I need to know when the first printing of this story was. Was it in the 1950 Martian Chronicles or was it first pub'd in Colliers, May 6, 1950? Thanks!

My guess is that it was first published in Colliers. But 'philnic' would know this one.

Note that 'Usher II' was published by Thrilling Wonder Stories in April, 1950
And 'Ylla', published in Maclean's in January, 1950

Paging 'philnic'!

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This message has been edited. Last edited by: Nard Kordell,

The answer is: Colliers.

I can't remember the precise publication date of The Martian Chronicles, but I'm certain the Colliers appearance preceded it. I will look it up when I get home, and post an update.

Of course, on a technicality, it probably didn't have the "August 2026" prefix when it appeared in Colliers - I think the date was part of the chapter-titling for the book.

Good question!

The Martian Chronicles was also published in May 1950. But a Bantam edition of the Martian Chronicles indicates that Collier had the copyright in 1950.

So - the magazine would be first.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: With Dog for Comforter,

thanks! now I just need to find the Collier's article.

"There Will Come Soft Rain" was published in the May 6, 1950 issue of Colliers. I believe THE MARTIAN CHRONICLES was published by Doubleday in May, 1950 as well, but I do not know the exact date.

Information gleaned from Jon Eller's bibliography in Ray Bradbury: The Life of Fiction (the most accurate and detailed bibliography yet published:

Martian Chronicles was published on 4 May 1950.

This places it two days ahead of the Colliers appearance.

However, Eller also indicated that the Colliers version was without the 'August 2026' date prefix, and was a shorter version of the story.

It is possible that the serial rights (for magazine publication) were sold to Colliers before the book rights were sold to Doubleday, and hence the Colliers attribution on the copyright page of Martian Chronicles. (This last paragraph is speculation by me, not Eller!)