
A science fiction magazine is a publication that offers primarily
science fiction
Science fiction (sometimes shortened to Sci-Fi or SF) is a genre of speculative fiction which typically deals with imagination, imaginative and futuristic concepts such as advanced science and technology, space exploration, time travel, Paral ...
, either in a hard-copy periodical format or on the Internet.
Science fiction magazines traditionally featured speculative fiction in
short story
A short story is a piece of prose fiction that typically can be read in one sitting and focuses on a self-contained incident or series of linked incidents, with the intent of evoking a single effect or mood. The short story is one of the oldest t ...
,
novelette
Novelette may also refer to:
* ''Novelette'' (ballet), a solo modern dance work choreographed by Martha Graham
* Novelette (music), a short piece of lyrical music
* Novelette (literature), a work of narrative prose fiction that is longer than a ...
,
novella
A novella is a narrative prose fiction whose length is shorter than most novels, but longer than most short stories. The English word ''novella'' derives from the Italian ''novella'' meaning a short story related to true (or apparently so) fact ...
or (usually
serialized)
novel
A novel is a relatively long work of narrative fiction, typically written in prose and published as a book. The present English word for a long work of prose fiction derives from the for "new", "news", or "short story of something new", itsel ...
form, a format that continues into the present day. Many also contain
editorials,
book review
__NOTOC__
A book review is a form of literary criticism in which a book is merely described (summary review) or analyzed based on content, style, and merit.
A book review may be a primary source, opinion piece, summary review or scholarly revi ...
s or articles, and some also include stories in the fantasy and horror genres.
History of science fiction magazines
Malcolm Edwards and
Peter Nicholls write that early magazines were not known as science fiction: "if there were any need to differentiate them, the terms
scientific romance
Scientific romance is an archaic, mainly British term for the genre of fiction now commonly known as science fiction. The term originated in the 1850s to describe both fiction and elements of scientific writing, but it has since come to refer to ...
or '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-language
pulps with a leaning towards the fantastic were ''
Thrill Book'' (1919) and ''
Weird Tales
''Weird Tales'' is an American fantasy and horror fiction pulp magazine founded by J. C. Henneberger and J. M. Lansinger in late 1922. The first issue, dated March 1923, appeared on newsstands February 18. The first editor, Edwin Baird, prin ...
'' (1923), but the editorial policy of both was aimed much more towards weird-occult fiction than towards sf."
Major American science fiction magazines include ''
Amazing Stories
''Amazing Stories'' is an American science fiction magazine launched in April 1926 by Hugo Gernsback's Experimenter Publishing. It was the first magazine devoted solely to science fiction. Science fiction stories had made regular appearances ...
'', ''
Astounding Science Fiction
''Analog Science Fiction and Fact'' is an American science fiction magazine published under various titles since 1930. Originally titled ''Astounding Stories of Super-Science'', the first issue was dated January 1930, published by William C ...
'', ''
Galaxy Science Fiction
''Galaxy Science Fiction'' was an American digest-size science fiction magazine, published in Boston from 1950 to 1980. It was founded by a French-Italian company, World Editions, which was looking to break into the American market. World Editi ...
'', ''
The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction
''The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction'' (usually referred to as ''F&SF'') is a U.S. fantasy fiction magazine, fantasy and science fiction magazine first published in 1949 by Mystery House, a subsidiary of Lawrence E. Spivak, Lawrence Spiva ...
'' and ''
Isaac Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine
''Asimov's Science Fiction'' is an American science fiction magazine which publishes science fiction and fantasy named after science fiction author Isaac Asimov. It is currently published by Penny Publications. From January 2017, the publication ...
''. The most influential British science fiction magazine was ''
New Worlds''; newer British SF magazines include ''
Interzone'' and ''Polluto''. Many science fiction magazines have been published in languages other than English, but none has gained worldwide recognition or influence in the world of
anglophone
Speakers of English are also known as Anglophones, and the countries where English is natively spoken by the majority of the population are termed the '' Anglosphere''. Over two billion people speak English , making English the largest langua ...
science fiction.
There is a growing trend toward important work being published first on the
Internet
The Internet (or internet) is the global system of interconnected computer networks that uses the Internet protocol suite (TCP/IP) to communicate between networks and devices. It is a ''internetworking, network of networks'' that consists ...
, 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 believe the 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 like ''
Strange Horizons
''Strange Horizons'' is an online speculative fiction magazine. It also features speculative poetry and nonfiction in every issue, including reviews, essays, interviews, and roundtables.
History and profile
It was launched in September 2000, an ...
'', ''
Ideomancer'', ''
InterGalactic Medicine Show'', ''
Jim Baen's Universe
''Jim Baen's Universe'' (''JBU'') was a bimonthly online fantasy and science fiction magazine created by Jim Baen (founder and long-time publisher of Baen Books). It was recognized by the SFWA as a Qualifying Short Fiction Venue. ''JBU'' be ...
'', and the Australian magazine ''
Andromeda Spaceways Inflight Magazine'' are examples of successful Internet magazines. (Andromeda provides copies electronically or on paper.)
Web-based magazines tend 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 the
SFWA SFWA may refer to:
* Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association
*Scottish Football Writers' Association
The Scottish Football Writers' Association (SFWA) is an association of Scottish football journalists and correspondents writing for newsp ...
, which means that they pay the "professional" rate of 8c/word or more. These magazines include popular titles such as ''
Strange Horizons
''Strange Horizons'' is an online speculative fiction magazine. It also features speculative poetry and nonfiction in every issue, including reviews, essays, interviews, and roundtables.
History and profile
It was launched in September 2000, an ...
'', ''
InterGalactic Medicine Show,'' and ''
Clarkesworld Magazine.'' The SFWA publishes a list of qualifying magazine and short fiction venues that contains all current web-based qualifying markets.
The
World Science Fiction Convention
Worldcon, or more formally the World Science Fiction Convention, the annual convention of the World Science Fiction Society (WSFS), is a science fiction convention. It has been held each year since 1939 (except for the years 1942 to 1945, during ...
(Worldcon) awarded a
Hugo Award
The Hugo Award is an annual literary award for the best science fiction or fantasy works and achievements of the previous year, given at the World Science Fiction Convention and chosen by its members. The Hugo is widely considered the premier ...
each year to the
best science fiction magazine, until that award was changed to one for
Best Editor in the early 1970s; the Best Semi-Professional Magazine award can go to either a news-oriented magazine or a
small press
A small press is a publisher with annual sales below a certain level or below a certain number of titles published. The terms "indie publisher" and "independent press" and others are sometimes used interchangeably.
Independent press is general ...
fiction 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 and
Argentina
Argentina (), officially the Argentine Republic ( es, link=no, República Argentina), is a country in the southern half of South America. Argentina covers an area of , making it the second-largest country in South America after Brazil, t ...
.
The first science fiction magazines

The first science fiction magazine, ''
Amazing Stories
''Amazing Stories'' is an American science fiction magazine launched in April 1926 by Hugo Gernsback's Experimenter Publishing. It was the first magazine devoted solely to science fiction. Science fiction stories had made regular appearances ...
'', was published in a format known as
bedsheet
The bedsheet format (also known as large pulp) was the size of many magazines published in the United States in the first quarter of the 20th century. Magazines in bedsheet format were roughly the size of ''Life'' but with square spines. While the ...
, roughly the size of
Life
Life is a quality that distinguishes matter that has biological processes, such as Cell signaling, signaling and self-sustaining processes, from that which does not, and is defined by the capacity for Cell growth, growth, reaction to Stimu ...
but with a square spine. Later, most magazines changed to the
pulp magazine
Pulp magazines (also referred to as "the pulps") were inexpensive fiction magazines that were published from 1896 to the late 1950s. The term "pulp" derives from the cheap wood pulp paper on which the magazines were printed. In contrast, magazin ...
format, roughly the size of
comic books
A comic book, also called comicbook, comic magazine or (in the United Kingdom and Ireland) simply comic, is a publication that consists of comics art in the form of sequential juxtaposed panels that represent individual scenes. Panels are of ...
or ''
National Geographic'' but again with a square spine. Now, most magazines are published in
digest
Digest may refer to:
Biology
*Digestion of food
*Restriction digest
Literature and publications
*''The Digest'', formerly the English and Empire Digest
*Digest size magazine format
* ''Digest'' (Roman law), also known as ''Pandects'', a digest ...
format, roughly the size of ''
Reader's Digest
''Reader's Digest'' is an American general-interest family magazine, published ten times a year. Formerly based in Chappaqua, New York, it is now headquartered in midtown Manhattan. The magazine was founded in 1922 by DeWitt Wallace and his w ...
'', 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 of ''
Amazing Stories
''Amazing Stories'' is an American science fiction magazine launched in April 1926 by Hugo Gernsback's Experimenter Publishing. It was the first magazine devoted solely to science fiction. Science fiction stories had made regular appearances ...
'' (April 1926), edited and published by
Hugo Gernsback
Hugo Gernsback (; born Hugo Gernsbacher, August 16, 1884 – August 19, 1967) was a Luxembourgish–American editor and magazine publisher, whose publications including the first science fiction magazine. His contributions to the genre as publ ...
, displayed a cover by
Frank R. Paul
Frank Rudolph Paul (; April 18, 1884 – June 29, 1963) was an American illustrator of pulp magazines in the science fiction field.
A discovery of editor Hugo Gernsback, Paul was influential in defining the look of both cover art and interior i ...
illustrating ''
Off on a Comet'' by
Jules Verne
Jules Gabriel Verne (;''Longman Pronunciation Dictionary''. ; 8 February 1828 – 24 March 1905) was a French novelist, poet, and playwright. His collaboration with the publisher Pierre-Jules Hetzel led to the creation of the ''Voyages extraord ...
. After many minor changes in title and major changes in format, policy and publisher, ''Amazing Stories'' ended January 2005 after 607 issues.
Except for the last issue of ''Stirring Science Stories'', the last true bedsheet size sf (and fantasy) magazine was ''
Fantastic Adventures'', in 1939, but it quickly changed to the pulp size, and it was later absorbed by its
digest-sized stablemate ''
Fantastic
The fantastic (french: le fantastique) is a subgenre of literary works characterized by the ambiguous presentation of seemingly supernatural forces.
Bulgarian-French structuralist literary critic Tzvetan Todorov originated the concept, characte ...
'' in 1953. Before that consolidation, it ran 128 issues.
Much fiction published in these bedsheet magazines, except for classic reprints by writers such as
H. G. Wells,
Jules Verne
Jules Gabriel Verne (;''Longman Pronunciation Dictionary''. ; 8 February 1828 – 24 March 1905) was a French novelist, poet, and playwright. His collaboration with the publisher Pierre-Jules Hetzel led to the creation of the ''Voyages extraord ...
and
Edgar Allan Poe
Edgar Allan Poe (; Edgar Poe; January 19, 1809 – October 7, 1849) was an American writer, poet, editor, and literary critic. Poe is best known for his poetry and short stories, particularly his tales of mystery and the macabre. He is wide ...
, 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 Williamson
John Stewart Williamson (April 29, 1908 – November 10, 2006), who wrote as Jack Williamson, was an American science fiction writer, often called the "Dean of Science Fiction". He is also credited with one of the first uses of the term ''genet ...
for example, was 19 when he sold his first story to ''Amazing 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, Dr.
David H. Keller. Probably the two best original sf stories ever published in a bedsheet science fiction magazine were "
A Martian Odyssey
"A Martian Odyssey" is a science fiction short story by American writer Stanley G. Weinbaum originally published in the July 1934 issue of ''Wonder Stories''. It was Weinbaum's second published story (in 1933 he had sold a romantic novel, ''The ...
" by
Stanley G. Weinbaum and "The
Gostak and the Doshes" by Dr.
Miles 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 first
Buck Rogers
Buck Rogers is a science fiction adventure hero and feature comic strip created by Philip Francis Nowlan first appearing in daily US newspapers on January 7, 1929, and subsequently appearing in Sunday newspapers, international newspapers, books ...
story'', Armageddon 2419 A.D'', by
Philip Francis Nowlan, and
''The Skylark of'' S''pace'' by coauthors
E. E. Smith and
Mrs. Lee Hawkins Garby, both in ''Amazing Stories'' in 1928.
There have been a few unsuccessful attempts to revive the bedsheet size using better quality paper, notably ''
Science-Fiction Plus'' edited by Hugo Gernsback (1952–53, eight issues). ''
Astounding
''Analog Science Fiction and Fact'' is an American science fiction magazine published under various titles since 1930. Originally titled ''Astounding Stories of Super-Science'', the first issue was dated January 1930, published by William C ...
'' on two occasions briefly attempted to revive the bedsheet size, with 16 bedsheet issues in 1942–1943 and 25 bedsheet issues (as ''
Analog
Analog or analogue may refer to:
Computing and electronics
* Analog signal, in which information is encoded in a continuous variable
** Analog device, an apparatus that operates on analog signals
*** Analog electronics, circuits which use analo ...
'', including the first publication of
Frank Herbert
Franklin Patrick Herbert Jr. (October 8, 1920February 11, 1986) was an American science fiction author best known for the 1965 novel ''Dune'' and its five sequels. Though he became famous for his novels, he also wrote short stories and worked a ...
's ''
Dune
A dune is a landform composed of wind- or water-driven sand. It typically takes the form of a mound, ridge, or hill. An area with dunes is called a dune system or a dune complex. A large dune complex is called a dune field, while broad, fl ...
'') in 1963–1965. The fantasy magazine ''
Unknown'', also edited by John W. Campbell, changed its name to ''Unknown Worlds'' and published ten bedsheet-size issues before returning to pulp size for its final four issues. ''
Amazing Stories
''Amazing Stories'' is an American science fiction magazine launched in April 1926 by Hugo Gernsback's Experimenter Publishing. It was the first magazine devoted solely to science fiction. Science fiction stories had made regular appearances ...
'' published 36 bedsheet size issues in 1991–1999, and its last three issues were bedsheet size, 2004–2005.
The pulp era
''
Astounding Stories
''Analog Science Fiction and Fact'' is an American science fiction magazine published under various titles since 1930. Originally titled ''Astounding Stories of Super-Science'', the first issue was dated January 1930, published by William C ...
'' began in January 1930. After several changes in name and format (''
Astounding Science Fiction
''Analog Science Fiction and Fact'' is an American science fiction magazine published under various titles since 1930. Originally titled ''Astounding Stories of Super-Science'', the first issue was dated January 1930, published by William C ...
'', ''
Analog Science Fact & Fiction'', ''
Analog
Analog or analogue may refer to:
Computing and electronics
* Analog signal, in which information is encoded in a continuous variable
** Analog device, an apparatus that operates on analog signals
*** Analog electronics, circuits which use analo ...
'') 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
Isaac Asimov ( ; 1920 – April 6, 1992) was an American writer and professor of biochemistry at Boston University. During his lifetime, Asimov was considered one of the "Big Three" science fiction writers, along with Robert A. Heinlein and ...
's
Foundation Trilogy and
Robert A. Heinlein's
Future History
A future history is a postulated history of the future and is used by authors of science fiction and other speculative fiction to construct a common background for fiction. Sometimes the author publishes a timeline of events in the history, whi ...
in the 1940s,
Hal Clement
Harry Clement Stubbs (May 30, 1922 – October 29, 2003), better known by the pen name Hal Clement, was an American science fiction writer and a leader of the hard science fiction subgenre. He also painted astronomically oriented artworks und ...
's ''
Mission of Gravity
''Mission of Gravity'' is a science fiction novel by American writer Hal Clement. The novel was serialized in ''Astounding Science Fiction'' magazine in April–July 1953. Its first hardcover book publication was in 1954, and it was first publi ...
'' in the 1950s, and
Frank Herbert
Franklin Patrick Herbert Jr. (October 8, 1920February 11, 1986) was an American science fiction author best known for the 1965 novel ''Dune'' and its five sequels. Though he became famous for his novels, he also wrote short stories and worked a ...
's ''
Dune
A dune is a landform composed of wind- or water-driven sand. It typically takes the form of a mound, ridge, or hill. An area with dunes is called a dune system or a dune complex. A large dune complex is called a dune field, while broad, fl ...
'' in 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 to
digest size
Digest size is a magazine size, smaller than a conventional or "journal size" magazine but larger than a standard paperback book, approximately , but can also be and , similar to the size of a DVD case. These sizes have evolved from the printin ...
. Printed adventure stories with colorful heroes were relegated to the comic books. This same period saw the end of
radio adventure drama (in the United States). Later attempts to revive both
pulp fiction
''Pulp Fiction'' is a 1994 American crime film written and directed by Quentin Tarantino, who conceived it with Roger Avary.See, e.g., King (2002), pp. 185–7; ; Starring John Travolta, Samuel L. Jackson, Bruce Willis, Tim Roth, Ving Rha ...
and 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
Isaac Asimov ( ; 1920 – April 6, 1992) was an American writer and professor of biochemistry at Boston University. During his lifetime, Asimov was considered one of the "Big Three" science fiction writers, along with Robert A. Heinlein and ...
,
Robert A. Heinlein,
Arthur C. Clarke
Sir Arthur Charles Clarke (16 December 191719 March 2008) was an English science-fiction writer, science writer, futurist, inventor, undersea explorer, and television series host.
He co-wrote the screenplay for the 1968 film '' 2001: A Spac ...
,
Alfred Bester
Alfred Bester (December 18, 1913 – September 30, 1987) was an American science fiction authors, science fiction author, TV and radio scriptwriter, magazine editor and scripter for comic strips and comic books. He is best remembered for h ...
,
Fritz Leiber
Fritz Reuter Leiber Jr. ( ; December 24, 1910 – September 5, 1992) was an American writer of fantasy, horror, and science fiction. He was also a poet, actor in theater and films, playwright, and chess expert. With writers such as Robert ...
,
A. E. van Vogt and
Theodore Sturgeon
Theodore Sturgeon (; born Edward Hamilton Waldo, February 26, 1918 – May 8, 1985) was an American fiction author of primarily fantasy, science fiction and horror, as well as a critic. He wrote approximately 400 reviews and more than 120 sho ...
. 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 size
Digest size is a magazine size, smaller than a conventional or "journal size" magazine but larger than a standard paperback book, approximately , but can also be and , similar to the size of a DVD case. These sizes have evolved from the printin ...
magazines dominated the newsstand. The first sf magazine to change to
digest size
Digest size is a magazine size, smaller than a conventional or "journal size" magazine but larger than a standard paperback book, approximately , but can also be and , similar to the size of a DVD case. These sizes have evolved from the printin ...
was ''Astounding'', in 1943. Other major digests, which published more literary science fiction, were ''
The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction
''The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction'' (usually referred to as ''F&SF'') is a U.S. fantasy fiction magazine, fantasy and science fiction magazine first published in 1949 by Mystery House, a subsidiary of Lawrence E. Spivak, Lawrence Spiva ...
'', ''
Galaxy Science Fiction
''Galaxy Science Fiction'' was an American digest-size science fiction magazine, published in Boston from 1950 to 1980. It was founded by a French-Italian company, World Editions, which was looking to break into the American market. World Editi ...
'' and ''
If''. Under the editorship of
Cele Goldsmith, ''
Amazing
Amazing may refer to:
Music Performers
* The Amazing, a Swedish indie rock band
Albums
* ''Amazing'' (Banaroo album), 2006
* ''Amazing'' (Elkie Brooks album), 1996
* ''Amazing'' (Marcia Hines album) or the title song, 2014
* ''Amazin'' (Tr ...
'' and ''
Fantastic
The fantastic (french: le fantastique) is a subgenre of literary works characterized by the ambiguous presentation of seemingly supernatural forces.
Bulgarian-French structuralist literary critic Tzvetan Todorov originated the concept, characte ...
'' changed in notable part from pulp style adventure stories to literary science fiction and fantasy. Goldsmith published the first professionally published stories by
Roger Zelazny
Roger Joseph Zelazny (May 13, 1937 – June 14, 1995) was an American poet and writer of fantasy and science fiction short stories and novels, best known for '' The Chronicles of Amber''. He won the Nebula Award three times (out of 14 nom ...
(not counting student fiction in ''
Literary Cavalcade''),
Keith Laumer,
Thomas M. Disch,
Sonya Dorman and
Ursula 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 Worlds'' and ''
Imaginative Tales'' had 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 as
Algis Budrys
Algirdas Jonas "Algis" Budrys (January 9, 1931 – June 9, 2008) was a Lithuanian-American science fiction author, editor, and critic. He was also known under the pen names Frank Mason, Alger Rome (in collaboration with Jerome Bixby), John ...
and
Walter M. Miller, Jr., sold their most famous stories to the digests. ''
A Canticle for Leibowitz
''A Canticle for Leibowitz'' is a post-apocalyptic social science fiction novel by American writer Walter M. Miller Jr., first published in 1959. Set in a Catholic monastery in the desert of the southwestern United States after a devastating ...
,'' written by Walter M. Miller, Jr., was first published in ''The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction''.
Most digest magazines began in the 1950s, in the years between the film ''
Destination Moon'', the first major science fiction film in a decade, and the launching of
Sputnik
Sputnik 1 (; see § Etymology) was the first artificial Earth satellite. It was launched into an elliptical low Earth orbit by the Soviet Union on 4 October 1957 as part of the Soviet space program. It sent a radio signal back to Earth for t ...
, which sparked a new interest in
space travel as 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 was ''
Tales of Wonder'', pulp size, 1937–1942, 16 issues, (unless ''
Scoops'' is taken into account, a tabloid boys' paper that published 20 weekly issues in 1934). It was followed by two magazines, both named ''Fantasy'', 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 is ''
Interzone'', published in "magazine" format, although small press titles such as ''
PostScripts'' and ''
Polluto'' are 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 of ''
Science 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. The
Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America
The Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, doing business as Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association, commonly known as SFWA ( or ) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization of professional science fiction and fantasy writers. Whi ...
lists science fiction periodicals that pay enough to be considered professional markets.
List of current magazines
For a complete list, including defunct magazines, see
List of science fiction magazines.
American magazines
* ''
Abyss & Apex Magazine
''Abyss & Apex Magazine'' (''A&A'') is a long-running, semi-pro online speculative fiction magazine. The title of the zine comes from a quote by Friedrich Nietzsche (1844-1900), "And if you gaze long into the abyss, the abyss gazes also into you ...
'', 2003–present
* ''
Analog Science Fiction and Fact
''Analog Science Fiction and Fact'' is an American science fiction magazine published under various titles since 1930. Originally titled ''Astounding Stories of Super-Science'', the first issue was dated January 1930, published by William ...
'' (a.k.a. ''Astounding Stories'', ''Astounding Science-Fiction'' and ''Analog Science Fact & Fiction''), 1930–present
* ''
Apex Magazine
''Apex Magazine'', also previously known as ''Apex Digest'', is an American horror and science fiction magazine. This subscription webzine, ''Apex Magazine'', contains short fiction, reviews, and interviews. It has been nominated for several awar ...
'', 2005–present
* ''
Aphelion the Webzine of Science Fiction and Fantasy'', 1997–present
*
''Ares Magazine'' (New Edition)'','' 2017–present (Based on defunct magazine
Ares
Ares (; grc, Ἄρης, ''Árēs'' ) is the Greek god of war and courage. He is one of the Twelve Olympians, and the son of Zeus and Hera. The Greeks were ambivalent towards him. He embodies the physical valor necessary for success in war ...
)
* ''
Asimov's Science Fiction
''Asimov's Science Fiction'' is an American science fiction magazine which publishes science fiction and fantasy named after science fiction author Isaac Asimov. It is currently published by Penny Publications. From January 2017, the publicatio ...
'' (a.k.a. ''Isaac Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine''), 1977–present
* ''
Bards and Sages Quarterly'', 2009–present
* ''
Bull Spec
A bull is an intact (i.e., not castrated) adult male of the species '' Bos taurus'' (cattle). More muscular and aggressive than the females of the same species (i.e., cows), bulls have long been an important symbol in many religions,
incl ...
'', 2009–present
* ''
Clarkesworld Magazine'', 2006–present
* ''
Compelling Science Fiction
Compulsion may refer to:
* Compulsive behavior, a psychological condition in which a person does a behavior compulsively, having an overwhelming feeling that they must do so.
* Obsessive–compulsive disorder, a mental disorder characterized by ...
'', 2016–present
* ''
Daily Science Fiction
''Daily Science Fiction'' is an email and online magazine devoted to publishing science fiction stories that was founded in 2010. Per the title, it is a daily publication, publishing each weekday, edited by Jonathan Laden and Michele Barasso.
O ...
'', 2010–present
* ''
Escape Pod'', 2005–present, fiction podcast and online
* ''
The Future Fire'', 2005–present, US/UK
* ''
The Grantville Gazettes'', 2003–present
* ''
Galaxy's Edge Magazine'', 2013–present
* ''
GUD Magazine'' 2006–present, print/pdf
* ''Hypnos'', 2012–present
*
Illuminations of the Fantastic' (online, 2020–current)
* ''
InterGalactic Medicine Show'', 2005–2019
* ''
Jim Baen's Universe
''Jim Baen's Universe'' (''JBU'') was a bimonthly online fantasy and science fiction magazine created by Jim Baen (founder and long-time publisher of Baen Books). It was recognized by the SFWA as a Qualifying Short Fiction Venue. ''JBU'' be ...
'', 2007–2010 (Merged with ''The Grantville Gazettes'')
* ''
Leading Edge
The leading edge of an airfoil surface such as a wing is its foremost edge and is therefore the part which first meets the oncoming air.Crane, Dale: ''Dictionary of Aeronautical Terms, third edition'', page 305. Aviation Supplies & Academics, ...
'' (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
''The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction'' (usually referred to as ''F&SF'') is a U.S. fantasy fiction magazine, fantasy and science fiction magazine first published in 1949 by Mystery House, a subsidiary of Lawrence E. Spivak, Lawrence Spiva ...
'' (a.k.a. ''The Magazine of Fantasy''), 1949–present
* ''
Nebula Rift
A nebula ('cloud' or 'fog' in Latin; pl. nebulae, nebulæ or nebulas) is a distinct luminescent part of interstellar medium, which can consist of ionized, neutral or molecular hydrogen and also cosmic dust. Nebulae are often star-forming reg ...
'', 2012–present
* ''
Not one of us'', 1986–present
* ''
Perihelion Science Fiction
''Perihelion Science Fiction'' is an American online science fiction magazine specializing in ''hard'' science fiction. The first issue was published November 12, 2012, and it has maintained a regular monthly update schedule since. ''Perihelion'' ...
'', 1967–1969, revived 2012–present
* ''
Planet Magazine
''Planet Magazine'' is a free American online fantasy and science fiction magazine by emerging writers and digital artists. It was one of the first illustrated SF publications on the Internet, and has been continuously published since the Jan ...
'', 1994–present
* ''
Planetary Stories'', 2005–present
* ''
Quantum Muse E-Zine
In physics, a quantum (plural quanta) is the minimum amount of any physical entity (physical property) involved in an interaction. The fundamental notion that a physical property can be "quantized" is referred to as "the hypothesis of quantizati ...
'', 1997–present
* ''
Shimmer Magazine
''Shimmer Magazine '' was a quarterly magazine which published speculative fiction, with a focus on material that is dark, humorous or strange. Established in June 2005, ''Shimmer'' was published in digest format and Portable Document Format ...
'', 2005–2018
* ''
Space Adventure Magazine
Space is the boundless three-dimensional extent in which objects and events have relative position and direction. In classical physics, physical space is often conceived in three linear dimensions, although modern physicists usually consid ...
'', 2011–present
* ''
Space and Time Magazine
''Space and Time'' is an American magazine featuring speculative fiction
Speculative fiction is a term that has been used with a variety of (sometimes contradictory) meanings. The broadest interpretation is as a category of fiction encomp ...
'', 1966–present
* ''
Strange Horizons
''Strange Horizons'' is an online speculative fiction magazine. It also features speculative poetry and nonfiction in every issue, including reviews, essays, interviews, and roundtables.
History and profile
It was launched in September 2000, an ...
'', 2000–present
* ''
Three-lobed Burning Eye'', 1999–present
* ''
Uncanny Magazine
''Uncanny Magazine'' is an American science fiction and fantasy online magazine, edited and published by Lynne M. Thomas and Michael Damian Thomas, based in Urbana, Illinois. Its mascot is a space unicorn.
The editors-in-chief, who originally ed ...
'', 2014–present
* ''
Unfit Magazine'', 2018–present
* ''
Waylines Magazine'', 2013–present – US/Japan
* ''
Weird Tales
''Weird Tales'' is an American fantasy and horror fiction pulp magazine founded by J. C. Henneberger and J. M. Lansinger in late 1922. The first issue, dated March 1923, appeared on newsstands February 18. The first editor, Edwin Baird, prin ...
'', 1923–1954, revived 1988–present
British magazines
* ''
Arc'', 2012–present
* ''
Doctor Who Magazine
''Doctor Who Magazine'' (abbreviated as ''DWM'') is a magazine devoted to the long-running British science fiction television series '' Doctor Who''. Launched in 1979 as ''Doctor Who Weekly'', the magazine became a monthly publication the follo ...
'', 1979–present
* ''Fever Dreams Magazine'', online publication 2012–present
* ''
The Future Fire'', 2005–present – US/UK
* ''
Interzone'', 1982–present
* ''
Jupiter Magazine
''Jupiter'' was a science fiction magazine edited by Ian Redman. The magazine was first published in July 2003. Based in the United Kingdom, ''Jupiter'' garnered a solid reputation as a dependable small press in its respective field, as noted ...
'', 2003–2015
* ''
SFX
SFX may refer to:
Entertainment
* Special effects (usually visual), illusions used in film, television, and entertainment
* Sound effects, sounds that are artificially created or enhanced
* SFX (magazine), ''SFX'' (magazine), a British magazine c ...
, 1995–present
* ''
Starburst
MicroPro International Corporation was an American software company founded in 1978 in San Rafael, California. They are best known as the publisher of WordStar, a popular early word processor for personal computers.
History Founding and early su ...
, 1977–present
* ''
The Third Alternative
''Black Static'', formerly ''The 3rd Alternative'', is a British horror magazine edited by Andy Cox. The magazine has won the British Fantasy Award for "Best Magazine" while individual stories have won other awards. In addition, numerous stories ...
'' (later and currently ''Black Static''), 1994–present
Other magazines
* ''
Albedo One
''Albedo One'' is an Irish horror, fantasy and science fiction magazine founded in 1993 and currently published by Albedo One Productions.
Overview
''Albedo One'' is widely regarded as the successor to the defunct Irish science fiction magaz ...
'', 1993–present, Ireland
* ''
Andromeda Spaceways Inflight Magazine'', 2002–present, Australia
* ''
Argonauta'', 1954-2006,
Portugal
Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic, In recognized minority languages of Portugal:
:* mwl, República Pertuesa is a country located on the Iberian Peninsula, in Southwestern Europe, and whose territory also includes the Macaronesian ...
.
* ''
Aurealis'', 1990–present, Australia
* ''
Esli
''Esli'' (russian: Если, Russian for "If") was a Russian science fiction literary magazine. It was started in 1991 in Moscow, as a publisher of foreign SF stories, but soon broadened its format to include Russophone writers as well. In the 200 ...
'', 1991–2016,
Russia
Russia (, , ), or the Russian Federation, is a transcontinental country spanning Eastern Europe and Northern Asia. It is the largest country in the world, with its internationally recognised territory covering , and encompassing one-eigh ...
* ''
Fantastyka'' (also known as ''Nowa Fantastyka''), 1982–present,
Poland
Poland, officially the Republic of Poland, , is a country in Central Europe. Poland is divided into Voivodeships of Poland, sixteen voivodeships and is the fifth most populous member state of the European Union (EU), with over 38 mill ...
* ''
Futura'', 1992–present,
Croatia
, image_flag = Flag of Croatia.svg
, image_coat = Coat of arms of Croatia.svg
, anthem = "Lijepa naša domovino"("Our Beautiful Homeland")
, image_map =
, map_caption =
, capit ...
* ''
Galaktika'', 1972–1995, revived 2004–present,
Hungary
Hungary ( hu, Magyarország ) is a landlocked country in Central Europe. Spanning of the Carpathian Basin, it is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine to the northeast, Romania to the east and southeast, Serbia to the south, Croa ...
* ''
Helice'', 2006–present,
Spain
, image_flag = Bandera de España.svg
, image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg
, national_motto = '' Plus ultra'' ( Latin)(English: "Further Beyond")
, national_anthem = (English: "Royal March")
, ...
-
Latin America
Latin America or
* french: Amérique Latine, link=no
* ht, Amerik Latin, link=no
* pt, América Latina, link=no, name=a, sometimes referred to as LatAm is a large cultural region in the Americas where Romance languages — languages derived ...
* ''
Kalpabiswa
''Kalpabiswa'' is an online Bengali language science fiction literary magazine. It is the first and biggest online sci-fi magazine published in Bengali language. It is the main Bengali sci-fi web magazine. Notable Bengali fiction writers like Ad ...
'', 2016–present,
India
India, officially the Republic of India ( Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the ...
* ''
Mir Fantastiki
''Mir Fantastiki'' (russian: Мир фантастики), officially abbreviated as ''MirF'', is a Russian monthly science fiction and fantasy magazine. The name also refers to the website run by the magazine, Mirf.ru.
''Mir Fantastiki'' litera ...
'', 2003–present, Russia
* ''
Mithila Review'', 2016–present,
India
India, officially the Republic of India ( Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the ...
* ''
Neo-opsis Science Fiction Magazine'', 2003–present, Canada (English)
* ''
NewFoundSpecFic'', 2009–present, Canada (English)
* ''
Nova Science Fiction
A science fiction magazine is a publication that offers primarily science fiction, either in a hard-copy periodical format or on the Internet.
Science fiction magazines traditionally featured speculative fiction in short story, novelette, nov ...
'', 1982–1987, revived 2004–present, Sweden
* ''
On Spec
''On Spec'' is a digest-sized, perfect-bound, Canadian quarterly magazine publishing stories and poetry in science fiction, fantasy, and allied genres broadly grouped under the "speculative fiction" umbrella.
History and profile
Based in Edm ...
'', 1989–present, Canada (English)
* ''
Quarber Merkur
''Quarber Merkur'' is a German language literary magazine of speculative fiction (science fiction, fantasy, etc.). It is published in Austria since 1963 and edited by Franz Rottensteiner. The name of the magazine is derived from , a ravine part of ...
'', Austria
* ''
Portti
''Portti'' (meaning ''Gateway'' in English) is a Finnish science fiction magazine published in Finland.
History and profile
''Portti'', published since 1982, is famous for its popular annual short story contest, held since 1986. The magazine is ...
'', 1982–present,
Finland
Finland ( fi, Suomi ; sv, Finland ), officially the Republic of Finland (; ), is a Nordic country in Northern Europe. It shares land borders with Sweden to the northwest, Norway to the north, and Russia to the east, with the Gulf of Bo ...
* ''
RBG-Azimuth'', 2006–present,
Ukraine
Ukraine ( uk, Україна, Ukraïna, ) is a country in Eastern Europe. It is the second-largest European country after Russia, which it borders to the east and northeast. Ukraine covers approximately . Prior to the ongoing Russian invas ...
* ''
Science Fiction World'', 1979–present, China
* ''
Sci Phi Journal'', 2014–present, Belgium
* ''
SF Magazine'', 1959–present, Japan
* ''
Sirius B
Sirius is the brightest star in the night sky. Its name is derived from the Greek word , or , meaning 'glowing' or 'scorching'. The star is designated α Canis Majoris, Latinized to Alpha Canis Majoris, and abbreviated Alpha CM ...
'', 2011–present, Croatia
* ''
Solaris'', 1974–present, Canada (French)
* ''
Tähtivaeltaja'', 1982–present, Finland
* ''
Ubiq'', 2007–present, Croatia
* ''
Universe Pathways'', 2005–present,
Greece
Greece,, or , romanized: ', officially the Hellenic Republic, is a country in Southeast Europe. It is situated on the southern tip of the Balkans, and is located at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and Africa. Greece shares land borders wit ...
* ''
Urania
Urania ( ; grc, , Ouranía; modern Greek shortened name ''Ránia''; meaning "heavenly" or "of heaven") was, in Greek mythology, the muse of astronomy, and in later times, of Christian poetry. Urania is the goddess of astronomy and stars, h ...
'', 1952–present, Italy
* ''
Usva webzine USVA may refer to:
Geography
* Usva, an urban locality in Perm Krai, Russia
* Usva (river), a river in Perm Krai, Russia
* Virginia, a state in the United States (US) with the initials VA
Other uses
* United States Department of Veterans Affa ...
'', 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 Dozois
Gardner Raymond Dozois ( ; July 23, 1947 – May 27, 2018) was an American science fiction author and editor. He was the founding editor of ''The Year's Best Science Fiction'' anthologies (1984–2018) and was editor of ''Asimov's Science Ficti ...
presents a summary of the state of magazines in the introduction to the annual ''
The Year's Best Science Fiction'' volume. ''
Locus'' lists 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, John and
Nicholls, Peter, ''The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction'',
St. Martin's Press, 1993.
*
Knight, Damon, ''Science Fiction in the 30s'',
Avon Books
Avon Publications is one of the leading publishers of romance fiction. At Avon's initial stages, it was an American paperback book and comic book publisher. The shift in content occurred in the early 1970s with multiple Avon romance titles rea ...
, 1977.
*
Asimov, Isaac and
Greenberg, Martin H., ''Isaac Asimov presents Great Science Fiction Stories of 1939'',
DAW Books, 1979.
External links
Website for ''Locus'', the newsmagazine of the science fiction field* Illustrated checklists for over 1000 SF/fantasy/horror magazines
Duotrope– search engine for fiction magazine markets
Howard and Jane Frank Collection of Science Fiction Pulp Magazinesat the
University of Maryland Libraries
The University of Maryland Libraries is the largest university library in the Washington, D.C. - Baltimore area. The university's library system includes eight libraries: six are located on the College Park campus, while the Severn Library, an o ...
Early Science Fiction Pulp Magazines: Resources in Special Collectionsat
Michigan State University Libraries
The Pulp Magazines Project
{{DEFAULTSORT:Science Fiction Magazine
Science fiction webzines