SF Impulse

Another from my modest collection of vintage magazines, this is the September 1966 issue of SF Impulse.  Originally titled Science Fantasy, then Impulse, this UK paperback-format science fiction and fantasy magazine was a companion to the better known and better remembered New Worlds science fiction magazine.  Impulse/SF Impulse was originally marketed as an entirely new title, replacing the previous Science Fantasy.  But, despite starting a new volume and issue numbering scheme, it was clear to everyone that it was simply a continuation of the old magazine.  Despite its title, Science Fantasy never really focused on fantasy rather than science fiction, but rather tended to run longer stories than its companion New Worlds.  In its original incarnation, the magazine first appeared in 1950, under the editorship of John Gillings.  From the third issue, it came under the editorship if John Carnell, who also edited New Worlds.  After Carnell stood down from both magazines in 1964, he was succeeded by Michael Moorcock at New Worlds and Kyril Bonfiglioli at Science Fantasy.

While New Worlds became the centre of the science fiction 'New Wave', Bonfiglioli focused Science Fantasy/Impulse/SF Impulse on new writers.  Unfortunately, the title changes and new direction resulted in falling sales.  Bonfiglioli, an art dealer in his 'day job', left the magazine in 1966, (he apparently discovered a valuable Renaissance painting and sold it for a handsome profit) - this was the last issue he edited.  He was succeeded, in rapid succession, by Harry Harrison and Keith Roberts.  But the magazine lasted only a further five issues under the new editorship, ceasing publication in February 1967.  Officially, it was combined with New Worlds, but nothing of SF Impulse was actually carried over into its sister, which continued publication long enough to see out the sixties, thanks to an Arts council grant.  Nowadays, both Science Fantasy and SF Impulse are, in my experience, easier and less expensive to obtain, usually in decent condition, than New Worlds, particularly the post 1964 incarnations of both magazines. While Moorcock on to become a celebrated writer of science fiction and fantasy novels, Bonfiglioli found some success writing crime novels, one of which was eventually filmed with Johnny Depp, (Moredcai).