Impulse (later SF Impulse) was a a successor to Science Fantasy and was published in the same paperback book format as Science Fantasy had been in its later years.
The name change came about because editor Kyril Bonfiglioli thought the title “Science Fantasy” immature and not indicative of the magazine’s contents. In an editorial explaining the change he drew parallels with John W. Campbell’s decision to change the name of Astounding Science Fiction to Analog. Like Campbell, he faded out the old name and faded in the new over a number of issues so that readers would realise the two titles were the same magazine.
There were two crucial differences in the way the changes were handled, however, which may have had some bearing on the difference in the outcomes for Analog and Impulse. The latter folded after a year whereas the former is one of only two SF magazines from that era still being published today.
The Astounding -> Analog transformation took a year and Analog retained the numbering of the old title so casual browsers would realise the two titles were the same magazine. Only one issue carried the Science Fantasy -> Impulse transformation and with the March 1966 issue numbering began again at 1. The first three issues of the new magazine were subtitled “The new Science Fantasy” but in very small print. The issue numbers of both Science Fantasy and Impulse were quite prominantly displayed, so it is quite possible that casual newsagent purchasers did not realise they were the same magazine.
Bonfiglioli left after a few issues and editing was shared between Harry Harrison and Keith Roberts.
FICTION INDEX
Brian W. Aldiss
The Circulation of the Blood…………………March 1966
The Oh in Jose………………………………July 1966
The Eyes of the Blind King(c)……………..November 1966
The Plot Sickens………………………….January 1967
Just Passing Through………………………February 1967
Poul Anderson
High Treason……………………………….March 1966
J. G. Ballard
You and Me and the Continuum…………………March 1966
John Bell
A Hot Summer’s Day…………………………..July 1966
Alistair Bevan
The Pace That Kills…………………………..May 1966
The Scarlet Lady…………………………..August 1966
Breakdown………………………………..October 1966
James Blish
A Hero’s Life………………………………March 1966
Chris Boyce
George……………………………………..June 1966
The Rig………………………………..September 1966
Mantis…………………………………..January 1967
John Brunner
Break the Door of Hell………………………April 1966
Kenneth Bulmer
Inside Out(/Richard Wilson)……………….December 1966
Daphne Castell
Martians at Dick’s End…………………..September 1966
Peter L. Cave
Cry Martian………………………………….May 1966
Robert Clough
The Beautiful Man……………………………July 1966
D. G. Compton
It’s Smart to Have an English Address………February 1967
Thomas M. Disch
The Roaches……………………………………………November 1966
Three Points on the Demographic Curve………December 1966
The Number You Have Just Reached…………..February 1967
John Hamilton
The Golden Coin of Spring…………………….June 1966
Pete Hammerton
Grutch…………………………………..January 1967
Harry Harrison
The Gods Themselves Throw Incense…………….March 1966
Make Room! Make Room!……………….August-October 1966
The Voice of the CWACC……………………December 1966
George Hay
Synopsis……………………………………June 1966
Chris Hebron
The Experiment……………………………October 1966
The Bad Bush of Uzoro…………………….February 1967
Ernest Hill
The Inheritors……………………………October 1966
C. F. Hoffman
The Boiler……………………………….October 1966
Paul Jents
Clay……………………………………….June 1966
The Pursuit of Happiness………………….February 1967
Roger Jones
Hurry Down………………………………….July 1966
Edward Mackin
Pasquali’s Peerless Puppets(d)…………….November 1966
R. W. Mackleworth
A Visitation of Ghosts……………………….June 1966
Angus McAllister
The Superstition…………………………….June 1966
Judith Merrill
Homecalling…………………………….April-May 1966
The Shrine of the Temptation……………….January 1967
Michael Moorcock
The Ice Schooner……………November 1966 – January 1967
M. J. P. Moore
The Writing Man…………………………September 1966
Russell Parker
The Report………………………………….July 1966
Frederik Pohl
Day Million(r)……………………………October 1966
Chris Priest
The Run……………………………………..May 1966
Impasse…………………………………February 1967
John Rackham
A Light Feint………………………………April 1966
John Rankine
Seventh Moon…………………………………May 1966
Pattern As Set………………………………July 1966
Peter Regrove
The White Monument…………………………..July 1966
Mack Reynolds
Hatchetman………………………………….June 1966
Keith Roberts
Pavane(a)………………………………….March 1966
The Lady Anne(a)……………………………April 1966
Brother John(a)………………………………May 1966
Lords and Ladies(a)………………………….June 1966
Corfe Gate(a)……………………………….July 1966
Timothy(b)……………………………..September 1966
The Simple For Love(b)……………………November 1966
The Familiar(b)………………………….December 1966
Rob Sproat
Wolves……………………………………August 1966
Brian M. Stableford
The Man Who Came Back……………………..October 1966
Inconstancy……………………………..February 1967
Peter Tate
The First Last Martyr………………………August 1966
T. F. Thompson
Disengagement……………………………..August 1966
Robert J. Tilley
The Unsung Martyrdom of Abel Clough…………October 1966
Jack Vance
The Secret…………………………………March 1966
Robert Wells
Stop Seventeen…………………………..November 1966
Fred Wheeler
Audition……………………………….September 1966
Eric C. Williams
The Real Thing…………………………..December 1966
Richard Wilson
Deserter…………………………………..March 1966
Inside Out(/Kenneth Bulmer)……………….December 1966
Green Eyes……………………………….January 1967
See Me Not………………………………February 1967
(a) Pavane Cycle
(b) Anita the Witch
(c) Vukasan chronicles
(d) Hek Belov
(r) reprinted from Rogue magazine
NON FICTION INDEX
Brian w. Aldiss
Book review………………………………October 1966
Book review………………………………January 1967
Alistair Bevan
Book Fare……………………………….February 1967
Francesco Biomonti
SF Film Festival…………………………November 1966
Tom Boardman Jr
Book Fare……………………………….November 1966
Thomas M. Disch
Hell Revisited (Interview with Kingsley Amis).December 1966
G. D. Doherty
Fantasy and the Nightmare………………….October 1966
Harry Harrison
Critique…………………………..July-September 1966
Keith Roberts
Lucian of Samosatos………………………February 1967
E.C. Tubb
A Comment…………………………………August 1966
COVER ARTISTS
Judith Ann Lawrence
March 1966
Agosta Modo
February 1967
Keith Roberts
April 1966 for “The Lady Anne”
May 1966
July 1966 for “Corfe Gate”
September 1966 for “The Rig”
October 1966 for “Day Million”
November 1966 for “The Ice Schooner”
January 1967 for “Mantis”
The remainder were uncredited
Alternaties Corporation 
Leave a Reply