Wikipedia:Today's featured article/April 25, 2014

Startling Stories was an American pulp science fiction magazine, published by Standard Magazines from 1939 to 1955. Its first editor was Mort Weisinger, who also edited 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. The magazine focused on younger readers, and, when Weisinger was replaced by Oscar J. Friend in 1941, the magazine became even more juvenile in focus. Sam Merwin, Jr., Friend's successor, was able to improve the quality of the fiction substantially, publishing Arthur C. Clarke's Against the Fall of Night and other well-received stories. Earle K. Bergey painted almost every cover between 1942 and 1952, equipping his heroines with brass bras and implausible costumes; the public image of science fiction in his day was partly created by his work. In later years, competition affected the magazine's ability to acquire quality material. In mid-1952, Standard attempted to change Startling's image by adopting a more sober title typeface and reducing the covers' sensationalism, but the pulp magazine market was collapsing and publication ceased in 1955. (Full article...)

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