The inaugural issue of Amazing Stories (cover-dated April 1926) appeared, widely regarded as the first magazine devoted entirely to science fiction (then often termed “scientifiction”).
Hugo Gernsback’s opening editorial, “A New Sort of Magazine,” set out the magazine’s purpose: entertaining stories grounded in science, positioning the title as a venue meant to educate as well as amuse.
During its first year, Amazing Stories largely published reprinted fiction (including works by Verne, Wells, and Poe), reflecting both Gernsback’s programmatic canon-building and difficulty attracting new material.
A dedicated letters section (“Discussions”) became a regular feature by the January 1927 issue, publishing correspondents’ full addresses and helping readers connect—an important early driver of organized science-fiction fandom.
After strong sales of a one-off Amazing Stories Annual in 1927, the publisher pursued a continuing venue for book-length stories, paving the way for a quarterly companion magazine.
Amazing Stories Quarterly launched as a companion publication, designed to carry a full novel per issue and extend the brand beyond the monthly magazine format.
Hugo Gernsback was forced into bankruptcy in early 1929 and lost control of Amazing Stories, ending the founding publisher-editor’s direct stewardship of the magazine.
Longtime associate editor T. O’Conor Sloane took over day-to-day editorial control during the 1929 ownership transition, marking a shift away from Gernsback’s founding era.
In the early Depression era, Amazing Stories was acquired by Teck Publications (a subsidiary associated with Bernarr Macfadden), stabilizing the magazine financially for a time.
With circulation declining during the 1930s, Amazing Stories changed to a bimonthly schedule in October 1935, signaling sustained financial and market pressure on pulp magazines.
Ziff-Davis acquired Amazing Stories in January 1938 and soon moved production to Chicago, initiating another major ownership change late in the prewar pulp era.
Raymond A. Palmer was hired in February 1938 and began taking over editorial duties with the June issue, a change that aimed to rebuild readership as the magazine sought renewed commercial success.
After circulation improvements under the new regime, Amazing Stories returned to a monthly schedule in November 1938, reversing the bimonthly rhythm of the mid-1930s.
Amazing Stories magazine — early years (1926–1939)
