amazing was banished to another publisher.

Then  He waved His checkbook and lo! the twins of Science Wonder and Air Wonder came into being, and they also were a great success; aye, verily so great that they were rolled into one. And the combination was Wonder.

And another God, jealous of His success, created another Magazine and it was called Astounding. But Astounding displeased its creator and was banished. But another God welcomed it in and it, in time, was a great success.

And thus were things for many years.

And suddenly Wonder Stories faltered and left Gernsback, and it was taken in by another God who re-christened it Thrilling. And the godless Amazing wandered from Publisher to Publisher until the monstrous Ziff-Davis came and gobbled it up. And Astounding Stories became Astounding Science Fiction. And the worshippers of the Gods, the Fans, came, saying "Let us bow down to ASF, for it is great above all." And it was much worshipped by the multitude.

And sundry other Gods saw the success of the Mags and they hastened to beget their own. But of all that were created only a few survived the great battle which the Gods call SHOW A PROFIT OR ELSE.

And so it is today that there are in the Universe: Amazing and Fantastic under the benevolent guidance of Hamling; and Astounding which is tended by the great God Campbell; and Thrilling Wonder and Startling under the slightly wacky care of Merwin, Jr.; and Planet Stories, which gibes a Payne to all who read it.

And that is the true history of stef.

- 9 -

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A BRIEF HISTORY OF SCIENCE FICTION by Lloyd Alpaugh, Jr. In the beginning there was Gernsback and He was alone and this was not good. And the earth was void and empty of stef, and darkness was upon the face of the deep, and the spirit of Gernsback moved over the pulp field. And to relieve his loneliness He created Amazing and lo! it was a great success, for the money rolled in by the bale. But a cosmic catastrophe took place, for Amazing was banished to another publisher. Then He waved His checkbook and lo! the twins of Science Wonder and Air Wonder came into being, and they also were a great success; aye, verily so great that they were rolled into one. And the combination was Wonder. And another God, jealous of His success, created another Magazine and it was called Astounding. But Astounding displeased its creator and was banished. But another God welcomed it in and it, in time, was a great success. And thus were things for many years. And suddenly Wonder Stories faltered and left Gernsback, and it was taken in by another God who re-christened it Thrilling. And the godless Amazing wandered from Publisher to Publisher until the monstrous Ziff-Davis came and gobbled it up. And Astounding Stories became Astounding Science Fiction. And the worshippers of the Gods, the Fans, came, saying "Let us bow down to ASF, for it is great above all." And it was much worshipped by the multitude. And sundry other Gods saw the success of the Mags and they hastened to beget their own. But of all that were created only a few survived the great battle which the Gods call SHOW A PROFIT OR ELSE. And so it is today that there are in the Universe: Amazing and Fantastic under the benevolent guidance of Hamling; and Astounding which is tended by the great God Campbell; and Thrilling Wonder and Startling under the slightly wacky care of Merwin, Jr.; and Planet Stories, which gibes a Payne to all who read it. And that is the true history of stef. - 9 -