Asimov's Science Fiction

Asimov's Science Fiction is a major science fiction magazine, which publishes both science fiction and fantasy. It is currently published 10 times a year, with double issues in April/May and October/November, by Dell Magazines, a subsidiary of Crosstown Publications. Its editor since the January 2005 issue is Sheila Williams.

History

Asimov's Science Fiction began its life as the digest-sized Isaac Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine (or IASFM for short) in 1977. Joel Davis of Davis Publications approached the well-respected author Isaac Asimov to lend his name to a new science fiction magazine, after the fashion of Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine or Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine. Asimov refused to act as editor, and served instead as editorial director, writing editorials and replying to reader mail, until his death in 1992. Instead, George H. Scithers was hired as the magazine's first editor.

Related Topics:
Digest-sized - 1977 - Joel Davis - Davis Publications - Author - Isaac Asimov - Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine - Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine - 1992 - George H. Scithers

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Initially a quarterly, its first issue was dated Spring 1977. It changed to a bimonthly in 1978 and began publishing each month in 1979. In the mid-1980s, it became a tetraweekly, publishing once every four weeks, with an extra "mid-December" issue. Double issues were added in the early 1990s before the schedule was scaled back to the present 10 issues per year.

Related Topics:
1978 - 1979

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The magazine was sold to Bantam Doubleday Dell in January 1992, a few months before Asimov's death, and the title changed to Asimov's Science Fiction. Its parent company, Dell Magazines, has changed hands several times since then. In 1998, the magazine's size changed; it is now taller and slightly wider than the standard digest format (matching other magazines published by its newest corporate parent).

Related Topics:
Bantam Doubleday Dell - 1992

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The magazine briefly became a figure of controversy in February 2004 when WOOD-TV in Grand Rapids, Michigan ran a story alleging that it was an "adult" magazine being targeted towards children. A mother had purchased a subscription for her 13-year old daughter via a school fundraiser and, after looking through it, decided that the content was overtly sexual. The event became a minor cause celebre among many Internet sf fans.

Related Topics:
February - 2004 - WOOD-TV - Grand Rapids, Michigan - Cause celebre

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