Realms of Fantasy is Dead Again

My only current paying freelance gig has been shot out from under me yet again; Realms of Fantasy magazine is being shut down for the third (I think) time in as many years.

SF Scope has the full story. Thanks to all of the owners of RoF for pouring money into it, even though that didn't work out the way any of us had hoped, and to everyone else who worked on the magazine. I came in very late in its life, but I'm pretty sure hiring me didn't directly lead to any of its many deaths.

And, if there's anyone out there looking for someone snarky to review books in that vast realm between comics and skiffy, I am your man.

Another Place You'll Soon Be Seeing My Ugly Mug

Since it was announced by Nonfiction Editor Douglas Cohen earlier today, I can pass on the news that I'll be the new Graphic Novels columnist for Realms of Fantasy magazine, following the estimable (but somewhat overworked) Jeff VanderMeer.

Given the nature of print-publication deadlines, you won't be reading my words in Realms for several months. But be warned: I'm coming, and now not even magazines are safe from my rantings.

Magazine Follies

Today, I actually finished reading the July 2003 issue of The New York Review of Science Fiction, which I think I have been carrying around for the past five years. (No offense meant to NYRSF, particularly since I've kept up my subscription; it's just that magazines have always taken the hit when reading time is limited and NYRSF is generally at the bottom of that pile.)

I hope to read the August 2003 issue somewhat more quickly, though I'm not going to expect to catch up any time soon. I'm hoping to get into some good, juicy SFnal controversies of yesteryear; does anyone remember what we were passionately debating in mid-2003?

Paolo Bacigalupi on Magazine Marketing

I got these links from Lou Anders (I'll admit it; I don't try to read every single SF/F/H writer's blog anymore), and I agree with nearly everything Bacigalupi says. (Especially the bit about direct mail; the only thing that's comparable is telemarketing, which used to be a fantastic marketing channel before the financial services assholes poisoned the well for everyone.)

Part One: Why Are "the Big Three" Dying?
(Although, as both Sheila Williams and Gordon Van Gelder pointed out to me this past weekend, the big three are not actually dying, and just because the outside world only has one metric about the health of a magazine, it does not thereby follow that it is a good metric.)

Part Two: Marketing in Meatspace
(Mail mail mail. Test test test. And then mail some more.)

Part Three: Online Marketing
(Not the same old suggestions at all; Bacigalupi has some great ideas...whether or not they're actually feasible is another story, and only the people running the magazines could determine that.)

Dave Truesdale is Looking for Market Data

And I'll just copy & paste his message, which you may be seeing other places today. Contact him directly about his request, of course.

"If I have already contacted you, please disregard this request.

For all others (and please spread the word), I am conducting a major SF/F/H survey for all U.S. original short fiction markets (anything less than novel length) paying at least 1c/wd. Magazines, chapbooks, small press, book publishers, and ezines originating in the U.S., are all to be included.

I need to know three things:

1) Payrate (to verify the 1c/wd. requirement only).

2) How many original short stories will be published in 2007.

3) The total word count for same.

Magazines, original collections, reprint single author collections including any new material, chapbooks of less than novel length. All are included, as well as original short fiction published as media tie-ins, as well as any original short fiction collections from the small press.

Feel free to copy this request where you see fit. I can be reached at:

dtruesdale@netzero.com, or dtruesdale@netzero.net

Your help in this major project is greatly appreciated.

Best,
Dave Truesdale
Publisher/Editor, Tangent Online"

Would'ja like to take a survey?

Blog in Exile: Magazine Round-Up, 6/25

SF Scope reports that Electric Velocipede's recent subscription drive was successful, and that EV will continue.

The Internet Review of Science Fiction is in the middle of a redesign, and plans to relaunch in August -- but it has some short fiction reviews by Lois Tilton to keep interest alive.

Strange Horizons was updated today as usual, with a story by Ruth Nestvold, a column from Matthew Cheney, and more.

Subterranean Magazine has just posted the second part of Elizabeth Bear's story "Suicide Jack and the One-Eyed King," and an entire new Gene Wolfe story -- all for free.

Analog has posted the Table of Contents for their September issue -- it will contain stories by both Dave Creek and Uncle River (which must be deliberate), as well as Howard V. Hendrix and E. Mark Mitchell.

Blog in Exile: Magazine News, 6/18

There's a new issue of SF Site for mid-June, with the usual collection of reviews and columns.

Antipodean SF have put out their 109th (free, online) issue.

This week's Strange Horizons update includes a story by Genevieve Valentine and an interview with Bruce Boston.

Blog in Exile: Magazine News, 6/11

SF Scope has the table of contents for F&SF's September issue.

Electric Velocipede hopes to expand, and wants some help. Oh, and their new issue has shipped.

Clarkesworld has a new issue for June, with the usual two free on-line stories.

Electric Spec has posted a second issue for 2007.

Darker Matter's fourth issue has the continuation of the 1979 interview with Douglas Adams they've been serializing since issue 1, a new story by Edward M. Lerner, and more.

SFX has put out their 158th issue.

Locus has put up the profile page for their new June issue.

Lone Star Stories has a new issue (#21) for June, with new stories by Jay Lake, Jo Walton, and Nina Kiriki Hoffman.

Ideomancer also has a new issue for June, with stories from Astrid Atkinson, Ruth Nestvold, Yoon Ha Lee, and others.

SF Revu's June issue is also their 10th Anniversary issue; congratulations!

You don't need me to tell you that Strange Horizons has an update every Monday, do you? If so: they do, and I just did. Last week there was a story by A.B. Goelman and more, and this week features a Steve Bartczak art gallery, a E. Cabell Hankinson Gathman story, and more.

The Spring 2007 issue of On Spec is in the hands of subscribers, say the proprietors. (But how can they be sure? Do they hand-deliver every copy, across what we Americans are sure is the blasted, frozen wasteland of Canada, or are they just saying that it went into the mail a few days ago?)