An Interview With Editor John O’Neill
In the late ’90’s, Cyberus struck a deal to be acquired for $5.2 million…[which] meant we could finally talk seriously about doing some of the things we’d dreamed about. I drafted a business plan for a publishing house, and showed it to the other owners… It called for the creation of a fantasy magazine with the emphasis on exciting, accessible fiction. In essence, it would be a modern age pulp magazine, with serials, colorful settings and characters, and an unabashed emphasis on fun.
Read Daniel E. Blackston’s hard-hitting interview with Black Gate‘s Editor and Publisher John O’Neill at SFReader.com. Ranging from the early days of the SF Site through Black Gate‘s genesis and recent success, the conversation covers modern adventure fantasy, pulps, electronic publishing, the perils of modern distribution, and much more. Read this candid and surprising talk with a “website pioneer and print publisher extraordinaire.”
Critical acclaim for the first three issues of Black Gate continues to pour in. “These guys aren’t kidding around,” says Tangent Online of our third issue — “This heavy-duty volume, bigger than many trade paperbacks, is very classy.”
Zed runs a friendly, profitable business in Pald’s foreign quarter — kept that way by his seeming willingness to avoid conflict at all costs. But beneath this carefully constructed cowardly exterior beats the heart of a shrewd businessman, one who will go to any lengths to protect both his business and his employees. But he’ll need every resource at his disposal when he finds himself up against an unknown opponent who wants him dead… an opponent with very powerful allies, and deadly Lisk stitch magic at his fingertips.
What have the reviewers been calling Black Gate magazine? “Ambitious” (Interzone), “Wonderful” (RPGNet), “Spectacular” (Tangent Online), and “The Best Thing to happen to fantasy since Robert E. Howard faked his own death, moved to England, and took on a new identity as J.R.R. Tolkien” (The Wall Street Journal).
A trio of adventurers scheme to steal a deadly enchanted sword… a dwarven detective stumbles on an ingenious new scam in a very old casino… a deadly worm terrorizes the helpless inhabitants of an ancient sky city… and the Lord of the Underworld tracks a child murderer across a chilling landscape where spiders lurk in hidden lairs and ghosts are hunted for sport — all in the 
As our big Winter issue heads to press — with new fiction from Mike Resnick, Elaine Cunningham, Darrell Schweitzer, and much more — we continue to receive a wide array of comments and suggestions on the first two issues of Black Gate.