Amazing Stories Annual

It was edited by Hugo Gernsback, and featured the first publication of The Master Mind of Mars, by Edgar Rice Burroughs, which had been rejected by several other magazines, perhaps because the plot included a satire on religious fundamentalism.

The magazine sold out, and its success led Gernsback to launch Amazing Stories Quarterly the following year.

[2] One of the rejection letters described aspects of the story as "repellent"; science fiction historian Mike Ashley suggests that this was probably in reference to the human organ transplant plot elements in the book.

Bleiler speculates that Gernsback knew his readership was less likely to be sympathetic to religious fundamentalism, or that he was liberal enough to enjoy Burroughs' criticisms of religion; whatever the reason, he agreed to purchase the novel early in May.

Gernsback eventually paid him with trade acceptances (a form of commercial IOU), but Burroughs added seven per cent interest to the original fee, for a total of $1,266.01.

Burroughs allowed Gernsback to choose the title for its appearance in Amazing Stories Annual; Gernsback initially suggested Xaxa of Mars, but finally chose The Master Mind of Mars, which remained the book's title in its subsequent editions.

In the event Gernsback decided instead to launch Amazing Stories Quarterly, with the first issue appearing the following year.