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From: jimb@ISM780B.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.sf-lovers
Subject: Re: Orphaned Response
Message-ID: <27800022@ISM780B.UUCP>
Date: Sun, 29-Sep-85 15:52:00 EDT
Article-I.D.: ISM780B.27800022
Posted: Sun Sep 29 15:52:00 1985
Date-Received: Thu, 3-Oct-85 04:41:58 EDT
References: <3767@topaz.UUCP>
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Nf-ID: #R:topaz:-376700:ISM780B:27800022:177600:3896
Nf-From: ISM780B!jimb    Sep 29 15:52:00 1985




>I am interested in subscribing to an sf&f magazine. I know nothing
>about any of them, and could use some recommendations. In particular,
>how do they differ in content, style, frequency, quality and price?


ANALOG   $19.50 per year/$2.00 single issue price/13 issues per year
	 (discounts for subscriptions can probably be found and their
	  renewal rates aren't bad/)

	 Mostly hard science fiction, usually traditional in form.
	 Excellent science articles.  The editor is Stan Schmidt, who
	 publishes intelligently written, sometimes provoking editorials.
	 Contains SF events calendar.


ISAAC ASIMOV'S SCIENCE FICTION MAGAZINE

	Same price/frequency/publisher as ANALOG.

	Has a broader, more literary range of stories than ANALOG.  On the
	latter point, they've received several letters complaining that
	some of the stories "aren't science fiction."  Maybe; depends on
	your definition.  Gardner Dozois has just recently taken over as
	editor from Shawna McCarthy and his flavor/tastes won't start
	becoming evident until the January to March issues.


	Includes sometimes pompous, sometimes fascinating (sometimes both)
	editorials by Asimov.  Book reviews by Norman Spinrad (no relation to
	Evelyn C. Leeper).


FANTASY & SCIENCE FICTION

	$17.50 per year/$1.75 single issue/12 issues per year.

	The grand old flagship of the field now (okay, nobody flame me that
	ANALOG is son-of-ASTOUNDING), F&SF is showing its age in some ways,
	not that I wouldn't donate a couple of minor body parts like eye
	teeth to get published there.

	Publishes more fantasy than ASIMOV'S, including contemporary soft
	horror pieces.  Their hard sf is a little erratic, but in general
	it's probably the best magazine for consisently good writing style.
	Book reviews by Harlan Ellison (no known relaton to Mark Leeper),
	Science columns by Asimov which are occasionally interesting, book
	reviews by A.J. Budrys that are probably the best of all the big
	mags.


The preceding are probably the big three; following are three more.

AMAZING

	I don't know the current price, somewhere around $2.00/issue.
	Published six times per year by TSR, the same people who made.
	D&D an institution.

	Frankly, I don't like this one; maybe someone on the net will
	volunteer to its defense.

	AMAZING seems to be going for the teen market that's now more
	less neglected by the big three, but in general it stoops too low.
	It has had stories I've enjoyed by William F. Wu and Somtow
	Suchartikul, but overall I'm not impressed.

	The book reviews are inferior and the editorial responses to
	letters seem smug and self-serving.


FANTASY BOOK

	$12.00 per year/$3.95 per issue/published quarterly.

	I wouldn't get this if I was going to get only *one* magazine,
	but if you like fantasy, it might be worth your while.
	A relatively new magazine, it's actually been around almost five
	years and seems like it might make it.  Good mix of all kinds of
	fantasy.

	This is also a good market for writers who have got decent stories
	that haven't sold to ASIMOV's or F&SF.


LAST WAVE

	Price unknown, theoretically published quarterly, actually published
	when the editor feels he has enough stories to make an issue.

	Well, I don't like this one, but I admire the editor's guts.

	The magazine is billed as "the last best hope of speculative
	fiction."   Very new wave -- which in general I don't care for -- but
	for which there isn't much of a market for in the American magazine
	market.

	If you like New Wave SF, then buy this magazine.  If you can't find
	it (it's listed in Fiction Writer's Market, or your specialty SF
	bookstore can get it for you), then message me.  Keep the SF market
	open to diversity.

	The editor is Scot Edelman, Somewhere In New York.


      -- from the bewildered musings of Jim Brunet

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