The Golden Age of Science Fiction
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20100302
The Golden Age of Science Fiction
THE GOLDEN AGE (the Fifties to early Sixties) of Sci-Fi:
1950: Doubleday begins to publish SF; first Midwestcon (later called Relaxicon);
Sixth Fandom starts; Australian Science Fiction Society launches;
magazines Galaxy Science Fiction and Fantastic Story Quarterly launched;
NOVELs The Dying Earth by Jack Vance; Pebble in the Sky by Isaac Asimov
Collection I,Robot by Isaac Asimov, which popularized the 3 Laws of Robotics;
NOVEL First Lensman by E.E. Smith and Collection The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury
magazines Galaxy Science Fiction and Fantastic Story Quarterly launched;
NOVELs The Dying Earth by Jack Vance; Pebble in the Sky by Isaac Asimov
Collection I,Robot by Isaac Asimov, which popularized the 3 Laws of Robotics;
NOVEL First Lensman by E.E. Smith and Collection The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury
in novel/collection The Voyage of the Space Beagle, A.E.van Vogt
coins the term 'Nexialism'- a scientific/mental discipline (this comprises
4 previous stories by van Vogt,probably an influence on Alien-type films)
stories: "Scanners Live in Vain" first by Cordwainer Smith; "Trespass" first by Gordon R. Dickson
"Isolationist" first by Mack Reynolds; "Born of Man and Woman" first by Richard Matheson
non-fiction "Dianetics-the Evolution of a Science" by L. Ron Hubbard (who launches Dianetics)
FILMs Destination Moon-see it HERE!; Rocketship X-M;see it HERE
The Flying Saucer; Two Lost Worlds; Prehistoric Women
and the serial Flying Disc Man From Mars
TV Space Patrol and Tom Corbett,Space Cadet begin their patrol of space for 5 years
RADIO Dimension X begins broadcasts for a year-and-a-half, 50 episodes, on NBC
COMIX Weird Science & Weird Fantasy begin from EC Comics (William Gaines & Wally Wood)
and Marvel Boy #1,the hero from Uranus,debuts at Timely Comics (future Marvel Comics)
also Strange Adventures #1 from National (DC) adapts film Destination Moon
and 1990s hero Dan Dare premieres in the British weekly comic strip magazine, Eagle
coins the term 'Nexialism'- a scientific/mental discipline (this comprises
4 previous stories by van Vogt,probably an influence on Alien-type films)
stories: "Scanners Live in Vain" first by Cordwainer Smith; "Trespass" first by Gordon R. Dickson
"Isolationist" first by Mack Reynolds; "Born of Man and Woman" first by Richard Matheson
non-fiction "Dianetics-the Evolution of a Science" by L. Ron Hubbard (who launches Dianetics)
FILMs Destination Moon-see it HERE!; Rocketship X-M;see it HERE
The Flying Saucer; Two Lost Worlds; Prehistoric Women
and the serial Flying Disc Man From Mars
TV Space Patrol and Tom Corbett,Space Cadet begin their patrol of space for 5 years
RADIO Dimension X begins broadcasts for a year-and-a-half, 50 episodes, on NBC
COMIX Weird Science & Weird Fantasy begin from EC Comics (William Gaines & Wally Wood)
and Marvel Boy #1,the hero from Uranus,debuts at Timely Comics (future Marvel Comics)
also Strange Adventures #1 from National (DC) adapts film Destination Moon
and 1990s hero Dan Dare premieres in the British weekly comic strip magazine, Eagle
1951: FILMs The Day the Earth Stood Still by Robert Wise; When Worlds Collide; The Thing;
_____ The Man From Planet X; Flight to Mars; Five; Unknown World; The Lost Continent
_____ and Superman and the Mole Men precedes the Superman TV series by a year
_____ TV Tales of Tomorrow, an anthology series, adapts various famous stories for 5 years
_____ and Stranger From Space, about a Martian boy visitor, lasts 17 episodes from BBC
_____ CARDs Jets, Rockets, and Spacemen - a 108-Card set from Bowman
_____ NOVELs The Puppet Masters;
Between Planets and Universe by Robert Heinlein_____ Foundation by Isaac Asimov, first in trilogy; Grey Lensman by E.E.'Doc' Smith
_____ also The Disappearance by Philip Wylie; The Day of the Triffids by John Wyndham
_____ collection Seetee Ship by Jack Williamson features an early mention of "antimatter."
_____ stories "Rock Diver" first by Harry Harrison; "The Devil, You Say?" first by Charles Beaumont
_____ "Sentinel of Eternity" by Arthur C. Clarke; "You'll Never go Home Again" by Clifford D. Simak
_____ COMIX Captain Comet debuts in Strange Adventures #9 (National/DC);
_____ also Space Squadron #1 and Space Worlds from Atlas Comics
_____ and Mystery in Space #1,also National/DC, lasts for 110 issues,to 1966
1952: FILM Red Planet Mars; King Kong (1933) is re-released to great success.
_____ the serials Radar Men From the Moon and Zombies of the Stratosphere
_____ TV The Adventures of Superman begin a 6-year run, until George Reeves' death;
_____ NOVEL The Rolling Stones by Robert Heinlein;
_____ also NOVELs Foundation and Empire by Asimov; City by Clifford D. Simak
_____ story "The Lovers" by Philip Jose Farmer introduces a new frankness in sex to sci-fi
_____ magazine If is launched (sub-titled Worlds of Science Fiction); lasts until 1974
_____ COMIX Journey Into Mystery #1 from Atlas Comics (formerly Timely,later Marvel);
_____ also Adventures Into Weird Worlds (Atlas); Space Adventures #1, Charlton
1953: the first Hugo Award (for Hugo Gernsback); the term "SF" is popularized
_____ NOVELs Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury; More Than Human by Theodore Sturgeon
_____ also The Demolished Man by Alfred Bester; Childhood's End by Arthur C.Clarke
____ FILMs War of the Worlds;Invaders From Mars; It Came From Outer Space; Spaceways;
____ The Beast From 20,000 Fathoms;Robot Monster;Four-Sided Triangle;Donovan's Brain;
_____ The Twonky; The Magnetic Monster and you can watch Phantom From Space
_____ COMIX Speed Carter,Spaceman#1, from Atlas Comics
_____ magazine Fantastic Universe is launched; lasts until 1960
_____ TV Space Command, an early Canadian show, lasts for one year; also
_____ The Quatermass Experiment, a 6-episode serial, airs on British BBC TV - later a film
1954: FILMs THEM!; Creature From the Black Lagoon; Tobor the Great; Gojira (Japan)
_____ Target Earth!; 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea; Killers From Space>see it HERE
_____ TV Rocky Jones, Space Ranger premieres and lasts for two years
_____ as well as Captain Midnight, a.k.a. Jet Jackson, also lasting for two years
_____ a version of Nineteen Eighty-Four (aka 1984) airs twice on British television
_____ The Vampira Show is an early hosted showing of genre movies,setting the pattern
_____ RADIO version of The Day the Earth Stood Still from Hollywood Radio Theater
_____ The Lost Planet and Return to the Lost Planet on British children's radio
_____ Forrest J Ackerman coins the term "sci-fi" after hearing the word ' hi-fi ' on the radio
_____ NOVELs Mission of Gravity by Hal Clement; The Star Beast by Robert Heinlein;
_____ Brain Wave by Poul Anderson; The Caves of Steel by Asimov; I am Legend by R.Matheson
_____ non-fiction Handbook of Science Fiction and Fantasy by Donald Tuck and
_____ The Immortal Storm (reprinted '74 Hyperion books) by Sam Moskowitz-his best-known work
_____ COMIX Weird Science & Weird Fantasy combined into Weird Science-Fantasy(#23),EC
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1955: FILMs This Island Earth; Conquest of Space; Devil Girl From Mars;
_____ The Quatermass Xperiment a.k.a. The Creeping Unknown; Kiss me Deadly;
_____ It Came From Beneath the Sea by Ray Harryhausen; Tarantula; King Dinosaur
_____ and click the title to watch The Phantom From 10,000 Leagues
_____ TV Science Fiction Theatre,anthology series,starts for 2 years;Quatermass II on BBC
_____ RADIO X Minus One begins broadcasts for 3 years on NBC,following up Dimension X series
_____ NOVELs Tunnel in the Sky by Robert Heinlein; Earthman,Come Home by James Blish
_____ The End of Eternity by Isaac Asimov; The Chrysalids by John Wyndham
_____ magazine Infinity Science Fiction is launched but lasts only 3 years (or 20 issues)
_____ COMIX Incredible Science Fiction is new title,changed from Weird Science-Fantasy,EC
_____ with Forbidden Worlds #35,comic switches to more sci-fi stories,American Comics Group
_____ and J'onn J'onzz, Manhunter from Mars, debuts in Detective Comics #225 (National/DC)
1956: FILMs Forbidden Planet; Invasion of the Body Snatchers; Earth vs.The Flying Saucers;
_____ X the Unknown; Timeslip a.k.a.The Atomic Man; 1984; Rodan; The Gamma People;
__ The Day the World Ended; World Without End; It Conquered the World; The Mole People
_____ and the immortal The Indestructible Man, which you can watch by clicking the title
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_____ NOVELs Double Star and
Time For the Stars by Robert Heinlein; The Death of Grass by John Christopher_____ also The Stars My Destination; Tiger!Tiger! by Alfred Bester;
_____ nonfiction In Search of Wonder collection by Damon Knight (2nd edition in '67)
_____ COMIX The new Flash, in Showcase#4 (National/DC); World of Fantasy #1 (Atlas)
_____ and Mysteries of Unexplored Worlds #1, Charlton Comics, lasts 48 issues
1957: FILMs The Incredible Shrinking Man; Amazing Colossal Man; 20 Million Miles to Earth;
_____ The Deadly Mantis; The Black Scorpion; The Beginning of the End; The 27th Day
_____ Quatermass II a.k.a. Enemy From Space; The Mysterians; Curse of Frankenstein
_____ TV Shock Theater-collection of 52 classic films from Universal released to TV
_____ host John K. Zacherle appeared billed as "Roland" - later changed name to "Zacherley"
_____ NOVELs The Door Into Summer and
Citizen of the Galaxy by Heinlein_____ also The Green Odyssey by Philip Jose Farmer; Big Planet by Jack Vance
_____ and The Midwich Cuckoos by John Wyndham; The Cosmic Puppets by Philip K. D ick
_____ magazine Saturn is launched (changed to a detective magazine a year later); also,
_____ Venture Science Fiction Magazine launched, but lasts only a year
_____ COMIX Challengers of the Unknown debut in Showcase #6 (National/DC)
1958: FILMs The Fly; It!The Terror From Beyond Space; The Blob; The Space Children;
_____ The Colossus of New York; Attack of the Puppet People; Attack of the 50-foot Woman
_____ I Married a Monster From Outer Space; The H-Man; Fiend Without a Face
_____ and click title to watch The Day the Sky Exploded
_____ TV Quatermass and the Pit airs as a 6-episode serial on the BBC while
_____ The Invisible Man from UK ITP airs 26 episodes for a period of one year
_____ NOVELs Methuselah's Children and
Have Space Suit-Will Travel by Heinlein_____ and Non-Stop (later named Starship) by Brian W.Aldiss (early generation-starship)
_____ magazine Famous Monsters of Filmland launched, editor Forrest J Ackerman
_____ The British Science Fiction Association founded by group of sf fans,authors & publishers
_____ COMIX Strange Worlds #1 (Atlas Comics); Sky Masters of the Space Force comic strip
_____ The Legion of Super-Heroes, from the 30th century, in Adventure Comics#247 (DC)
_____ and Adam Strange debuts, Showcase #17 (National/DC) and Space Ranger too!
1959: NOVELs Starship Troopers by Robert Heinlein; The Sirens of Titan by Kurt Vonnegut Jr.
_____ TV The Twilight Zone from Rod Serling begins a 5-year run of 151 episodes
_____ FILMs The World,the Flesh and the Devil; On the Beach; Plan 9 From Outer Space;
_____ Killer Shrews>see it HERE; The Cosmic Man; Journey to the Center of the Earth
_____ The GIANT Gila Monster > see it HERE: The Giant Gila Monster; the 4-D Man
_____ and you can watch:Teenage Zombies; Teenagers From Outer Space; The Manster
_____ COMIX Tales of Suspense #1 & Tales to Astonish #1 (Atlas Comics)
_____ new Green Lantern debuts in Showcase #22 (National/DC); Space War#1 (Charlton)
_____ First Fandom established after a group of experienced sf fans meet at Midwestcon
1960: FILMs The Time Machine; Village of the Damned; 12 to the Moon; The Lost World;
_____ Angry Red Planet; Beyond the Time Barrier; Dinosaurus!; The Atomic Submarine
_____ and click titles to watch The Last Woman on Earth; The Amazing Transparent Man
_____ as well as Warning From Space, First Spaceship on Venus and The Wasp Woman
_____ TV the British Pathfinder series: Pathfinders in Space; Pathfinders to Mars, etc.
_____ NOVELs A Canticle For Leibowitz by Walter M. Miller Jr.; Venus Plus X by Theo Sturgeon
_____ the 1st Deathworld from Harry Harrison; nonfiction New Maps of Hell by Kingsley Amis
_____ COMIX The Atomic Knights debut in Strange Adventures #117 (National/DC);
_____ Captain Atom debuts in Space Adventures #33 (Charlton Comics)
_____ and Unknown Worlds #1 from American Comics Group lasts for 57 issues/8 years
1961: NOVEL Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert Heinlein; magazine Spacemen launched
_____ The Stainless Steel Rat by Harry Harrison is first in a series of over a dozen books
_____ Perry Rhodan begins from Germany; intended as 30 volumes,it passed 2500 in 2009
_____ COMIX Amazing Adventures #1 (Atlas) changes name to Amazing Adult Fantasy with#7
_____ The Fantastic Four (FF #1) by Stan Lee & Jack Kirby begins the Marvel Comics Age
_____ and the new(Silver Age) Atom debuts in Showcase#34, DC, Gil Kane & Murphy Anderson
_____ the 1st issue of fanzine Alter Ego (1st true comics fanzine?), by Roy Thomas and Jerry Bails
_____ FILMs Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea; Mysterious Island; Master of the World;
_____ Gorgo; Konga; The Day the Earth Caught Fire; The Phantom Planet; The Damned
_____ and you can watch one of the above films, by clicking HERE; The Beast of Yucca Flats
_____ TV A for Andromeda airs as a 7-episode serial on BBC; novel sequel(Breakthrough) in 1964
_____ and Supercar - 39 episodes from Gerry Anderson ushers in the era of supermarionation!
1962: COMIX The Incredible Hulk and Spider-Man debut, from Marvel Comics, Stan Lee & Steve Ditko
_____ and a man shrinks himself in Tales to Astonish #27,then in costume as Ant-Man in #35
____ also Dr.Solar,Man of the Atom#1 (Gold Key Comics), Barbarella debuts in French comic strip,
_____ The Metal Men, a new style of robots, are introduced in Showcase #37 (DC)
_____ The Twilight Zone comic book from Gold Key begins a 92-issue run: The T-Zone!
_____ and Space Family Robinson #1 from Gold Key,for 36 issues,changes to Lost in Space#37
_____ CARDs Mars Attacks set released by Topps,inspired by EC Comics Weird Science#16
_____ FILMs Journey to the Seventh Planet; Panic in Year Zero; Creation of the Humanoids
_____ The Brain That Wouldn't Die; King Kong vs. Godzilla features ultimate monster battle
_____ Planet of Storms is a Russian sci-fier whose footage was used in later films (see 1965)
_____ La Jetee uses b&w still images (except 1 scene)-French new-wave director Chris Marker
_____ and Dr. No is the first of many James Bond films, some of which have much sci-fi in 'em
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_____ TV The Jetsons cartoon debuts for a year; returns in mid-eighties with more episodes
_____ while Fireball XL5 from Gerry Anderson set the standard for sci-fi marionation,39 episodes
_____ and Out of This World-a 13-episode British series of science fiction plays;host:Boris Karloff
_____ NOVELs Hothouse by Brian Aldiss; The Man in the High Castle by Philip K. Dick
_____ A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess; A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle
_____ magazine Castle of Frankenstein is launched