Futuria Fantasia
 Cover of the first issue
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| Editor | Ray Bradbury |
|---|---|
| Categories | Science fiction |
| First issue | 1939 |
| Final issue | 1940 |
| Language | English |
Futuria Fantasia was an American science fiction fanzine created by Ray Bradbury in 1938, when he was 18 years old. Though only 4 issues of the fanzine were published, Futuria Fantasia boasted an impressive list of contributors, including Hannes Bok, Forrest J. Ackerman, Henry Kuttner, Damon Knight, and Robert A. Heinlein.
Since the 1930s, fanzines have been an integral part of science fiction fandom. The earliest fanzines were often produced or sponsored by science fiction clubs and served as a platform for group members to circulate nonfiction essays, science fiction stories and reviews, and reflections on fandom itself. Such is the case with Futuria Fantasia, which began as a project aimed at members of the Los Angeles Science Fiction League (LASFL). Ray Bradbury joined the LASFL in 1937 and soon became a prominent member of the club. In 1938, at the urging of fellow LASFL member Forrest J. Ackerman, Bradbury conceived the idea for his own magazine, and with Ackerman’s support, Bradbury was able to convince the LASFL to fund his new editorial project.
The first issue was published in June 1939, receiving “fairly good feedback from local and long-distance subscribers." Indeed, Henry Hasse, a pulp writer from Seattle, wrote to Bradbury for a copy of the issue, and at Bradbury’s prompting, offered feedback on the young editor’s first attempt at publication. Hasse would go on to contribute to the second and third issue under the pseudonym Foo E. Onya. The covers of the first issue—and all subsequent issues—were illustrated by Hannes Bok, who would become famous for his work on pulp and science fiction magazines.
The second issue, “hastily printed three weeks ahead” of schedule, contains more than a few errors, including references to three articles that were dropped prior to publication. Yet Futuria Fantasia no. 2 also contains Bradbury’s anonymous story “The Pendulum,” which became the basis for his first paid, professional piece.
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