The granddaddy of sci fi magazines, Starlog has announced they're ceasing publication of the magazine after issue #374. In a recent posting on their web site, the magazine noted they've relaunched in beta as part of a "massive digital initiative" and touting the fact a "Digital store," to launch next month, will feature digital editions of the entire Starlog catalog."It is also at this time that we announce the temporary cessation of the current run of Starlog as a print magazine," the statement read. "After 33 years, and considering the present state of the economy, we feel [it's] time for a major revamp and will be temporarily discontinuing publication while the model and redesign of the magazine are contemplated and executed.
The magazine debuted in 1976 as a quarterly before going monthly in 1978. It was the fall of 1979 that I started reading the magazine and have been reading it ever since. The magazine was created by Kerry O'Quinn and Norman Jacobs. Jacobs eventually sold the company to the Creative Group, and the Brooklyn Co. bought Starlog and its horror-centric sister magazine Fangoria last year from the Creative Group, which had fallen into bankruptcy.
Fangoria, which already has a strong Web presence, will remain a print entity.
Still, I'm not surprised at their demise as a print outlet. The Web has been the place, for the last few years, where I've got my info from. And since they did not use advertising in the magazine, I kinda sensed their days were numbered. Still, 33 years is impressive.
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