Cosmic Stories and Stirring Science Stories

Cosmic Stories and Stirring Science Stories were companion American pulp magazines associated with editor Donald A. Wollheim and the New York science-fiction fan community. They were launched during the rapid expansion of the American science-fiction magazine market in the early 1940s, when publishers were experimenting with new titles and inexpensive editorial models. The two magazines were intended to alternate months, effectively creating a continuing presence on newsstands while sharing an editor, publisher arrangements, contributors, and much of their creative network. Stirring Science Stories appeared first, with its inaugural issue dated February 1941, although contemporary recollections place its actual appearance around January. Cosmic Stories followed in March. Cosmic was later labeled Cosmic Science-Fiction on the covers of its second and third issues, while its masthead continued to use Cosmic Stories. The magazines were published in pulp format at a 15-cent cover price. Stirring initially ran at 128 pages, while Cosmic ranged from 116 to 130 pages. After three issues of each title, publication stopped in 1941. Wollheim subsequently secured a new publisher, Manhattan Fiction Publications, for one additional issue of Stirring Science Stories dated March 1942, but wartime conditions prevented further continuation. Across both titles, only seven issues were produced. The magazines' most distinctive characteristic was their connection with the Futurians, a group of young New York science-fiction fans and aspiring writers. Wollheim had little or no fiction budget for the initial issues, so he appealed to acquaintances in fandom for material. Contributors included James Blish, C. M. Kornbluth, Frederik Pohl, Robert A. W. Lowndes, Walter Kubilius, David Kyle, John B. Michel, Isaac Asimov, Damon Knight, David H. Keller, and Clark Ashton Smith. Several stories appeared under pseudonyms, especially work by Kornbluth, who used names including Cecil Corwin, S. D. Gottesman, and Kenneth Falconer. The arrangement was financially precarious, and although an announced payment rate was half a cent per word, authors initially supplied much of the material without payment. Small payments became possible for some later contributions. Stirring Science Stories was marketed as a hybrid publication. Its contents were divided into a science-fiction section and a weird-fantasy section, separated by an editorial and letters department called The Vortex. Wollheim described the concept as two related magazines bound together. This broad editorial approach allowed the title to combine conventional science fiction with fantasy and supernatural fiction, while Cosmic concentrated more directly on science-fiction material. Despite weak finances and uneven production quality, the magazines published work that later became important in genre history. Kornbluth's story Thirteen O'Clock, published as by Cecil Corwin, was widely regarded as a standout and helped establish his reputation. Damon Knight's first published story, Resilience, appeared in Stirring, though a serious printing error damaged its opening sentence. Asimov's The Secret Sense appeared in Cosmic after he obtained a token payment when concerns arose about authors contributing to a non-paying competitor. Artwork came from figures including Hannes Bok, Roy Hunt, Leo Morey, and Elliott Dold; the July 1941 Cosmic cover was Dold's last science-fiction artwork. The magazines are now chiefly remembered as short-lived but influential outlets for the Futurian circle and as examples of the experimental, low-budget phase of American pulp science-fiction publishing.

The two magazines emerged from the American pulp-market expansion of the late 1930s and early 1940s. Science fiction had become a distinct commercial category after the success of Amazing Stories, and publishers released numerous new titles between 1939 and 1941. Donald A. Wollheim, an active fan and aspiring editor, approached Albing Publications after noticing one of its other pulp titles. The publisher lacked substantial capital but agreed to consider a science-fiction venture if Wollheim could assemble it at very low cost. The original plan was reportedly for one monthly magazine. It was changed to two alternating bimonthly titles: Stirring Science Stories and Cosmic Stories. Stirring appeared first in early 1941, followed by Cosmic. Wollheim edited every issue. The first three issues of each title were published by Albing Publications in New York, with both magazines priced at 15 cents. Cosmic retained the Cosmic Stories masthead but used Cosmic Science-Fiction on the covers of its second and third issues. After the initial six issues, both titles were canceled. Wollheim later found Manhattan Fiction Publications, which released a fourth issue of Stirring dated March 1942. Wartime publishing restrictions then ended the project. The editorial operation depended heavily on the Futurians, a network of young science-fiction fans and writers. Because Wollheim initially had virtually no fiction budget, Robert A. W. Lowndes helped locate material and many contributors supplied stories from personal connections. The magazines published work by James Blish, C. M. Kornbluth, Frederik Pohl, Lowndes, Isaac Asimov, Damon Knight, David H. Keller, Clark Ashton Smith, and others. Pseudonyms and collaborations were common. Kornbluth was particularly prolific and used several aliases, including Cecil Corwin. His Thirteen O'Clock became the best-known story associated with the magazines and contributed to his emerging reputation. Stirring had an intentionally unusual structure. Its first section, Stirring Science-Fiction, was followed by a fantasy-oriented section, Stirring Fantasy-Fiction. The two were separated by The Vortex, an editorial and correspondence department. This format reflected Wollheim's effort to combine related but commercially distinct genre audiences. Cosmic was more conventionally science-fiction focused, although both titles carried a mixture of speculative fiction and fantasy material. The magazines also document the production constraints of low-budget pulp publishing. A trade announcement listed a rate of half a cent per word, but the operation could not reliably meet that figure in its earliest issues. Some writers were paid small sums later. Isaac Asimov requested and received a token five-dollar payment for The Secret Sense after learning that another editor objected to authors supplying free stories to a competing title. The incident illustrates the tension between fan-oriented publishing and the professional market's expectations. Artistic standards were uneven, but the magazines obtained work from several notable artists. Hannes Bok supplied covers and interior illustrations, while Roy Hunt and Leo Morey also contributed. Elliott Dold created the July 1941 Cosmic cover, which is considered his final science-fiction artwork. Although the titles were commercially unsuccessful and short-lived, they achieved a notable level of literary quality for such a constrained operation. Their historical importance rests on the early appearances of writers who later became major figures and on their representation of the Futurian community's transition from fandom into professional science-fiction publishing.

1. 1942Final Stirring issue is published

   Manhattan Fiction Publications issues a fourth Stirring number in March, after which wartime restrictions prevent further publication.

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2. 1941Stirring Science Stories begins publication

   The first companion title launches in early 1941, combining science fiction and fantasy sections within one issue.

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3. 1941Cosmic Stories begins publication

   Cosmic Stories follows Stirring on the alternating schedule and later uses Cosmic Science-Fiction on two covers.

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4. 1941Regular publication ends

   After three issues of each magazine, the Albing Publications run is canceled.

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5. 1940Wollheim develops the magazine proposal

   Donald A. Wollheim approaches Albing Publications about adding a science-fiction title to its pulp list and accepts an unusually low-budget editorial arrangement.

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Low-cost, fan-connected pulp genre magazines combining science fiction with fantasy and weird fiction, with an unusually strong role for emerging Futurian writers.

• Cosmic StoriesScience-fiction pulp magazine1941

  A short-lived American pulp science-fiction magazine edited by Donald A. Wollheim. It published three issues in 1941, with the second and third covers using the alternate title Cosmic Science-Fiction while the masthead retained Cosmic Stories. Its contributors included Isaac Asimov, C. M. Kornbluth, James Blish, and other members or associates of the Futurian circle. The title was issued by Albing Publications and remained priced at 15 cents.

• Stirring Science StoriesScience-fiction and fantasy pulp magazine1941

  A companion pulp title structured as a science-fiction and weird-fantasy magazine within one cover. Its editorial feature The Vortex separated the two sections. Three issues appeared in the initial 1941 run from Albing Publications, followed by one additional issue dated March 1942 from Manhattan Fiction Publications. The magazine featured work by writers such as C. M. Kornbluth, Damon Knight, David H. Keller, and other Futurians.

• 1942Wollheim seeks a replacement publisherStrategy

  Albing Publications had ended the original run after three issues of each title.

  What changed. Wollheim arranged for Manhattan Fiction Publications to issue one further Stirring Science Stories number.

  Aftermath. Wartime restrictions prevented the new publisher from continuing, and both magazine lines ended.

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• 1940The single-magazine plan is changed to two alternating titlesStrategy

  The publisher wanted a science-fiction presence but had very limited capital and production resources.

  What changed. The proposed monthly magazine was divided into Cosmic Stories and Stirring Science Stories, which appeared in alternating months and shared Wollheim's editorial operation.

  Aftermath. The arrangement produced six issues in 1941 but did not establish a sustainable commercial publication.

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• 1942A final Stirring Science Stories issue appears through a new publisher

  Manhattan Fiction Publications issued one further Stirring number dated March 1942, but wartime restrictions stopped the magazines permanently.

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• 1941Stirring Science Stories launches as the first of two alternating magazines

  The companion publication began its short run in early 1941 under Donald A. Wollheim's editorship, presenting science fiction and fantasy within the same pulp package.

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• 1941Cosmic Stories joins the alternating publication schedule

  Cosmic Stories appeared after Stirring and was issued on an alternating-month basis. Its later covers used the title Cosmic Science-Fiction.

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• 1941The magazines cease regular publication

  After three issues of each title, the original publishing operation ended amid financial limitations and the difficulty of competing with established magazines that paid contributors.

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1. Cosmic Stories and Stirring Science Stories