Science fiction magazine
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A science fiction magazine is a publication that offers primarily science fiction, either in a hard-copy periodical format or on the Internet. Science fiction magazines traditionally featured speculative fiction in short story, novelette, novella or (usually serialized) novel form, a format that continues into the present day. Many also contain editorials, book reviews or articles, and some also include stories in the fantasy and horror genres.
History of science fiction magazines
Malcolm Edwards and Peter Nicholls write that early magazines were not known as science fiction: "if there were any need to differentiate them, the terms scientific romance or 'different stories' might be used, but until the appearance of a magazine specifically devoted to sf there was no need of a label to describe the category. The first specialized English-language pulps with a leaning towards the fantastic were Thrill Book (1919) and Weird Tales (1923), but the editorial policy of both was aimed much more towards weird-occult fiction than towards sf."[1]
Major American science fiction magazines include Amazing Stories, Astounding Science Fiction, Galaxy Science Fiction, The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction and Isaac Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine. The most influential British science fiction magazine was New Worlds; newer British SF magazines include Interzone and Polluto. Many science fiction magazines have been published in languages other than English, but none has gained worldwide recognition or influence in the world of anglophone science fiction.
There is a growing trend toward important work being published first on the Internet, both for reasons of economics and access. A web-only publication can cost as little as one-tenth of the cost of publishing a print magazine, and as a result, some believe[who?] the e-zines are more innovative and take greater risks with material. Moreover, the magazine is internationally accessible, and distribution is not an issue—though obscurity may be. Magazines like Strange Horizons, Ideomancer, InterGalactic Medicine Show, Jim Baen's Universe, and the Australian magazine Andromeda Spaceways Inflight Magazine are examples of successful Internet magazines. (Andromeda provides copies electronically or on paper.)
The
Magazines were the only way to publish science fiction until about 1950, when large mainstream publishers began issuing science fiction books.[4] Today, there are relatively few paper-based science fiction magazines, and most printed science fiction appears first in book form. Science fiction magazines began in the United States, but there were several major British magazines and science fiction magazines that have been published around the world, for example in France and Argentina.
The first science fiction magazines
The first science fiction magazine,
The premiere issue of Amazing Stories (April 1926), edited and published by Hugo Gernsback, displayed a cover by Frank R. Paul illustrating Off on a Comet by Jules Verne.[6] After many minor changes in title and major changes in format, policy and publisher, Amazing Stories ended January 2005 after 607 issues.
Except for the last issue of Stirring Science Stories, the last true bedsheet size sf (and fantasy) magazine was
Much fiction published in these bedsheet magazines, except for classic reprints by writers such as H. G. Wells, Jules Verne and Edgar Allan Poe, is only of antiquarian interest. Some of it was written by teenage science fiction fans, who were paid little or nothing for their efforts. Jack Williamson for example, was 19 when he sold his first story to Amazing Stories. His writing improved greatly over time, and until his death in 2006, he was still a publishing writer at age 98.
Some of the stories in the early issues were by scientists or doctors who knew little or nothing about writing fiction, but who tried their best, for example, David H. Keller. Probably the two best original sf stories ever published in a bedsheet science fiction magazine were "A Martian Odyssey" by Stanley G. Weinbaum and "The Gostak and the Doshes" by Miles Breuer, who influenced Jack Williamson. "The Gostak and the Doshes" is one of the few stories from that era still widely read today. Other stories of interest from the bedsheet magazines include the first Buck Rogers story[7], Armageddon 2419 A.D, by Philip Francis Nowlan, and The Skylark of Space by coauthors E. E. Smith and Mrs. Lee Hawkins Garby, both in Amazing Stories in 1928.
There have been a few unsuccessful attempts to revive the bedsheet size using better quality paper, notably
The pulp era
By 1955, the pulp era was over, and some pulp magazines changed to digest size. Printed adventure stories with colorful heroes were relegated to the comic books. This same period saw the end of radio adventure drama (in the United States). Later attempts to revive both pulp fiction and radio adventure have met with very limited success, but both enjoy a nostalgic following who collect the old magazines and radio programs. Many characters, most notably The Shadow, were popular both in pulp magazines and on radio.
Most pulp science fiction consisted of adventure stories transplanted, without much thought, to alien planets. Pulp science fiction is known for clichés such as stereotypical female characters, unrealistic gadgetry, and fantastic monsters of various kinds.
Digest-sized magazines
After the pulp era,
There was also no shortage of digests that continued the pulp tradition of hastily written adventure stories set on other planets.
Most digest magazines began in the 1950s, in the years between the film
British science fiction magazines
The first British science fiction magazine was Tales of Wonder,[21] pulp size, 1937–1942, 16 issues, (unless Scoops is taken into account, a tabloid boys' paper that published 20 weekly issues in 1934). It was followed by two magazines, both named Fantasy, one pulp size publishing three issues in 1938–1939, the other digest size, publishing three issues in 1946–1947. The British science fiction magazine, New Worlds, published three pulp size issues in 1946–1947, before changing to digest size.[22] With these exceptions, the pulp phenomenon, like the comic book, was largely a US format. By 2007, the only surviving major British science fiction magazine is Interzone, published in "magazine" format, although small press titles such as PostScripts and Polluto are available.
Transition from print to online science fiction magazines
During recent decades, the circulation of all digest science fiction magazines has steadily decreased. New formats were attempted, most notably the slick-paper stapled magazine format, the paperback format and the webzine. There are also various semi-professional magazines that persist on sales of a few thousand copies but often publish important fiction.
As the circulation of the traditional US science fiction magazines has declined, new magazines have sprung up online from international small-press publishers. An editor on the staff of
List of current magazines
For a complete list, including defunct magazines, see List of science fiction magazines.
American magazines
- Abyss & Apex Magazine, 2003–present
- Analog Science Fiction and Fact (a.k.a. Astounding Stories, Astounding Science-Fiction and Analog Science Fact & Fiction), 1930–present
- Apex Magazine, 2005–present
- Aphelion the Webzine of Science Fiction and Fantasy, 1997–present
- Ares Magazine (New Edition), 2017–present (Based on defunct magazine Ares[27])
- Asimov's Science Fiction (a.k.a. Isaac Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine), 1977–present
- Bards and Sages Quarterly, 2009–present
- Bull Spec, 2009–present
- Clarkesworld Magazine, 2006–present
- Compelling Science Fiction, 2016–present
- Daily Science Fiction, 2010–present
- Escape Pod, 2005–present, fiction podcast and online
- FIYAH Literary Magazine, 2016-present
- The Future Fire, 2005–present, US/UK
- Galaxy's Edge Magazine, 2013–present
- GUD Magazine 2006–present, print/pdf
- Hypnos, 2012–present[28]
- Illuminations of the Fantastic (online, 2020–current)
- InterGalactic Medicine Show, 2005–2019
- Leading Edge (a.k.a. The Leading Edge Magazine of Science Fiction and Fantasy), 1981–present
- Lightspeed, 2010–present
- Locus: The Magazine of The Science Fiction & Fantasy Field, 1968–present
- The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction (a.k.a. The Magazine of Fantasy), 1949–present
- Nebula Rift, 2012–present [29]
- Not one of us, 1986–present
- Perihelion Science Fiction, 1967–1969, revived 2012–present
- Planet Magazine, 1994–present
- Planetary Stories, 2005–present
- Quantum Muse E-Zine, 1997–present
- Shimmer Magazine, 2005–2018
- Space Adventure Magazine, 2011–present
- Space and Time Magazine, 1966–present
- Strange Horizons, 2000–present
- Three-lobed Burning Eye, 1999–present
- Uncanny Magazine, 2014–present
- Unfit Magazine, 2018–present
- Waylines Magazine, 2013–present – US/Japan
- Weird Tales, 1923–1954, revived 1988–present
British magazines
- Arc, 2012–present
- Doctor Who Magazine, 1979–present
- Fever Dreams Magazine, online publication 2012–present[30]
- The Future Fire, 2005–present – US/UK
- Interzone, 1982–present
- SFX, 1995–present
- Starburst, 1977–present
Other magazines
- Albedo One, 1993–present, Ireland
- Andromeda Spaceways Inflight Magazine, 2002–present, Australia
- Aurealis, 1990–present, Australia
- Fantastyka (also known as Nowa Fantastyka), 1982–present, Poland
- Futura, 1992–present, Croatia
- Galaktika, 1972–1995, revived 2004–present, Hungary
- Helice, 2006–present, Spain-Latin America
- Kalpabiswa, 2016–present, India
- Mir Fantastiki, 2003–present, Russia
- Mithila Review, 2016–present, India
- Neo-opsis Science Fiction Magazine, 2003–present, Canada (English)
- NewFoundSpecFic, 2009–present, Canada (English)
- Nova Science Fiction, 1982–1987, revived 2004–present, Sweden
- On Spec, 1989–present, Canada (English)
- Quarber Merkur, Austria
- Portti, 1982–present, Finland
- RBG-Azimuth, 2006–present, Ukraine
- Science Fiction World, 1979–present, China
- Sci Phi Journal, 2014–present, Belgium
- SF Magazine, 1959–present, Japan
- Sirius B, 2011–present, Croatia
- Solaris, 1974–present, Canada (French)
- Tähtivaeltaja, 1982–present, Finland
- Ubiq, 2007–present, Croatia
- Universe Pathways, 2005–present, Greece
- Urania, 1952–present, Italy
- Usva webzine, 2005–present, Finland
See also
- Fantasy fiction magazine
- George Kelley Paperback and Pulp Fiction Collection
- Horror fiction magazine
References
- ISBN 0-312-09618-6.
- ^ "Membership Requirements". SFWA. Retrieved 7 April 2019.
- ^ "Membership Requirements". SFWA. Retrieved 7 April 2019.
- ^ Budrys, Algis (October 1965). "Galaxy Bookshelf". Galaxy Science Fiction. pp. 142–150.
- ^ "Amazing Stories". www.pulpmags.org. Retrieved 7 April 2019.
- ^ "Publication: Amazing Stories, April 1926". www.isfdb.org. Retrieved 7 April 2019.
- ^ "Buck Rogers: The Way the Future Used to Be". Amazing Stories. 24 July 2015. Retrieved 7 April 2019.
- ^ "About Analog | Analog Science Fiction". www.analogsf.com. Retrieved 7 April 2019.
- ^ "Themes : Clichés : SFE : Science Fiction Encyclopedia". www.sf-encyclopedia.com. Retrieved 7 April 2019.
- ^ Anderson, Stuart. "Isaac Asimov: A Family Immigrant Who Changed Science Fiction And The World". Forbes. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
- ^ Liptak, Andrew (16 December 2017). "A century after Arthur C. Clarke's birth, science fiction is still following his lead". The Verge. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
- ^ Cunningham, Lillian. "Great books about the space race". Washington Post. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
- ^ Shippey, Tom (27 September 2019). "Science Fiction: Strange Powers, Familiar Problems". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
- ^ "Marlon James' 'Black Leopard, Red Wolf' unleashes an immersive African myth-inspired fantasy world". Los Angeles Times. 30 January 2019. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
- ^ "Let us praise the giants of science fiction". The Washington Post. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
- ^ "Celebrating Theodore Sturgeon's centenary – so should we all". Los Angeles Times. 2 August 2018. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
- ^ "Culture : Digest : SFE : Science Fiction Encyclopedia". www.sf-encyclopedia.com. Retrieved 7 April 2019.
- ^ "Authors : Goldsmith, Cele : SFE : Science Fiction Encyclopedia". www.sf-encyclopedia.com. Retrieved 7 April 2019.
- ^ "Authors : Goldsmith, Cele : SFE : Science Fiction Encyclopedia". www.sf-encyclopedia.com. Retrieved 7 April 2019.
- ^ "Fantasy and Science Fiction". www.sfsite.com. Retrieved 8 April 2019.
- ^ "Culture : Tales of Wonder : SFE : Science Fiction Encyclopedia". www.sf-encyclopedia.com. Retrieved 8 April 2019.
- ^ "Culture : New Worlds : SFE : Science Fiction Encyclopedia". www.sf-encyclopedia.com. Retrieved 8 April 2019.
- ^ Yao, Sherry (2009). "China's Science Fiction World". The Science Fact & Science Fiction Concatenation. Retrieved 16 January 2013.
- ^ Anders, Charlie Jane (25 March 2010). "World's Largest Science Fiction Magazine Faces Author Uprising". io9. Retrieved 16 January 2013.
- ^ "Where to Submit Short Stories". SFWA. 2013. Retrieved 16 January 2013.
- ^ Fulda, Nancy (1 July 2009). "Where Can I Send My Stories?". SFWA. Retrieved 16 January 2013.
- ^ "FAQs". Retrieved 8 April 2019.
- ^ "HYPNOS MAGAZINE". HYPNOS MAGAZINE.
- ^ "Nebula Rift | FictionMagazines.com". www.fictionmagazines.com. Retrieved 3 March 2016.
- ^ "Fever Dreams E-Zine". fdezine.fever-dreams.co.uk.
Sources
Several sources give updates on the state of science fiction magazines. Gardner Dozois presents a summary of the state of magazines in the introduction to the annual The Year's Best Science Fiction volume. Locus lists the circulation and discusses the status of pro and semi-pro SF magazines in their February year-in-review issue, and runs periodic summaries of non-US science fiction.
- Day, Donald B., Index to the Science Fiction Magazines: 1926–1950, Perri Press, 1952.
- MITSFS, 1965.
- Clute, John and Nicholls, Peter, The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction, St. Martin's Press, 1993.
- Avon Books, 1977.
- Asimov, Isaac and Greenberg, Martin H., Isaac Asimov presents Great Science Fiction Stories of 1939, DAW Books, 1979.
External links
- Website for Locus, the newsmagazine of the science fiction field
- Illustrated checklists for over 1000 SF/fantasy/horror magazines: Galactic Central website
- Duotrope – search engine for fiction magazine markets
- Howard and Jane Frank Collection of Science Fiction Pulp Magazines at the University of Maryland Libraries
- Early Science Fiction Pulp Magazines: Resources in Special Collections at Michigan State University Libraries
- The Pulp Magazines Project