Utopia (German science fiction)


Utopia was the name of several science fiction series published by Erich Pabel Verlag, Rastatt.
Together with the Terra series of the rival publisher Arthur Moewig Verlag, Munich,
the Utopia series were the most important science fiction work in the early years of West Germany.

Utopia Zukunftsromane

Utopia Zukunftsromane was a dime novel series which was produced between 1953 and 1968
and reached 596 volumes.
To distinguish Zukunftsromane from Großband they also were unofficially called "Kleinband".

Subseries (selection) and spin-off

All of the first 43 issues of Zukunftsromane belonged to the subseries Jim Parkers Abenteuer im Weltraum
written by Alf Tjörnsen and other authors.
Sixteen more Parkers novels were printed within Zukunftsromane #48 to #129.
Apparently caused by the success of Moewigs series Perry Rhodan 1962 a new subseries started
within Zukunftsroman #320 to #352: Mark Powers - Der Held des Weltalls.
In the end of 1962 Mark Powers became a separate series with 48 volumes.
After the separate series was finalised some more Powers novels were printed within Zukunftsromane starting with #404.
Within Zukunftsromane #550 to #590 the subseries ad astra was published
.

Utopia Großband / Kriminal

1954 Pabel started a new series: Utopia Großband
Whereas a volume of Zukunftsromane normally had 64 pages a volume of Großband typically had 96 pages.
Großband was finished 1963 with volume #204.
Already with #197 Großband was renamed to "Sonderband" - the same name Utopia Magazin
started what causes confusion until today.
The volumes #26/28/30/32 of Großband were subtitled "Kriminalroman aus der der Welt von morgen"
.
Subsequently Pabel started a separate series with amazing detective stories: Utopia Kriminal.

Utopia Magazin

1955 Pabel issued "Utopia Sonderband", a magazine with short stories and science fiction related articles.
With volume #3 Sonderband was renamed to "Utopia SF Magazin",
with volume #10 it was renamed to Utopia Magazin.
Utopia Magazin was finished 1959 with volume #26.
Editors of Utopia Magazin were Walter Ernsting and Walter Spiegl.

VPM reprints

End of the 1970s merged Pabel-Moewig Verlag, Rastatt started 3 paperbook series of reprints:
Between 1957 and 1960 57 issues of the pulp series Luna were published by Walter Lehning Verlag, Hanover.
Originally the full name was Luna Utopia-Roman, with issue 29 the name was changed to Luna Weltraum .
There was also a series by this publisher originally called UTR Luna Utopia Taschen Roman.
In the 1980s the East German publishing house Das Neue Berlin, Berlin
produced the paperbacks SF-Utopia.