Utopia (German science fiction)
Encyclopedia
Utopia was the name of several science fiction
series published by Erich Pabel Verlag, Rastatt
.
Together with the Terra
series of the rival publisher Arthur Moewig Verlag, Munich
,
the Utopia series were the most important science fiction work in the early years of West Germany
.
series which was produced between 1953 and 1968
and reached 596 volumes.
To distinguish Zukunftsromane from Großband ("big issue", see below) they also were nonofficial called "Kleinband" ("little issue").
(adventures in space) written by Alf Tjörnsen and other authors.
Sixteen more Parkers novels were printed within Zukunftsromane #48 to #129.
Apparently caused by the success of Moewigs series Perry Rhodan
1962 a new subseries started
within Zukunftsroman #320 to #352: Mark Powers - Der Held des Weltalls (hero of space, Freder van Holk and others).
In the end of 1962 Mark Powers became a separate series with 48 volumes.
After the separate series was finalised some more Powers novels were printed within Zukunftsromane starting with #404.
Within Zukunftsromane #550 to #590 the subseries ad astra was published
(21 volumes, 1967/68, H. G. Francis and others).
Whereas a volume of Zukunftsromane normally had 64 pages a volume of Großband typically had 96 pages.
Großband was finished 1963 with volume #204.
Already with #197 Großband was renamed to "Sonderband" ("special issue") - the same name Utopia Magazin (see below)
started what causes confusion until today.
The volumes #26/28/30/32 of Großband were subtitled "Kriminalroman aus der der Welt von morgen"
("detective story from the world of tomorrow").
Subsequently Pabel started a separate series with amazing detective stories: Utopia Kriminal (1956-58, 27 volumes).
With volume #3 Sonderband was renamed to "Utopia SF Magazin",
with volume #10 it was renamed to Utopia Magazin.
Utopia Magazin was finished 1959 with volume #26.
Editors of Utopia Magazin (and temporarily of the other Pabels series) were Walter Ernsting
and Walter Spiegl.
.
Originally the full name was Luna Utopia-Roman, with issue 29 the name was changed to Luna Weltraum (utopischer Roman).
There was also a series by this publisher originally called UTR Luna Utopia Taschen Roman (10 paperbacks / 3 dime novel formats, 1957-59).
In the 1980s the East German
publishing house Das Neue Berlin, Berlin
produced the paperbacks SF-Utopia.
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
series published by Erich Pabel Verlag, Rastatt
Rastatt
Rastatt is a city and baroque residence in the District of Rastatt, Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is located on the Murg river, above its junction with the Rhine and has a population of around 50'000...
.
Together with the Terra
Terra (German science fiction)
Terra is the name of a science fiction series published by Arthur Moewig Verlag, Munich. The Terra series were the most important science fiction work in the early years of West Germany.- Dime novels :...
series of the rival publisher Arthur Moewig Verlag, Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
,
the Utopia series were the most important science fiction work in the early years of West Germany
West Germany
West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
.
Utopia Zukunftsromane
Utopia Zukunftsromane (future novels) was a dime novelDime novel
Dime novel, though it has a specific meaning, has also become a catch-all term for several different forms of late 19th-century and early 20th-century U.S...
series which was produced between 1953 and 1968
and reached 596 volumes.
To distinguish Zukunftsromane from Großband ("big issue", see below) they also were nonofficial called "Kleinband" ("little issue").
Subseries (selection) and spin-off
All of the first 43 issues of Zukunftsromane belonged to the subseries Jim Parkers Abenteuer im Weltraum(adventures in space) written by Alf Tjörnsen and other authors.
Sixteen more Parkers novels were printed within Zukunftsromane #48 to #129.
Apparently caused by the success of Moewigs series Perry Rhodan
Perry Rhodan
Perry Rhodan is the name of a science fiction series published since 1961 in Germany, as well as the name of the main character. It is a space opera, dealing with several themes of science fiction. Having sold over one billion copies worldwide, it is the most successful science fiction book series...
1962 a new subseries started
within Zukunftsroman #320 to #352: Mark Powers - Der Held des Weltalls (hero of space, Freder van Holk and others).
In the end of 1962 Mark Powers became a separate series with 48 volumes.
After the separate series was finalised some more Powers novels were printed within Zukunftsromane starting with #404.
Within Zukunftsromane #550 to #590 the subseries ad astra was published
(21 volumes, 1967/68, H. G. Francis and others).
Utopia Großband / Kriminal
1954 Pabel started a new series: Utopia Großband ("big issue")Whereas a volume of Zukunftsromane normally had 64 pages a volume of Großband typically had 96 pages.
Großband was finished 1963 with volume #204.
Already with #197 Großband was renamed to "Sonderband" ("special issue") - the same name Utopia Magazin (see below)
started what causes confusion until today.
The volumes #26/28/30/32 of Großband were subtitled "Kriminalroman aus der der Welt von morgen"
("detective story from the world of tomorrow").
Subsequently Pabel started a separate series with amazing detective stories: Utopia Kriminal (1956-58, 27 volumes).
Utopia Magazin
1955 Pabel issued "Utopia Sonderband", a magazine with short stories and science fiction related articles.With volume #3 Sonderband was renamed to "Utopia SF Magazin",
with volume #10 it was renamed to Utopia Magazin.
Utopia Magazin was finished 1959 with volume #26.
Editors of Utopia Magazin (and temporarily of the other Pabels series) were Walter Ernsting
Walter Ernsting
Walter Ernsting was a German science fiction and fantasy author who mainly published under the pseudonym Clark Darlton.-Biography:...
and Walter Spiegl.
VPM reprints
End of the 1970s merged Pabel-Moewig Verlag (VPM), Rastatt started 3 paperbook series of reprints:- Utopia Bestseller, 44 novels by K. H. ScheerK. H. ScheerKarl-Herbert Scheer was a German science fiction writer who wrote under the pen name K. H. Scheer.He created the long-running science fiction series "ZBV"....
(1978-82) - Utopia Bestseller aus Zeit und Raum 39 novels by Wolf Detlef Rohr (1979-82)
- Utopia Classics 87 novels by German and international authors (1979-86)
Other publishers
Between 1957 and 1960 57 issues of the pulp series Luna were published by Walter Lehning Verlag, HanoverHanover
Hanover or Hannover, on the river Leine, is the capital of the federal state of Lower Saxony , Germany and was once by personal union the family seat of the Hanoverian Kings of Great Britain, under their title as the dukes of Brunswick-Lüneburg...
.
Originally the full name was Luna Utopia-Roman, with issue 29 the name was changed to Luna Weltraum (utopischer Roman).
There was also a series by this publisher originally called UTR Luna Utopia Taschen Roman (10 paperbacks / 3 dime novel formats, 1957-59).
In the 1980s the East German
German Democratic Republic
The German Democratic Republic , informally called East Germany by West Germany and other countries, was a socialist state established in 1949 in the Soviet zone of occupied Germany, including East Berlin of the Allied-occupied capital city...
publishing house Das Neue Berlin, Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
produced the paperbacks SF-Utopia.
External links and book
- http://www.dsfdb.org/reihen.php?a_z=U // title lists of Utopia Zukunftsromane etc.
- http://www.sf-hefte.homepage.t-online.de/ // title lists of Utopia Zukunftsromane etc.
- http://www.dieter-von-reeken.de/utogross/frame.htm // covers of Utopia Großband / Utopia Kriminal
- http://www.dieter-von-reeken.de/utomag/frame.htm // covers and contents of Utopia Magazin
- http://www.fictionfantasy.de/load.php?name=News&file=article&sid=4478 // title list of Mark Powers (separate series) and short (German) article.
- http://www.fictionfantasy.de/load.php?name=News&file=article&sid=4832 // SciFi-Paperback and Pulp-Series from 1945 to 1980
- http://scifi.gmxhome.de/mark.htm // title list of Mark Powers
- Volksbücher und Heftromane, volume 1, paperback, ISBN 3-8334-3232-2