Jim Baen's Universe
Encyclopedia
Jim Baen's Universe was a bimonthly online
fantasy and science fiction magazine
created by Jim Baen
(founder and long-time publisher of Baen Books
). It is recognized by the SFWA
as a Qualifying Short Fiction Venue. JBU began soliciting materials in January 2006 and launched in June 2006. The magazine contained around 120,000 to 150,000 words per issue.
It closed in 2010.
Jim Baen
died of a stroke
on June 11, 2006 and did not see the magazine's full success.
The first and only editor-in-chief was Eric Flint
, an author and anthologist
. The executive editor was Mike Resnick
, a science fiction author, editor and anthologist.
JBU had featured stories from a number of notable authors, including Alan Dean Foster
, Gregory Benford
, Esther Friesner
, and Cory Doctorow
. Regular columnists included Eric Flint
, Mike Resnick
, Barry Malzberg, and Stephen Euin Cobb
.
Part of the magazine's philosophy was to nurture new authors, slots were reserved in each issue for new writers. Amateur writers were encouraged to submit their work via an online forum, referred to as "e-slush
." Stories submitted to e-slush were reviewed by peers and associate editor
s. The theory was that this process may turn stories that were not quite publishable into publishable ones.
Editor Eric Flint announced in August 2009 that the magazine would close after its April 2010 issue due to insufficient subscriber income.
, says:
. The first half of each story can be read for free, but only subscribers can read the second half. Individual issues can be purchased via the e-publisher Webscriptions
. Subsequent to the announcement of the closing, subscriptions were modified to provide one year of access to all back issues.
Online magazine
An online magazine shares some features with a blog and also with online newspapers, but can usually be distinguished by its approach to editorial control...
fantasy and science fiction magazine
Science fiction magazine
A science fiction magazine is a publication that offers primarily science fiction, either in a hard copy periodical format or on the Internet....
created by Jim Baen
Jim Baen
James Patrick "Jim" Baen was a noted U.S. science fiction publisher and editor. In 1983 he founded his own publishing house, Baen Books, specializing in the adventure, fantasy, military science fiction and space opera genres...
(founder and long-time publisher of Baen Books
Baen Books
Baen Books is an American publishing company established in 1983 by long time science fiction publisher and editor Jim Baen. It is a science fiction and fantasy publishing house that emphasizes space opera, hard science fiction, military science fiction, and fantasy...
). It is recognized by the SFWA
SFWA
SFWA may refer to:*Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America*Scottish Football Writers' Association...
as a Qualifying Short Fiction Venue. JBU began soliciting materials in January 2006 and launched in June 2006. The magazine contained around 120,000 to 150,000 words per issue.
It closed in 2010.
Jim Baen
Jim Baen
James Patrick "Jim" Baen was a noted U.S. science fiction publisher and editor. In 1983 he founded his own publishing house, Baen Books, specializing in the adventure, fantasy, military science fiction and space opera genres...
died of a stroke
Stroke
A stroke, previously known medically as a cerebrovascular accident , is the rapidly developing loss of brain function due to disturbance in the blood supply to the brain. This can be due to ischemia caused by blockage , or a hemorrhage...
on June 11, 2006 and did not see the magazine's full success.
The first and only editor-in-chief was Eric Flint
Eric Flint
Eric Flint is an American author, editor, and e-publisher. The majority of his main works are alternate history science fiction, but he also writes humorous fantasy adventures.- Career :...
, an author and anthologist
Anthology
An anthology is a collection of literary works chosen by the compiler. It may be a collection of poems, short stories, plays, songs, or excerpts...
. The executive editor was Mike Resnick
Mike Resnick
Michael Diamond Resnick , better known by his published name Mike Resnick, is an American science fiction author. He was executive editor of Jim Baen's Universe.-Biography:...
, a science fiction author, editor and anthologist.
JBU had featured stories from a number of notable authors, including Alan Dean Foster
Alan Dean Foster
Alan Dean Foster is an American author of fantasy and science fiction. He currently resides in Prescott, Arizona, with his wife, and is also known for his novelizations of film scripts...
, Gregory Benford
Gregory Benford
Gregory Benford is an American science fiction author and astrophysicist who is on the faculty of the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of California, Irvine...
, Esther Friesner
Esther Friesner
Esther Mona Friesner-Stutzman, née Friesner is an American science fiction and fantasy author best known for her humorous pieces.- Life :...
, and Cory Doctorow
Cory Doctorow
Cory Efram Doctorow is a Canadian-British blogger, journalist, and science fiction author who serves as co-editor of the blog Boing Boing. He is an activist in favour of liberalising copyright laws and a proponent of the Creative Commons organization, using some of their licences for his books...
. Regular columnists included Eric Flint
Eric Flint
Eric Flint is an American author, editor, and e-publisher. The majority of his main works are alternate history science fiction, but he also writes humorous fantasy adventures.- Career :...
, Mike Resnick
Mike Resnick
Michael Diamond Resnick , better known by his published name Mike Resnick, is an American science fiction author. He was executive editor of Jim Baen's Universe.-Biography:...
, Barry Malzberg, and Stephen Euin Cobb
Stephen Euin Cobb
Stephen Euin Cobb is a U.S. author, magazine writer, interviewer and host of the award-winning podcast The Future and You...
.
Part of the magazine's philosophy was to nurture new authors, slots were reserved in each issue for new writers. Amateur writers were encouraged to submit their work via an online forum, referred to as "e-slush
Slush pile
In publishing, the slush pile is the set of unsolicited query letters or manuscripts sent either directly to the publisher or literary agent by authors, or to the publisher by an agent not known to the publisher....
." Stories submitted to e-slush were reviewed by peers and associate editor
Editor in chief
An editor-in-chief is a publication's primary editor, having final responsibility for the operations and policies. Additionally, the editor-in-chief is held accountable for delegating tasks to staff members as well as keeping up with the time it takes them to complete their task...
s. The theory was that this process may turn stories that were not quite publishable into publishable ones.
Editor Eric Flint announced in August 2009 that the magazine would close after its April 2010 issue due to insufficient subscriber income.
Awards and recognition
- Cory DoctorowCory DoctorowCory Efram Doctorow is a Canadian-British blogger, journalist, and science fiction author who serves as co-editor of the blog Boing Boing. He is an activist in favour of liberalising copyright laws and a proponent of the Creative Commons organization, using some of their licences for his books...
's "When Sysadmins Ruled the Earth" won the Locus AwardLocus (magazine)Locus, subtitled "The Magazine Of The Science Fiction & Fantasy Field", is published monthly in Oakland, California. It reports on the science fiction and fantasy publishing field, including comprehensive listings of all new books published in the genre. It is considered the news organ and trade...
for best novelette of 2006. - Locus cites four novelettes from Baen's Universe in its 2006 Recommended Reading List.
- Hugo AwardHugo Award for Best Professional EditorThe Hugo Awards are given every year by the World Science Fiction Society for the best science fiction or fantasy works and achievements of the previous year. The award is named after Hugo Gernsback, the founder of the pioneering science fiction magazine Amazing Stories, and was once officially...
winning editor Gardner DozoisGardner DozoisGardner Raymond Dozois is an American science fiction author and editor. He was editor of Asimov's Science Fiction magazine from 1984 to 2004...
selected three stories from Universe to include in his 2007 anthologyThe Year's Best Science Fiction: Twenty-Fourth Annual CollectionThe Year's Best Science Fiction: Twenty-Fourth Annual Collection is a science fiction anthology edited by Gardner Dozois that was published in 2007...
. - Mike Resnick'sMike ResnickMichael Diamond Resnick , better known by his published name Mike Resnick, is an American science fiction author. He was executive editor of Jim Baen's Universe.-Biography:...
"All the Things You Are" was nominated for (but did not win) the 2007 Hugo Award for Best NoveletteHugo Award for Best NoveletteThe Hugo Awards are given every year by the World Science Fiction Society for the best science fiction or fantasy works and achievements of the previous year. The award is named after Hugo Gernsback, the founder of the pioneering science fiction magazine Amazing Stories, and was once officially...
Reviews
Magazine reviewer Debbie Moorhouse, in Greatest Uncommon DenominatorGUD Magazine
Greatest Uncommon Denominator Magazine is an award-winning American literary magazine, the first publication from Greatest Uncommon Denominator Publishing, founded in Laconia, New Hampshire in July 2006....
, says:
Electronic distribution
JBU is electronic only, and is not available in print (although a hardcover "Best of" collection has been published). It is distributed without digital rights managementDigital rights management
Digital rights management is a class of access control technologies that are used by hardware manufacturers, publishers, copyright holders and individuals with the intent to limit the use of digital content and devices after sale. DRM is any technology that inhibits uses of digital content that...
. The first half of each story can be read for free, but only subscribers can read the second half. Individual issues can be purchased via the e-publisher Webscriptions
Webscriptions
Webscriptions is a web services company that has sold e-books without DRM since 1999. It is closely associated with Jim Baen's Baen Books. Purchasers can download the same e-book in five different formats, even long after the initial purchase...
. Subsequent to the announcement of the closing, subscriptions were modified to provide one year of access to all back issues.
External links
- Jim Baen's Universe
- JBU Columns - many JBU columns are available to non-subscribers, those that aren't can be read in part (about half)