NEBULA SCIENCE FICTION

First and Last Editorials

First Issue - Autumn 1952


HERE WE ARE                                                   Editorial


Well, here we are at last, with Nebula in circulation! and I don't  mind telling you that I've had some job getting it as far as at present.

Since April, when I tore myself out of a nice restful nursing-home, I have alternated between wishing I was back in it again, and blessing my job and fandom in general.

Among the people I blessed most regularly was John Brunner whose advice and co-operation has done a lot to make Nebula what it is, and whose help (with authors' addresses, etc.) make a big difference to future editions. I hear John is going off to do a spell of Military Service soon, too bad.

Thanks is also due to Captain Ken Slater of Operation Fantast, Vince Clarke of the Science Fantasy News and many others who have provided me with valuable publicity and experience. Let's hope Nebula repays them for the trouble they have taken.

 You may notice that our cover painting accurately illustrates a passage from Robots Never Weep; I think this is a pleasant change from the average S-F. magazine cover and I hope you will agree, let me know anyway.

 The mention of the cover brings me to another point, (and a rather thorny one) that of interior illustrations. Nearly every letter I've had so far (and the postman has worn quite a track in the heather outside) has advocated these, but I feel that, just now at any rate, really good authors are more important, and am concentrating our finances on obtaining the best.

Already we have done fairly well in that line having accepted Mss. from William F. Temple, Charles Eric Maine, F. G. Rayer, E. C. Tubb, Sydney J. Bounds, Peter Hawkins, H.J. Campbell (!) and (you've guessed it) John Brunner.

This brings me to my final and most important words: Nebula is YOUR magazine. It is here to give you what you want and can only hope to do so if you write in and tell me just what that is. For example: do you like this issue's lead story? or would you prefer more stories like two shorts? Is there any author not listed, whose stories you would like me to try to obtain? I am very anxious for you to answer these questions and give me you candid opinions on the first issue of Nebula.

Peter Hamilton Jr.

Last Issue - June 1959

Look Here . . .

A great many words have been written lately on what it is that constitutes really first-class science fiction. Is it realism or imagination; characterisation, scientific accuracy or sense of wonder? Or should the author concentrate purely on style and readability?

These questions have been hammered out in the letter columns of every worthwhile science fiction magazine, and have, indeed, received an untoward prominence in many journals much less able to express informed opinion on the subject.

The result of all this controversy has, however, been slight. The average science fiction story is basically the same now as it was 10 years ago (the "old time" fans would have us believe that it has deteriorated!) and the editors of the various magazines are still racking their brains for the magic formula which could bring real commercial success and popularity to the genre.

The result of all this mental fatigue in the NEBULA office has, I hope, been of a more positive and practical nature than that engaged upon by many of our confreres. To put it simply, we have decided to publish in each forthcoming issue of our magazine a story, of stories, which seem to us to be representative, of one or other of the various forms which the science fiction of the future is likely to take. I hope that you, the readers of NEBULA, will help me in my search for to-morrow's brand of science fiction, by expressing your candid opinions on those selected representative yarns.

The first of these is Legends of Smith's Burst by Brian Aldiss in this current issue. This story is, perhaps, science fantasy, rather than the more orthodox science fiction, but it is refreshingly different in style and is obviously written with the giving of amusement and imaginative stimulation, rather than the imparting of text-book information, in mind. Nevertheless, if you can suspend your natural disbelief as you read it, you may think, as I do, that it is a charming and amusing fantasy, with sufficient colour and originality to merit the inclusion of similar material in forthcoming issues of our magazine.

The questions we must ask ourselves are these: is the story commercial enough to appeal to the average non-science fiction reader? Is it too imaginative to be understood by everyone? Has the author made too few concessions to hard scientific fact to effect that very necessary suspension of disbelief I referred to above?

I think we should find the answering of these questions a difficult, but enjoyable, task, and one which should cause plenty of controversy for our future "Guided Missives" columns. The final consensus of opinion will be of immense value and could constitute a turning point, not only for NEBULA, but for the whole of science fiction.

PETER HAMILTON

                                                                                          


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