''Foundation: The International Review of Science Fiction'' is a critical

peer-reviewed Peer review is the evaluation of work by one or more people with similar competencies as the producers of the work (peers). It functions as a form of self-regulation by qualified members of a profession within the relevant field. Peer review ...

literary journal A literary magazine is a periodical devoted to literature in a broad sense. Literary magazines usually publish short stories, poetry, and essays, along with literary criticism, book reviews, biographical profiles of authors, interviews and letters ...

established in 1972 that publishes articles and reviews about science fiction. It is published triannually (spring, summer, and winter) by the

Science Fiction Foundation The Science Fiction Foundation is a Registered Charity established 1970 in England by George Hay and others. Its purpose is to "promote science fiction and bring together those who read, write, study, teach, research or archive science fiction i ...

. ''The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction'' has called it "perhaps the liveliest and indeed the most critical of the big three critical journals" (the others being '' Extrapolation'' and '' Science Fiction Studies''). A long-running feature was the series of interviews and autobiographical pieces with leading writers, entitled "The Profession of Science Fiction", a selection of which was edited and published by Macmillan Publishers in 1992. Several issues have been themed, including #93 (''A Celebration of British Science Fiction'', 2005), published also as part of the Foundation Studies in Science Fiction. The hundredth edition (Summer 2007) was unusual in that it was an all-fiction issue, including stories by such writers as Vandana Singh, Tricia Sullivan, Karen Traviss,

Jon Courtenay Grimwood Jon Courtenay Grimwood (born 1953 in Valletta, Malta) is a Maltese born British science fiction and fantasy author. He also writes literary fiction as Jonathan Grimwood, and crime fiction and thrillers as Jack Grimwood. Biography Grimwood was b ...

, John Kessel,

Nalo Hopkinson Nalo Hopkinson (born 20 December 1960) is a Jamaican-born Canadian speculative fiction writer and editor. Her novels ('' Brown Girl in the Ring'', ''Midnight Robber'', '' The Salt Roads'', ''The New Moon's Arms'') and short stories such as thos ...

, Greg Egan, and

Una McCormack Una McCormack (born 13 January 1972) is a British-Irish academic, scriptwriter and novelist. She is the author of ''The Baba Yaga'' (2015) and ''The Star of the Sea'' (2016), two books in the ''Weird Space'' series from UK science fiction publish ...

. Back issues of the journal are archived at the University of Liverpool's SF Hub whilst more recent issues can be found electronically via the database providers ProQuest.

History

''Foundation'' first appeared, sub-titled "The Review of Science Fiction", in March 1972 as the official publication of the SF Foundation, then based at North East London Polytechnic (now the University of East London). The journal embodied the SF Foundation's chief aim which was "to promote science fiction, and bring together those who read, write, study, teach, research or archive science fiction in Britain and the rest of the world." Since science fiction studies was then in its infancy as an academic subject, many of its early contributors were professional writers, editors and freelance critics, especially those associated with New Wave science fiction. Its long-running features editor, from #10 (1976) to #51 (1991), was Ian Watson (author) whilst its reviews editors have included

John Clute John Frederick Clute (born 12 September 1940) is a Canadian-born author and critic specializing in science fiction and fantasy literature who has lived in both England and the United States since 1969. He has been described as "an integral part o ...

(#20-47), Colin Greenland (#47-65) and

Andy Sawyer Andrew "Andy" Sawyer (born 1952) is a librarian, critic and editor, as well as an active part of science fiction fandom (although he himself has not written much science fiction). He was educated at the Duke of York's Royal Military School, Dover ...

(#65-129). This element, more rooted in the fan community than in academia, and allied to the journal's long-term commitment to reviewing fiction as well as non-fiction, can be seen as "partaking of 'certain traditions of fan scholarship'." With the appointment, however, of Edward James as editor in 1986, "a more academic tone" was introduced to the journal, which has endured under the current editorial team. Part of the journal's commitment to the academic study of science fiction is its annual essay prize, open to post-graduate students and early career researchers.

List of editors

* Charles Barren, #1-4 (1972–73) * Peter Nicholls (writer), #5-13 (1973–78) *

Malcolm Edwards Malcolm John Edwards (born 3 December 1949) is a British editor and critic in the science fiction field. An alumnus of The Haberdashers' Aske's Boys' School, he received his degree from the University of Cambridge. He was Deputy CEO at the Orion ...

, #14-19 (1978–80) * David Pringle, #20-36 (1980–86) * Edward James (historian), #37-83 (1986-2001) * Farah Mendlesohn, #84-100 (2001–07) *

Graham Sleight Graham Sleight (born 1972) is a British writer, editor and critic, specialising in healthcare and science fiction. He is Head of Governance and Contracts at the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, and editor of the science fiction pee ...

, #101-15 (2007–13) * Paul March-Russell, #116- (2013– )

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Foundation - The International Review of Science Fiction Science fiction and fantasy journals Publications established in 1972 English-language journals Triannual journals Academic journals published by learned and professional societies 1972 establishments in the United Kingdom