Thrilling Wonder Stories

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Thrilling Wonder Stories (often abbreviated TWS), founded by Hugo Gernsback, was one of the earliest science fiction magazines.

After losing control of Amazing Stories, Gernsback launched Air Wonder Stories and Science Wonder Stories in 1929. Air Wonder Stories (Stellar Publishing Corp) was the first of the so-called "specialist" SF magazines. The editor was David Lasser (1929–33). Total number of issues published was 11.

Gernsback began popularizing the term science fiction in the first issue of Science Wonder Stories. In 1930, he merged the two magazines into Wonder Stories. He sold the prozine to another pulp house in 1936, and then it became Thrilling Wonder Stories, which lasted until 1955.

With this magazine, Gernsback created the Science Fiction League, the seminal sf club that led to the emergence of fandom. Its lettercolumn was “The Reader Speaks.” A letter in its August 1939 issue originated the infamous catchphrase “Goshwowoboyoboy,” quoted by Time magazine.

Entry in The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction.

Ad for TWS, Startling Stories and Captain Future featuring Hans Wesso art from the Chicon program book, 1940.

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Publication

1936—1955

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