Guide to the Isaac Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine records, 1978-1996

(bulk 1985-1992)

John Hay Library
John Hay Library, University Archives and Manuscripts
Box A
Brown University
Providence, RI, 02912
Tel: 401-863-3723
email:hay@brown.edu

Published in 2018

Collection Overview

Title:	Isaac Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine records
Date range:	1978-1996, (bulk 1985-1992)
Creator:	Davis Publications
Extent:	17 linear feet
Abstract:	Documents related to the publication of Isaac Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine between 1978 and 1996.
Language of materials:	English
Repository:	John Hay Library
Collection number:	Ms.90.25

Scope & content

The collection contains correspondence, photographs, manuscripts, artwork, awards notifications, publication documents, and office memos related to the production of Isaac Asimov’s Science Fiction Magazine between 1978 and 1996. The bulk of the collection is comprised of manuscripts and submissions that were accepted for publication in the magazine.

Access Points

Subject Names

• Asimov, Isaac, 1920-1992
• Scithers, George H., 1929-
• Moloney, Kathleen
• McCarthy, Shawna
• Dozois, Gardner R.
• Gardner, Martin, 1914-2010
• Davis, Joel, 1934-

Subject Topics

• Science fiction, American--Periodicals--History--20th century--Sources.
• Manuscripts, English--Rhode Island--Providence.

Document Types

• correspondence
• photographs
• manuscripts
• memorandums
• proofs (printed matter)

Subject Topics

• Language and Literature

Arrangement

The collection is arranged into two series. Both series are arranged chronologically by year and month.

• Series 1 contains documents related to the business of the magazine.
• Series 2 contains documents mostly related to the publication and content of the magazine.

Biographical/Historical Note

Asimov's Science Fiction began life as the digest-sized Isaac Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine (or IASFM for short) in 1977. Joel Davis of Davis Publications approached 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, but served instead as editorial director, writing editorials and replying to reader mail until his death in 1992. At Asimov's request George Scithers, the first editor, negotiated an acquisitions contract with the Science Fiction Writers of America providing considerably better terms for writers than had been the periodical standard up to that time.

Initially a quarterly, its first issue was dated December 1976. It changed to a bimonthly in 1978 and began publishing monthly in 1979. In the mid-1980s it was published once every four weeks, with an extra "mid-December" issue (for a total of 13 issues per year). Double issues were added in the early 1990s (while staying at 13 total issues per year) before the schedule was scaled back to 10 issues per year by 2004. From January 2017, the schedule was changed to six "double-sized" issues per year.

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. In 1996, Dell Magazines was acquired from BDD by Crosstown Publications, and as of 2012 is part of Penny Publications which is under the same ownership as Crosstown Publications has been, with headquarters in Norwalk, Connecticut and uses a combined Customer Service labelled Penny Press/Dell Magazines. 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).

Asimov's Science Fiction celebrated its thirtieth anniversary in 2007, with an anthology edited by the magazine's current editor, Sheila Williams. Drawing on stories published from 1977 to the present day, it was published by Tachyon Publications.

Martin Gardner wrote a regular column of "puzzle tales" for the magazine from 1977 to 1986. He produced 111 columns in all, many later published in book form.

Scithers left the magazine after five years, winning two Hugo awards as best editor, and was succeeded by Shawna McCarthy. McCarthy held the position for three years, winning one Hugo award. Gardner Dozois edited the magazine from 1985 to 2004, winning 15 Hugo awards, before stepping down and becoming its contributing editor. Sheila Williams is the current editor and won the Hugo Awards for Best Short Form Editor in 2011.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asimov%27s_Science_Fiction

Access & Use

Access to the collection:	There are no restrictions on access, except that the collection can only be seen by prior appointment. Some materials may be stored off-site and cannot be produced on the same day on which they are requested.
Use of the materials:	Although Brown University has physical ownership of the collection and the materials contained therein, it does not claim literary rights. Researchers should note that compliance with copyright law is their responsibility. Researchers must determine the owners of the literary rights and obtain any necessary permissions from them.
Preferred citation:	Isaac Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine records, Ms.90.25, Brown University Library
Contact information:	John Hay Library John Hay Library, University Archives and Manuscripts Box A Brown University Providence, RI, 02912 Tel: 401-863-3723 email:hay@brown.edu

Administrative Information

ABOUT THE COLLECTION
ABOUT THE FINDING AID
Author:	Finding aid prepared by Nicholas Friesner.
Encoding:	This finding aid was produced using the RIAMCO EAD spreadsheet, 2018 July 24
Descriptive rules:	Finding aid based on Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS)

Additional Information

Inventory

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