Author Topic: Support Genre Fiction Magazines!  (Read 21175 times)

Hazimel

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on: January 19, 2007, 06:32:25 PM
This post is in response to Steve's intro to the story Bean There.

One thing that would increase the visiblity of these magazines is if they would shelf them in the bookstores with the rest of the genre fiction. i think people would be much more likely to buy an issue of F&SF if it were next to the Gaiman, Williams, and Jordan books, than over with the rest of the magazines that I, for one, never look at.

For about a year now I have subscribed to four fiction magazines and I'd like to share a bit about my experiences with them to help others pick one or more that is good for them.

First, the Why: When I first started listening to Escape Pod, o so long ago, I heard Steve talk about this subject in a more abstract way and I realized I should probably support short fiction. Then I started getting serious about writing and read Stephen King's book On Writing. In it, one piece of advice he gives is to subscribe to these magazines and read them from cover to cover every month. This is only one of many excellent pieces of advice in this book. If you are a writer, you should have it.

Back on topic. I started looking around at the options. I am more of a fantasy writer than sci-fi, so I leaned toward that genre more. Here are the mags I subscribe to and a brief review of each.

Realms of Fantasy is a bi-monthly glossy magazine like Newsweek or Time. It has excellent non-fiction and reviews. The stories tend toward modern fantasy and updated fairy tales, but all aspects of fantasy are represented. Each story is presented as an event with original color artwork and stylish layout. I really enjoy this magazine. The recent Escape Pod story, Blood of Virgins, was originally printed in Realms and is a good sample of the quality of writing in this magazine.

Fantasy & Science Fiction magazine (or F&SF for short) is a monthly bound newsprint magazine about the size of a paperback book. This one also has interesting non-fiction and reviews. The range of stories is very broad, from hard SF to modern fantasy. I really can't say enough about the quality of the stories in F&SF. If you like the genres that typically appear in Escape Pod, you will definitely enjoy F&SF magazine. I could list the great authors, like Peter Beagle or Gene Wolf that appear there, but even the stories by people I've never heard of have been outstanding.

Jim Baen's Universe is an online magazine available as PDF and html among others. This was the brain child of legendary SF editor Jim Baen. The stories here have a different flavor than either of the other two magazines that is hard to describe. I think they have a richer feel and a bit more bite to them. Universe also publishes a wide variety of stories, though there is slightly more emphasis on science fiction. They have run several excellent fantasy stories though. There is a philosophy behind the way Universe is published and a commitment to avoid DRM (digital copright protection) that I admire as well. This is the genre fiction magazine for the wired age.

Black Gate is a nice magazine, but like many smaller publications, it had trouble getting issues out in a timely manner. It is supposed to be quarterly, but in the year I have been subscribed, only one issue has come out. Bummer. I can't recommend it until it becomes more regular.

I hope this helps people pick one or more of these magazines to support. Universe would be my sentimental choice if I had to pick one, but really you can't go wrong with any of the first three.

How about you scifi fans? Can anyone give us a rundown of what Asimov's and Analog are like these days?

Cheers,
Bryan in Sacramento

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Russell Nash

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Reply #1 on: January 19, 2007, 06:56:00 PM
Bryan,

Great topic, You beat me to it. I'll be back to say more later. But unless Steve overrides me, I going to say next time feel free to put comments about the intro or outro in the thread for the episode. It's not a big thing, but I guarantee you someone else will start this topic over there too.



SFEley

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Reply #2 on: January 19, 2007, 07:23:47 PM
Great topic, You beat me to it. I'll be back to say more later. But unless Steve overrides me, I going to say next time feel free to put comments about the intro or outro in the thread for the episode. It's not a big thing, but I guarantee you someone else will start this topic over there too.

I think this is a fine place for it too.  "Talk about your favorite magazines" is the kind of topic that can easily outlast the comments on a single episode.

(And for the record, I'm not too uptight about where things go.  If things wander too far from a board's purpose, we can always split or move the topic without much trouble.)

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Shaun Farrell

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Reply #3 on: January 21, 2007, 06:21:27 AM
This is my first post on the Escape Pod forums. So, hi everyone.

Steve's intro concerning this issue was a sad wake-up call for me. So I have also made a move to put my money where my mouth is. Instead of buying an issue here or there, I'm going to subscribe to at least one. Additionally, my Father-in-law and I are going to split a subscription to Analog. I think this is a great solution for people who have strapped wallets. Find a friend or family member who loves genre work and split the cost. That way the price of the subscription really isn't a burden, you're supporting the magazines, and you get some great entertainment! You could even go in with 3 or 4 people if you wanted.

My second thought is that would-be novelists have a stake in this, too. Young writers need a place to get some credits, to earn their way, so to speak. If the print magazines die, young writers will find it even more difficult to sell novels. And I doubt I need to tell anyone here that it's already a tough game.

Thanks for bringing this to our attention, Steve.

This month at the Adventures in Scifi Publishing podcast: John Ringo and Keith R.A. DeCandido. And coming soon: David Webber and James Van Pelt. www.adventuresinscifipublishing.blogspot.com


Tango Alpha Delta

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Reply #4 on: January 21, 2007, 05:39:30 PM
Young writers need a place to get some credits, to earn their way, so to speak. If the print magazines die, young writers will find it even more difficult to sell novels. And I doubt I need to tell anyone here that it's already a tough game.

Kurt Vonnegut was bemoaning the decline of short fiction magazines decades ago, but they've managed to hang on, and now it seems we're on the edge of the digital revival of the idea.  The writing may be on the wall for "print" magazines... at least in hard copy... but the success of these Podcasts and the de-centralizing effect of the Internet makes me think that the concept of the magazine is going to stick around. 

At least, I hope so!

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Jonathan C. Gillespie

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Reply #5 on: January 21, 2007, 07:07:11 PM
Yeah, I'm throwing in my agreement with that.  You can't expect print to exist forever, but the magazines themselves will not die.  I'll continue to support print mags, but look at the subscriber-ship of this podcast already.  The bottom line is, podcasting and internet magazines are now becoming stronger models of distribution, and the market is reflecting that.  There's still a place for the magazines, and I don't want to see them go, but let's be realistic:  your average reader's time is so stretched these days that filling in the only dead spaces left -- i.e. commutes and the like -- will prove more lucrative than seeking out their decreasing free time in print format.

I see it in many ways as a revival of the radio shows of old.  Everything is coming full circle.  There are things to be very happy about here, and of course things to be sad about.  But nothing will stop the wheel from turning.  Gradually, more and more fiction podcasts (and of course, a continual stream of e-based magazines) will supplant the print mags.

This is a paradigm shift, and old strategies might not work forever.  I have nothing but respect for the major print mags (particularly Analog), but I also think there is nothing stopping the major print mags from going with a hybrid publication approach, at the very least.  It is not the reader's responsibility to cater to the publisher's approach; pleasing customers means doing what the customers want.  Print editors and publishers are bad about treating e-publishing like the red-headed step child of this industry.

Well, the kid's growing up, and it's time to acknowledge that.

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Shaun Farrell

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Reply #6 on: January 21, 2007, 07:41:05 PM


Kurt Vonnegut was bemoaning the decline of short fiction magazines decades ago, but they've managed to hang on, and now it seems we're on the edge of the digital revival of the idea.  The writing may be on the wall for "print" magazines... at least in hard copy... but the success of these Podcasts and the de-centralizing effect of the Internet makes me think that the concept of the magazine is going to stick around. 

At least, I hope so!

Great point. We always bemoan the loss of what we grew up with. It feels right to us, natural, so of course we don't want to lose it. I hope that all the different mediums can exist and support each other. I think if everyone works together and embraces all forms of fiction (print, podcast, electronic, whatever) then we will be in good shape for some years to come.

This month at the Adventures in Scifi Publishing podcast: John Ringo and Keith R.A. DeCandido. And coming soon: David Webber and James Van Pelt. www.adventuresinscifipublishing.blogspot.com


Ryuujin

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Reply #7 on: January 22, 2007, 12:23:40 PM
..So, hi everyone...

Hi, back.

Anyhow. I subscribed to the two worthwile magazines in Denmark (actually just days before Steve's rant - just thought I'd resubscribe, so I guess I read Steve's mind; or not) that there are at current time, and I have absolutely forgot why I ever wanted to drop them - they do bring something to the table that other things can't.



Vanamonde

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Reply #8 on: January 28, 2007, 10:26:27 AM
I buy Interzone on a regular basis. However I've only ever found Interzone on the shelves of one small Newsagent, I've never seen it in any of the bigger chains in the uk (WH Smiths and Forbidden Planet for example) that are in my local area. So it's exposure to the general public is almost non existent.

Also I suspect even if you do find it, the highbrow book and film reviews would put most people off (I find them very annoying and not very informative).



wakela

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Reply #9 on: January 29, 2007, 03:36:39 AM
I'll just summarize my comments about this topic that I posted on the episode comments.

My problem with these magazines is that I am usually unimpressed with the quality of story.  Sometimes I've been downright shocked at how bad a story is.  It's been so long since I've bought one that I don't remember which magazine turned me off, but I remember I was buying Azimov's and Analog for a while, so it was one or both of them. 

I like living in a world where there are print magazines of short SF stories, so for that reason I agree with supporting them.  But no one talks about supporting Tor or Spectra publishing companies because they make money cranking out good books. 



wakela

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Reply #10 on: January 29, 2007, 03:38:17 AM
Quote
Then I started getting serious about writing and read Stephen King's book On Writing. In it, one piece of advice he gives is to subscribe to these magazines and read them from cover to cover every month.
Was he talking about just SF/F magazines or all short fiction magazines?




SFEley

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Reply #11 on: January 29, 2007, 05:19:56 AM
My problem with these magazines is that I am usually unimpressed with the quality of story.  Sometimes I've been downright shocked at how bad a story is.  It's been so long since I've bought one that I don't remember which magazine turned me off, but I remember I was buying Azimov's and Analog for a while, so it was one or both of them.

This is a fair point.  I have some other beliefs, at a slight angle to that intro, that some of the magazines' current plight is their own fault for not running the sorts of stories that capture new audiences.  I elaborated on that in some very early EP episodes and I may bring it up again soon. 

But flawed or not, they're what we've got.  We need markets that pay pro rates, and we need markets that are easily available in print.  As much as I believe in Escape Pod, it doesn't currently meet either of those criteria.  And if a market is printing stuff you love some of the time but not all of the time, I think it's fair to let the editor know your opinion of what's working and what isn't.  They should listen to their subscribers -- and if enough of us support them and offer our feedback, it may slowly create positive change.

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Jonathan C. Gillespie

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Reply #12 on: January 31, 2007, 02:02:29 AM
Quote
Then I started getting serious about writing and read Stephen King's book On Writing. In it, one piece of advice he gives is to subscribe to these magazines and read them from cover to cover every month.
Was he talking about just SF/F magazines or all short fiction magazines?



All short fiction mags relevant to what you're writing.

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spinnerin

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Reply #13 on: February 14, 2007, 11:36:53 PM
My problem with these magazines is that I am usually unimpressed with the quality of story.  Sometimes I've been downright shocked at how bad a story is.  It's been so long since I've bought one that I don't remember which magazine turned me off, but I remember I was buying Azimov's and Analog for a while, so it was one or both of them.

This is a fair point.  I have some other beliefs, at a slight angle to that intro, that some of the magazines' current plight is their own fault for not running the sorts of stories that capture new audiences.  I elaborated on that in some very early EP episodes and I may bring it up again soon. 

But flawed or not, they're what we've got.  We need markets that pay pro rates, and we need markets that are easily available in print.  As much as I believe in Escape Pod, it doesn't currently meet either of those criteria.  And if a market is printing stuff you love some of the time but not all of the time, I think it's fair to let the editor know your opinion of what's working and what isn't.  They should listen to their subscribers -- and if enough of us support them and offer our feedback, it may slowly create positive change.


I almost bought copies of Analog and Asimov's from the bookstore last week, but either I've forgotten what the print quality is like, or they're using cheaper paper than they used to, because as soon as I picked them up, I knew there was no way either would survive living in my bag so I can read when I have time.  After pricing out printing costs for my zine, I can see why you want to keep it cheap, but it's hard for me to even look at the content when the packaging is so shoddy.

I think it's really important to have print publications.  I can read a paper copy in many more environments than I can listen to a podcast or read off a computer screen, and after sitting at a computer all day, it's very hard to spend the evening reading a web zine.

I haven't seen anyone mention Subterranean yet, but if their sf cliches issue was any indication, it's worth ordering a copy.  Good writing, and the paper isn't going to rip to shreds.  I like the full 8.5 x 11 layout, too.



ClintMemo

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Reply #14 on: February 15, 2007, 06:23:04 PM
I went to the Barnes and Noble up the street and found Asimov's, Analog and one other (Aspect? sci-fi/horror) on the shelf.
I picked up a copy of Asimov's.

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tsanders

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Reply #15 on: February 15, 2007, 06:39:26 PM
I almost bought copies of Analog and Asimov's from the bookstore last week, but either I've forgotten what the print quality is like, or they're using cheaper paper than they used to, because as soon as I picked them up, I knew there was no way either would survive living in my bag so I can read when I have time.

Ugggh! I'm in total agreement. I actually do subscribe to the "big three" (Analog, Asimov's, & F&SF). F&SF is OK, but about half of my issues of the other two do not make through the postal system without having the cover ripped to shreds. Even the other half I have to hold odd because the ink on the covers comes off on my fingers. If the black ain't gonna stick to the cover they need to stop using space cover images :-) If I read a story and then put the magazine down and there's A) ink on my hands, and B) a big thumbprint marring the cover image then I'm not really a happy camper. I was just reading one with breakfast and I ended up holding the pages inside and letting the cover just flap around. Very awkward.



DKT

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Reply #16 on: September 20, 2007, 09:36:33 PM
I'm kind of resurrecting this thread.  The last couple of times I've walked into a major bookstore (B&N or Borders) and browsed the magazine section, I'm lucky if I can find Asimov's or F&SF (usually one or the other, not both).  I can't remember the last time I saw Analog or Realms of Fantasy, not to mention Weird Tales. 

I know there's a bunch of other print genre magazines out there.  I can buy single issues and subscriptions on the net, but do stores actually still sell print genre magazines? 


SFEley

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Reply #17 on: September 21, 2007, 05:24:33 AM
I know there's a bunch of other print genre magazines out there.  I can buy single issues and subscriptions on the net, but do stores actually still sell print genre magazines? 

Less and less.  And subscriptions are dropping too.

In my last conversation with Mike Resnick, he gave me some of the numbers, and it appears that Escape Pod might (and please don't quote me on this) have the third largest audience among speculative fiction periodicals.

I could use this as a brag point, but it's for all the wrong reasons.

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Rachel Swirsky

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Reply #18 on: September 21, 2007, 07:25:24 AM
Quote
have the third largest audience among speculative fiction periodicals.

And if the figures you've heard match the figures I've heard, the top market is *not* what people would expect.



Russell Nash

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Reply #19 on: September 21, 2007, 08:00:09 AM
I was looking at the stuff Amazon recommended to me the other day. (You know, the page says, "Hi, Russell, People who bought similiar items have also bought this)  I noticed that after I had bought two electronic books, all of the sudden there are all of these electronic magazines on the list.

So I'm thinking if someone wants to help promote these magazines, buying them at Amazon might be a good idea.  If you're going to buy them anyway, why not make Amazon think they are more popular then they are.  Amazon shows them to more people who buy SF and maybe they'll buy more subscriptions.

Here are some of the ones they offer:
Analog Science Fiction & Fact
Apex Science Fiction & Horror Digest
Asimov's Science Fiction
Cemetery Dance
Dark Realms
Fantasy Magazine
Fantasy & Science Fiction
Realms of Fantasy
SF Weekly
Weird Tales



DKT

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Reply #20 on: September 21, 2007, 04:06:38 PM
I was looking at the stuff Amazon recommended to me the other day. (You know, the page says, "Hi, Russell, People who bought similiar items have also bought this)  I noticed that after I had bought two electronic books, all of the sudden there are all of these electronic magazines on the list.

So I'm thinking if someone wants to help promote these magazines, buying them at Amazon might be a good idea.  If you're going to buy them anyway, why not make Amazon think they are more popular then they are.  Amazon shows them to more people who buy SF and maybe they'll buy more subscriptions.

Here are some of the ones they offer:
Analog Science Fiction & Fact
Apex Science Fiction & Horror Digest
Asimov's Science Fiction
Cemetery Dance
Dark Realms
Fantasy Magazine
Fantasy & Science Fiction
Realms of Fantasy
SF Weekly
Weird Tales

Groovy! Thanks, Russell.  I've been thinking about picking up a subscription to Weird Tales for a couple months now.  That might be a good way to go. 


Anarkey

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Reply #21 on: September 21, 2007, 07:29:49 PM
Groovy! Thanks, Russell.  I've been thinking about picking up a subscription to Weird Tales for a couple months now.  That might be a good way to go. 

Weird Tales is the only major spec fic mag I have a subscription to and I'm happy with it.  Insofar as you think our tastes might line up (and I've had the feeling from reading your posts, etc. that they dovetail more than they diverge) you can consider that a recommendation.

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lowky

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Reply #22 on: September 21, 2007, 08:33:08 PM
I used to pick up Dark Realms occasionally I don't remember much in the way of fiction in it, more reviews of books, music, concerts, and movies.  It was still worth checking out, but it's been a few years. 


DKT

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Reply #23 on: September 21, 2007, 10:19:15 PM
Groovy! Thanks, Russell.  I've been thinking about picking up a subscription to Weird Tales for a couple months now.  That might be a good way to go. 

Weird Tales is the only major spec fic mag I have a subscription to and I'm happy with it.  Insofar as you think our tastes might line up (and I've had the feeling from reading your posts, etc. that they dovetail more than they diverge) you can consider that a recommendation.

Thanks, I'll seriously consider it and I appreciate your recommendation.  One thing I dig about the magazine is the way its formatted.  Part of me would like to read F&SF regularly, but a larger part is intimidated by the way it looks.  I don't know if that makes any sense. 

Plus, like you pointed out, I think Weird Tales is probably more in-line with the kind of stuff I'd like to read.


Rachel Swirsky

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Reply #24 on: September 22, 2007, 02:35:14 AM
Quote
a larger part is intimidated by the way it looks.

I have a friend who says he's embarrassed every time he goes to pourchase an issue of F&SF, 'cuz of the old-fashioned, pulpy appearance of the cover.

That's not the sort of problem one finds with a magazine like Interzone.

I'm happy with my subscription to Asimov's. I'll also take the opportunity to plug Lady Churchill's Rosebud Wristlet.