Black Gate (magazine)
Black Gate was a glossy fantasy magazine and published by New Epoch Press. Using the slogan "Adventures in Fantasy Literature," Black Gate primarily featured original short fiction up to novella length.
![]() Black Gate, vol 1, issue 2 | |
Categories | Fantasy |
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Frequency | Quarterly |
Publisher | New Epoch Press |
Year founded | 2000 |
First issue | November 2000 |
Final issue Number | April 2011 15; Vol 3 No 3 |
Country | USA |
Based in | Chicago |
Website | www![]() |
In addition to fiction, Black Gate also featured reviews of fantasy novels, graphic novels, and role playing game products. This was supplemented by columns and articles reflecting on fantasy literature's past as well as the occasional interview. Every issue contained the comic Knights of the Dinner Table: Java Joint by Kenzer & Company of Knights of the Dinner Table fame.
Much of the fiction was by lesser known or new authors, but noted contributors have included Michael Moorcock, Mike Resnick, Charles de Lint and Cory Doctorow. As a semi-regular feature, Black Gate reprinted rare adventure stories from earlier decades or work from more recent years that the editors feel has been neglected. For instance, issues featured serialized Tumithak novels from Charles R. Tanner.
While officially a quarterly publication, it was never produced on a reliable schedule. Its 15th and (to date) final issue was published in 2011;[1] however, it continues to produce new online content.
Critical response
On its debut, Black Gate received strong reviews in Locus and elsewhere, many citing the sheer size of the issues (usually 200+ pages) and the high production values.[2][3][4][5][6] This has proved quite ambitious, though. Various production problems have led to publication less frequent than the intended quarterly schedule. While John O'Neill made a public commitment to readers and advertisers to get production back on track, the magazine never achieved a reliable quarterly release.
In 2008, Judith Berman's story "Awakening" in Black Gate #10 was a finalist for the Nebula Award.[7]
Editors
- John O'Neill, 2000 to present
- Howard Andrew Jones, 2006 to present
References
- "Black Gate » Articles » Black Gate 15 Complete Table of Contents".
- "Reviews of Black Gate Magazine". Black Gate. Retrieved 2011-11-09.
- Rodger Turner, Webmaster. "SF Site Featured Review Black Gate #3, Winter 2002". Sfsite. Retrieved 2011-11-09.
- "The SF Site Featured Review: Black Gate #9". www.sfsite.com.
- "The SF Site Featured Review: Black Gate #13, Spring 2009". www.sfsite.com.
- "Lois Tilton Reviews Short Fiction Late April 2010". Locusmag. 2010-04-28. Retrieved 2011-11-09.
- "Locus Index to SF Awards: Index of Literary Nominees". Locusmag. Archived from the original on 2007-09-02. Retrieved 2011-11-09.
External links
- Official website
- Black Gate series listing at the Internet Speculative Fiction Database