10 Story Fantasy was a science fiction and fantasy pulp magazine launched in 1951 by Avon Publications. Despite its name, it actually contained thirteen stories and was published as a single issue in Spring 1951, priced at 25 cents.
Notable Content
The magazine featured work by numerous prominent science fiction authors, including:
- Arthur C. Clarke’s “Sentinel from Eternity,” which later became part of the basis for the film “2001: A Space Odyssey”
- John Wyndham’s “Tyrant & Slave-Girl on Planet Venus” (published under the pseudonym John Beynon)
- Stories by A.E. van Vogt, Fritz Leiber, C.M. Kornbluth, and L. Sprague de Camp
Publication Details
Format and Design
The magazine featured distinctive layout elements, including elaborate artwork for the table of contents and decorated first letters for each story. The interior art was primarily provided by William McWilliam and “Martin” from Avon’s comics department.
Editorial Team
Donald A. Wollheim served as the executive editor, while Joseph Meyers, Avon’s owner, made decisions such as cover art selection. The magazine was printed by J.W. Clements, who offered Meyers a favorable printing rate.
Historical Context
The magazine’s launch came during a significant transition period in U.S. science fiction publishing, as the industry was shifting from pulp to digest format1. Despite the high quality of its stories, the declining pulp market contributed to the magazine’s brief run, and it never published beyond its inaugural issue.
| # | Get It | Name | Date | Editor | Artist | Containing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 10 Story Fantasy, Vol. 1, No. 1 | 1951-Spring | Donald A. Wollheim | Not indexed. |