Magazine Story – Authentic Science Fiction Monthly No 62

Ah, eBay turns up another little gem. This time an early short story by Bob Shaw; Departure, in the October 1955 issue of Authentic Science Fiction Monthly. A reasonably big price to pay for the issue, but not too excessive. Although the sporadic searches are turning up less and less to buy it is a treat when something does eventually turn up.

There are some half decent names in the content list too: – Sydney J Bounds, E.C. Tubb, plus some names who seem not to have come forward in time to us with recognizability.

Of course, the first thing I did was read the Bob Shaw story. It’s a quaint little story, well told and atmospheric, and a nice little twist in the end. I think Bob Shaw took a break around about this time as he was unsatisfied with his writing. This is a shame as the story concerns a galaxy spanning space service. Maybe there was a good chance he would have built on this – The Hub, Universe ships and other elements – in additional stories if he had not paused his career.