chuq@sun.uucp (Chuq Von Rospach) (11/21/85)
A while back, I posted a request to the net to see if there was interest in starting up a fanzine as an alternative to sf-lovers. I got enough initial response that I'm taking the project forward to see where it goes. Welcome to Otherworlds! Otherworlds is an attempt to merge a traditional fanzine style into an electronic media. Unlike other lists on the net, Otherworlds is not free-form like sf-lovers and is not moderated. It is edited, which I hope will let us put together a readable and useful magazine. What Otherworlds is: Otherworlds is a place where you can take the time to cover a subject right. The net currently makes it difficult to really deal with a subject at length or in depth, and my hope is to build a forum where we can deal with a subject and worry more about the article's content than whether it is larger than 27 lines. Otherworlds is also a place where a controlled discussion of previous articles can take place. Instead of the current "jump on it until it dies" form of responding to an article, I plan on setting up a letter column that can be used to create a public dialog between an article's author and his readers. Initially, I'm looking for articles and reviews on SF and Fantasy. I'm not going to guarantee publication, but the only real criterion I plan on using right now is quality. My word (as editor) is final, but unlike the nogo/go setup a moderator sets up, I'm interested in working with someone to improve a marginal manuscript. Initially, I'm planning Otherworlds to be a monthly magazine. The wonders of the electronic medium means that I can publish more often if I have enough material (and time...) but I don't think you can generate a real dialog with your reader publishing less often than that because the letters and columns aren't timely. Speaking of columns, If you have an idea for a continuing column, drop me a line. Contributing editors are welcome! What Otherworlds isn't: Otherworlds is not an ego-zine. I have no intention of writing all the material. I don't want to force my viewpoint on the world. While I expect to write a portion of Otherworlds, I hope to see the majority of the work and the direction of the magazine get set by the readers and authors. I also don't have any intention of publishing everything I get, be it letters, columns, articles, or whatever. I'll publish the good stuff. My real hope in this is to make us all better writers rather than published writers. Submitting to Otherworlds Submissions to Otherworlds should be sent to "..!sun!plaid!fanzine". Administrivia should go to "..!sun!plaid!fanzine-request" or to me at "sun!plaid!chuq". The first issue will depend upon how much publishable material I get and how quickly, so it's time to tune up those keyboard!. Joining Otherworlds Otherworlds is going to be published by mailing list. To get on the mailing list, drop your address to "..!sun!plaid!fanzine-request" or "sun!chuq". I don't know if this will work, but I'm interested in finding out! chuq -- :From catacombs of Castle Tarot: Chuq Von Rospach sun!chuq@decwrl.DEC.COM {hplabs,ihnp4,nsc,pyramid}!sun!chuq Let us now take the sacre oath. As of now, he is no longer an elephant!