Here are my thoughts on the current state of sci-fi magazines: in the past 2 years I have only read one article that really interested me, and that had to do with theories of the upcoming Star Wars Trilogy and the possibility of a third trilogy.
Starlog used to my main source of all things sci-fi, and for a while, it was the only sci-fi magazine. I ended up dropping Starlog due to the price ($6.95 plus tax up here in Canada), and the fact that the articles were, well, ...dull. It was like reading a school textbook. They took out a lot of things that were fun. The cartoons got thinned out drastically. I got bored, I dropped it.
Cinescape and Sci-Fi Universe both hit the stands together, and I thought "All right, now we'll get a lot more coverage on all things sci-fi related!"
I was wrong. SFU proceeded to do nothing with Star Trek except tear it apart along with Battlestar Galactica, Space:1999, and a host of other shows. B5 on the other hand, could do no wrong in their eyes. Now, please understand, I have to agree that Star Trek just isn't what it used to be, but if you're going to criticize something, at least do so constructively and properly. SFU just seemed to complain for the sake of complaining. I dropped it, and haven't picked it up since.
Cinescape on the other hand waffles around on its opinions so much that you get dizzy reading it. It got dropped as well.
I've only found one Sci-Fi mag that I really enjoy because of it's style, humor, and readability. That magazine is unfortuneately not published on a regular basis to the best of my knowledge. This magazine is called 'Sci-Fi Invasion', and is published by the same people who publish 'Wizard' (which is a comic collecting magazine).
It doesn't drag articles on forever, it has serious interviews with actors and creators, and it always has at least one article in it that is there just for the fun of it. It does not, however cover other areas of sci-fi such as books,videos, and collectibles.
That just my opinion, though.
The following is a letter I sent to Sci-Fi Entertainment magazine:
Dishonest editorial in the Jan. 99 issue of Sci-Fi Entertainment
To Scott Edelman:
I couldn't believe the gall of your dishonest editorial in the Jan. 99 issue of Sci-Fi Entertainment. You criticize a columnist (unnamed by you) for not telling "the whole truth". Yet, you don't tell the whole truth in your editorial!
You made it seem like you were writing about two different articles from two different writers. However, you were obviously taking a cheap shot at Mark Altman's columns from Cinescape (only identified by you as "the competition"). One column was a couple of months ago and the other one was from six months ago! Why not name the magazine and writer so we can judge your "veracity"? Despite his association with www.eonmagazine.com, it is obvious to anyone who has ever read Altman that he would be the first one to criticize tripe like Godzilla! It is funny that you don't address his criticisms of the Sci-Fi Channel. I guess if you can't refute someone's arguments you resort to personal attacks. Why not discuss why you think he is wrong? You seem to have a vendetta against Altman.
You also label Sci-Fi Universe (unnamed by you) as an "unsuccessful sci-fi magazine". Well, have the sales improved under your new uncritical direction? If not, why not? If so, I guess sci-fi fans prefer style over substance. Why didn't the new and not improved SFU admit that the Universe awards you printed awhile back were inherited from the Altman regime? If you so love "truth", why has SFU stopped printing critical letters? Altman wasn't afraid to print letters from fans who just wanted pretty pictures with no opinions.
A Former Fan of SFU
I liked SFU with altman, but it was TOTALLY biased. It was a tool for Altman to convey his opinions. True, it had a refreshing attitude, but it could have benefited from someone who actually thought DS9 isn't that great and Voyager isn't that bad
Omer, I agree that the Altman SFU was biased but he at least admitted it AND would print letters criticizing the magazine. I rarely, if ever, see the other sci-fi magazines do that. I agree with Shane Miller that Sci-Fi Invasion is a neat little magazine.
Starlog used to my main source of all things sci-fi, and for a while, it was the only sci-fi magazine. I ended up dropping Starlog due to the price ($6.95 plus tax up here in Canada), and the fact that the articles were, well, ...dull. It was like reading a school textbook. They took out a lot of things that were fun. The cartoons got thinned out drastically
Starlog stopped publishing in 2009. They said they were going to be a web only magazine from then on, but soon even the website shut down.
Starlog: 1976-2009