Before the Golden Age
Encyclopedia
Before the Golden Age: A Science Fiction Anthology of the 1930s is an anthology of 25 science fiction
stories from 1930s pulp magazines edited by Isaac Asimov
. It was first published in April 1974.
The anthology was inspired by a dream Asimov had on the morning of 3 April 1973. In his dream, Asimov had prepared an anthology of his favorite science fiction stories from the 1930s and was getting a chance to read them again. After waking, he told his fianceé Janet Jeppson about the dream, and she suggested that he actually do such an anthology. Doubleday agreed to publish the anthology, and Asimov's friend Sam Moskowitz
provided him with copies of the relevant science fiction magazines. Asimov completed work on the anthology on 10 May.
The stories were selected by Asimov, and the main selection criterion was the degree to which they influenced him when he was growing up in the 1930s. The prefatory material and individual introductions to the stories fill in the details about the early life of the child prodigy
, which effectively makes the volume an autobiographical prequel to his earlier collection The Early Asimov
. The anthology also includes "Big Game", a story written by Asimov in 1941 and never sold.
The stories collected in the anthology, although they range in quality from embarrassing to very good, are of a kind rarely anthologized and provide a unique historical and cultural retrospective of the genre.
The anthology was first published as a large hardcover by Doubleday in 1974 and re-issued as three smaller paperbacks by Fawcett Books the following year. The series was re-issued multiple times in the period of 1975-1984 in sets of either three or four paperbacks. As of 2010, it is out of print.
The anthology also includes story introductions and extensive commentary by Asimov.
praised the anthology as "uniquely and delightfully Asimov," describing it as "a much-wanted aggregate of the long-remembered, mostly long-lost masterpieces of ragged-pulp sf which fired up so many of the writers [from] the Golden Age of John Campbell's Astounding. Alexei
and Cory Panshin
described Before the Golden Age as "a book that needed doing," saying that Asimov was perhaps the only writer who "could have the clout and the personal investment of love necessary to produce an anthology like this." Gerald Jonas, however, reviewing the anthology and related books for The New York Times
, noted that "a little of this looking backward goes a long way, faulting "the defects of style, the prolixities, [and] the flaws of narrative construction" in the stories.
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
stories from 1930s pulp magazines edited by Isaac Asimov
Isaac Asimov
Isaac Asimov was an American author and professor of biochemistry at Boston University, best known for his works of science fiction and for his popular science books. Asimov was one of the most prolific writers of all time, having written or edited more than 500 books and an estimated 90,000...
. It was first published in April 1974.
The anthology was inspired by a dream Asimov had on the morning of 3 April 1973. In his dream, Asimov had prepared an anthology of his favorite science fiction stories from the 1930s and was getting a chance to read them again. After waking, he told his fianceé Janet Jeppson about the dream, and she suggested that he actually do such an anthology. Doubleday agreed to publish the anthology, and Asimov's friend Sam Moskowitz
Sam Moskowitz
Sam Moskowitz was an early fan and organizer of interest in science fiction and, later, a writer, critic, and historian of the field.-Biography:...
provided him with copies of the relevant science fiction magazines. Asimov completed work on the anthology on 10 May.
The stories were selected by Asimov, and the main selection criterion was the degree to which they influenced him when he was growing up in the 1930s. The prefatory material and individual introductions to the stories fill in the details about the early life of the child prodigy
Child prodigy
A child prodigy is someone who, at an early age, masters one or more skills far beyond his or her level of maturity. One criterion for classifying prodigies is: a prodigy is a child, typically younger than 18 years old, who is performing at the level of a highly trained adult in a very demanding...
, which effectively makes the volume an autobiographical prequel to his earlier collection The Early Asimov
The Early Asimov
The Early Asimov or, Eleven Years of Trying is a 1972 collection of short stories by Isaac Asimov. Each story is accompanied by commentary by the author, who gives details about his life and his literary achievements in the period in which he wrote the story.-Contents:* "The Callistan Menace" *...
. The anthology also includes "Big Game", a story written by Asimov in 1941 and never sold.
The stories collected in the anthology, although they range in quality from embarrassing to very good, are of a kind rarely anthologized and provide a unique historical and cultural retrospective of the genre.
The anthology was first published as a large hardcover by Doubleday in 1974 and re-issued as three smaller paperbacks by Fawcett Books the following year. The series was re-issued multiple times in the period of 1975-1984 in sets of either three or four paperbacks. As of 2010, it is out of print.
1931
- "The Man Who EvolvedThe Man Who Evolved"The Man Who Evolved" is a science fiction short story by Edmond Hamilton that was first published in the April 1931 issue of Wonder Stories. In his comments on the story in Before the Golden Age, Isaac Asimov called it the first science fiction short story that impressed him so much it stayed in...
" by Edmond HamiltonEdmond HamiltonEdmond Moore Hamilton was an American author of science fiction stories and novels during the mid-twentieth century. Born in Youngstown, Ohio, he was raised there and in nearby New Castle, Pennsylvania... - "The Jameson Satellite" by Neil R. JonesNeil R. JonesNeil Ronald Jones was an American author who worked for the state of New York. Not prolific, and little remembered today, Jones was ground–breaking in science fiction. His first story, "The Death's Head Meteor", was published in Air Wonder Stories in 1930, possibly recording the first use of...
- "Submicroscopic" by Capt. S.P. Meek
- "Awlo of Ulm" by Capt. S.P. Meek
- "Tetrahedra of Space" by P. Schuyler MillerP. Schuyler MillerPeter Schuyler Miller was an American science fiction writer and critic.-Life:Miller was raised in New York's Mohawk Valley, which led to a life-long interest in the Iroquois Indians. He pursued this as an amateur archaeologist and a member of the New York State Archaeological Association.He...
- "The World of the Red Sun" by Clifford D. SimakClifford D. SimakClifford Donald Simak was an American science fiction writer. He was honored by fans with three Hugo awards and by colleagues with one Nebula award and was named the third Grand Master by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America in 1977.-Biography:Clifford Donald Simak was born in...
1932
- "Tumithak of the Corridors" by Charles R. TannerCharles R. TannerCharles R. Tanner was an American science fiction and fantasy author who wrote in the late 1930s and early 1940s. Tanner's first short story was "The Color of Space," published in Science Wonder Stories in 1930...
- "The Moon Era" by Jack WilliamsonJack WilliamsonJohn Stewart Williamson , who wrote as Jack Williamson was a U.S. writer often referred to as the "Dean of Science Fiction" following the death in 1988 of Robert A...
1933
- "The Man Who AwokeThe Man Who AwokeThe Man Who Awoke is a science fiction novel by Laurence Manning. It was initially serialised in five parts during 1933 in Wonder Stories magazine. Later it was published as one complete novel in 1975 by Del Rey/Ballantine....
" by Laurence ManningLaurence ManningLaurence Manning was a Canadian science fiction author.Manning was born in St. John, New Brunswick and attended Kings College in Halifax, Nova Scotia. In the 1920s he moved to the United States. In the USA, he lived primarily on Staten Island, where he began writing short stories for several... - "Tumithak in Shawm" by Charles R. TannerCharles R. TannerCharles R. Tanner was an American science fiction and fantasy author who wrote in the late 1930s and early 1940s. Tanner's first short story was "The Color of Space," published in Science Wonder Stories in 1930...
1934
- "Colossus" by Donald WandreiDonald WandreiDonald Albert Wandrei was an American science fiction, fantasy and weird fiction writer, poet and editor. He wrote as Donald Wandrei. He was the older brother of science fiction writer and artist Howard Wandrei...
- "Born of the Sun" by Jack WilliamsonJack WilliamsonJohn Stewart Williamson , who wrote as Jack Williamson was a U.S. writer often referred to as the "Dean of Science Fiction" following the death in 1988 of Robert A...
- "Sidewise in TimeSidewise in Time"Sidewise in Time" is a science fiction short story by Murray Leinster that was first published in the June 1934 issue of Astounding Stories...
" by Murray LeinsterMurray LeinsterMurray Leinster was a nom de plume of William Fitzgerald Jenkins, an award-winning American writer of science fiction and alternate history... - "Old Faithful" by Raymond Z. GallunRaymond Z. GallunRaymond Zinke Gallun was an American science fiction writer.Gallun was born in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin...
1935
- "Parasite PlanetParasite Planet"Parasite Planet" is a science fiction short story by Stanley G. Weinbaum originally published in the February 1935 issue of Astounding Stories. It was Weinbaum's fourth published story, and the first to be set on Venus...
" by Stanley G. WeinbaumStanley G. WeinbaumStanley Grauman Weinbaum was an American science fiction author. His career in science fiction was short but influential... - "Proxima Centauri" by Murray LeinsterMurray LeinsterMurray Leinster was a nom de plume of William Fitzgerald Jenkins, an award-winning American writer of science fiction and alternate history...
- "The Accursed Galaxy" by Edmond HamiltonEdmond HamiltonEdmond Moore Hamilton was an American author of science fiction stories and novels during the mid-twentieth century. Born in Youngstown, Ohio, he was raised there and in nearby New Castle, Pennsylvania...
1936
- "He Who Shrank" by Henry HasseHenry HasseHenry Louis Hasse was an American science fiction author and fan. He is probably known best for being the co-author of Ray Bradbury's first published story, "Pendulum" ....
- "The Human Pets of Mars" by Leslie Frances Stone
- "The Brain Stealers of Mars" by John W. CampbellJohn W. CampbellJohn Wood Campbell, Jr. was an influential figure in American science fiction. As editor of Astounding Science Fiction , from late 1937 until his death, he is generally credited with shaping the so-called Golden Age of Science Fiction.Isaac Asimov called Campbell "the most powerful force in...
- "Devolution" by Edmond HamiltonEdmond HamiltonEdmond Moore Hamilton was an American author of science fiction stories and novels during the mid-twentieth century. Born in Youngstown, Ohio, he was raised there and in nearby New Castle, Pennsylvania...
- "Big Game" by Isaac AsimovIsaac AsimovIsaac Asimov was an American author and professor of biochemistry at Boston University, best known for his works of science fiction and for his popular science books. Asimov was one of the most prolific writers of all time, having written or edited more than 500 books and an estimated 90,000...
1937
- "Other Eyes Watching" by John W. CampbellJohn W. CampbellJohn Wood Campbell, Jr. was an influential figure in American science fiction. As editor of Astounding Science Fiction , from late 1937 until his death, he is generally credited with shaping the so-called Golden Age of Science Fiction.Isaac Asimov called Campbell "the most powerful force in...
- "Minus Planet" by John D. ClarkJohn D. ClarkJohn Drury Clark, Ph.D. was a noted American rocket fuel developer, chemist, and science fiction writer and fan. He was instrumental in the revival of interest in Robert E. Howard's Conan stories and influenced the writing careers of L. Sprague de Camp, Fletcher Pratt, and other authors.- Life and...
- "Past, Present, and Future" by Nat SchachnerNat SchachnerNat Schachner , also appearing as "Nathan Schachner" and under other bylines, was an American author. His first published story was "The Tower of Evil," written in collaboration with Arthur Leo Zagat and appearing in the Summer 1930 issue of Wonder Stories Quarterly...
1938
- "The Men and the MirrorThe Men and the Mirror"The Men and the Mirror" is a short science fiction story by author Ross Rocklynne, published in Astounding Science Fiction in July 1938, since reprinted in Rocklynne's collection of the same title and in Asimov's collection Before the Golden Age...
" by Ross RocklynneRoss RocklynneRoss Rocklynne was the pen name used by Ross Louis Rocklin, an American science fiction author active in the Golden Age of Science Fiction....
The anthology also includes story introductions and extensive commentary by Asimov.
Reception
Theodore SturgeonTheodore Sturgeon
Theodore Sturgeon was an American science fiction author.His most famous novel is More Than Human .-Biography:...
praised the anthology as "uniquely and delightfully Asimov," describing it as "a much-wanted aggregate of the long-remembered, mostly long-lost masterpieces of ragged-pulp sf which fired up so many of the writers [from] the Golden Age of John Campbell's Astounding. Alexei
Alexei Panshin
Alexis Adams Panshin is an American author and science fiction critic. He has written several critical works and several novels, including the 1968 Nebula Award-winning novel Rite of Passage and the 1990 Hugo Award winning study of science fiction The World Beyond the Hill .-Other works:Panshin...
and Cory Panshin
Cory Panshin
Cory Panshin is an American science fiction critic and writer. She often writes in collaboration with her husband, Alexei Panshin. The Panshins won the Hugo award for Best Non-Fiction Book in 1990 for The World Beyond the Hill, a massive history of science fiction.-External links:* Cory Panshin's...
described Before the Golden Age as "a book that needed doing," saying that Asimov was perhaps the only writer who "could have the clout and the personal investment of love necessary to produce an anthology like this." Gerald Jonas, however, reviewing the anthology and related books for The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
, noted that "a little of this looking backward goes a long way, faulting "the defects of style, the prolixities, [and] the flaws of narrative construction" in the stories.