Ad Astra (science fiction zine)

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Zine
Title: Ad Astra
Publisher: Mark Reinsberg and Richard I. Meyer
Editor(s): Mark Reinsberg, W. Lawrence Hamling (assoc. editor, issue 1-2), Erle Kershak (assoc. ed Issue 3-5), Julian S. Krupa (art), Richard I. Meyer (business manager); Leslie A Croutch (assistant to the editor, issue 3-5)
Type: Science fiction genzine
Date(s): 1939-1940
Medium: Print
Size: 20-28 pages
Fandom: Science Fiction
Language: English
External Links: Fancyclopedia; 4 issues archived at Fanac.org
Click here for related articles on Fanlore.

Ad Astra was a Chicago-based genzine published from 1939-1940 for science fiction fans. It featured art, fiction and essays. John W. Campbell Jr. contributed an article to the first issue.

Issue 2 featured letters from readers giving their thoughts on the first issue, most of which praised the cover by Julian Krupa[1]. Krupa provided covers and inside art for issues 2 and 3, but issue 3 reported that Krupa would no longer be able to contribute to Ad Astra, as he'd been hired by Ziff-Davis, the publishers of Amazing Stories, and his contract prohibited any outside work. Issue 3 also announced that Ad Astra had been chosen as the official journal for the World Science Fiction Convention to be held in Chicago in 1940.

About

We don't claim to have the finest line-up in all fan history--- but we do have one of them! In fact, not one professional magazine can boast of having what AD ASTRA, science fiction's newest fan mag offers in its first issue.

Rare, indeed, has such a galaxy of names appeared as in AD ASTRA. What professional magazine has a cover by Julian S. Krupa? Dig into your collection: Has there ever been an issue, amateur or professional, that includes:

WRITING.... ..................... By John W. Campbell, Jr.

AN INTERVIEW WITH RAYMOND A. PALMER

A LETTER TO THE READER........... By Dr. E. E. Smith

A MESSAGE.................By Hugo Gernsback

MEDIUM OF EXCHANGE............... By Mark Reinsberg

ANNUS MIRABILIS................By Robert A. Madle

CONCERNING WEINBAUM........... By Richard I. Meyer

ARE S-F READERS SANE!........ By W. Lawrence Hamling

MARK TWAIN — SCIENTIFICTIONIST...By Harry Warner, Jr.

But, our supply hovers near exhaustion! Are you going to be left out? Eighteen, carefully mimeographed pages, the front cover on special thick, colored paper for 10¢!

Ad printed in Fantascience Digest #9 pg. 2 (March 1939)

Reviews

"Ad Astra" is an ambitious newcomer, suffering from slight touches of narcissism. Its very enthusiasm pushes it onward and the sincerity of the editors tends to make amends for existing defects. The magazine needs rearranging as to artistic presentation, even righthand edges and a little more care in the typing.

It is a fan-mag devoted primarily to the professionals (magazines, editors, and authors), but it does carry articles of interest by prominent fans. Inasmuch as this type of fanmag is needed (so long as it is not overdone — there is room for only one or two of this type) Ad Astra should be able to carve out an enviable reputation and circulation for itself once its handicapping defects are corrected.

Robert A. W. Lowndes in Scientifan issue 2 page 5 (January 1940)

Ad Astra hung close to 4* but poor typing held it back.

"Good" 3 star review in Tom Wright's Mercury issue 2 page 19 (combined with the January 1940 Scientifan)

Price- 10¢; Issued- bimonthly... Features special planegraphed covers by professional artists, and there good. Has aricles by such luminaries as E.E. Smith, John W. Campbell, Jr., and many others. Try it.... 95 comets.

The Fan Pubs; The Comet Vol. 1 #1, pg. 14. Jan.-Feb. 1940.

10 cts 25 large mimeographed pages. November, 1939

This is one of the better fan magazines being published today. Among its many fine features is a printed frontpiece by Krupa; a positively damning attitude on "cutting" by E. E. Smith; a poor article by Cambell, and material of merit by Robert A. Madle, Leslie A. Croutch and others. An excellent readers department here.

"The Manuscript Bureau" of New Fandom, issue 7 page 13 (April 1940)

Issue 1

Front cover of issue 1 - art by Julian Krupa (May 1939)

Volume 1, Number 1 - May 1939.








Issue 2[2]

Front cover, issue 2 by Julian Krupa

Volume 1, Number 2 - July 1939. Edited by Mark Reinsberg[3], art by Julian S. Krupa. 20 pages.

Contents:

Issue 3

Front cover issue 3 by Julian Krupa

Volume 1, Number 3 - September 1939. Edited by Mark Reinsberg, art by Julian S. Krupa. 22 pages.

Contents:

Issue 4

Front cover issue 4
Bonus cover image taken from Amazing Stories!; art by Julian Krupa

Volume 1, Number 4 - November 1939. Edited by Mark Reinsberg. 28 pages

Contents:

Issue 5

Front cover issue 5 by Julian Krupa

Volume 1, Number 5 - January 1940. Edited by Mark Reinsberg. 26 pages

Contents:

Two pages for an unpublished sixth issue appeared in Midwest Marky on September 19, 1940.

References

  1. ^ Julian Krupa - Fancyclopedia 3
  2. ^ Details of the contents of Issues 2-5 obtained from the scanned issues at Fanac.org
  3. ^ Mark Reinsberg - Fancyclopedia 3
  4. ^ Leslie A. Croutch - Fancyclopedia 3
  5. ^ Richard I. Meyer - Fancyclopedia 3
  6. ^ Jack Darrow - Fancyclopedia 3
  7. ^ Bob Madle - Fancyclopedia 3
  8. ^ Larry Farsaci - Fancyclopedia 3
  9. ^ Art Widney - Fancyclopedia 3
  10. ^ J. Harvey Haggard - Fancyclopedia 3
  11. ^ Joe Gilbert - Fancyclopedia 3
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