Damien G. Walter » Sofanauts

Sofanauts #13

Administrator — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 02:56:38 +0000

I seem to have spent most of this weekend recording Sofanauts #13 with Jeff Vandermeer, Amy H Sturgis and host Tony C. Smith…so you lot better go listen to it now! (Or just skip through to about six minutes form the end where the out takes begin)

We need more beautiful magazines

Administrator — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 23:21:14 +0000

Mary Robinette Kowal made a wonderful point on tonight’s Sofanauts. In a discussion on the iPhone as e-reader Mary argued that e-books and online ‘zines would not kill printed publications. But the publications that survive will be the ones who understand the value of the physical object they are producing. I could not agree more.

You do not have to look too far find people saying that the old digest magazines look ever more shabby and unappealing. Almost every element from the outdated cover art, through the cheap paper, poor layout and dull typography to the uninspiring format conspire to deter readers from valuing the object. Its an ethos from the days when a real readership for speculative fiction existed at newstands, train stations and drug stores. Whatever is left of that audience now read paperback novels, and readers who just want a quick fix of sf are soon going to have thousands of options on their digital device of choice.

The readership that remains for short speculative fiction is one that expects more. Or at least I do. I want amazing stories wrapped in amazing publications. I want illustrations as thoughtful and imaginative as Clarkesworld. I want design with the kookiness and humour of Electric Velocipede. I want bindings as well built as Postcripts. I want formats as crazy and experimental as McSweeney’s. I want it all…and I want it now! And of course I can have it, but I want more.

I’m certain there is a market for a super high production value periodical that combines top quality design with excellent storytelling. I’m willing to concede that such a publication would need considerable capital to set up, not least because it would need a substantial marketing campaign to establish a subscriber base. But I really have no doubt that such a magazine would not just capture a substantial part of the speculative fiction readership, but also capture a new audience who love spec fic but just don’t know it yet.

I hope some enterprising publisher steps up to the plate soon and knocks the short fiction publication ball out of the park, because I want to hold that magazine. And maybe read it as well.

iPlayer and the Sofanauts

Administrator — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 09:58:09 +0000

My short story Cthul-You is repeated on BBC iPlayer this week. Whenever the beeb repeat this story I start getting hits on the blog ‘damien g walter’ along with ‘disturbed’, ‘sick’ and ‘evil’. Its the only real horror story I’ve tackled so I’m glad it had the intended effect.

Tony C. Smith has invited be back on the Sofanauts this week, subscribe in iTunes or the podcatcher of your choice and listen to myself and the other panelists ramble on about various sfnal topics.

The Sofanauts No. 4

Administrator — Sat, 09 May 2009 00:42:56 +0000

The Sofanauts No 4 is up. I rant about discrimination aginast sf and why writing is not a career. I’m enjoying this show more and more.

Damo and the Sofanauts

Administrator — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 17:59:09 +0000

I’ve been a massive podcast fan since I bought my first iPod. I’ve always been a sci-fi fan, but podcasts like Escape Pod, I Should Be Writing and The Dragon Page introduced me to a whole new world of SF. I’ve been listening to Starship Sofa since the early days, so today I was really proud to take part in the first of a new show from the Starship Sofa team, The Sofanauts.

Anyone who has listened to The Week In Tech will be familiar with the format of The Sofanauts, which aims to be The Week in Sci-Fi. A gang of SF fans, bloggers and writers meet every week to talk about SF in all it’s glory!

I’ve just finished recording the first episode and REALLY enjoyed it. I joined host Tony C Smith, Escape Pod editor Jeremiah Tolbert and Matthew Sanborn Smith.

Go listen!