"Galaxy Science Fiction" Magazine Archive, 1957 Featuring Isaac Asimov, Sturgeon, and Evelyn E. Smith

Isaac Asimov Theodore Sturgeon

Archive

[Magazines and Periodicals][Literature][Sci-fi] Galaxy Science Fiction Magazine archive of six issues. New York: Galaxy Publishing Corporation, July–December 1957. First editions. Original illustrated wraps. This six-issue consecutive archive of Galaxy Science Fiction—a leading mid-century American science fiction magazine edited by H.L. Gold—features appearances by major figures in the sci-fi genre including Isaac Asimov, Frederik Pohl, C.M. Kornbluth, and Theodore Sturgeon. Notable contributions from Evelyn E. Smith, a pioneering woman author in a male-dominated field, and from social satirist William Tenn (pseudonym of Philip Klass), mark the archive’s relevance to the emerging intersections of identity, technology, and social critique in postwar speculative fiction.

[1] Galaxy Science Fiction, Vol. 14, No. 3. July 1957. Includes “The Deaths of Ben Baxter” by Robert Sheckley, “A World Called Maanerek” by Poul Anderson, and “Help! I Am Dr. Morris Goldpepper” by Avram Davidson. Science essays by Willy Ley. Cover by Gaughan. Themes of identity, consciousness, and alienation figure prominently, with Anderson’s novelette offering an allegorical exploration of colonialism and social order.

[2] Galaxy Science Fiction, Vol. 14, No. 4. August 1957. Features “Time Waits for Winthrop” by William Tenn (Philip Klass), “If Money” by Daniel F. Galouye, and “The Man Outside” by Evelyn E. Smith. Smith, one of the few women regularly published in 1950s sci-fi magazines, contributes a tale that subtly challenges domestic gender roles and societal conformity. Willy Ley’s “Our Missile Arsenal” reflects the public’s Cold War-era obsession with space and national defense.

[3] Galaxy Science Fiction, Vol. 14, No. 5. September 1957. Includes “The Pod in the Barrier” by Theodore Sturgeon, “Shadow World” by Clifford D. Simak, and “The Dark Star” by William Tenn. This issue balances psychological inquiry with space-bound metaphors, reflecting Sturgeon’s influential blend of speculative fiction and humanism.

[4] Galaxy Science Fiction, Vol. 14, No. 6. October 1957. Debuts Wolfbane (Part 1) by Frederik Pohl and C.M. Kornbluth—a biting satire of conformity and surveillance societies that anticipated the themes of later dystopian cyberpunk. Also features “Double Indemnity” by Robert Sheckley and “Ideas Die Hard” by Isaac Asimov, the latter representing Asimov’s early interrogation of technocratic culture. Gordon R. Dickson’s “Robots Are Nice?” toys with anthropomorphism and ethics in AI.

[5] Galaxy Science Fiction, Vol. 15, No. 1. November 1957. Concludes Wolfbane (Part 2) by Pohl and Kornbluth. Includes “Morning After” by Robert Sheckley and “Break a Leg” by Jim Harmon. Short stories “You Were Right, Joe” by J.T. McIntosh and “Gray Flannel Armor” by Finn O’Donnevan offer critiques of postwar masculinity and capitalist ennui. Ley’s essay “On With the Dodo Hunt!” suggests science fiction’s expanding intersection with evolutionary science.

[6] Galaxy Science Fiction, Vol. 15, No. 2. December 1957. Includes “Galley Slave” by Isaac Asimov, one of the early stories in his Robot series that explores civil liberties and labor ethics in an automated world. “Carbon Copy” by Clifford D. Simak and “What’s He Doing in There?” by Fritz Leiber offer metaphysical and philosophical themes. Willy Ley’s “The Spaceship in the Basement” closes the year with optimistic technological speculation.

All issues show light to moderate wear consistent with age. Overall very good condition. Together, these six consecutive issues document the Golden Age’s shift toward psychologically and socially complex narratives, showcasing Galaxy’s centrality in shaping modern science fiction as a literary and cultural force.

Item #21774

Price: $225.00