Locus (magazine)

Last updated

Locus
EditorLiza Groen Trombi
FrequencyMonthly
Founded1968;56 years ago (1968)
CountryUnited States
Based in Oakland, California
LanguageEnglish
Website locusmag.com
ISSN 0047-4959

Locus: The Magazine of The Science Fiction & Fantasy Field, founded in 1968, is an American magazine published monthly in Oakland, California. It is the news organ and trade journal for the English-language science fiction and fantasy fields. [1] It also publishes comprehensive listings of all new books published in the genres (excluding self-published). [2] The magazine also presents the annual Locus Awards. Locus Online was launched in April 1997, as a semi-autonomous web version of Locus Magazine.

Contents

History

Charles N. Brown, Ed Meskys, and Dave Vanderwerf founded Locus in 1968 as a news fanzine to promote the (ultimately successful) bid to host the 1971 World Science Fiction Convention in Boston, Massachusetts. Originally intended to run only until the site-selection vote was taken at St. Louiscon, the 1969 Worldcon in St. Louis, Missouri, Brown decided to continue publishing Locus as a mimeographed general science fiction and fantasy newszine. Locus succeeded the monthly newszine Science Fiction Times (formerly Fantasy Times, founded 1941), when SFT ceased publication in 1970. Brown directed Locus as publisher and editor-in-chief for more than 40 years, from 1968 until his death at age 72 in July 2009. [1] [3]

Locus announced that the magazine would continue operations, with then executive editor Liza Groen Trombi succeeding Brown as editor-in-chief in 2009. [4] The magazine is now owned by the Locus Science Fiction Foundation, a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt, nonprofit corporation. [5]

Locus publishes: [3] [6] [7]

Locus Online

Locus Online (founded 1997) [10] is the online component of Locus Magazine. It publishes news briefs related to the science fiction, fantasy and horror publishing world, along with original reviews and feature articles, and excerpts of articles that appeared in the print edition. [3] Information for Locus Online is compiled and edited by Mark R. Kelly. [11] In 2002, Locus Online won the first Hugo Award for Best Web Site. [12] It was nominated again in 2005. [13] In January 2016, longtime short-fiction reviewer Lois Tilton announced her resignation. She wrote, "Without consulting or informing me, they had begun deleting material they considered negative from my reviews. To me, this is censorship and completely unacceptable." [14] It was later clarified by Locus that the edits were not intended to be made to work already published, but rather going forward, to future reviews. None of her past columns were changed, she was paid for the unpublished work, and the relationship ended amicably. [15]

Locus Awards

Awarded annually since 1971, the Locus Awards are voted on by the readership of Locus magazine. [16] Developed initially as a reading list for the Hugo Awards, [17] they have since come to be considered a prestigious prize in science fiction, fantasy and horror literature. [18] [19]

Science Fiction Awards Database

Known previously as the Locus Index to SF Awards, the Science Fiction Awards Database (SFADB) is an index of science fiction, fantasy and horror awards compiled by Mark R. Kelly. It is often more up-to-date than the awards' own websites (according to The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction ), [3] and has received praise from editors and authors of SF. [20] [21]

Recognition

Locus has won many Hugo Awards, first the Hugo Award for Best Fanzine, and then in 1984 when the new category "Best Semiprozine" was established. As of 2012, Locus won the award for "Best Fanzine" eight times and for "Best Semiprozine" 22 times during the category's first 29 years. In 2012 "Best Semiprozine" was redefined to exclude all small, independent genre magazines as "professional publications" if they had either "(1) provided at least a quarter the income of any one person or, (2) was owned or published by any entity which provided at least a quarter the income of any of its staff and/or owner."; this included Locus. [22] There is no longer a "Professional Magazine" Hugo Award; that original category was replaced in 1973 by the current "Best Editor." [3] [23]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Science-fiction fanzine</span> Fanzine on science fiction

A science-fiction fanzine is an amateur or semi-professional magazine published by members of science-fiction fandom, from the 1930s to the present day. They were one of the earliest forms of fanzine, within one of which the term "fanzine" was coined, and at one time constituted the primary type of science-fictional fannish activity ("fanac").

<i>The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction</i> English language reference work

The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction (SFE) is an English language reference work on science fiction, first published in 1979. It has won the Hugo, Locus and British SF Awards. Two print editions appeared in 1979 and 1993. A third, continuously revised, edition was published online from 2011; a change of web host was announced as the launch of a fourth edition in 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">David Langford</span> British writer, editor and critic

David Rowland Langford is a British author, editor, and critic, largely active within the science fiction field. He publishes the science-fiction fanzine and newsletter Ansible and holds the all-time record for most Hugo Awards, with a total of 29 wins.

<i>Interzone</i> (magazine) British fantasy and science fiction magazine

Interzone is a British fantasy and science fiction magazine. Published since 1982, Interzone is the eighth-longest-running English language science fiction magazine in history, and the longest-running British science fiction (SF) magazine. Stories published in Interzone have been finalists for the Hugo Awards and have won a Nebula Award and numerous British Science Fiction Awards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Locus Award</span> Set of literary awards by the science fiction and fantasy magazine Locus

The Locus Awards are an annual set of literary awards voted on by readers of the science fiction and fantasy magazine Locus, a monthly magazine based in Oakland, California. The awards are presented at an annual banquet.

Mike Glyer is both the editor and publisher of the long-running science fiction fan newszine File 770. He has won the Hugo Award 12 times in two categories: File 770 won the Best Fanzine Hugo in 1984, 1985, 1989, 2000, 2001, 2008, 2016 and 2018. Glyer won the Best Fan Writer Hugo in 1984, 1986, 1988, and 2016. The 1982 World Science Fiction Convention (Worldcon) committee presented Glyer a special award in 1982 for "Keeping the Fan in Fanzine Publishing."

File 770 is a long-running science fiction fanzine, newszine, and blog site published and administered by Mike Glyer. It has been published every year since 1978, and has won a record eight Hugo Awards for Best Fanzine, with the first win in 1984 and the latest in 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Patrick Nielsen Hayden</span> American science fiction editor and writer

Patrick James Nielsen Hayden, is an American science fiction editor, fan, fanzine publisher, essayist, reviewer, anthologist, teacher and blogger. He is a World Fantasy Award and Hugo Award winner, and is an editor and the Manager of Science Fiction at Tor Books.

SF Site is an online science fiction and fantasy magazine edited by Rodger Turner. It is among the oldest of websites dedicated to science fiction and primarily publishes book reviews. It has won the Locus Award and received nominations for the Hugo and World Fantasy Awards. SF Site also provides web hosting services, and was instrumental in the online presence of major magazines such as Analog, Asimov's, F&SF and Interzone.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andrew I. Porter</span> American science fiction editor

Andrew Ian Porter is an American editor, publisher and active science fiction fan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">59th World Science Fiction Convention</span> 59th Worldcon (2001)

The 59th World Science Fiction Convention (Worldcon), also known as The Millennium Philcon, was held on 30 August–3 September 2001 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center and Philadelphia Marriott Hotel in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">70th World Science Fiction Convention</span>

The 70th World Science Fiction Convention (Worldcon), also known as Chicon 7, was held on 30 August–3 September 2012 at the Hyatt Regency Chicago in Chicago, Illinois, United States.

The 46th World Science Fiction Convention (Worldcon), also known as Nolacon II, was held on 1–5 September 1988 at the Marriott, Sheraton, and International Hotels, and the New Orleans Municipal Auditorium in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States.

The 47th World Science Fiction Convention (Worldcon), also known as Noreascon 3, was held on 31 August–4 September 1989 at the Sheraton-Boston Hotel, Hilton Hotel, Boston Park Plaza, and the Hynes Convention Center in Boston, Massachusetts, United States.

The 54th World Science Fiction Convention (Worldcon), also known as L.A.con III, was held on 29 August–2 September 1996 at the Hilton Anaheim, Anaheim Marriott, and the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California, United States.

Fantasy Newsletter, later renamed Fantasy Review, was a major fantasy fanzine founded by Paul C. Allen and later issued by Robert A. Collins. Frequent contributors included Fritz Leiber and Gene Wolfe.

<i>Reactor</i> (magazine) Online science fiction and fantasy magazine

Reactor, formerly Tor.com, is an online science fiction and fantasy magazine published by Tor Books, a division of Macmillan Publishers. The magazine publishes articles, reviews, original short fiction, re-reads and commentary on speculative fiction. Unlike traditional print magazines like Asimov's or Analog, it releases online fiction that can be read free of charge.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cheryl Morgan</span> British publisher and critic

Cheryl Morgan is a British science fiction critic and publisher. She has won Hugo Awards for her work on the fanzine Emerald City from 1995 to 2006, and as non-fiction editor of Clarkesworld magazine from 2009 to 2011. Morgan was the first openly trans person to win a Hugo Award, and she is currently the editor of the science fiction magazine Salon Futura.

The Science Fiction Awards Database (SFADB) is an index of science fiction, fantasy, and horror awards compiled by Mark R. Kelly and published by the Locus Science Fiction Foundation. Known formerly as the Locus Index to SF Awards, it has been cited as an invaluable science fiction resource, and is often more up-to-date than the awards' own websites.

<i>An Informal History of the Hugos</i> 2018 non-fiction book about the Hugo awards

An Informal History of the Hugos is a 2018 reference work on science fiction and fantasy written by Jo Walton. In it, she asks if the nominees for the Hugo Award for Best Novel were indeed the best five books of the year, using as reference shortlists from other awards in the genre. After looking at the first 48 years of the award and presenting essays on select nominees, Walton concludes that the Hugo has a 69% success rate. The book was well-received and was itself nominated for a Hugo Award in 2019.

References

  1. 1 2 Clute, John (September 2, 2009). "Charles N. Brown: Sci-Fi enthusiast and founder of 'Locus' magazine". The Independent . London, England. Obituaries. Retrieved April 4, 2011.
  2. ↑ Aversa, Elizabeth. Miller, Cynthia J. Perrault, Anna. Wohlmuth, Sonia Ramirez. Information Resources in the Humanities and the Arts, 6th Edition. p. 161.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Nicholls, Peter; David Langford. "Locus". In Clute, John; et al. (eds.). The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction (3rd ed.). Gollancz. Retrieved September 11, 2021.
  4. ↑ "Charles N. Brown, 1937–2009". Locus Online. July 13, 2009. Retrieved April 4, 2011.
  5. ↑ "Working to Promote and Preserve Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror". Locus Science Fiction Foundation. Retrieved March 18, 2015.
  6. ↑ Kleckner Keefe, Karen (September 23, 2011). "Web Crush of the Week: Locus Online". The Booklist Reader . American Library Association. Archived from the original on June 7, 2020.
  7. ↑ "About". Locus Magazine. April 21, 2010. Retrieved September 11, 2021.
  8. ↑ "Staff". Locus Online. Retrieved September 18, 2017.
  9. ↑ "Index to Locus Magazine". Locus Online. September 6, 2017. Retrieved September 18, 2017.
  10. ↑ "Locus Online: About the Website". Locus Online. September 5, 2017. Archived from the original on April 17, 2019.
  11. ↑ Dozois, Gardner, ed. (July 5, 2011). The Year's Best Science Fiction: Twenty-Eighth Annual Collection. St. Martin's Publishing Group. ISBN   9781429983068.
  12. ↑ "2002 Hugo Awards". The Hugo Awards . World Science Fiction Society. July 26, 2007. Archived from the original on July 29, 2019. Retrieved May 2, 2010.
  13. ↑ "2005 Hugo Awards". The Hugo Awards. World Science Fiction Society. July 24, 2007. Archived from the original on June 29, 2019. Retrieved November 25, 2019.
  14. ↑ Glyer, Mike (January 10, 2016). "Lois Tilton Leaves Locus Online". File 770 .
  15. ↑ Glyer, Mike (January 11, 2016). "Locus Responds to Tilton Departure". File 770. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
  16. ↑ Langford, David. "Locus Award". In Clute, John; et al. (eds.). The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction] (3rd ed.). Gollancz. Retrieved September 11, 2021.
  17. ↑ "Locus Awards". Science Fiction Awards Database . Locus Science Fiction Foundation. Retrieved February 21, 2021.
  18. ↑ Schaub, Michael (June 26, 2018). "Locus Award winners include N.K. Jemisin, Victor LaValle and John Scalzi". The Los Angeles Times .
  19. ↑ Flood, Allison (June 27, 2016). "Locus awards go to Ann Leckie, Naomi Novik and other stars". The Guardian .
  20. ↑ "In Praise of.. The Locus Index to Science Fiction Awards". SF Gateway. Orion Publishing Group. March 13, 2013.
  21. ↑ Walton, Jo (2018). "Conclusion". An Informal History of the Hugos . Tor Books. p. 571.
  22. ↑ "Hugo Award Categories". The Hugo Awards. World Science Fiction Society. Archived from the original on May 7, 2011. Retrieved April 5, 2017.
  23. ↑ Langford, David; Peter Nicholls (writer); Cheryl Morgan. "Hugo". In Clute, John; et al. (eds.). The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction (3rd ed.). Gollancz. Retrieved September 11, 2021.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.