Open Magazines
March 2, 2008 – 11:35 am by Mur LaffertyThe web is thick with ‘zines now, but I wanted to showcase some of my favorites, specifically ones that look genre fiction with intelligence:
The SciPhi Journal: Sci Phi is the journal of Science Fiction and Philosophy. Each quarterly issue contains science fiction short stories with a philosophical theme and popular level philosophy articles with a science fiction theme. The editor of the magazine is long time Sci Phi Show host Jason Rennie. This is available in ebook or print format, and there is a charge, but it is DRM free.
Issue #1 contains work by Jason Pomerantz, Geoffrey Maloney, Michael Spence, Lee Battersby, Stephen Dedman, Ben Goertzel and Stephan Vladamir Bugaj, Ryan Nichols, Matt Wallace and Paul S. Jenkins.
Internet Review of Science Fiction (IRoSF): The IROSF is coming off a several-month hiatus, but I’m thrilled it’s back. It was created with the goal of creating a forum for the serious exploration of the literature of the fantastic. IRoSF publishes intelligent articles, essays, interviews, reviews, and criticism to illuminate the most interesting and important work in the genres of science fiction and fantasy. (Full Disclosure: the most recent issue features a book review by me)
Strange Horizons: a weekly web-based magazine of and about speculative fiction: science fiction, fantasy, magic realism, slipstream, and a host of sub-genres. They work under the belief that,
[Speculative fiction is] important to the world. These stories make us think. They critique society. They offer alternatives. They give us a vision of the future—and warn us of the potential dangers therein. They help us understand our past. They are full of beauty, and terror, and delight.
Run by volunteers and a paying marketing entirely funded by donations, Strange Horizons is the epitome of the successful SF ‘zine published online.
