Comments on: Short Fiction Beat: Tale of Two Magazines http://www.blackgate.com/2009/08/20/short-fiction-beat-whats-in-a-name/ Adventures in Fantasy Literature Thu, 17 May 2012 04:43:50 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7.1 hourly 1 By: Black Gate » Blog Archive » Addendums http://www.blackgate.com/2009/08/20/short-fiction-beat-whats-in-a-name/comment-page-1/#comment-1117 Black Gate » Blog Archive » Addendums Sat, 22 Aug 2009 13:49:14 +0000 http://www.blackgate.com/?p=3095#comment-1117 [...] reporting the demise of Jim Baen’s Universe, I started wondering about the habit in genre fiction to use a famous author as a brand or a [...] [...] reporting the demise of Jim Baen’s Universe, I started wondering about the habit in genre fiction to use a famous author as a brand or a [...]

]]> By: Maria http://www.blackgate.com/2009/08/20/short-fiction-beat-whats-in-a-name/comment-page-1/#comment-1113 Maria Fri, 21 Aug 2009 17:24:12 +0000 http://www.blackgate.com/?p=3095#comment-1113 To be fair, Baen's was paying even better rates than Strange in at least some cases. They were also paying for art (and quite a bit of it at pro rates.) I think one of the problems was distribution and word of mouth. Strange has been around for a long time and probably built up the audience over time. When I used to talk about Baen's on forums--no one even knew there was a magazine. Apparently distribution was a bit limited by Baen's original agreement with Simon and Schuster (they distribute Baen's books) also. It's never a simple formula that is for sure. I enjoyed the magazine and am sorry to see it going by the wayside. I generally only buy shorts/magazines here and there rather than subscribe (for various reasons) but in the last two years...I have only bought or read online/PDF magazines. I have purchased print anthologies though, but I'd probably buy those online too if offered. Maria To be fair, Baen’s was paying even better rates than Strange in at least some cases. They were also paying for art (and quite a bit of it at pro rates.)

I think one of the problems was distribution and word of mouth. Strange has been around for a long time and probably built up the audience over time. When I used to talk about Baen’s on forums–no one even knew there was a magazine. Apparently distribution was a bit limited by Baen’s original agreement with Simon and Schuster (they distribute Baen’s books) also.

It’s never a simple formula that is for sure. I enjoyed the magazine and am sorry to see it going by the wayside. I generally only buy shorts/magazines here and there rather than subscribe (for various reasons) but in the last two years…I have only bought or read online/PDF magazines.

I have purchased print anthologies though, but I’d probably buy those online too if offered.

Maria

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