5 Science Fiction and Fantasy Magazines You Should Be Reading

5 Science Fiction and Fantasy Magazines You Should Be Reading Amazing Stories cover, 1972 For almost as long as they have existed, science fiction and fantasy  have provided  much more than sweeping novels and grandiose story arcs (as wonderful as those are). Short stories, art, poetry, and more from these genres are plentiful and remarkable, if you know where to look. For years, science fiction and fantasy magazines have provided readers with a wealth of work that falls outside the novel format.  The old  science fiction and fantasy magazines whose over-the-top covers and bizarre ads we often chuckle at  were  some of  the first to publish names like Heinlein, Asminov, and Butler. Today,  some of the best new writers are being published in science fiction and fantasy magazines, which  take chances on women, authors of color, and genre  innovators who have more trouble breaking into large-scale publishing.  The best part about this content, though, might just be how easy it is to access. Try these five science fiction and fantasy magazines to take your reading to the next level. On Spec Quarterly, $14.99 Started by the oldest Sci-fi and Fantasy writers group in Canada, On Spec has been publishing new and exciting Canadian talent  for years, including the artists who create their covers. The subscription price is a steal, and while free is always great,  this money helps them pay well for the content they use.  Digital and physical subscriptions are both available. Shimmer cover, 2017 Shimmer  Bi-Monthly, Free (+)   Shimmer is a physical and digital magazine  focused on fantasy (though they do publish some exceptional sci-fi).  Shimmer  is impressive in its focused approach, pursuing a roster of creators who come from all walks of life and produce works that are as unusual as they are excellent. Most  creative pieces they publish are available free online and a subscription gets you access to thoughtful  interviews and editorials. (BONUS: Profits from their shop are currently being donated to the Southern Poverty Law Center.) Try It: Fallow  by Ashley Blooms Strange Horizons Weekly, Free Strange Horizons is a weekly online publication thats been around for quite awhile, and has plenty of awards under its belt. They publish everything from  short stories and poetry to essays and reviews, as long as it falls under speculative fiction. As a non-profit funded entirely through donations and grants,  Strange Horizons provides their entire archive at no cost. Most content is also available in audio format via their podcasts. Try It:  The Last Refuge by  Eduardo Goligorsky (Also available in its original Spanish.) Samovar Quarterly, Free Samovar is a new quarterly project  produced as part of  Strange Horizons to showcase translated science fiction and fantasy writing. Only the first issue is out  so far, but it  has set the bar high for the future. The inaugural issue has stories originally published in Finnish, Pashto, Chinese, and Hebrew. All content is available in its original language, too, which is just freaking cool. Try It: Wither and Blossom by Suvi Kauppila Uncanny cover, 2016 Uncanny Bi-Monthly, Free (+)  Uncanny is a leader in the field of science fiction and fantasy magazines, with an ever growing list of awards to boast of. Of special note is their non-fiction, which is just as moving and beautiful as any fiction or poetry. This subscription is the priciest on the list at $23.88, but they pay their creators well and offer the entirety of the magazine for free online a few weeks after subscribers get it. This is definitely a magazine to watch if you want to get a jump on  the next big names in science fiction and fantasy. Try It:  City of Villains: Why I Don’t Trust Batman  by Sarah Gailey Save Save