Startling Stories was an American pulp science fiction magazine, published from 1939 to 1955 by publisher Ned Pines’ Standard Magazines. It was initially edited by Mort Weisinger, who was also the editor of Thrilling Wonder Stories, Standard’s other science fiction title. Startling ran a lead novel in every issue; the first was The Black Flame by Stanley G. Weinbaum. When Standard Magazines acquired Thrilling Wonder in 1936, it also gained the rights to stories published in that magazine’s predecessor, Wonder Stories, and selections from this early material were reprinted in Startling as “Hall of Fame” stories.
Covers of the Startling Stories in the 1940s
Much of Startling’s cover art was painted by Earle K. Bergey, who became strongly associated with the magazine, painting almost every cover between 1940 and 1952. He was known for equipping his heroines with brass bras and implausible costumes, and the public image of science fiction in his day was partly created by his work for Startling and other magazines.
In mid-1952, Standard attempted to change Startling’s image by adopting a more sober title typeface and reducing the sensationalism of the covers, but by 1955 the pulp magazine market was collapsing. Startling absorbed its two companion magazines, Thrilling Wonder and Fantastic Story Magazine, in early 1955, but by the end of that year it too ceased publication.
Here below is a set of amazing photos that shows covers of the Startling Stories in the 1940s.
Leave a Reply