Science fiction magazine

A front cover ofImagination,a science fiction magazine in 1956

Ascience fiction magazineis a publication that offers primarilyscience fiction,either in a hard-copy periodical format or on the Internet. Science fiction magazines traditionally featuredspeculative fictioninshort story,novelette,novellaor (usuallyserialized)novelform, a format that continues into the present day. Many also containeditorials,book reviewsor articles, and some also include stories in the fantasy and horror genres.

History of science fiction magazines

See also:History of US science fiction and fantasy magazines to 1950

Malcolm EdwardsandPeter Nichollswrite that early magazines were not known as science fiction: "if there were any need to differentiate them, the termsscientific romanceor '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-languagepulpswith a leaning towards the fantastic wereThrill Book(1919) andWeird Tales(1923), but the editorial policy of both was aimed much more towards weird-occult fiction than towards sf. "

Major American science fiction magazines includeAmazing Stories,Astounding Science Fiction,Galaxy Science Fiction,The Magazine of Fantasy & Science FictionandIsaac Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine.The most influential British science fiction magazine wasNew Worlds;newer British SF magazines includeInterzoneandPolluto.Many science fiction magazines have been published in languages other than English, but none has gained worldwide recognition or influence in the world ofanglophonescience fiction.

There is a growing trend toward important work being published first on theInternet,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 believethe 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 likeStrange Horizons,Ideomancer,InterGalactic Medicine Show,Jim Baen's Universe,and the Australian magazineAndromeda Spaceways Inflight Magazineare examples of successful Internet magazines. (Andromeda provides copies electronically or on paper.)

Web-based magazinestend to favor shorter stories and articles that are easily read on a screen, and many of them pay little or nothing to the authors, thus limiting their universe of contributors. However, multiple web-based magazines are listed as "paying markets" by theSFWA,which means that they pay the "professional" rate of 8c/word or more.These magazines include popular titles such asStrange Horizons,InterGalactic Medicine Show,andClarkesworld Magazine.The SFWA publishes a list of qualifying magazine and short fiction venues that contains all current web-based qualifying markets.

TheWorld Science Fiction Convention(Worldcon) awarded aHugo Awardeach year to thebest science fiction magazine,until that award was changed to one forBest Editorin the early 1970s; the Best Semi-Professional Magazine award can go to either a news-oriented magazine or asmall pressfiction magazine.

Magazines were the only way to publish science fiction until about 1950, when large mainstream publishers began issuing science fiction books.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 andArgentina.

The first science fiction magazines

March 1941 cover of theScience Fictionmagazine, volume 2, issue 4

The first science fiction magazine,Amazing Stories,was published in a format known asbedsheet,roughly the size ofLifebut with a square spine. Later, most magazines changed to thepulp magazineformat, roughly the size ofcomic booksorNational Geographicbut again with a square spine. Now, most magazines are published indigestformat, roughly the size ofReader's Digest,although a few are in the standard roughly 8.5 "x 11" size, and often have stapled spines, rather than glued square spines. Science fiction magazines in this format often feature non-fiction media coverage in addition to the fiction. Knowledge of these formats is an asset when locating magazines in libraries and collections where magazines are usually shelved according to size.

The premiere issue ofAmazing Stories(April 1926), edited and published byHugo Gernsback,displayed a cover byFrank R. PaulillustratingOff on a CometbyJules Verne.After many minor changes in title and major changes in format, policy and publisher,Amazing Storiesended January 2005 after 607 issues.

Except for the last issue ofStirring Science Stories,the last true bedsheet size sf (and fantasy) magazine wasFantastic Adventures,in 1939, but it quickly changed to the pulp size, and it was later absorbed by itsdigest-sizedstablemateFantasticin 1953. Before that consolidation, it ran 128 issues.

Much fiction published in these bedsheet magazines, except for classic reprints by writers such asH. G. Wells,Jules VerneandEdgar 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 Williamsonfor example, was 19 when he sold his first story toAmazing 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"byStanley G. Weinbaumand "TheGostakand the Doshes "byMiles 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 firstBuck Rogersstory,Armageddon 2419 A.D,byPhilip Francis Nowlan,andThe Skylark ofSpaceby coauthorsE. E. SmithandMrs. Lee Hawkins Garby,both inAmazing Storiesin 1928.

There have been a few unsuccessful attempts to revive the bedsheet size using better quality paper, notablyScience-Fiction Plusedited by Hugo Gernsback (1952–53, eight issues).Astoundingon two occasions briefly attempted to revive the bedsheet size, with 16 bedsheet issues in 1942–1943 and 25 bedsheet issues (asAnalog,including the first publication ofFrank Herbert'sDune) in 1963–1965. The fantasy magazineUnknown,also edited by John W. Campbell, changed its name toUnknown Worldsand published ten bedsheet-size issues before returning to pulp size for its final four issues.Amazing Storiespublished 36 bedsheet size issues in 1991–1999, and its last three issues were bedsheet size, 2004–2005.

The pulp era

Main article:Science fiction and fantasy pulp magazines

Astounding Storiesbegan in January 1930.After several changes in name and format (Astounding Science Fiction,Analog Science Fact & Fiction,Analog) it is still published today (though it ceased to be pulp format in 1943). Its most important editor,John W. Campbell, Jr.,is credited with turning science fiction away from adventure stories on alien planets and toward well-written, scientifically literate stories with better characterization than in previous pulp science fiction.Isaac Asimov'sFoundation TrilogyandRobert A. Heinlein'sFuture Historyin the 1940s,Hal Clement'sMission of Gravityin the 1950s, andFrank Herbert'sDunein the 1960s, and many other science fiction classics all first appeared under Campbell's editorship.

By 1955, the pulp era was over, and some pulp magazines changed todigest size.Printed adventure stories with colorful heroes were relegated to the comic books. This same period saw the end ofradio adventure drama(in the United States). Later attempts to revive bothpulp fictionand 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.However, many classic stories were first published in pulp magazines. For example, in the year 1939, all of the following renowned authors sold their first professional science fiction story to magazines specializing in pulp science fiction:Isaac Asimov,Robert A. Heinlein,Arthur C. Clarke,Alfred Bester,Fritz Leiber,A. E. van VogtandTheodore Sturgeon.These were among the most important science fiction writers of the pulp era, and all are still read today.

Digest-sized magazines

After the pulp era,digest sizemagazines dominated the newsstand. The first sf magazine to change todigest sizewasAstounding,in 1943.Other major digests, which published more literary science fiction, wereThe Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction,Galaxy Science FictionandIf.Under the editorship ofCele Goldsmith,AmazingandFantasticchanged in notable part from pulp style adventure stories to literary science fiction and fantasy.Goldsmith published the first professionally published stories byRoger Zelazny(not counting student fiction inLiterary Cavalcade),Keith Laumer,Thomas M. Disch,Sonya DormanandUrsula K. Le Guin.

There was also no shortage of digests that continued the pulp tradition of hastily written adventure stories set on other planets.Other WorldsandImaginative Taleshad no literary pretensions. The major pulp writers, such as Heinlein, Asimov and Clarke, continued to write for the digests, and a new generation of writers, such asAlgis BudrysandWalter M. Miller, Jr.,sold their most famous stories to the digests.A Canticle for Leibowitz,written by Walter M. Miller, Jr., was first published inThe Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction.

Most digest magazines began in the 1950s, in the years between the filmDestination Moon,the first major science fiction film in a decade, and the launching ofSputnik,which sparked a new interest inspace travelas a real possibility. Most survived only a few issues. By 1960, in the United States, there were only six sf digests on newsstands, in 1970 there were seven, in 1980 there were five, in 1990 only four and in 2000 only three.

British science fiction magazines

The first British science fiction magazine wasTales of Wonder,pulp size, 1937–1942, 16 issues, (unlessScoopsis taken into account, a tabloid boys' paper that published 20 weekly issues in 1934). It was followed by two magazines, both namedFantasy,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.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 isInterzone,published in "magazine" format, although small press titles such asPostScriptsandPollutoare 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 ofScience Fiction World,China's longest-running science fiction magazine, claimed in 2009 that, with "a circulation of 300,000 copies per issue", it was "the World's most-read SF periodical",although subsequent news suggests that circulation dropped precipitously after the firing of its chief editor in 2010 and the departure of other editors.TheScience Fiction and Fantasy Writers of Americalists science fiction periodicals that pay enough to be considered professional markets.

List of current magazines

For a complete list, including defunct magazines, seeList of science fiction magazines.

American magazines

• Abyss & Apex Magazine,2003–present
• Analog Science Fiction and Fact(a.k.a.Astounding Stories,Astounding Science-FictionandAnalog 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 magazineAres)
• 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 Magazine2006–present, print/pdf
• Hypnos,2012–present
• 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
• 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
• 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 asNowa 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

Sources

Several sources give updates on the state of science fiction magazines.Gardner Dozoispresents a summary of the state of magazines in the introduction to the annualThe Year's Best Science Fictionvolume.Locuslists 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.
• Strauss, Erwin S.,The MIT Science Fiction Society's Index to the S-F Magazines: 1951–1965,MITSFS,1965.
• Clute, JohnandNicholls, Peter,The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction,St. Martin's Press,1993.
• Knight, Damon,Science Fiction in the 30s,Avon Books,1977.
• Asimov, IsaacandGreenberg, Martin H.,Isaac Asimov presents Great Science Fiction Stories of 1939,DAW Books,1979.

External links

• Website forLocus,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 Magazinesat theUniversity of Maryland Libraries
• Early Science Fiction Pulp Magazines: Resources in Special CollectionsatMichigan State University Libraries
• The Pulp Magazines Project
• Jim Linwood'sNebulasite– information on fan contributions, letters, artwork, scans of all the covers, and a complete archive of Ken Slater's book review columns