Dec. 2009 giveaway promotion for bloggers
I wasn’t planning on doing another one of these promotions this year, but I find myself with fifteen advance copies of the December issue, so I’m looking to give away to anyone in North America who will blog about the issue. (Sorry, overseas readers, but international mailing rates are just too high for F&SF to foot the bill.) So here’s how it works:
1) Go to the F&SF Contact us page: http://www.sfsite.com/fsf/contact.htm
2) Fill in your name and address and send a message indicating that you will blog about the issue.
3) After your issue arrives, comment about the issue on your blog and send us a link to your comments.
That’s it.
If you’ve participated in one of these bloggers’ promotions before, please give someone else the chance to try F&SF for free.
Thanks.
—Gordon V. G .
On the subject of blogging
I thought this was worthy of note:
Sept. 19, 2008: Jose Saramago starts a blog
http://www.observer.com/2008/arts-culture/jose-saramago-85-starts-blog
Sept. 2, 2009: Jose Saramago gives up blog:
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hhsTZip0ns2jLZclMuqLZG4cYdyg
And here’s the blog itself: http://josesaramago.blogspot.com/
(I think it’s curious that the news item on Saramago giving up his blog doesn’t link to the blog itself).
—GVG
Writing workshop at Anticipation
I’m told that there’s some problem spreading the word about the writing workshop at this year’s Worldcon, so here’s a link in case anyone cares to spread the word:
http://birdhousefrog.livejournal.com/127850.html
—Gordon V.G.
Aug/Sept issue giveaway for bloggers
It has been a while since we’ve done one of these promotions, but I’ve got about two dozen advance copies of the new issue that I’m looking to give away to anyone in North America who will blog about the issue. (Sorry, overseas readers, but international mailing rates are just too high for F&SF to foot the bill.) So here’s how it works:
1) Go to the F&SF Contact us page: http://www.sfsite.com/fsf/contact.htm
2) Fill in your name and address and send a message indicating that you will blog about the issue.
3) After your issue arrives, comment about the issue on your blog and send us a link to your comments.
That’s it.
If you’ve participated in one of these bloggers’ promotions before, please give someone else the chance to try F&SF for free.
Thanks.
—Gordon V. G .
COMPETITION #78: THE SECRET HISTORY OF F&SF
COMPETITION #78:
THE SECRET HISTORY OF F&SF
Fantasy & Science Fiction magazine, originally titled The Magazine of Fantasy, was founded in 1949 by Anthony Boucher and J. Francis McComas…or was it? Describe, in 50 words or less, the secret origins of F&SF. Alternate histories, imagined conversations, and science-fictional (or magical) twists on the truth are more than welcome. Another welcomed element: funny.
Example:
Shirley Jackson and Theodore Sturgeon leave a little basket on the doorstep of Anthony Boucher with a tear-stained note: “Please take care of our baby. Raise it as if it were your own.”
You have six chances to rewrite history before midnight EST, May 28th. Send your entries to carol@cybrid.net.
Please remember to include your telephone number and snail-mail address.
PRIZES: First prize will receive a subscription to F&SF good for the next sixty years along with a copy of The Diamond Jubilee. Second prize will receive advance reading copies of three forthcoming novels. Any runners-up will receive one-year subscriptions to F&SF. Results of Competition 78 will appear in the Oct/Nov. 2009 issue.
Judges are the editors of F&SF, and their decision is final. All entries become the property of F&SF.
Fictionwise acquired by Barnes & Noble
In case anyone is wondering if the acquisition of Fictionwise by Barnes & Noble will affect their F&SF subscription, it sounds unlikely:
http://www.fictionwise.com/bn.htm
If I hear anything more, I’ll post it, but for now, it’s safe to assume that we’ll have business as usual with the good folks at Fictionwise. And I congratulate them on this deal, which sounds like it will be good for all parties.
—Gordon V.G.
Distribution problems
There are upheavals going through the magazine distribution business right now and they’re going to affect F&SF. Specifically, copies that were distributed through Anderson News Corp. or Source Interlink might not be distributed right now.
Most of our newsstand and bookstore distribution won’t be affected, but some people might find F&SF absent from their usual spot. We’re hoping things will get sorted out soon. Meantime, you can always order copies directly from us.
Rudy Van Gelder
Today I learned that Rudy Van Gelder is receiving a National Endowment for the Arts grant: http://www.nea.gov/national/jazz/jmCMS/master.php?id=2009_05
I’ve never met Mr. Van Gelder (in fact, the photo in that post makes the first time I’ve ever seen his likeness) and growing up, I was told we weren’t related. But a few years ago, I spoke with a first cousin of Rudy’s and he said he knew my grandfather and that we distantly related. I believe the closest we could be related is third cousins, once removed.
But I thought it was using our distant connection to note that one of the great jazz producers has gotten some of the recognition he deserves.
F&SF is going bimonthly
The March 2009 issue will be the last monthly issue. Starting with the April/May 2009 issue, we’ll be publishing one issue every two months. Each issue will be 256 pages (16 pages longer than our last Oct/Nov issue) except for this year’s anniversary issue, which will be a jumbo.
Subscribers don’t need to take any action. If your current sub expires with the April 2009 issue or with the May 2009 issue, your sub now expires with the April/May 2009 issue.
We’ve made the change because rising costs—especially postal costs—and the current economy put us in a position where we either had to raise our rates severely or cut back somewhere. Given the state of the economy, I decided a cutback in frequency made the most sense. We’ll lose a little more than 10% of our content this year, but we should be in a great position for the coming years.
I know it’s a big change and it will take a little while to get used to it, but I think it will work out fine. Thank you all for your support.
Donald E. Westlake, R.I.P.
Donald Westlake died yesterday at the age of 75.
He was a giant of the mystery field, master of the comic caper. I met him a couple of times and he struck me as being a wonderful guy. I also thought his reviews in the NY TIMES BOOK REVIEW were usually excellent.
He published a couple of stories in F&SF when Avram Davidson was editor: “The Question” (with Laurence Janifer) and “Nackles,” which was published under his “Curt Clark” pseudonym.
The world is a smaller place without him.
