Tales of Wonder was a British science fiction magazine launched in 1937 with Walter Gillings as editor, published by a subsidiary of William Heinemann. Gillings was able to attract some good material, and included many reprints from US science fiction magazines. Arthur C. Clarke (pictured) made his first professional sale to Tales of Wonder, with two science articles. Gillings also published William F. Temple's first story, some early material by John Wyndham, and "The Prr-r-eet" by Eric Frank Russell. American writers who appeared in the magazine included Murray Leinster, Jack Williamson, Lloyd Arthur Eshbach, and S. P. Meek. With the advent of World War II, paper shortages and Gillings's call-up into the army made it increasingly difficult to continue, and the sixteenth issue, dated Spring 1942, was the last. Tales of Wonder was the first British science fiction magazine aimed at an adult market, and its success made it apparent that a British science fiction magazine could survive.

Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tales_of_Wonder_%28magazine%29

_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:

1875:

Matthew Webb became the first person to swim across the English Channel, completing the journey in approximately 21 hours and 40 minutes. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matthew_Webb

1941:

Second World War: Soviet, British and other Commonwealth armed forces invaded Iran to secure oil fields and ensure Allied supply lines for the USSR. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anglo-Soviet_invasion_of_Iran

1989:

The Voyager 2 spacecraft made its closest approach to Neptune and provided definitive proof of the existence of the planet's rings (pictured). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rings_of_Neptune

2001:

American singer Aaliyah and several members of her record company were killed when their overloaded aircraft crashed shortly after takeoff from Marsh Harbour Airport in the Bahamas. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aaliyah

_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:

endearing: Inspiring affection or love, often in a childlike way. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/endearing

___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:

I think it's a very confused culture. On the one hand, no one is better than anyone else; no one is prettier. On the other hand, everyone is completely obsessed by their looks and by how they strike the world. On the one hand, we're all equal; on the other hand, everyone's a superstar. It's all very irrational, like all ideology.   --Martin Amis https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Martin_Amis