First contact: 1938-1946

One of Clarke's earliest published works, the novellette 'Rescue Party' was published in the May 1946 issue of Astounding Science Fiction. 

This is the title page to 'Rescue Party.'

Science fiction stories, like all works of art, reflect the mores, values and attitudes of their contemporary societies — but it's equally important to pay attention to the advertisements and non-fictional 'features' that appear on and between the covers of publications. This advertisement, for instance, doesn't so much convey gender norms as construct them. 

This is the front cover of the April 1946 issue of Astounding Science Fiction: the issue that featured his first genre fiction publication, 'Loophole.'

This is the table of contents for the April 1946 issue of Astounding Science Fiction. Note the other short story listed with Clarke's: 'Memorial,' by Theodore Sturgeon. 

'Loophole' opening page. 

Clarke's first professional publication was not a short story at all, but an article speculating on the future of space exploration. He correctly surmised that the Moon "would be the first of all the worlds we shall visit when space is crossed." Just over thirty years later, this speculation would become reality.

The opening pages of 'Man's Empire of Tomorrow' from Tales of Wonder. Clarke, here introduced as an "amateur astronomer," would go on to serve as Chairman of the British Interplanetary Society, as well as a member of the Academy of Astronautics and the Royal Astronomical Society.