Colecţia de Povestiri Ştiinţifico-Fantastice
Encyclopedia
Colecția de Povestiri Ştiinţifico-Fantastice (koˈlekt͡si.a de povesˈtirʲ ʃti.inˈt͡sifiko fanˈtastit͡ʃe, "The Science Fiction
Stories Collection", commonly CPSF) is a Romania
n science fiction supplement, founded by writer Adrian Rogoz and published by the popular science
weekly Ştiinţă şi Tehnică. It was one of the leading venues for the Romanian science fiction
genre under the communist regime
. The first series was published between October 1, 1955 and April 1974; the review was reestablished in 1990, after the 1989 Revolution
, originally as a common venture with the Anticipaţia almanac
(itself in print from 1982 to 1999). It is currently published as a standalone magazine.
an (Eastern Bloc
) country to have a specialized science fiction publication.
The collection published 466 consecutive issues, generally structured around a long, serialized, story and a shorter one. Beginning in the 1960s, it spearheaded the science fiction club phenomenon, promoted by Rogoz and fellow writer Ion Hobana
. The collection itself was deemed "extraordinary popular" by author Mihai Iovănel, in a 2008 article for Gândul
; however, Iovănel also argued that, through the early contributions of various writers (Radu Nor, I. M. Ştefan etc.), CPSF was a mild propaganda
outlet for Marxism-Leninism
and the Soviet Union
(see Russian science fiction and fantasy
, Soviet occupation of Romania
, Socialist realism in Romania
). The same writer notes that Romanian science fiction in general and Colecţia... in particular only emancipated themselves from such pressures late in the 1960s, partly through the science fantasy
works of Rogoz, Vladimir Colin
, Sergiu Fărcăşan and several others.
Relaunched in 1990 by author Mihai Dan Pavelescu, Colecţia... merged with Anticipaţia and was for a while known as CPSF Anticipaţia. Pavelescu quit his position by the end of the decade, and the magazine, again restructured, experienced changes in direction, financial difficulties, and, allegedly, controversy over who owned its trademark
. Writer Aurel Cărăşel eventually took over as Colecţia... editor and moved its headquarters from Bucharest
to Craiova
, but, according to science fiction reviewer Michael Hăulică, there was little connection between the two series, Cărăşel's being unremarkable.
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 Collection", commonly CPSF) is a Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
n science fiction supplement, founded by writer Adrian Rogoz and published by the popular science
Popular science
Popular science, sometimes called literature of science, is interpretation of science intended for a general audience. While science journalism focuses on recent scientific developments, popular science is broad-ranging, often written by scientists as well as journalists, and is presented in many...
weekly Ştiinţă şi Tehnică. It was one of the leading venues for the Romanian science fiction
Romanian science fiction
Romanian science fiction began in the 19th century and gained popularity in Romania during the second half of the 20th century. While a few Romanian science fiction writers were translated into English, none proved popular abroad.-Early years:...
genre under the communist regime
Communist Romania
Communist Romania was the period in Romanian history when that country was a Soviet-aligned communist state in the Eastern Bloc, with the dominant role of Romanian Communist Party enshrined in its successive constitutions...
. The first series was published between October 1, 1955 and April 1974; the review was reestablished in 1990, after the 1989 Revolution
Romanian Revolution of 1989
The Romanian Revolution of 1989 was a series of riots and clashes in December 1989. These were part of the Revolutions of 1989 that occurred in several Warsaw Pact countries...
, originally as a common venture with the Anticipaţia almanac
Almanac
An almanac is an annual publication that includes information such as weather forecasts, farmers' planting dates, and tide tables, containing tabular information in a particular field or fields often arranged according to the calendar etc...
(itself in print from 1982 to 1999). It is currently published as a standalone magazine.
History
Colecţia... was established following a nation-wide competition for "the best science fiction story", aimed at young Romanian writers. Launched by Ştiinţă şi Tehnică, it had among its winners Adrian Rogoz, who was subsequently asked to take over as editor of the bi-monthly collection. As a result, Romania was the first and for long only Eastern EuropeEastern Europe
Eastern Europe is the eastern part of Europe. The term has widely disparate geopolitical, geographical, cultural and socioeconomic readings, which makes it highly context-dependent and even volatile, and there are "almost as many definitions of Eastern Europe as there are scholars of the region"...
an (Eastern Bloc
Eastern bloc
The term Eastern Bloc or Communist Bloc refers to the former communist states of Eastern and Central Europe, generally the Soviet Union and the countries of the Warsaw Pact...
) country to have a specialized science fiction publication.
The collection published 466 consecutive issues, generally structured around a long, serialized, story and a shorter one. Beginning in the 1960s, it spearheaded the science fiction club phenomenon, promoted by Rogoz and fellow writer Ion Hobana
Ion Hobana
Ion Hobana was a Romanian science fiction writer, literary critic and ufologist...
. The collection itself was deemed "extraordinary popular" by author Mihai Iovănel, in a 2008 article for Gândul
Gândul
Gândul is a Romanian daily newspaper published in Bucharest. It was founded in May 2005 by Mircea Dinescu, who used to write a daily editorial called "Vorba lu' Dinescu", and Cristian Tudor Popescu, who was also the editor-in-chief until January 2008. Its initial circulation was about 52,000...
; however, Iovănel also argued that, through the early contributions of various writers (Radu Nor, I. M. Ştefan etc.), CPSF was a mild propaganda
Propaganda
Propaganda is a form of communication that is aimed at influencing the attitude of a community toward some cause or position so as to benefit oneself or one's group....
outlet for Marxism-Leninism
Marxism-Leninism
Marxism–Leninism is a communist ideology, officially based upon the theories of Marxism and Vladimir Lenin, that promotes the development and creation of a international communist society through the leadership of a vanguard party over a revolutionary socialist state that represents a dictatorship...
and the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
(see Russian science fiction and fantasy
Russian science fiction and fantasy
Russian science fiction and fantasy are genres of speculative and fantastic fiction that have been part of mainstream Russian literature since the 19th century, though SF did not emerge as a coherent genre until the early 20th century through the influence of translated works by authors such as...
, Soviet occupation of Romania
Soviet occupation of Romania
The Soviet occupation of Romania refers to the period from 1944 to August 1958, during which the Soviet Union maintained a significant military presence in Romania...
, Socialist realism in Romania
Socialist realism in Romania
After World War II, socialist realism on the Soviet model was imposed on the USSR's new satellites, including Romania. This was accompanied by a series of organisational and repressive moves, for instance the incarceration of numerous poets...
). The same writer notes that Romanian science fiction in general and Colecţia... in particular only emancipated themselves from such pressures late in the 1960s, partly through the science fantasy
Science fantasy
Science fantasy is a mixed genre within speculative fiction drawing elements from both science fiction and fantasy. Although in some terms of its portrayal in recent media products it can be defined as instead of being a mixed genre of science fiction and fantasy it is instead a mixing of the...
works of Rogoz, Vladimir Colin
Vladimir Colin
Vladimir Colin was a Romanian short story writer and novelist. One of the most important fantasy and science fiction authors in Romanian literature, whose main works are known on several continents, he was also a noted poet, essayist, translator, journalist and comic book author...
, Sergiu Fărcăşan and several others.
Relaunched in 1990 by author Mihai Dan Pavelescu, Colecţia... merged with Anticipaţia and was for a while known as CPSF Anticipaţia. Pavelescu quit his position by the end of the decade, and the magazine, again restructured, experienced changes in direction, financial difficulties, and, allegedly, controversy over who owned its trademark
Trademark
A trademark, trade mark, or trade-mark is a distinctive sign or indicator used by an individual, business organization, or other legal entity to identify that the products or services to consumers with which the trademark appears originate from a unique source, and to distinguish its products or...
. Writer Aurel Cărăşel eventually took over as Colecţia... editor and moved its headquarters from Bucharest
Bucharest
Bucharest is the capital municipality, cultural, industrial, and financial centre of Romania. It is the largest city in Romania, located in the southeast of the country, at , and lies on the banks of the Dâmbovița River....
to Craiova
Craiova
Craiova , Romania's 6th largest city and capital of Dolj County, is situated near the east bank of the river Jiu in central Oltenia. It is a longstanding political center, and is located at approximately equal distances from the Southern Carpathians and the River Danube . Craiova is the chief...
, but, according to science fiction reviewer Michael Hăulică, there was little connection between the two series, Cărăşel's being unremarkable.