Q: Why did you begin the series in 1926?
A: The year 1926 ushered in the publication of AMAZING STORIES. It was the first serialized magazine to focus exclusively on stories of scientific fiction. In fact, at that point it was not even known as science fiction, but rather "scientifiction." Once the reading public got a taste of this exciting new magazine, there was no turning back.
Q: How far does this series go?
A: My goal is to publish a comprehensive record of the first 50 years of the genre, that's 1926 - 1975. It may seem like a daunting project, but each year with advancements in computers, software, and now AI, the series will become bigger, better, and completed more quickly and with higher quality. When I first started FP as a magazine in the 1990s, desktop pcs were still fairly new, I did my research by driving hundreds of miles each month with notepads, pens and a film camera, and "cut and paste" was literally that - with paper, scissors and glue. This project has come a very long way since those days.
Q: Where can I buy the books?
The entire series is available only through this website. You can purchase copies in all three formats: softcover, hardcover and PDF. For SF fans outside the US who want to buy the books but are deterred by horrific shipping costs, import taxes and other expenses, your best bet would be the digital editions. No shipping costs and instant delivery. I am always looking for new ways to cut down on those shipping costs, so stay tuned.
Q: What credentials do you possess that tell me you are the right person to be taking on this massive project?
A: First and most importantly, I have been obsessed with science fiction and have devoured it in all its forms ever since I can remember, which lets say covers about 50+ years. I have two masters degrees, the most recent being a Masters of Library Sciences from Indiana University in Bloomington. I am a formally trained archivist and have applied that knowledge and training to organize a personal library of over 2,000 sf reference books, 3,000 magazines and journals, and a multitude of databases and indexes which I have been building upon for most of my life. FUTURES PAST is not simply a publishing business. It is a labor of love for a genre and a group of people who have given me so much joy throughout my life and now I am taking the opportunity to pay that back in my own way.
Q: So what can I do to help make FUTURES PAST more successful?
- GET THE WORD OUT! Tell everyone you know about FUTURES PAST. Put it on your Facebook page, talk about the series at your next book club meeting, write about FP on your blog, write a bunch of reviews!
- Give me your constructive criticism. What am I doing right/wrong? What can I do to improve the format and content of FP? What topics do you want to read more about? You can always contact me at:
jim@sfhistory.net
