— Ch. 1 · Founding And Early Struggles —
Nebula Science Fiction.
~4 min read · Ch. 1 of 6
Peter Hamilton was 18 years old and had just left school when he launched Nebula Science Fiction in the autumn of 1952. He lacked the physical health for hard labor, so his parents' printing house, Crownpoint Publications, offered a unique opportunity. The family business occasionally had idle machinery that they wanted to utilize for entering the publishing market. Hamilton persuaded them to produce paperback science fiction novels first, but a local wholesaler advised against it. They were told that paperbacks would be a mistake and that a magazine with a regular schedule would sell better. This advice led directly to the creation of Nebula. The first issue appeared in autumn 1952 and sold 4,000 copies. However, the production schedule remained erratic because Hamilton could only print issues when Crownpoint had no other work available. After twelve issues, these conflicts forced him to move the printing operations away from his family's company.
Production Logistics And Relocation
The decision to relocate printing operations changed everything for the struggling publication. In 1955, Hamilton moved the printing to a Dublin-based firm and broke all ties with Crownpoint Publications. This shift allowed him to publish on a slightly more regular schedule, although planned bi-monthly issues still faced occasional delays. A steady monthly run finally began in January 1958 and continued into early 1959. Before this move, the magazine suffered from inconsistent availability due to reliance on spare capacity at his parents' Glasgow facility. The new arrangement stabilized the flow of issues enough to build momentum among readers. By late 1957, editor Peter Hamilton reported a circulation figure of 40,000 copies. Starting in January 1958, the magazine maintained that regular monthly rhythm until its final days. The last issue was dated June 1959, marking exactly seven years of intermittent but persistent output.Editorial Economics And Writer Relations
Hamilton paid 21 shillings per thousand words, which equated to three-tenths of a cent per word. While low compared to American markets, this rate marginally exceeded what contemporary British magazines like Authentic Science Fiction offered. They paid only £1 per thousand words. To attract talent further, he introduced bonuses of £2 or £5 for the most popular story in each issue. Eventually, rates increased to as much as 2d (0.8p) per word for well-known authors. This amount surpassed top UK markets such as New Worlds and approached US standards. Both high pay and willingness to work with beginners encouraged submissions before writers tried other outlets. Robert Silverberg began submitting stories immediately after hearing about Nebula. His first story, Gorgon Planet, was accepted on the 11th of January 1954. Brian Aldiss sold his first story to Nebula in 1953, followed by Barrington Bayley and Bob Shaw. Hamilton remained patient and sympathetic toward these new voices throughout their early careers.