Planet Stories was a pulp science fiction magazine published by Fiction House from 1939 to 1955. Aimed at younger readers and adventure fans, it specialized in fast-paced, action-heavy tales set on exotic alien worlds. Its stories leaned toward “space opera,” often filled with interplanetary battles, daring heroes, and glamorous heroines caught up in cosmic intrigue.
Unlike some of the more cerebral science fiction pulps of the era, Planet Stories was unabashedly focused on thrills, romance, and spectacle. This gave it a reputation for colorful escapism, drawing in readers who craved imaginative adventure rather than scientific speculation.
Despite its pulpy style, the magazine attracted contributions from major science fiction authors. Early on, it published writers like Ray Bradbury, Clifford D. Simak, and Leigh Brackett, who would later become known as one of the masters of planetary romance.
The artwork, particularly covers by artists like Allen Anderson and Alexander Leydenfrost, was equally important in cementing its identity—vivid, often provocative images of alien landscapes and scantily clad space adventurers became its trademark. While Planet Stories eventually fell victim to the decline of pulps in the 1950s, it remains fondly remembered as one of the most influential titles in shaping the “space opera” tradition and fueling the imaginations of science fiction fans during the Golden Age
Here’s a Top 5 guide to standout stories from Planet Stories:
1. “The Sword of Rhiannon” — Leigh Brackett (June 1949)
Often called the definitive Planet Stories tale, this novella fuses planetary romance with myth, as a space rogue is hurled into Mars’s ancient past. It’s Brackett’s masterpiece and remains one of the most reprinted works from the magazine.
2. “Lorelei of the Red Mist” — Ray Bradbury & Leigh Brackett (Summer 1946)
Begun by Bradbury and finished by Brackett, this tale features body-swapping and eerie alien settings. It’s an important transition piece showing Bradbury’s lyrical style before he turned to more mainstream venues.
3. “Enchantress of Venus” — Leigh Brackett (Fall 1949)
Part of her Eric John Stark cycle, this novella is a lush planetary romance with pulp action and a Venusian underworld. It’s one of Brackett’s most atmospheric contributions.
4. “Black Friar of the Flame” — Isaac Asimov (Spring 1942)
Unusual in Asimov’s career, this story blends religion, rebellion, and galactic politics. It’s a rare pulp adventure from an author who usually wrote “hard” science fiction.
5. “Queen of the Martian Catacombs” — Leigh Brackett (Summer 1949)
The debut of Eric John Stark, one of pulp’s most iconic characters. A blend of sword-and-planet adventure with Brackett’s gift for alien landscapes, it became a cornerstone of Planet Stories.
