The Restoration Game

I've recently read 'The Restoration Game' by Ken Macleod and thought it would be worth blogging about it. This is no book review, but might give an insight into the sort of stories I'm looking to place in Jupiter. I'm not sure if the fact I'm reading this book 2 years after it was published has anything to do with it (I don't think so). But in terms of basic plot, his book didn't seem to do anything new. I felt the main plot and route the story was going to take was easily worked out by the first few chapters. However, despite that, perhaps because of that, I loved this book. Ken created some wonderful characters, some wonderful landscapes, and just produced a book at was a joy to read. It didn't need some flashy gizmo, or some ground breaking idea. What it had is exactly what I look for in a story, characters to fall in love with, who you wince for when they do something you know is going to turn out silly. This was a book that the plot felt old, felt done before, but told in such a beautiful way, that it was impossible for me not to like. And that folks is that I look for in stories for Jupiter. You don't need flashy gizmo's or massive spaceships (OK, they help), what you need is a canvas that feels real, and characters that you can care about. Either love them or hate them, just don't write indifference! Ian

Jupiter 37: Kale

Well, it is July, so welcome to the July 2012 issue of Jupiter.

6 stories this issue, Krishan Coupland, Aliya Whiteley, Douglas Thompson, Chris Bailey, Jack Ford and Simon Petrie contribue with this great cover by Sam Mardon. It's a stonking issue. Ian

Jupiter 36: Sponde

A little bit late announcing this one I'm afraid, but at the end of last month issue 36 was published featuring great fiction from Michael Sutherland, Greg McColm, Alexander Hay, Neal Clift and Dean Giles. Also a wonderful cover by David Conyers. It's available from our website and also from Amazon for Kindle.

Interview at W1S1

I've done a short interview with Simon Kewin for Write 1 Sub 1 which is now up on their site. http://www.write1sub1.com/2012/04/w1s1-interview-with-ian-redman-of.html

Royal Mail price increases

Just realised what a huge effect on magazines the latest Royal Mail price increases are going to have.

It's not pretty.
Everyone in the UK is aware of the 14p increase on a second class stamp. I'm bulk buying in advance to protect from the price rise there, what I hadn't realised was the effect to sending Jupiter abroad.

From 30th April to send a single issue of Jupiter abroad the costs are going to increase like this:
42p extra to send a single issue to Europe
82p extra to send a single issue to America

This is going to have a huge effect on subscribers from abroad. There's no way we can absorb such a large increase. I'm afraid prices will have to rise. I haven't worked out by how much yet, this has literally just hit me, but I think it's going to start signaling the end of paper magazines flying around the world. Electronic publications will be the winners it seems.

If you like your magazines printed, get your low cost subscriptions while you can!

Ian

Issue 35 reviewed at SFCrowsnest

I think it's safe to say Rod enjoyed this issue. A lot.

Thanks again to all the authors (and Rosie our proof reader), great stories make a great review.
You can read it all here: http://sfcrowsnest.com/articles/books/2012/Jupiter--35-XXXV-Orthosie-16680.php

"Well, the editor Ian Redman has outdone himself in producing a good magazine packed with outstanding fiction. Seriously, the stories in this issue have a high standard. There's nothing much more you can say about them than that."

Jupiter 35: Orthosie reviewed

By SFRevu here.

Another good review "With Jupiter XXXV, we are exploring Orthosie, the January 201(sic) issue and some more good stuff."

Thanks again to all of you who helped make this issue happen.

Ian