ASTONISHING STORIES

   US PULP MAGAZINE, 16 issues Feb 1940-Apr 1943, mostly bimonthly, published by Fictioneers, Inc., Chicago; ed Feb 1940-Sep 1941 Frederik POHL and Nov 1941-Apr 1943 Alden H.Norton. Fictioneers, Inc. was a subsidiary of Popular Publications. After the success of this magazine and its sister publication, SUPER SCIENCE STORIES, both ed by the 19-year-old Pohl, Popular Publications went on to acquire various of the Frank A.MUNSEY magazines, including The ARGOSY, FAMOUS FANTASTIC MYSTERIES and FANTASTIC NOVELS, and put Alden H.Norton in overall control of their sf, including the two being edited by Pohl. AS was a lively and successful magazine under Pohl and his successor, publishing mainly short stories while Super Science Stories emphasized novels. Although AS was in part a training ground for writers who would become famous later, its stories were surprisingly good considering how little was paid for them: the total budget per issue was $405. AS was also, with a cover price of 10 cents, the cheapest sf magazine on the market. It featured stories by, among others, Isaac ASIMOV, Alfred BESTER, Ray CUMMINGS, Neil R.JONES (several Professor Jameson stories), Henry KUTTNER, Clifford D.SIMAK and, under pseudonyms, various FUTURIANS (including Pohl himself and C.M.KORNBLUTH). A Canadian reprint edition published 3 issues in 1942.