by Gideon Marcus This weekend, the Journey travels to WonderCon, a midlin'-sized fan convention with an emphasis on comics and science fiction. It's a perfect opportunity to introduce Galactic Journey to a host of new readers, folks who have a keen interest in what this column has to offer. So what is Galactic Journey? Quite … Continue reading [Mar. 31, 1962] Read all about it! (What is the Galactic Journey?)
by Gideon Marcus And the Free World exhales. At long last, an American has orbited the Earth. This morning, Astronaut John Glenn ascended to the heavens on the back of an Atlas nuclear missile. He circled the globe three times before splashing down in the Atlantic Ocean. It is impossible to understate what this means … Continue reading [February 20, 1962] American Made (John Glen and the flight of Friendship 7)
by Gideon Marcus It's is a red-letter day for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and for America as a whole. For today, we finally got a Mercury space capsule into orbit! The flight, dubbed "Mercury-Atlas 4," began this morning in a blast of fire on a Florida launchpad and lasted one hour and … Continue reading [September 13, 1961] Dry Run (Mercury-Atlas 4)
Has John W. Campbell lost his mind? Twenty years ago, Campbell mentored some of science fiction's greats. His magazine, Astounding (now Analog), featured the most mature stories in the genre. He himself wrote some fine fiction. What the hell happened? Now, in his dotage, he's used his editorial section to plump the fringiest pseudosciences: reactionless … Continue reading [July 10, 1961] The Last Straw (Campbell's wrong-headed rant in the August 1961 Analog)
by Lawrence Klaes [The Space Race continues to run at an ever-accelerating pace. To keep up with all the new developments, I've tapped my friend and fellow professional space historian to tell us a very special program that just might score for the United States in the next inning…] President Kennedy declared three weeks ago … Continue reading [June 6, 1961] America’s Answer to Lunik: Project Ranger
Every once in a while, one comes across a supremely talented, like-minded person. Ashley R. Pollard is a gifted writer from England who is shopping around her first novel. I discovered her through her columns in a British 'zine; I was so impressed that I asked if she'd like to join the Journey as a … Continue reading [April 15, 1961] London Calling (a peek at UK fandom)
I'm starting to enjoy these musical interludes. Indulge me while I flip on my hi-fi to play my new favorite pop tune, Del Shannon's Runaway. Now, don't get me wrong, I'm often still as square as a lot of the slightly older set, and I still tap my toes to Benny Goodman, Glenn Miller, and … Continue reading [Feb. 21, 1961] Trading up (Mercury Atlas 2, Discoverer 21)
Look out, Venus! The Russians are coming to open your shell. Venus, forever shrouded in a protective layer of clouds, may soon be compelled to give up her secrets to a 1400 pound probe. Launched by the Soviet Union on the 11th, it is the first mission from Earth specifically designed to investigate "Earth's Twin." … Continue reading [February 13, 1961] Venus Plus USSR (Venera)
With Astounding so good this month, I suppose it was too much to ask that Fantasy and Science Fiction would also be of high caliber. While it's not a bad issue, it's not one of the better ones, either. Charles Henneberg (who I understand is actually a Parisian named Nathalie) has the best story of … Continue reading [May 23, 1960] Month's End (June 1960 Fantasy and Science Fiction)
Remember the years before Sputnik when space news comprised semi-annual rocket launch reports, annual Willy Ley books, and the occasional Bonestell/Von Braun coffee table book? Even after Sputnik, weeks would go by without a noteworthy event. But, slowly but surely, the pace of space launches has increased. Just this last week, I caught wind of … Continue reading [April 19, 1960] Where we are (Space News Round-up)