The Gernsback Days [Paperback]

Mike Ashley (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 4, 2004

'In recent years there has been a resurgence of interest in Hugo Gernsback, and the start of a serious study of the contribution he made to the development of science fiction. . . . It seemed to me that the time was due to reinvestigate the Gernsback era and dig into the facts surrounding the origins of Amazing Stories. I wanted to find out exactly why Hugo Gernsback had launched the magazine, what he was trying to achieve, and to consider what effects he had-good and bad. . . . Too many writers and editors from the Gernsback days have been unjustly neglected, or unfairly criticized. Now, I hope, Robert A. W. Lowndes and I have provided the grounds for a fair consideration of their efforts, and a true reconstruction of the development of science fiction. It's the closest to time travel you'll ever get. I hope you enjoy the trip.'-Mike Ashley, Preface

Product Details

• Paperback: 500 pages
• Publisher: Wildside Press; Wildside Press edition (May 4, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0809510553
• ISBN-13: 978-0809510559
• Product Dimensions: 6 x 9 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,666,485 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Crucial to understanding Science Fiction..., March 9, 2005

By 

Alan DeNiro "alan_deniro" (Oakdale, MN United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Gernsback Days (Paperback)

...is knowing its modern history. Which wasn't born in Amazing Stories but amateur radio magazines run by, you guessed it, Gernsback. This massive tome about the early days of science fiction (as a genre as we come to think of it now; of course there was Wells and Verne etc) explains a lot about the creative tensions and genre distinctions that are with us to this present day in science fiction. Gernsback is certainly still a polarizing figure in the genre (think of William Gibson's story "The Gernsback Continuum"); BUT he certainly is more complicated a figure than his detractors would give him credit for. The author, while certainly "pro-Gernsback", is not fawning either, and you get a good sense of the nascent fan community too.

This book lost a star because the typeface was small and very grainy--it was readable, but barely. Which is too bad. Anyone looking to write, or write about, science fiction should read this book.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Another nice Ashley book, January 24, 2007

By 

Harryo the K "Harryo" (San Diego CA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Gernsback Days (Paperback)

I've read and have several of Ashley's SF history volumes (The SF magazine...Transformations...) and yet I was a little disappointed in this volume. First, as the earlier viewer noted, text is small and difficult to read. But chapters are short and very well-written (easy to understand).
And I think anyone -with a little previous knowledge of that period and authors involved --could read a chapter here and chapter there, no need to read them all in sequence. (Bet the authors think otherwise!)

I thought they'd include some cover illlustrations or even some black and white internal drawings from the magazine. Sorry. It's 100% text only.
Probably only for the hard-core SF history fan, but if my eyes don't fail me, it looks to be another stimulating read.