I’m now listing over 50 anthologies on the 2008 anthologies page. I’m amazed at the number of anthologies coming out, and the number that hope to be series. There is something happening out there in publishing. I’ve heard different theories about what, but nothing completely covers it. There is a contraction in the marketplace, with people turning from magazines to anthologies, but I’m not sure how pronounced it is. The one thing I do think – and this harks to the recent SF Signal mindmeld piece, is that lovers of short fiction are probably going to end up having to pay more to get their fix. If there are fewer readers and a smaller market, but the cost of production isn’t changing much, then increased prices seem inevitable.
As a tangential comment, The Starry Rift just arrived on my doorstep, and I am happily getting my fix. The family’s eating leftovers today. My husband wants me to finish the book, not because of the leftovers, but so that he can have it. Thanks so much! Lovely book.
There’s a Locus article or something then, approximate original anthology numbers by year – they would have the numbers?
All still seem quite allergic to selling electronic versions, too, Baen and Wild Cards aside?
Looks like it is Steampunk Engine time this year, too.
Susan – Hope you enjoy the book. It’s been so long that I’m all out of perspective, but I think it’s good. – Jonathan
Great list of anthologies; I found out several from smaller presses that I had no clue about and I bought or intend to buy a few – the ones from Hadley Rille really look cool, and I bought a new one and another from the backlist and 2-3 more are on my buy list if I like these 2 – they are in the mail as is Starry Rift for that matter.
I read all Galactic Empires, all GG4 – and actually all 16 GG’s that are available electronically, RF2, some Paper Cities, some Transhuman and with the 3 in the mail that makes 8 that I own.
I intend to buy at least 8, possible more and I use this list as reference.
Outside of specific interests – space opera new weird and 163*, I buy on editor’s name, so almost anything by you, L. Anders and G. Mann at Solaris is high on my buy list.
Regarding magazines vs anthologies – I used to subscribe to Asimov’s and FSF – I avoid Analog stories overall and unfortunately Baen’s Universe of which I had high hopes is an Analog clone with some fantasy.
However, when a magazine prides itself of having a given author’s story published in a given month issue for x years in a row, I think it’s time to move on. Nowadays I browse through Asimov’s and FSF in bookstores, and it’s very rare I find something of interest. I like much more new e-magazines like GUD, Escape Velocity, Aeon – at least they are fresh.