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Difficult Times For SF Magazines

Posted by kdawson on from the genre-you-save-may-be-your-own dept.

Lawrence Person writes "Another speculative fiction magazine folds: Realms of Fantasy is ceasing publication. This comes hot on the heels of the announcement that the venerable Fantasy and Science Fiction will be moving from a monthly to a bimonthly schedule, and underscores what a tough environment this is for science fiction and fantasy magazines, all of which have suffered declining circulation for quite some time. This is a real problem, since short fiction is generally where new writers cut their teeth, appearing in print alongside their more famous peers. Given that a one-year subscription costs less than the average video game, those with an interest in science fiction might want to consider buying subscriptions to Asimov's, Fantasy and Science Fiction, and Analog. (Those in the UK might want to add Interzone and/or Black Static and Postscripts as well.)"

6 of 218 comments (clear)

  1. these things still exist? by j1mmy · · Score: 3, Informative

    i thought they died out in the 60s

  2. Re:Online uptake? by houstonbofh · · Score: 3, Informative

    Or the Bean Free Library. http://www.baen.com/library/ Also a good place for authors starting out.

  3. Re:Online uptake? by Chelloveck · · Score: 5, Informative

    Or Jim Baen's Universe, a darned fine science-fiction and fantasy magazine published in electronic format only.

    --
    Chelloveck
    I give up on debugging. From now on, SIGSEGV is a feature.
  4. I subscribe to four SF Magazines Electronically by sehlat · · Score: 5, Informative

    Jim Baen's Universe - http://www.baens-universe.com/

    Always been electronic, and I'll keep this subscription going as long as I'm breathing.
    Worth every penny of what they charge and there are membership bonuses. Some of the
    best short fiction I can find comes out of this shop.

    Fictionwise - www.fictionwise.com Carries Analog, Asimov's and F&SF. I've had
    subscriptions to all three since 2000 and intend to continue them until either they
    or I fold.

    Print may be dead, but these guys publish zero-DRM and I can stuff them into my Palm and
    go. That was the approach that got me back into reading science fiction.

    1. Re:I subscribe to four SF Magazines Electronically by sehlat · · Score: 5, Informative

      Did you go to www.fictionwise.com?

      The entry on Analog's April 2009 issue reads:

      Available eBook Formats [MultiFormat - What's this?]: Adobe Acrobat (PDF) [1.1 MB], Adobe Acrobat - Large Print (PDF) [1.2 MB], eReader (PDB) [310 KB], Palm Doc (PDB) [230 KB], Rocket/REB1100 (RB) [251 KB], Microsoft Reader (LIT) [813 KB] - PocketPC 1.0+ Compatible, Franklin eBookMan (FUB) [263 KB], hiebook (KML) [1.2 MB], Sony Reader (LRF) [985 KB], iSilo (PDB) [207 KB], Mobipocket (PRC) [547 KB], Kindle Compatible (MOBI) [601 KB], OEBFF Format (IMP) [390 KB]

      That enough formats for you? Note, Multiformat == Zero DRM.

  5. Re:A real problem? by __aaclcg7560 · · Score: 3, Informative

    I have 100+ rejection slips (not including emails) disagree with you. Writing is hard. Publishing is harder. Whether in print or online, things are not getting any better.