Sci-Fi Magazines in Science Fiction
The golden age of sci-fi coincided with an explosion of magazines that published science fiction. In fact, some of the most popular sci-fi works were first published in magazines that released work in serial format.
Among the most important of these was Astounding Science Fiction (which has also gone under other names including Astounding Stories and Analog Science Fiction and Fact). This magazine—and others—played a big part in popularizing the genre. Not only that, but many important sci-fi writers like Isaac Asimov and Ray Bradbury read them as young boys, and these magazines helped shape their own writing careers.
Chew On This
Isaac Asimov wrote one of the greatest sci-fi works of all time: the Foundation series, parts of which were first published in Astounding Science Fiction. Here's an analysis of how Foundation, the first novel in the series, fits into the sci-fi genre.
As a teenager, Ray Bradbury read stories in Astounding Science Fiction. These stories influenced his development as a sci-fi author. Check out this analysis of The Martian Chronicles here, as well as Bradbury's contribution to the genre.