Fictionwise SF Sale! - Page 5

Greg Anos · 03-20-2009, 11:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blue Tyson

Note that Deathworld by Harry Harrison has been mentioned.

It is at Project Gutenberg if you want that one. Don't need to buy it.

My apologies. I missed that. You might also try Planet of the Damned by Harrison as well, on PG. A nice SF adventure yarn.

Lemurion · 03-20-2009, 11:30 AM

I checked with Fictionwise about F&SF - it's not on sale because its primary category in their system is Fantasy. However Interzone is, and at less than $15 it's a real steal.

AnemicOak · 03-20-2009, 11:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lemurion

I checked with Fictionwise about F&SF - it's not on sale because its primary category in their system is Fantasy. However Interzone is, and at less than $15 it's a real steal.

Guess I'll have to wait for the Fantasy sale for that one. Interzone does look interesting.

pshrynk · 03-20-2009, 11:50 AM

Deathworld and Planet of the Damned are both available here on MobileRead, as well.

bwaldron · 03-20-2009, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pshrynk

There has been a polite request to keep this thread on the general topic of SF Books on sale at Fictionwise. Please honor that request. Any further posts on sexism, groping, etc, will be removed.

pshrynk (moderator)

Elfwreck · 03-20-2009, 02:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pshrynk

There has been a polite request to keep this thread on the general topic of SF Books on sale at Fictionwise. Please honor that request. Any further posts on sexism, groping, etc, will be removed.

pshrynk (moderator)

I'm sorry; I got caught up in an off-topic argument.

I figure that a comment or brief exchange about "controversy regarding Author X" is moderately relevant; more than that is excessive unless several people are interested.

I'll try not to do it again. In case I fail (which is... unfortunately likely), I'll try to take a warning with good grace. Thanks for being so polite about it.

::fishes around for something on-topic to say::

I'm actively watching the Analog/Asimov's subthread; I've never had any idea what differences they had other than random different scifi-ish content.

Lemurion · 03-20-2009, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elfwreck

I'm actively watching the Analog/Asimov's subthread; I've never had any idea what differences they had other than random different scifi-ish content.

Asimovs tends to have more 'literary' SF than Analog - it wins more awards than any other SF mag. Personally I find Analog the most consistently readable SF magazine out there, though there is a focus on 'problem-solving' stories that don't appeal to everyone.

If you like 'old-school' SF then Analog is a good choice - if you're into more modern and less traditional approaches to the genre you may prefer Asimovs. Interzone is interesting, more like Asimovs in tone than Analog, but I've only read a handful of issues so I can't really judge it as well.

I started with Asimovs with the third or fourth issue back in 1977, and I've read most of Analog since its inception.

Greg Anos · 03-20-2009, 03:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pshrynk

Deathworld and Planet of the Damned are both available here on MobileRead, as well.

I hope they are on a US server, as they are not PD in Life + 50 (Canada) or Life + 70 countries... RSE

Elfwreck · 03-20-2009, 03:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lemurion

Personally I find Analog the most consistently readable SF magazine out there, though there is a focus on 'problem-solving' stories that don't appeal to everyone.

"Problem-solving"... I think I almost understand, but I'm not sure; I'm blanking on examples. All that comes to mind is older-style stories about "we've landed on alien planet and [creature/microorganism/machine failure] will prevent us from leaving--what shall we do?" (MacGyver stories, my friends sometimes called them. How to fix your spaceship and stop the alien invasion with a crate of freeze-dried oranges and the wire from six crewmembers' headsets.)

Quote:

If you like 'old-school' SF then Analog is a good choice - if you're into more modern and less traditional approaches to the genre you may prefer Asimovs.

I have no idea what to label my preferences anymore. I grew up on old school; I like that. I read modern stuff; I like that too. These days, I read a lot of fanfiction, which has its own tropes and patterns that don't neatly fit into any of the published niches. But this does help me sort out what mood each is more likely to appeal to.

Lemurion · 03-20-2009, 03:52 PM

Analog stories aren't quite "MacGyver Stories" but they do generally have an upbeat ending and the SF element is required to be integral to the story. A character-based story about coming to terms with something is more an Asimovs story than an Analog story.

AnemicOak · 03-20-2009, 04:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ralph Sir Edward

I hope they are on a US server, as they are not PD in Life + 50 (Canada) or Life + 70 countries... RSE

Yes, they are.

Renaldo · 03-20-2009, 09:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pshrynk

There has been a polite request to keep this thread on the general topic of SF Books on sale at Fictionwise. Please honor that request. Any further posts on sexism, groping, etc, will be removed.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blue Tyson

Note that Deathworld by Harry Harrison has been mentioned.

It is at Project Gutenberg if you want that one. Don't need to buy it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ralph Sir Edward

You might also try Planet of the Damned by Harrison as well, on PG.

Awesome, thanks for mentioning that. I was looking at picking up both of those, now I can stretch my dollar even further!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lemurion

Asimovs tends to have more 'literary' SF than Analog - it wins more awards than any other SF mag. Personally I find Analog the most consistently readable SF magazine out there, though there is a focus on 'problem-solving' stories that don't appeal to everyone.

If you like 'old-school' SF then Analog is a good choice - if you're into more modern and less traditional approaches to the genre you may prefer Asimovs. Interzone is interesting, more like Asimovs in tone than Analog, but I've only read a handful of issues so I can't really judge it as well.

Those are excellent descriptions on the differences. I've never read Interzone, I think I'll pick up a couple issues to try it out. And I agree about what you said in a different post, the double column format of Analog does make for easier reading.

I've read Asimov's off and on since 1985. I've always been pleased with it and the style of the stories. The one thing I could do without are the poems. Some of them want to make me strangle somebody.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elfwreck

I have no idea what to label my preferences anymore. I grew up on old school; I like that. I read modern stuff; I like that too. These days, I read a lot of fanfiction, which has its own tropes and patterns that don't neatly fit into any of the published niches. But this does help me sort out what mood each is more likely to appeal to.

Grab an issue of both and see what you like better. From my experience they both are pretty consistent issue to issue with their type of stories, so a single issue of both should give you a pretty good idea. Regardless of which one you end up liking better, you're probably going to enjoy both to some degree, so it probably won't be a waste of money.

AnemicOak · 03-20-2009, 09:26 PM

Thanks to the folks who posted info about the different magazines. I subscribed to Asimov's and also have an issue of Analog to check out and see if I want to try a subscription to that too. I do find it odd that they don't have a lot of back issues for sale. Maybe their contract with the authors only allows for their stories to be sold for a certain amount of time?

I do wish The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction was available as part of the sale, but they usually have a Fantasy sale every year (can't remember which month) so hopefully it'll be available then.

Renaldo · 03-20-2009, 09:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AnemicOak

I do find it odd that they don't have a lot of back issues for sale. Maybe their contract with the authors only allows for their stories to be sold for a certain amount of time?

Yeah, I was wondering about that too. It appears that all of the Dell Magazines go back just a few issues. I was hoping to be able to pick up some of the Asimov's from the 80's, but those probably won't ever be available since I'm betting they didn't have anything like e-rights in their author contracts back then.

Lemurion · 03-20-2009, 09:50 PM

Analog and Asimovs only buy limited term electronic rights - it recently went up so now I think they can keep about nine months or so. I'm getting paid for an editing contract right on the 31st, so with any luck I might be able to get another Asimovs subscription (and Interzone) and then see about extending the Analog further. I like to keep my Analog subscription sitting with more than a year to go.

(I actually managed to read the entire decade of the fifties for Analog - then Astounding - in order one year.)

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03-20-2009, 11:30 AM	#62
Lemurion eReader Posts: 2,750 Karma: 4968470 Join Date: Aug 2007 Device: Note 5; PW3; Nook HD+; ChuWi Hi12; iPad	I checked with Fictionwise about F&SF - it's not on sale because its primary category in their system is Fantasy. However Interzone is, and at less than $15 it's a real steal.

03-20-2009, 11:50 AM	#64
pshrynk Beepbeep n beebeep, yeah! Posts: 11,726 Karma: 8255450 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: La Crosse, Wisconsin, aka America's IceBox Device: iThingie, KmkII, I miss Zelda!	Deathworld and Planet of the Damned are both available here on MobileRead, as well.

03-20-2009, 03:52 PM	#70
Lemurion eReader Posts: 2,750 Karma: 4968470 Join Date: Aug 2007 Device: Note 5; PW3; Nook HD+; ChuWi Hi12; iPad	Analog stories aren't quite "MacGyver Stories" but they do generally have an upbeat ending and the SF element is required to be integral to the story. A character-based story about coming to terms with something is more an Asimovs story than an Analog story.

03-20-2009, 09:26 PM	#73
AnemicOak Bookaholic Posts: 14,391 Karma: 54969924 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Minnesota Device: iPad Mini 4, AuraHD, iPhone XR +	Thanks to the folks who posted info about the different magazines. I subscribed to Asimov's and also have an issue of Analog to check out and see if I want to try a subscription to that too. I do find it odd that they don't have a lot of back issues for sale. Maybe their contract with the authors only allows for their stories to be sold for a certain amount of time? I do wish The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction was available as part of the sale, but they usually have a Fantasy sale every year (can't remember which month) so hopefully it'll be available then.

03-20-2009, 09:50 PM	#75
Lemurion eReader Posts: 2,750 Karma: 4968470 Join Date: Aug 2007 Device: Note 5; PW3; Nook HD+; ChuWi Hi12; iPad	Analog and Asimovs only buy limited term electronic rights - it recently went up so now I think they can keep about nine months or so. I'm getting paid for an editing contract right on the 31st, so with any luck I might be able to get another Asimovs subscription (and Interzone) and then see about extending the Analog further. I like to keep my Analog subscription sitting with more than a year to go. (I actually managed to read the entire decade of the fifties for Analog - then Astounding - in order one year.)