If was an American science fiction magazine launched in March 1952 by Quinn Publications, owned by James L. Quinn. After a series of editors, including Paul W. Fairman, Larry T. Shaw, and Damon Knight, Quinn sold the magazine to Robert Guinn at Galaxy Publishing and in 1961 Frederik Pohl became editor. Under Pohl, If won the Hugo Award for best professional magazine three years running from 1966 to 1968. In 1969 Guinn sold all his magazines to Universal Publishing and Distribution (UPD). The magazine was not as successful with Ejler Jakobsson as editor and circulation plummeted. In early 1974 Jim Baen took over from Jakobsson as editor, but increasing paper costs meant that UPD could no longer afford to publish both Galaxy and If. Galaxy was regarded as the senior of the two magazines, so If was merged into Galaxy after the December 1974 issue, its 175th issue overall. Over its 22 years, If published many award-winning stories, including Robert A. Heinlein's novel The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress, and Harlan Ellison's short story "I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream". Several well-known writers sold their first story to If; the most successful was Larry Niven, whose story "The Coldest Place" appeared in the December 1964 issue. (more...)
Researchers announce that the simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV), closely related to HIV, evolved at least 32,000 years ago, making it about a hundred times older than previously thought.
The Illustrated London News's depiction of students preparing to defend the Siege of Paris, the final action in the Franco-Prussian War. The siege began on 18 September 1870, and ended four months later with the defeat of France and the proclamation of William I as emperor of the German Empire. Paris sustained more damage in the siege than in any other conflict. Dissatisfaction with the German government led to rebellion and the formation of the Paris Commune in 1871.
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