Episode 2 of the Amazing Stories Centennial Counterfactual series.
New Rocketeer Podcast Episode: 1915 – The Year the War Almost Killed Science Fiction
In 1915, the shadow of World War I was already reshaping the future of storytelling. In Europe, the bright promise of scientific invention was giving way to tales of lost civilizations and haunting adventure. Science fiction itself risked being swallowed by the horrors of war.
But across the Atlantic, Hugo Gernsback refused to let the dream die. While much of the world turned away from optimistic tales of progress, he kept pushing stories that would educate and inspire as well as entertain.
This episode explores that fragile tipping point — when the entire trajectory of science fiction nearly changed forever.
What if the war had reached America sooner?
What if lost-world adventures had completely taken over?
How close did we really come to never having Amazing Stories at all?
A short, thoughtful look at one of the most delicate years in the genre’s history.
Let me know what you think — did 1915 feel like a turning point to you?
Exit to the Lucina Press Exhibition Hall.
Amazing Stories centennial (1926–2026)