Galileo Magazine of Science & Fiction

Galileo Magazine of Science & Fiction was operated in Boston from September 1976 to January 1980, producing a total of 16 issues. Initially planned as a quarterly, it shifted to a bimonthly schedule starting with issue #6 in January 1978.

The core team—Vincent McCaffrey, Thais Coburn, Thomas L. Owen, and Charles C. Ryan—worked tirelessly to bring Galileo to life. They began by soliciting stories at a penny per word, and the response was encouraging. Renowned figures like Ray Bradbury, Arthur C. Clarke, Hal Clement, and Carl Sagan offered support.

With modest backing from Broadway producer Carmen F. Zollo, the first issue launched in 1976 at the World Science Fiction Convention in Kansas City. Though met with skepticism, it quickly garnered attention and subscriptions, growing steadily with each issue. By 1978, Galileo had amassed over 40,000 subscribers and was riding a wave of positive momentum.

Galileo featured contributions from esteemed science fiction authors such as Brian Aldiss, Damien Broderick, Harlan Ellison, Alan Dean Foster, Joe Haldeman, Frank Herbert, Robert Silverberg, Joan D. Vinge, Jack Williamson, and Connie Willis. Notably, Larry Niven‘s The Ringworld Engineers was serialized in issues #13 through #16.

Unfortunately, the magazine was repeatedly hamstrung by a series of subscription fulfillment disasters involving multiple computer firms. A major direct-mail campaign failed, and mailing lists were compromised just as the magazine had reached its peak readership. Despite critical acclaim and growing popularity, logistical issues made it nearly impossible to sustain operations, and publication was delayed, risking the entire venture.

In response, McCaffrey and his team decided to pursue national newsstand distribution. Dell agreed to distribute Galileo, and a 1979 issue was slated for a 110,000-copy release, with hopes of finally reaching mass-market status. But newsstand sales fell short of expectations, just as operating expenses began to rise. This forced the company into bankruptcy.

Despite its relatively short run, Galileo was recognized for its ambitious approach, aiming to bridge the gap between professional writers and serious science fiction fans. It encompassed a diverse array of content, including fiction, artwork, and discussions on the broader spheres of TV, movies, and games within the science fiction genre.

Our Galileo Catalogue

Avenue Victor Hugo has uncirculated copies of Galileo available for sale, but supplies of each issue vary—and in our current effort to get these out of storage and into the hands of readers—they are unlikely to last long. If you’re interested in these pieces of science fiction history, act quickly.

Below you’ll find the cover art and contents pages for every issue. The authors of articles, stories, novels, novelettes, plays, and poems have been broken out to make them easily searchable.